Men's Hiking boots

Hiking boots are one of the most important pieces of gear for a successful trip. The key job of a boot is to give your ankle and sole the right support for how you intend to use it. We stock boots for every level, from day hikes to conquering the great fells. The lighter the load you carry, the more flexible boots you should choose. For backpacking trips, especially in difficult terrain, fairly stiff and supportive footwear works best. On hard surfaces, for example when testing them in the shop, this kind of footwear can feel unusually stiff, but once you get out on the trail carrying a pack, they turn out to be just right for the job. Many dog walkers even do all their walks in sturdy hiking boots.

An anatomical men’s last

Foot shape is partly a personal matter, but based on decades and even centuries of experience, quality manufacturers build their men’s boots on a different last than their women’s: on the average man’s foot, the difference in width between the heel and the ball of the foot is smaller than on women’s. Male users don’t need the same notch at the cuff that many women’s boots have.

Tips for choosing and caring for your boots

Read our blog posts Breaking in new hiking boots and Hiking boot care guide.

Waterproof or without a membrane?

The vast majority of hiking boots sold in Finland come with a waterproof membrane. The popularity of Gore-Tex footwear owes a lot to our wet terrain, where rubber boots used to be standard kit for hikers. A hiking boot keeps your feet dry and also gives you the support you need when you’re walking, maybe already a little tired, over rocky ground with a heavy load. For some hikers the right choice is a boot without a membrane, and so we’ve added those to our range too.

How supportive a boot should you choose?

Hiking boots often come with a stiffness rating - this tells you how supportive and stiff the boots are. Class A and A/B boots suit day hikes and light trekking, while class B, B/C and C boots are made for more demanding terrain and carrying a heavy pack. Some manufacturers have their own stiffness rating, but we aim to describe the conditions each boot is suited for. Stiffness refers both to ankle support and to how much the sole resists twisting and flexing. Thanks to clever lacing systems, even stiff boots can be tightened over the instep and left looser at the cuff, which improves comfort on steep terrain, for example.

Care extends the life of your boots

Caring for your hiking boots keeps them in good shape. Especially if you spend a lot of time on bogs, it’s worth rinsing your boots with clean water after pretty much every use: this stops acidic bog water from doing its damage. It’s also a good idea to wipe or brush loose mud and dust off the surface of the boots. The leather and textile materials in your hiking boots are treated to repel water. This not only protects against the water itself but also helps keep the material breathable: water vapour can no longer escape from material that has soaked through. The surface treatment gradually wears off with use. You’ll notice this when you step into a puddle: on a new or freshly treated boot the water beads up nicely, whereas a weakened treatment lets the water soak into the surface material. Leather-surfaced boots are also worth waxing once or twice a year. Wax keeps the leather in good condition and stops it drying out. Meindl and Nikwax make excellent boot care products for keeping the surface of your boots in good shape. Always make sure the care product you use suits your footwear: products suitable for treating Gore-Tex footwear mention Gore-Tex specifically. The products in our range are reliable and simple to use. Look after your boots - your feet will thank you!

If your hiking boots see a break from use, a hard surface can sometimes form on the sole material. You can tackle this surface with a steel brush without worry: just brush the tread pattern so the surface breaks up a touch. Boots like being used: regular use, even light, keeps the midsole of your hiking boots in working order. Remember to store your hiking boots in a dark, cool place, and never on top of underfloor heating.

Hiking boots and hiking socks - a perfect pair

Hiking boots’ best friend is a pair of hiking socks. We recommend using thin liner socks with medium-weight hiking socks over them. That way the socks rub against each other, which reduces chafing on your skin by a great deal. On long hikes, changing the liner sock alone goes a long way, while the hiking sock itself easily handles several days of use without getting too dirty. The material of your hiking socks affects how warm your feet stay. In winter conditions it’s worth investing in socks with a high wool content, while in summer synthetic fibres come into their own.

Even though Meindl footwear, for example, most often feels great on the foot straight out of the box, we always recommend walking a few loops in new boots before setting off on your first trip. This gets the boots starting to mould to your own feet and makes sure they don’t cause any chafing.

Favourite brands and models

Meindl is a true classic, with a history reaching all the way back to the 1600s
Hanwag competes for the top spots among European hiking boot brands
Lowa is a favourite for many
Lundhags makes robust hiking boots using its own unique recipe

Order men’s hiking boots from a Finnish specialist store - delivered right to your door if needed, and our range includes wide-last men’s hiking boots too!