If you are a walker, or if you are contemplating taking up walking for a hobby, then getting the right footwear is critical. So what do you need and how do you set about getting it.
The type of shoe or boot
Firstly you need to decide on the kind of walking that intend to do. Are you looking at short walks of up to 5 miles (2 hours), medium walks of up to about 12 miles (4 to 5 hours), or more extended walks that take a day or even longer.
Secondly, what kind of terrain do you intend to walk on? Will you be hiking on good quality paths and fairly level ground, or do you intend to take on the challenge of rough terrain and steep slopes where the footing is uneven and the path is rough.
If your walking will be of a short to medium duration and you only intend to walk on good quality paths, then you may be OK with what is sometimes referred to as a "day hiker".
This is more of a shoe than a boot and, although it has a stiffer sole, a more contoured tread and enhanced support, it looks something like a sneaker (trainer). This kind of shoe is comfortable and fine for general walking.
If you intend to take on longer walks and walks where the ground will throw up an uneven surface, loose rocks or inclines and declines, then you need a hiking boot.
A hiking boot has a very stiff sole, an "upper" that extends to (and sometimes beyond) the ankle and a structural shank (the part of the shoe that runs up above the heel). This kind of footwear offers a high level of support to the feet and makes walking of a longer duration, or walking on uneven ground, much more comfortable.
Material
Not too long ago leather was the only option for serious walking shoes and hiking boots, but today there are a range of different synthetic fabrics that offer waterproof protection plus high levels of breathe-ability.
The benefits of a waterproof shoe are pretty obvious, but having shoes that not only keep water out, but which also let water vapour (sweat) escape can enhance foot comfort considerably. These shoes use special fabrics and, when combined with thick breathable walking socks, they ensure that the feet are kept fresh and dry which in turn prevents blisters and soreness.
Shoe size
Buying walking boots or hikers that are the right size is important and here you should be guided by how they feel rather than how they look or your "regular" shoe size (measurement).
Always try on hiking boots whilst wearing thick socks and ensure that your feet do not slip in them.
 Women Shoe Chaco Redrock Hiking Comfort 65 Camping US $30.99 |  Women size 65 Merrell Chameleon Gore Tex Hiking Shoes  US $22.00 |
 Keen Dry Targhee I Hiking Boots Shoes Cross Country US $25.00 |  Danner Battalion Goretex Boots NEW Acadia Lewis Marine US $80.98 |
 New in Box Keen Austin Brindle size 11 US $52.00 |  Asolo Stynger GTX Gore Tex Hiking Boots Female sz 10 US $79.99 |
 Montrail Hiking Boots US $61.00 |  Asolo TPS 520 GV Boot Mens Size 9 Euro 42 1 2 WIDE US $83.52 |
 Paradox Mens Chaco Shoe Size 9 US $99.99 |  Montrail Helium GTX Hiking Boots Mens 11 US $39.50 |
 LL Bean Gore Tex Boots size 95 Vibram soles US $10.00 |  North Face W hikng boots blue STRIVE NWT US $29.99 |
 NEW WITH TAG LOWA HIKING BOOTS US $29.99 |  Merrell Skywalk Woman Hiking Boots sz 6 US $9.99 |
 Kayland MXT Boots Ms US 105 eVent Used Once US $7.50 |  PATAGONIA MENS RELEASE TRAIL RUNNING SHOES US $50.00 |
 Vasque Goretex Hiking Boots US $24.99 |  MENS ASOLO CAYMAN XCR HIKING BOOTS 9 1 2 GORETEX US $49.00 |
 Vasque H2 hiking mountain boot used US $150.00 |  Garmont Eclipse III XCR Trail Hiking Shoes Mens 12 Used US $18.99 |
 Belleville Sage Green Steel Toe Boots 125W US $75.00 |  KEEN FERNDALE cross training shoes – M size 9 NICE US $14.99 |
 Wenger Mens size 85 Eiger hiking boot brand new US $70.00 |  MENS HIKING SHOES US size 10 US $14.95 |
 Leather Bobsole BootsSize 111213Waterproof ShoeNew US $38.00 |  Teva Womens Ligero Size 75 Hiking Shoes US $85.00 |
 SOREL BOOTS SIZE 9 KAUFMAN CANADA US $.99 |  SALOMON CONTRAGRIP WOMANS HIKING BOOTS US $20.00 |
 Vibram Classic five finger shoes size 38 women US $50.00 |  Wolverine waterproof hunting hiking boots US $39.99 |
 SALOMON XA Comp 3 Mens Trail Running Hiking Shoes SZ 13 US $29.99 |  Tactical Combat 7 Boots Shoes Multicam Mens Size US 10 US $59.88 |
 NORTH FACE Womens Hiking Trail Boots Sz 8US 39EU US $26.77 |  Irish Setter by Red Wing Camo Boots Gore Tex US $80.00 |
 WOMENS SHOES BOOTS KEEN TARGHEE II DRY SZ 75 US 5 US $63.00 |  MENS HIKING BOOTS LOWA KODY GORETEX MID SZ 12 USA 5 US $69.00 |
 Steel Toe Boots Size 10EE US $24.99 |  Vasque Mountaineering boots 115 US $12.99 |
 Merrell Mens Gortex lined hiking boots size 105 US $11.50 |  Scarpa M3 Ladys hiking boot US $10.00 |
 Salomon Cosmic 4D GTX Hiking Boot SZ 9 New No Reserve US $169.99 |  MERRELL CONTINUUM SHOES SIZE 105 US $8.50 |
 New Grey Karrimor K2 Trail Walking Sandals UK 8 EU 42 US $1.55 |  New Black Karrimor K2 Trail Walking Sandals UK 8 EU 42 US $1.55 |
 New Black Karrimor K2 Trail Walking Sandals UK 9 EU 43 US $1.55 |  New Black Karrimor K2 Trail Walking Sandals UK 10 US $1.62 |
 Womens Rocky Boots Hiking 75 M US $10.99 |  STEAMPUNK LEATHER MOTORCYCLE GAITERS EXCCOND US $28.99 |
 Womens Asolo Stynger Hiking Backpacking boots size 95 US $40.00 |  Teva Womens Hiking Shoes US $4.99 |
 asolo hiking boot size 7 US $60.00 |  Mens LL Bean Hiking Boots Size 95 Medium Sturdy US $18.95 |
 Moby baby carrier NEW camo with manual US $19.99 |  Irish Setter Hunnting Hiking Boots US $30.00 |
 MENS GOR TEX LL BEAN LEATHER HIKING BOOTS SIZE 13 UK US $1.62 |  Vasque boot Men’s 11 ½ Gore Tex Vibram soles 115 US $22.00 |
 Womens ASOLO Radiant XCR GOR TEX Hiking Boots Size 7 US $.99 |  Vasque Kota Mens Hiking Shoes Gore tex US $30.00 |
 Kayland Convert eVent Hiking Boots M 85 W 10 NIB US $59.99 |  CONVERSE LEATHER Men Sz 6 1 2 BROWN HIKING WORK BOOTS US $29.99 |
 Kayland Vertigo High eVent Hiking Boots M 85 W 10 NIB US $52.99 |  TIMBERLAND Sz 7 1 2 WOMAN HIKING BOOTS BROWN LEATHER US $14.99 |
 WOMENS VASQUE ALPINE TAN NUBUK HIKING BOOTS US 10 NEW US $24.95 |  BEARPAW MENS HIKING BOOTS SIZE 85 USA 41 EUR US $15.00 |
 Vasque Womens Hiking Boots Brand New US $100.00 |  Asolo FSN 95 GTX Gore tex Hiking Boot Mens Sz 7 US $23.00 |
 SZ 85 TIMBERLAND HIKING OUTDOOR SHOES VIBRAM MENS BOYS US $29.99 |  Hiking Boots US size 10 US $50.00 |
 Merrell Legacy Gore Tex Hiking Boots Mens Size 12 US $100.00 |  SALOMON HIKING LOAFERS SZ 8 EX COND US $19.95 |
 MION Sandal Crocs Flip Flop Water Land Shoes M10 US $9.99 |  Route 66 Men’s Athletic Hiking Trail Sz 95 Shoes NEW US $21.99 |
 Route 66 Men’s Athletic Hiking Trail Sz 11 Shoes NEW US $21.99 |  Route 66 Men’s Athletic Hiking Trail Sz 9 Shoes NEW US $21.99 |
 LA SPORTIVA WOMENS HIKING BOOTS SHOES SIZE 39 US 65 US $9.95 |  ASOLO FSN 95 GTX SIZE 11 1 2 US $20.49 |
 Tecnica hiking boots size 85 lightly used 8 1 2M US $22.00 |  Vasque Skywalker Boots Mens Size 10 NEVER worn US $59.99 |
 New Balance Mens Walking Shoes Width 2E 105 US US $58.99 |  VINTAGE DEXTER HIKING MOUNTAINEERING BOOTS Mens 10 1 2 US $71.00 |
 Five Ten 5 10 Approach Shoes US $35.00 |  Hi Tec Rainier eVent Hiking Boots Men Size 9 New 4 US $49.99 |
 Vintage Vasque Mountaineering Boots Womens Sz 6 Used US $19.99 |  Mens Columbia Frontier Peak GTX Hiking Boots 9 GoreTex US $39.99 |
 Kayland Zephyr Hiking Boots NWT US $90.00 |  Asolo Boots womens US $19.99 |
 Kayland M11 Size 11 men 125 lady NEW US $300.00 |  La Sportiva Colorado Trail Women Shoe Sz 65 BNIB NICE US $.99 |
 La Sportiva Rajas Women Running Shoe Sz 65 BNIB NICE US $.99 |  La Sportiva Rajas Women Shoe Sz 55 BNIB running shoe US $.99 |
 Scarpa SL M3 hiking boots US $100.00 |  Danner Combat Hiker Boots size 115 New US $10.50 |
 Montrail RRGVite Womens Trail Hiking Shoe Size 6 US $9.99 |  North Face Womens Boots Size 8 US $9.99 |
 FIN FEATHER Hiking Camping Sport Boots Shoes 95 4E US $19.99 |  North Face womans hikng boots khaki STRIVE NWT US $35.00 |
 Oakley Tactical Six Smooth Black Boot US 9 EU 425 NIB US $50.00 |  Merrell Continuum Vibram Womens 95 UK 7 US $80.00 |
 Vintage Pivetta walking shoes Gore Tex lined 85mens US $.99 |  VASQUE SUNDOWNER womens 7 N hiking boots RETAIL 0 US $24.99 |
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