What we put on our feet is important, as in almost everything we do our contact with the ground is required.

When outdoors having a good set of boots you use when it is winter is great. You do not sweat or freeze, the thick sole offer a good grip and endurance to carry things long distances.

The same counts for a pair of light trekking shoes during summer. They are light and breath well, allowing the heat and moist from the feet quickly reaching the air outside which cools them down.

But the same boots are really bad during summer and the same applies for the shoes during winter. Suddenly the things that was good in one season turns out to be really bad in another.

So picking the right footwear is important and if there is something that is worth investing in, then it is good footwear. Your feet are supposed to carry you through your whole life, so make sure you take care of them and don’t wear bad shoes. It will only bring you harm.

But! Before we get to footwear, lets talk a bit probably the most overlooked part of footwear. Your socks.

Socks

There is more variations of socks in the world than footwear, so knowing what to use can be a bit cumbersome. But as with clothes, socks come with a limited set of different materials that tell us a bit about their intended use and purpose. Because everything starts with the materials.

Socks can come in various materials with the most common being cotton, wool, polyester, a mix of these three or other materials.

Simplified soft socks are made out of cotton for their soft feeling, warm socks are made out of wool for their heat functions and functional socks are made out of polyester because of their water transportation function.

• For everyday casual use when not walking to much, a pair of cotton socks is probably what you use. Perhaps with a mix of polyester or wool depending on touch and feel.
• When walking a lot usually the socks will be a mix of cotton and polyester, they still feel soft but do not soak as quickly as pure cotton socks.
• When running a pair of polyester socks will hold your feet dry and cool, quickly transporting away all the sweat you produce to keep your body temperature down. Especially as your shoes is probably the most insulated part of your body at this activity.
• When being subject to natures elements such as rain, cold weather, snow and ice you probably wear a pair of wool socks. Or actually two socks, a walking sock that is made out of majorly polyester and then outside of that a pair of wool socks. Well, at least you should be if it is really cold and you need to be outdoors for the majority of the day.

And there is the thing, depending on what socks you intend to use it will also determine what your footwear will need to be. So when buying new footwear, first determine what activity you will use them for. Then put on (or bring in a bag) the socks you will need to use as well. Then go to the shop.

Sizes

Now feet tend to swell during the later part of the day due to being used for walking, so go shopping in the afternoon when they will be at their largest. Identify the footwear you want to buy and then look at the sizes available.

When it comes to size, make sure you measure both your feet. Probably one will be slightly larger than the other, that is your size. But do not go blindly on this. Some manufacturers make thinner or wider footwear, their measurements might be slightly of compared to yours etc. All because they use a foot model in their production environment that they presume is the average foot that will be using the footwear.

But use the size as a general idea and then try the footwear you have selected with the type of socks you intend to use with them. Now if you shop for winter boots here is a tip, go straight for one size larger. As you will have two pairs of socks on (for below freezing temperatures) the size needed will be roughly one to large than your normal size.

Footwear models

When it comes to models, functions and design. There is to many variations to cover in this page and so instead we will generalise a bit and look at it instead as to what you will be using the footwear for.

Doing that simplifies the process slightly and brings us the following list:

• Day time shoes
• Walking shoes
• Running shoes
• Hiking shoes
• Hiking boots
• Winter boots
• Working boots

The list is not complete but captures the most general idea for different types of footwear. For the purpose of being outdoor, we get the follow selection that we will cover here.

• Walking shoes
• Hiking shoes
• Hiking boots
• Winter boots

Walking shoes

Walking shoes are designed for short walks , as in maybe an hour or two, on roads with no gear and a start and end point usually at your home.

They usually provide good ventilation usually through some breath through membrane and some protection against rain. A normal grip to road materials such as asphalt, gravel and packed dirt. Little to no support for the ankle and the sole is usually quite flexible and quite thin.

For their intended purpose they are good, but when leaving the well used roads and starting to go out into nature they will be quite lacking and risk breaking. Because of their breathable material they are usually very good summer shoes but not so good when temperature drop to around or below zero.

Our recommendation is to use these for short trips around the neighbourhood in warm weather.

Hiking shoes

Hiking shoes are designed for long walks, as in several hours to a full day, on roads and some mild terrain, with a light to medium gear load and where you might not reach the goal until the next day.

They provide good ventilation usually through some breath through membrane and good protection against rain. A great grip to road materials such as asphalt, gravel and packed dirt and a good grip to lose or slippery materials such as wet dirt and stones, grass and rocks. They offer some support for the lower part of the ankle, reducing the risk of spraining and the sole is not so flexible and usually thick.

They are a good choice for the serious walker or hiker, supporting you on your trip along roads and surfaces on explorations and trips such as sightseeing in nature. Because of their breathable material they are usually very good summer shoes but not so good when temperature drop to around or below zero.

Our recommendation is to use these shoes for long walking trips in spring, summer and fall when it is not to cold outside.

Hiking boots

Hiking boots are designed for the same purpose as hiking shoes, but for more rough terrain and less beaten paths.

They offer greater support to the ankle with the height of the boot starting to climb the ankle a bit and a thicker and rigid sole which support the feet to wear heavy loads over long periods of time and over terrain.

These boots can support you even when travelling through rough terrain and the unbeaten path, climbing mountains, walking through forests. They are not weather proof though and should not be used in really rough terrain or their membranes will stop functioning as good.

Our recommendation is to use them most part of spring, summer and fall as long as it is not a storm. They will not be good when the temperature drops below zero though and should then be left at home.

Winter boots

Winter boots are designed for cold weather and is essential when being outdoors when it is below the freezing point. They are usually made out of leather, polyester or a mix of the two and sometimes of other materials.

They have a insulating layer on the inside, have a high shaft that goes far up the ankle, a rigid sole that support heavy loads and walking on rough terrain for extended periods of time. Sometimes they come with points for attachment of long distance skis close to the toes and at the heel.

These boots can do everything a hiking boot can do, but will still be comfortable when far below freezing. That is as long as you remember to pack the extra pair of wool socks as insulation.

Our recommendation is to use these boots when temperature is starting to close in on freezing point. While walking they might feel a bit to warm but this will be compensated when you make camp because when the night comes the temperature usually drops and you are less active.