Leather Hiking Boots

Hiking is a sport unlike any other; it’s not competitive like we see in the likes of football or baseball . A Hike is a personal battle through the wilderness and is truely a unique sport. You are in complete control of where you go and how you get there. It’s truly no wonder that millions of Americans choose to go hiking regularly every year, yes, I said millions. Nothing compares to the feeling of freedom and adventure you get when you set forth on the open trail, across this mighty country.

So if you too are one of those millions that hike regularly, or if your new to the sport and just want a bit more information on the boots available and would like to know which best suits your needs. You have come to the right place.
The 2 key things you need to look for in walking boots is comfort and durability, there’s nothing worse than turning an easy hike into the mountains into a painful struggle,  simply because your brand new boots have given you unsightly, agonizing blisters. Or even if you’ve chosen the wrong type of boot and a sharp rock punctures your boot, letting water leak in and causing you extreme discomfort when walking.

Most hiking and walking boots on the market are made out of leather. Then there are some brands like Wolverine, Bates, and Vasque Clarion that fuse a Gore-Tex material layer into their boot. This helps let air circulate into the boot, keeping it ventilated and to keep your feet from sweating too much. It’s also thermal resistant, meaning your feet won’t get too cold when facing hasher terrain or colder climates. Another added benefit of Gore-Tex that it is completely waterproof allowing you to pass through shallow stream or walk through a storm without getting your feet wet.

 Leather hiking boots are actually composed of different types of leather, depending on their purpose of course. They can range from extremely tough leather  like Full grain leather which is a lot more durable and suited for much harsher and rocky terrain, it will be heavier and may be much less comfortable than the other more lighter leathers like nubuk and partial leather (usually made with a layer of Gore-Tex fabric).

Full grain leather is not going to be the leather of choice for the casual hiker, most people will opt out the extra durability for a more comfortable leather, and as we talked about before, comfort is a key aspect for choosing the right pair of boots for you.

The sort of leather you should be looking for is partial leather, nubuk leather both will usually have a layer of Gore-Tex fabric between the layers of. Nubuk leather is a bit tougher than partial leather and it is still lighter than the full-grain leathers as explained above.

As you probably well know leather is made from the hides of cattle, but different parts of the hide create the different leathers. For instance Nubuk leather, unlike normal leathers which use the inner layer of the hide, favoured for its smooth texture which used for making fancy expensive shoes you see many people wear out and about.

Nubuk leather is formed from the outer layer of the hide; it is stripped of all its hair and is the put through a process that roughens it up. This makes it nice and tough, but is also leaves it very flexible and easy to shape. This makes it a fairly light and comfortable material for many of the top quality leather hiking boots.

Full-grain leather, this leather contains the entire thickness of the hide, this leather is easily the toughest you can find but it still has a touch of flexibility, this adds an element of comfort and support at the heel of your leather hiking boots. Which we now know is essential for long and the harshest hikes,

We hope this short bit of information has helped you understand the factors and range of leather hiking boots available and given you a bit of knowledge before making a purchase.  We all hope that you have great fun hiking, and can now make an informative decision in purchasing in your brand new comfortable and durable leather hiking boots.