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.
 Mens REI Raichle Hiking Climbing Boots M 105 M 10 1 2  US .00 |  LADIES MEINDL BURMA L PRO MFS HIKING WALKING BOOT UK55 US $148.21 |
 MEINDL BORNEO LADY PRO MFS HIKING WALKING BOOTS UK 55 US 8.21 |  LADIES MEINDL BURMA L PRO MFS HIKING WALKING BOOTS UK 5 US $148.21 |
 BOOTS SNOW WATER PROOF WELL INSULATED SIZE 9 MED US .99 |  LADIES HI TEC V LITE FASTHIKE HIKING BOOTS SIZE 4 NEW US $22.46 |
 Caterpillar Steel Toe Boots Size 10 1 2 Free Shipping US .99 |  Timberland EURO HIKER 95310 Brown Women 9 US USED US $1.00 |
 LA SPORTIVA PINGORA GTX HIKING BOOTS WOMENS SZ US 55 US .99 |  Colorado Hiking Boots US $5.00 |
 Mens Merrell Chameleon Shoes Sz 9 US .50 |  Mens Merrell Chameleon Continuum GORETEX XCR Shoes Sz9 US $10.50 |
 BEARPAW Hiking Boots Size 10 US .00 |  HERMANS SURVIVOR BOOTS STEEL TOE INSULATED NICE CLEAN US $9.99 |
 MENS COLUMBIA 85 CORE TEX HICKING SHOES AWESOME SHAPE US .99 |  MENS VINTAGE OLD SCHOOL BRN HIKING BOOTS 10M EX COND US $9.99 |
 AVIA MENS US 9 HIKING SHOES GRAY SUEDE US $.99 |  Holubar Vintage Leather Down puffy Camping Boots Sz XL US $33.99 |
 Columbia Razor Ridge Hiking Boot SZ 9 EUR 42 US .00 |  VASQUE Waterproof Hiking Boots Womens 9 exc cond US $14.50 |
 MERRELL Moab Ventilator Walnut Hiking Shoes Mens 7 US .26 |  MERRELL Waterproof Hiking Shoes Womens 75 used 1 time US $14.50 |
 Vibram Gortex Boots US .00 |  ASOLO Waterproof Hiking Boots Womens 75 exc cond US $2.25 |
 Womens La Sportiva Makalu Size 39 US 75 US .00 |  Thermolite Hunting Hiking Boots Sz 8 US $9.99 |
 MONTRAIL TORRE GTX GORE TEX Mens Hiking Boots NEW 125 US .99 |  Womens Danner Polaris Gore Tex Hiking Boots 85 EUC US $39.99 |
 PR OF SALOMON HIKING SHOES WITH GORETEX CONTAGRIP SIZE7 US .47 |  Vibram KSO mens 43 11in Black Great condition US $81.05 |
 Montrail Womens Torre GTX Hiking Boot NEW Size 7 US .99 |  Vibram Classic Womens 40 Great condition US $41.01 |
 Vibram Sprint Women 38 great condition US .00 |  La Sportiva Mens Makula Boot Size 44 1 2 or US Mens 11 US $50.00 |
 ASOLO Womens 0M2201 450 PowerMatic Hiking NIB Size 6 US .99 |  KAYLAND New Womens Zephyr Size 75 US $79.99 |
 KEEN New Mens Targhee II Size 105 US .99 |  RedHead McKinley Hikings Shoes Boots Sz 105 VERY NICE US $.99 |
 WATERPROOF TIMBERLAND CARGO PANTS NR XXL US .00 |  REI hiking shorts womens M NWOT US $5.99 |
 NIB Wellco Combat Boots work hiking 101 2 105 Narrow US .99 |  WOMENS TECNICA FUR AND LEATHER BOOTS SIZE 9 1 2 10 41 US $19.00 |
 Garmont Gore Tex Hiking Shoes Size US 85 US .00 |  LOWA TANARK hiking boots mens 10 EUR 43 1 2 NICE US $24.99 |
 RedHead Rancher Slip on Boots size 11MW WATERPROOF US .00 |  Merrell Chameleon Wrap Gore Tex XCR Womens size 6 US $69.00 |
 womens size 4 convertible NORTHFACE pants dune color US .00 |  Vasque Mens 95 Boots accept crampons Gore Tex US $25.00 |
 Leather Bobsole BootsSize 111213Waterproof ShoeNew US .00 |  RED HEAD TRACKER II Hiking Boots US $10.99 |
 Merrell Mens Hiking Boots US .00 |  Merrell WaterPro Ultra Sport DK Shoes US $49.99 |
 Vasque Hiking Boot Shoe Size 75 New Out Of Box US .00 |  Merrell Hiking Boot Size 75 Mint Condition US $45.00 |
 FIRST QUALITY WOOL HIKING BOOT SOCKS 2 PAIR NEW US .00 |  NEW ROCKY SIZE9MW HIKING CAMPING HUNTING BOOT LEFT FOOT US $2.75 |
 Merrell Hiking Shoes Womens with Gortex olive US .00 |  MERRELL Reflex Smoke Hiking Shoes Mens 95 exc cond US $26.00 |
 La Sportiva Mens Gore Tex Hiking Boots 42 US 9 95 0 US .00 |  La Sportiva Mens Gore Tex Hiking Boots 95 10 43 0 US $100.01 |
 La Sportiva Mens Gore Tex Hiking Boots 10 105 0 US 3.80 |  La Sportiva Mens Gore Tex Hiking Boots 105 11 0 US $97.00 |
 La Sportiva Mens Gore Tex Hiking Boots 445 US 11 0 US 2.50 |  La Sportiva Mens Gore Tex Hiking Boots US 11 115 0 US $110.50 |
 La Sportiva Mens Gore Tex Hiking Boots US 115 12 0 US 1.40 |  scarpa leather hiking boots sz445 US $180.00 |
 Merrell Winterra Hiking Boots For Men US 9.99 |  Nearly New Merrell Outland Mid Dark Olive boots Mens 11 US $105.00 |
 PACIFIC TRAIL Ladies Hiking Shoes MUST SEE Sz8M US .99 |  Mens Size 13 Military Police style Leather Boots NEW US $10.51 |
 BASS MENS HIKING BOOTS SIZE 13M US .99 |  HI TEC YOSEMITE BROWN LTHR BOOTS WMN SZ 55M SUPER US $6.95 |
 HI TEC V LITE RADAR eVENT Ladies Hiking Shoes Size 45 US .97 |  MONTRAIL HIKING BOOTS MENS 10 MEDIUM VIBRAM SOLE US $38.00 |
 HI TEC TIAGO LADIES HIKING SHOES NEW SIZE 5 UK US .47 |  Merrell Winterra Hiking Boots Mint US $60.00 |
 NEW Mens Everest Waterproof Leather Hiking Boots 10 1 2 US .99 |  I think these are Limmer Hiking Boots Womens 75 M US $39.00 |
 Vintage Dexter Hiking Mountaineering Boots SIZE 11 1 2 US .99 |  Itasca hiking boots size 75 waterproof slightly used US $11.99 |
 LOWA RENEGADE GTX MID wide boots full leather mens 115 US .50 |  Ladies Hiking Boots Leather New Sz 10 will ship to CDA US $12.99 |
 MENS ROCKPORT XCS SHOES BOOTS TRAINERS SIZE 9 WIDE 44 US .22 |  Mammut Mt Vista GTX Hiking Boots Womens US 70 NEW US $189.99 |
 La Sportiva Makalu mountaineering boot size 445 US 11 US .00 |  MENS BASS 11M BROWN CASUAL BOOTS AWESOME SHAPE US $19.99 |
 Garmont Sticky Cat Approach Hiking Shoe Mens 85 8 1 2 US .99 |  ASOLO FUGITIVE GTX hiking boots mens 12 EUR 46 1 3 US $51.00 |
 KEEN TARGHEE II MID hiking boots mens 13 VERY NICE US .99 |  MENS NORTH PASS HIKING BOOTS SZ 105 101 2 GREAT SHAPE US $9.99 |
 ASOLO TPS 520 GTX hiking boots mens 11 wide NEW US .00 |  Asolo Gortex Hiking Shoes Ladies Size 9 US $50.00 |
 Merrell Torrent Womens Waterproof Hiking Boots Size 7 US .39 |  VTG HIKING MOUNTAINEERING BROWN LEATHER BOOTS MENS 12 US $9.99 |
 VINTAGE HIKING MOUNTAINEERING CLIMBING BOOTS 105 D US .99 |  MBT womens hiking walking shoe Great condition US $39.99 |
 BRAND NEW TEVA ELIXER FLIP FLOPS SANDALS SIZE 14 US .99 |  Mens Vasque Hiking Boots Made In Italy size 10 Medium US $22.05 |
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