My friends' homes have CD towers; my home has boot towers. I live surrounded by boots. Boots for big-wall climbing, backpacking, mountaineering, kayaking, and the list goes on. I knew that I'd met my future husband when I saw Dave's boot collection—our respective assortments matched, sport for sport.

Nope, not Imelda Marcos's outdoor collection; it's Annie's boot closet

Certainly, there is a boot for every occasion, but is there a boot for all occasions? Could one pair of boots possibly keep your feet safe and happy while you're off day-hiking, backpacking under a heavy load, snowshoeing, and/or peak-bagging? In one word: nope.

At best, you'll find one pair that will suffice for most but not all of your backcountry adventures. What constitutes an all-around boot depends on what you want to do, multiplied by when and where you'll be doing it. Boots suited to day hikes in sunny Southern California probably won't cut the mustard on a four-day backpacking trip to the wet, rocky trails of New England. Start your search for all-around boots by defining what you need them to do.

For me, an all-purpose boot is lightweight enough to wear all day in most any weather, but stout enough for heavy yard work. It's trim enough to wear for bike shuttles, yet stiff enough to hold an edge on a lichen-slimed ledge. Amazingly enough, I find I have several workable options in my personal cavalcade. Rather than"all-purpose," I call these "multipurpose" boots.

	Boot Shopping: At The Store Choosing footgear is one of the most personal decisions you'll ever make—beyond choosing your mate for the trail of life. Just because your partner swears by his Acme Trail Trompers does not mean they'll be right for you. The most important part of finding the right boots is not to rush through your shopping. Once you've narrowed down your shopping list, allow plenty of time to try on as many brands as you can, then focus on the pair that feels best on first impression. Bring along your favorite socks—the ones without lumpy toe seams. Stomp around the store, up and down steps or an incline ramp if the shop has one. Then hike on over to another store and do the same until you've narrowed your choices. Go back on another day and try 'em again before you purchase.

Move on to Boots for Day-Hiking

Return to Top

RELATED GORP LINKS
GORP Gear
Boot Buying Guide
Boot Finder