Hiking Boots: No Foot No Horse!
Having had a life time of experience in the great outdoors, one of the phrases which I remember well is �no foot no horse’ meaning if your horse has got poor feet it will not be up to the work.

What This Means To You�
Well it has to be said that it is the same for us and our hiking boots! So, if you don’t have a decent pair of hiking boots you can leave yourself open to all sorts of consequences, these can include anything from blisters, to wet feet, to sprains and worse.

Cheap Boots Are A False Economy:
Back in the early days of our outdoor expeditions we opted for cheap boots but they were a false economy. Usually they would leak like sieves regardless of how often they were waterproofed! They also do not keep their shape and support, especially once you start to clock up the miles.

I guess in the beginning we never really realised how serious we were about hiking, or how much we would use them and therefore lacked the respect for them being such a key piece of equipment.

This Does Not Mean You Have To Have Expensive Boots

On the other hand we do not have the most expensive boots either!

There are a range of styles and weights of boots available that are reasonably priced. They range from hiking shoes to hiking boots to full mountaineering boots.

The materials can be synthetic or leather.
Some are waterproof boots {while others|yet others} are water resistant.

Some boots are more suited to summer, and others to winter. Some are suitable for lighter terrains and trails, while others are more designed for off-track and more rugged terrain, and of course there is huge price range too.

You Need To Determine What The Boots Are To Be Used For:
When you have an idea of the use that you would like to get from your hiking footwear, this will help to determine the style and material you choose.

Always Take Your Hiking Socks With You When Trying Boots On:
It is important that you take your hiking socks with you when you try on your boots, and also make sure you don’t try your boots on first thing in the day because your feet can swell a bit during the day, so allow for this when having a fitting.

IMPORTANT - You Won’t Just Be Walking On Level Ground
One major point to consider - which is often forgotten, is that chances are you will not just be walking on level ground.

Boots that seem a comfortable fit on the level or when climbing up to Snowdon summit can turn into a nightmare when you turn at the top and come back down the paths and slopes.

If your boots are not the correct fit or are not correctly laced you will end up with your toes hitting or being squashed into the front of your boots, resulting in pain, blisters, bruised and lost toenails!

Some retailers will have a purpose built ramp where you can walk up and down the slopes to try out the boots to see how they are in these circumstances, so you can feel how secure and comfortable the boots are.

Terrains Will Vary:
The types of terrain that Georgina covered were extremely varied.
The distances covered on any individual hiking session varied from a few miles to fifty miles, the terrain varied from sandy coast path, marshy terrains of Exmoor and Dartmoor, to the steep and rocky mountain tops of the UK’s highest peaks.

The weather the boots endured too was everything from 2 metres deep of snow on top of Ben Nevis to wading across rivers on Dartmoor, to hot dusty tracks on the coast path.

So as you can see the boots Georgina used had to be versatile, durable, supportive and comfortable.

Georgina’s Choice - �Scarpa Terra GTX�:
Georgina actually had two pairs of hiking boots for her 3 and 6 Peaks Challenges, and other events.

Her old faithful’s were a pair of leather Scarpa’s, and the new kids on the block were a pair of synthetic Brashers.

The decision as to which is her first choice and which is her second has been a tough decision, they have both been excellent, but the Scarpa Terra GTX boots win by a fraction.

The Scarpa’s are made from oiled full grain leather so there was instant support and protection. These were her first pair of leather hiking boots, and breaking them in was relatively easy and problem free.

These are waterproof walking boots due to the fact that they have got a GORE-TEX Performance Comfort Footwear lining which offers outstanding waterproof properties.

They have given good grip and traction on the differing terrains, provided no doubt by the Vibram Energy sole.

Scarpa Boots Saved Georgie Breaking Her Ankle
The Scarpa’s saved a fracture too! I am in no doubt whatsoever that when Georgina had her accident that her Scarpa boots saved her ankle from a full fracture.

The bruising was all above the boot, and the boot also helped to keep her foot and ankle supported while she was airlifted to hospital where it was then removed.

These boots also acted as a great support through her physio and rehabilitation after her accident.

They most definitely got her back on her feet and successfully got her through the following challenges:

Youngest Solo 3 and 6 Peaks Challenges

Ten Tors

Duke of Edinburgh

As well as hiking holidays in Scotland, Wales and England! They have done a LOT of miles!!!