How to Choose a Pair of Hiking Boots

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[00:00:00.00] A group of people summit a rocky mountain top in the sunshine. Text, L.L.Bean. How to choose a pair of hiking boots. Nicole of the L.L.Bean Flagship Store stands in front of a display wall of hiking boots.

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[00:00:04.12] Some of the things you want to consider when you are getting ready to go shopping for your hiking boot is first of all, what are you going to be using it for? Also where are you going to be using it? So what are the conditions? What is the trail going to be like? And finally, the fit. You want to pick a hiking boot that's going to be the right fit for you.

[00:00:23.87] So typically, one of the most important things is for us to know what you're going to be using the boot for. So what is the end use? Are you going to be going on a day hike? Are you going to be going on a weekend hike? Or are you going on an expansive backpacking trip?

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[00:00:36.81] Day Hike. Nicole holds two hiking boots in her hands.

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[00:00:37.54] So one of my favorite choices for just a standard day hike for the whole family is our trail model hiker. So this is my go-to for day hiking because you can literally get this boot for the entire family.

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[00:00:49.62] She flexes the sole of the gray, black and white low top boot.

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[00:00:50.02] It has a nice flexible sole. It comes in ventilated and waterproof.

[00:00:54.70] And for those of you who need a little extra ankle support, maybe you're carrying a backpack, everything for the whole family, you definitely want this extra ankle support.

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[00:01:03.20] She holds up a brown version of the boot with a taller ankle. Text, Multi-day hike. Nicole holds two more boots.

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[00:01:04.00] For a multi-day hike, choosing the right hiking boot is going to be really important, because it's going to make or break your entire weekend.

[00:01:11.77] So I have a couple of choices here that are going to be really great. So this one here is our rugged ridge. This is an L.L.Bean hiker.

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[00:01:18.04] She holds and flexes the brown ankle high boot with heavy tread.

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[00:01:18.40] You do get that nice ankle support that you really need if you're going to be carrying a heavier pack. This one happens to have our tech 2.5 waterproofing. So it's going to be waterproof, breathable.

[00:01:29.69] You still get a little bit of flex in the sole, but it's going to be much more supportive because it does come up on the ankle. Not everybody loves a hiking boot that is higher on the ankle. So we do have something like our elbows that's going to be a nice low cut hiker, but it's still going to give you that waterproofness and a little more support in the sole.

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[00:01:49.50] She shows all sides of the gray and light blue low top version.

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[00:01:49.81] Also both of these, you'll notice, have a really aggressive tread. So those are going to be great for handling any type of terrain on the trail.

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[00:01:57.34] Text, Backpacking. Nicole holds two more boot options.

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[00:01:58.36] Finally, we want to be able to outfit you for those longer hikes. Maybe you're going for an entire week. You're carrying a tent. Lots of heavy gear in your pack. You want to have something that can support you in that.

[00:02:10.67] So we have a couple of different options. So we definitely have our more traditional, really rugged cresta hiker.

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[00:02:16.33] She shows the high top brown leather boot.

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[00:02:16.72] It's an old school hiking boot that comes right from L.LBean. We've been making it for years. You have your very sturdy outsole. You see that very aggressive tread. And you have some great ankle support along with waterproofness. So this is going to get you through any conditions on the trail. It's going to support your ankle. And it is rugged.

[00:02:37.69] We also have our super lightweight Solomon.

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[00:02:40.52] She shows the gray high top boot with yellow accents.

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[00:02:40.87] So you get that similar rugged outsole. You still get your waterproofness. But you're getting it in a much lighter weight hiking boot. Again, you have your ankle support, you have your full lacing. It's going to get you through any hike.

[00:02:55.78] The most important things you want to consider when you are picking out your hiking boot that's going to work for you is, how are you going to be using it? What sort of climate or weather are you willing to be hiking in? And also, how does it fit? Every hiking shoe fits differently. And the fit of your hiking boot is going to determine how happy you are at the end of your weekend. I hope to see you out on the trail.

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[00:03:21.20] Nicole smiles. A logo, L.L.Bean. Be an Outsider.

[00:03:27.02] A group of hikers ascend the slope of a rough rocky mountain with the sunset behind them. A girl at the front of the group hops in midair.