Why do you need hiking rubber boots?
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Wearing rubber boots in rural areas is usually criticized, and for good reason. It’s not easy to walk long distances in them – you can easily get calluses, and the risk of twisting your ankle is high, especially when moving under a heavy load. The soles of most models are sensitive and the boots themselves are heavy. All together, this eliminates their main advantage – perfect impenetrability.
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only light boots made of Eva foam, but only as warm shoes for bivouac and shallow fords, and not as the main pair, fit into every more or less resistant hiking pair. This is not yet a good idea to wear rubber boots on a hike. And we have a request, which means we also have coherent shoes. There is a whole class of hiking rubber boots that organically complement the existing range of trekking shoes. But officially they are called “tourists” occasionally. The bulk of these boots are positioned by manufacturers as shoes for running, hunting and fishing, however, in fact, they are actively used by tourists, moreover, in Central and Northern Europe.
In this article we will tell you how to distinguish rubber boots suitable for hiking under a backpack from ordinary ones, and also by what criteria they are more suitable for hiking shoes.
When you need rubber boots on hikes
There are a number of places in tourism where a few rubber boots have proven to be better than hiking boots or sports shoes. And all these stories can be translated into 2 large groups:
- When it’s quite wet. Rubber boots are certainly waterproof, but hiking boots, including those in combination with membrane gaiters, may not cope with the highest humidity. In conditions of constant humidity and frequent fords, even heavy trekking shoes made of thick leather and with a Gore-Tex membrane will not save you from wet feet. Water has the opportunity to roll through the shoe, and the upper part of the shoe coincides with the foot and creates a feeling of hated wetness inside the shoe, even if the membrane does not allow water to pass inside;
- When it’s pretty unclean. Often slagged dirt is adjacent to moisture. For example, in swampy areas, as well as on broken roads and paths. It sticks to the shoes, causing them to wobble, darkening their appearance and shortening their service life. Cleaning trekking shoes in nature is problematic, but it’s easy to wash rubber boots from dirt while moving – just soak them in every pond or puddle or walk on the wettest grass. Moreover, dirt is absolutely not dangerous for rubber, unlike leather and textiles.
Hiking on the tundra
A special feature of tundra areas is wetlands due to endless permafrost. Moisture from snowfalls and bulk rains has nowhere to go, causing the soil and moss to almost turn sour and remain completely damp, even if there has been a huge period of precipitation. The place itself has the potential to abound in a mass of shallow rivers and streams with branches and tributaries, which must be passed through a certain number of times in a given day. Swearing at someone means wasting a lot of time and effort. It is much easier and more comfortable to wear rubber boots, for example, as there is no reason to worry about the shoes getting wet. Also in the case when you need to walk up to the knee without taking off your shoes, boots are better because they will dry out much more than trekking shoes. It will be quite simple to combine the water, remove and tighten the insole and inner fabric, if any, and put on dry socks. The fabric of the boots itself does not hold water, but that means it does not need to dry out.
Hiking rubber boots are not suitable for use in swampy areas. They are not afraid of dirt and dampness, but their entire system is adapted for movement under a backpack. Key photo: Viking shoes
Hiking in marshy areas
In swamps, mud, fords and moisture are mixed, as a result of which rubber boots are the ideal pair of shoes for these areas, which, in fact, is confirmed by skeptics.
Forest hikes in the off-season
In almost all forests in the off-season it becomes cold, damp and unclean. In addition to the arrows of rain and the river, on the road you have the opportunity to wait out late autumn – in the spring it has not yet melted, and in the fall it falls at night and melts during the day. In these conditions, rubber boots help your feet not only from moisture, but also bypassing hypothermia.
Practical rubber boots are ideal footwear for autumn forays into the forest, especially for picking mushrooms and berries © Sport Marfon
Combined hikes
Humidity and saturation of water are a faithful companion of combined hiking trips. And if in the summer you can still get by with Crocs and a pair of sneakers, then in the season or in cool areas 1 pair of rubber boots will be even better.
Hiking can also be combined with other forms of outdoor entertainment. For example, with walking fishing or mushroom picking. And here, comfortable rubber boots are also indispensable!
Replacement shoes
Rubber boots have every chance of playing the role of a pair of replaceable shoes during long expeditions. Trekking shoes, meanwhile, cover the mountainous part of the route, where they are needed on difficult terrain, ridges, and during forays into snow fields and glaciers. And boots are used on the plains in cool and wet weather, when crossing a ford or when traveling through swamps. For example, in small light radials and on a bivouac.
What is the difference between tourist rubber boots and regular ones?
The short answer to this question is that hiking wellies are a hybrid of rubber boots and trekking shoes. From the former we take a waterproof and easy-to-clean upper, and from the latter we get a stable and grippy sole. But let’s look at how ordinary rubber boots differ from tourist ones in their specific properties.
Stability
The soles of hiking rubber boots are more resistant to twisting and bending than regular soles. For this reason, they provide adequate strength and ankle support. Since the stiffer sole of the boot is less deformed under the weight of a hiker with a backpack while walking a route, this reduces the risk of foot flexion. Due to the increased rigidity of the joints, wooden, iron or plastic elements are also inserted into the soles of rubber boots for tourists. And to compensate for the loss of elasticity, they have a soft roll in the toe area to make walking more comfortable – just like trekking shoes!
Many hiking rubber boots have a fairly stiff heel and thinning at the Achilles tendon, which actually improves coverage at the ankle. This ensures joint support and reduces the risk of your foot slipping along the course.
Tenacity
Hiking rubber boots grip the terrain much better than any other regular boots, thanks to the rough tread, as well as the combination of rubber compounds of different densities in the sole.
Viking Falk Neo Green Tread
Tread Viking Elk Hunter 4. 0 Green
Comfort
Unlike regular rubber boots, hiking boots always have a stable midsole that absorbs the shock of walking. In addition, all hiking boots have an embodied drop between the toe and heel, as well as a soft roll in the forefoot. All together, this makes long walking in these boots much more comfortable.
All hiking boots have an embodied difference in height between the toe and heel, as well as a soft roll in the forefoot.
In addition, manufacturers of rubber boots for tourists pay great attention to the anatomical molding of the upper so that the fit on the foot is both impermeable and comfortable, and the shoes do not drag. The volume of the top of some models can be adjusted, tightening the volume of the boot for a better fit. At the same time, it will protect against small debris getting inside – for example, small twigs, needles, plant seeds.
With a reasonably snug and waterproof fit, hiking rubber boots are easy to put on and take off. To make them easier to photograph, most models have a special protrusion on the heel.
The same can’t be said for most budget rain boots. As a rule, they either turn out to be very loose in the area of the foot and boot, which, in fact, leads to calluses and ankle injuries, or they fit tolerably, but are quite difficult to put on and take off. Badly.
As a rule, the top of rubber boots for tourists is molded taking into account the anatomy of the foot. And in more expensive models, the volume of the top can be adjusted by tightening or lacing. Key photo: Tretorn
Strength
Hiking rubber boots are not inferior to and immediately surpass PVC boots in strength and are much more wear-resistant than lightweight models made of EVA foam. In this case, the bottom, toes, and sometimes the folds of hiking rubber boots are reinforced with additional layers of rubber, as is done in trekking shoes. This reduces wear and tear on the boots, and the reinforced toe box also protects the toes from impact when a hiker trips on granite or a tree root on the trail.
Most hiking rubber boots have opaque rubber reinforcements on the toe, heel and sole. Key photo: Tretorn
In terms of quality, hiking rubber boots are a compromise. They’re uncomfortable to wear on challenging mountain terrain with its steep climbs and descents, scree, and loose rivers. Here, trekking shoes are superior. However, on wet, flat terrain, especially off-trail, hiking rubber boots offer complete comfort and safety, even under a heavy backpack, without the risk of twisting your foot or developing giant blisters—almost like comfortable hiking boots. Furthermore, your feet will be maximally protected from moisture.
Boots made of rubber, PVC or EVA. Which ones to take on a hike
Most budget rubber boots are now made not of rubber, but of thick PVC. It’s inexpensive and durable, but has several significant drawbacks. PVC doesn’t have the elasticity necessary for an anatomical shape, and in cold weather, it significantly loses its elasticity and becomes brittle. Furthermore, it is heavy, does not dissipate heat well, is toxic to manufacture, and is difficult to recycle.
EVA foam is an alternative to PVC. Boots made from it are lightweight, warm, and flexible, but are not well suited for full-fledged trail running. EVA foam is very soft and easily cut by sharp rock edges, and if thin, it can be punctured by a broken branch. Even its high elasticity prevents the upper and sole from being rigid enough to provide safe and comfortable walking under a heavy backpack. For this reason, EVA boots are often used as bivouac boots or for wading.
Most advanced hiking rubber boots are made from several layers of natural rubber. Rubber doesn’t brown in the cold, offers the best combination of elasticity, strength, and weight for hiking, is non-toxic, and insulates heat better than any PVC, which is why it’s used to make winter rubber boots. However, these boots are considered more reliable than EVA boots, and all other things being equal, natural rubber boots are colder. For example, if you expect freezing temperatures and minimal walking, such as when fishing in winter, EVA boots are better. However, if comfort, safety, and durability when riding on rough terrain under saddle are more important to you, then natural rubber hiking boots are more suitable how to make rubber hiking boots more comfortable
How to make hiking rubber boots more comfortable
Use insoles with built-in arch support. They provide a more stable fit in the boots: your foot won’t slip out, and the boots themselves will feel snug and comfortable. These insoles also reduce the risk of foot inversion. Ideally, a boot fitter would custom-make a pair of molded insoles tailored to your foot, but in most cases, basic ready-made insoles are sufficient. They feature a hard plastic material that supports the arch, as well as a cushioning layer under the heel for maximum comfort during long walks.
- Use tall trekking socks. High ski socks are also suitable. The key is to ensure the sock reaches the knee, meaning it’s taller than the boots. The sock shouldn’t slip down or bunch up at the heel, making it easy to stand up and start. Otherwise, you won’t protect your feet from blisters and calluses. The second benefit of good trekking and ski socks is moisture wicking. Their fibers conduct moisture from the toes to the boot. From there, it evaporates better and is released to the outside. This improves the microclimate inside the rubber boot, reducing the risk of blisters and chafing.
- Why do you need hiking rubber boots
