Accessories for Hiking Boots: Crampons, Socks, and Insoles

 

You need some accessories before shopping for a pair of hiking boots. In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about hiking socks and liners for your hiking boots, ensuring that you get the proper fit. It will also cover a few other accessories you might want to consider before deciding. To find the Best Hiking Boot, click here

Although the focus of this article will primarily be on the accessories themselves, you should be aware that many of them will influence your decision regarding the hiking boots you select. This is especially true when choosing the appropriate size. Your hiking boots must fit your feet and any custom inserts, insoles, and socks you use.

So let's discuss how your choice of socks, insoles, laces, and crampons impacts your choice of hiking bootsons.

Walking Boots

There are at least two basic types of hiking socks, and you'll need both if you're going to do any serious hiking:

1. Socks with insulation and cushioning.

2. Sock liners.

You can omit the liners on shorter hikes, such as most of the day hikes. Only on multi-day backpacking hikes do I wear liners.

Wear socks when you go boot shopping for hiking, regardless of your decision. With the socks on, your hiking boots must fit you properly. Make sure your shoes have room for two pairs of cushioning and insulation socks if you need them in colder weather.

The material used to make both varieties of socks needs to be wicking to remove moisture from your skin. The only practical natural wicking fabric that lasts reasonably well is wool. (Silk also works as a sock liner but wears out quickly.) Cotton does not wick away moisture; it merely absorbs and holds it. Some polypropylene and nylon compositions can function as good wicking materials for those who might be allergic to wool.

Your skin is directly next to the liner socks. Therefore, they must be incredibly slick. If you're willing to switch out the socks after every other hike, you could use silk or sheer nylon. Or you could use a wool sock with a very fine knit. Even though they seem very smooth and delicate, polypropylene socks are typically too rough for hiking liners.

Even for moderate hiking, you must wear insulation and cushioning socks that are thick enough to keep your feet warm and absorb the shock of strenuous walking. They don't need to be soft unless you skip the liner socks. If you are allergic to wool, use polypropylene or heavier nylon socks; otherwise, wool is preferred. (or a blend of these synthetics).

Test your socks on a less demanding hike first, whatever you decide to do and whatever kind of hiking you intend. Then, test them on a shorter walk or during regular walking to look for hot spots. Your socks will result in blisters on a longer walk if they cause hot spots on your feet after a few miles of walking. Instead of learning this in the wilderness, you should do so close to home. Even if you are a seasoned hiker, test out a new kind of sock on a short walk before committing to it on a longer hike.

Orthopedic inserts and insoles

Hiking comfort can be significantly improved by using cushioned insoles. Even though hiking boots come with built-in padding, using removable insoles that you can swap out frequently is a brilliant idea. That way, you can buy a new pair rather than fixing your hiking boots if you wear them out.

There are a dizzying variety of removable insoles available. Since this is primarily a matter of taste, I won't suggest any particular kind. I only have two suggestions:

1. Before embarking on a long hike, test them on short walks or in your regular walking. Try a different variety of them if you don't like them.

2. Take them along when you go boot shopping for your hikes. Choose a hiking boot size that simultaneously fits your feet, socks, and insoles. Of course, your boots must work adequately with the insoles in place.

Bring your orthopedic inserts with you when you go hiking boot shopping if you use them. Once more, everything you plan to pack inside your hiking boots must fit.

Boot Laces for Hiking

After that, you might consider adding laces to your hiking boots. You can probably use the laces that come with your hiking boots. On a long hike, you should bring an extra set of laces in case one breaks. If you discover a reason to dislike the laces that came with your boots, you might even want to replace them before they break.

Boot laces typically consist of braided nylon or other synthetic materials. Rawhide boot laces are available, but they have drawbacks. They might last longer than braided nylon, but that doesn't necessarily mean you won't have to deal with their issues for as long. Rawhide bootlace issues include:

* They frequently sag over time or in response to changes in humidity. This necessitates regular adjustment.

* Ties of solid rawhide may have sharp edges that can cut your hands. This is less true for rawhide that has been braided or covered in a braided nylon shell.

Find laces with a circular cross-section. Your boots may look fashionable with flat laces, but they are more likely to break than round ones.

Crampons

Hiking boots can be equipped with crampons for traction on ice and snow. Usually made of metal spikes but occasionally made of plastic, they are fastened to a frame that fits inside your hiking boots' soles with adjustable straps or clamps.

Crampons with a lot of weight are available for ice climbing. These are outside the purview of this essay. Just be aware that they exist and move on and select a pair with less aggressive spikes when you notice the enormous bear-trap spikes sticking out of the bottom and front of the crampons.

Light crampons can be attached even if your hiking boots lack designated crampon attachment points. Just make sure the top of your hiking boots has a clear lip where the crampons can attach.

Traction accessories are available for walking on icy pavement, but these are not suitable for hiking. They cannot withstand the strain of walking up a steep slope or significant wear. Make sure the crampons you select are designed specifically for hiking.

Conventional crampons will extend your hiking boots' entire length. Crampons that only fit into the instep and do not extend to the heel or toe are also available. These work better than you might expect, in my experience. When you cross icy patches, you have to remember not to walk on your toes, but I discovered that this comes naturally anyhow. The spikes of these half-length crampons are located where your natural reaction to an icy slope is to walk with your feet sideways to the hill and dig in with the edges of your boots. Works flawlessly.

Conclusion

The most important thing to remember when choosing hiking boot accessories is to consider them first. When looking for hiking boots, pick out your socks and insoles first. Bring them with any orthopedic inserts you might require to ensure a proper fit. Make sure your hiking boots can fit crampons, and consider whether you need them.