During the hotter months the amount of skin on show significantly increases, clothes get much skimpier and the style of footwear changes to what is little more than a thin piece of rubber that is kept over the sole of the foot by a bit of string. Welcome to the summer, the season in which keeping cool is the name of the game. However, there are some things that can’t follow suite such as when buying a pair of summer hiking boots.

Before buying a pair of hiking boots you need to take a close look at the exact type of hiking you do since this will play an important part in the final buying decision. Do you trek up rocky and dangerous mountain trails, or do you mainly hike through forests containing a flat and debris free path? A pair of hiking boots that is adequate for a forest path is unlikely to be durable enough to withstand a mountainous trek and those boots suitable for a mountain trek are likely to be way too much for a forest path and simply too hard wearing. The more rugged the terrain the more durable the boots need to be, which will obviously affect the range of hiking boots available to you.

When buying a pair of summer hiking boots the fit is the most important factor, which is the case when buying any piece of foot wear. The brand name, style or colour should be far down the list of priorities, but this is not always the case with many people. A good fitting pair of hiking boots will ensure the hiker remains comfortable all day enabling many days of injury and pain free miles, so when buying a pair of hiking boots it is important to get your feet correctly measured up before doing anything else.

Even though your feet may be correctly measured up it does not necessarily mean that finding the ideal pair of hiking boots is simply picking out a pair your size. Like clothing, different brands of hiking boots are cut slightly different. Certain brands may be narrower in the toes or have a larger arch in the heel or be more generously cut around the ankle. Because of these differences it is important to try on several different brands to find the one that suits your foot shape the best. Using the knowledge of the store workers can make this exercise much quicker therefore listen to what the store clerk has to say and take it on board. Never compromise on the fit of the boot and choose the second best purely because you like the style more or the colour more or something like that.

Once the ‘brand’ for your foot shape has been identified the next thing to look at is the material used. The extremities, i.e. having your feet too hot or too cold, should be avoided and it is important to find a halfway house. The summer months are obviously hotter than the winter months therefore a material with less insulating properties is required. In addition, it is not necessary for summer boots have a little extra room inside them that allows the hiker to wear two pairs of socks or a single thick pair of hiking socks, which are often required when hiking in the winter.

The best fabrics used in summer hiking boots are light and fully breathable, allowing air to circulate around the feet, but also waterproof so you can cross the rivers and streams that you come across during a hike. In addition, waterproof boots also mean your feet will stay dry if you are caught short in a rain storm.

So, in summary, when choosing a pair of summer hiking boots the most important thing is to ensure the boots fit properly. Thereafter, it is simply a case of going for the most lightweight boots that are fully breathable and waterproof and durable enough for the particular type of trekking you do.