With lockdowns affecting many of us during the covid-19 pandemic, great numbers of people have turned to outdoor pursuits that they can partake in either alone or in small groups. Walking has subsequently seen a great rise in popularity.
Here we take a look at finding the most comfortable walking boots for you as an individual, to help make your walks as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.
The best walking boots for you will depend upon a number of factors. Not only will your age and gender likely impact the size and design of the shoes you might go for, but most important to consider is the type of walking you intend to do and the places and terrains you want to explore.
Below you can find how Timberland’s different walking boot styles are uniquely designed for different walking activities.
If you think you’ll be walking in wet, rainy conditions, or perhaps will need to traipse through streams, bogs, marshes, rainforests or wintery woodlands, ensuring your boots are waterproof will contribute enormously to your comfort.
For men, the Euro Sprint Mid Hiker and Men’s Mt. Major Waterproof Mid Hiking Boots, and for women the Chocorua Gore-Tex® Hiker, are Timberland’s answer to waterproof walking boots.
The Euro Sprint Mid Hiker is available in both black and navy and in UK sizes 6.5 up to 12.5. With upper parts made from textile mesh, this boot is particularly comfortable as it molds comfortably around you, minimising its movement on your foot and vastly reducing your chance of blisters.
This style also benefits from the TimberDry™ waterproof membrane. Made from 50% recycled plastic, these walking boots will minimise your carbon footprint, whilst ensuring your feet stay dry as you leave actual footprints behind you.
Men’s Mt. Major Waterproof Mid Hiking Boots use a Gore-Tex membrane to help protect your feet from wet conditions, whilst their breathable leather exterior allows air to circulate around your feet. Multi-directional lugs on the soles of these boots also help provide traction that will help you keep your balance on uneven terrain.
Women’s Chocorua Gore-Tex® Hiker boots use similar Gore-Tex technology to keep your feet dry and are also made from leather from a sustainable tannery. In addition, they come with a cushioned EVA footbed, for a comfortable walking experience that is also kind on your soles and your joints as it helps with shock absorption.
Voted by The Independent as one of the best pairs of men’s walking boots in 2021, the Bee Line and Timberland Garrison Trail Mid Hiker boot is known as being one of the best boots on the market for long hikes.
These colourful hiking shoes come with lace up fastenings that help the boots sculpt themselves to your foot shape, giving excellent hold so they won’t rub and create blisters. Gore-Tex technology helps provide waterproof protection, whilst their soles made from compression-molded EVA-blend foam make them some of the most comfortable boots for walking all day.
The Garrison Trail range includes several other styles of comfortable walking boots for both men and women.
The Garrison Trail Hiking Shoe offers less ankle support than the boot styles, but can be a more comfortable fit for hotter climates and where you may be walking for longer but over a more level surface.
At the same time, this style of footwear still offers the advantages of TimberGrip technology on the soles, giving similar levels of traction to help you avoid slipping.
The midsoles are made from the same EVA-blend foam, providing plenty of cushioning, and the ReBOTL™ fabric that makes up the upper part of the shoe helps fit the shoe to your own feet, and is even made from 50% recycled plastic.
The Garrison Trail range are ideal not just for anyone looking for a lightweight yet durable walking shoe for any season, but also consumers who are conscious about their carbon footprint.
RELATED: The ultimate guide to how boots should fit
If a full sized hiking boot is too clumpy for you, yet a hiking shoe doesn’t offer quite enough support for the walking you’re interested in, low/mid hiker style walking boots can offer you a happy medium.
The Euro Swift Low Hiker for Women offers far more grip than just a regular trainer, yet its lightweight OrthoLite® footbed helps keep the shoe lighter on your feet than a full sized boot. This can be an advantage for anyone walking a longer distance, especially over flatter landscapes, as bigger, heavier footwear can make you tire more easily.
For men, hybrids of the full sized walking boot and walking shoes include styles such as the Splitrock Mid Hiker. Like the low hikers, this style of walking boot offers all the support of a standard walking boot, just with slightly less ankle support as the boot doesn’t rise as high up the leg.
The Splitrock Mid Hiker comes in four different colours and is made from sustainable leather, with a comfortable fabric lining, made even more luxurious by the padded collar that helps cushion the boot around your ankle.
RELATED: How to correctly size your boots
Now with some idea as to what type of footwear could be best for your walking needs, we’d advise looking at all of the options before making your purchase. You can easily explore our full range of walking boots for men and hiking boots for women on our website.
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