When to replace your beloved hiking boots

When should your hiking boots be replaced?

Hikers love their boots with a passion, and letting go of them can be as unthinkable as a professional athlete giving up his jersey number. Still, no pair of boots last forever, and while they often can be repaired, the time does come when they need to be replaced.

Hiking boots that are falling part simply don’t provide the support and protection that they should. Repairing a boot often will be more expensive than simply buying a new one. In short, no matter what great adventures they’ve taken you on, they need to go.

Your hiking boot is past its prime when:
• Blisters form on your feet every time you wear them despite that you’ve hardly gone any distance. This indicates that the boots have been stretched so much from wear that your feet are shifting inside the boot as you walk.
• Feet, legs and hips ache whenever walking short distances in them. In such cases, different parts of the boot (especially the sole) have worn to the point that they no longer fit properly. In fact, wearing them has become more harmful than helpful.
• Debris (twigs, tiny rocks) and water get inside your boot. The boot either has significant holes (though the holes may look tiny) in them, are tattered at spots around the tongue, or the fabrics that offer waterproofing protection have worn through.
• Treads no longer provide grip or traction. The lugs probably have worn to a nearly flat plain, increasing your chances of falling.
• Boot sits baggy and shapeless when off your foot. This means the boot’s structure is giving way. The boot’s ability to provide you stability fades with the loss of this structure.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.