Myths of the Outdoors
Myth No 2 - Lightweight boots will do the job of normal weight boots
A walking boot has five main jobs to perform:
- It protects the foot from damage caused by sharp rocks and other objects.
- It provides grip to help the wearer maintain surefootedness on adverse terrain.
- It provides ankle support to help protect the muscles and ligaments from injury.
- Some boots (but not all) have varying degees of water resistance to help keep the feet dry.
- The most important job of all is to to make the feet as comfortable as possible.
Lightweight boots will do some of these jobs as well as or better than heavier weight boots and vice versa. It is not a matter of one kind of boot being better. It is a matter of horses for courses. Let us take the above jobs one by one.
- The thicker and tougher the leather the better is the protection and durability but the heavier will be the boot. In general the heavier the boot the longer is its life.
- Grip depends on the composition of the sole. This can be a soft high friction sole or a tough long lasting lower friction one.
- A thick heavy leather will provide most ankle support. An EVA (sponge) midsole as used in most ultralights will give good shock absorbancy but will allow some sideways rock :- those with weak ankles or who 'walk over' should avoid them.
- Leather is not waterproof. The thicker and heavier it is the longer it keeps out the water. Most 'ultra light' boots have very light leather to save weight. At this weight the leather will have a synthetic proofing and often a waterproof membrane to back it up.
WARNING :
- The lighter the boot the shorter is its life.The life is roughly proportional to the weight not the price.
- Membrane lined boots are much warmer to wear than non membrane boots. If you suffer from hot feet try and choose boots wihout membranes even if they might weigh a little more.
