The Importance of Good Hiking Boots

by Brian Johansson

When you are preparing for a hike the most important item you are going to need is hiking boots. Your ability to enjoy a hike rests heavily on your feet and the comfort and support they are going to require. Gym shoes are not built to handle the rough terrain and rocky paths. You should select a pair of boots that are designed for the type of hiking you are interested in. If you are going to be mostly in hilly areas with established paths you won't need the most heavy duty boot around. You should find a pair that feels comfortable and provides the stability you are going to need.

There are three kinds of hiking boots and each has a specific purpose. Try to decide which of these three works best for your needs. Trail shoes are designed for short hikes (up too one day) on fairly well established paths without much climbing. Trail hikers are designed for longer hikes (multiple day) on steeper paths or muddy/wet terrain. Mountaineering boots are made for intense climbing and mountain navigating. You should decide which of these activities you are interested in an decide on a boot from there.

Once you have decided on a boot make sure to purchase them with plenty of time before you are going to have to wear them in a hiking situation. Boots take time to break in and you will need to allow them to adjust to your feet and to properly wear in the material. If the boots are leather make sure to purchase leather conditioner to use on any tough spots that cause pinching. Take short one to two hour hikes over a few weeks to break in the boots. Make sure your foot is comfortable and snug but you should still be able to wiggle your toes.

Make sure to take purchase socks that are not made of cotton before going on a long hike.

About the Author

Brian is a professional outdoorsman who enjoys sharing his experiences with other enthusiasts. Visit his website http://www.go-hiking.info for more information!

http://www.mybestboots.com

Western Boots

by Barry Hooper

There are two basic types of cowboy boots --- western and roper. The western style is different because it usually has an angled heel, which is well over an inch high.

Traditionally cowboy boots had a high 'low-slung' heel in order to help the cowboy keep his foot in the stirrup. Although western boots may be made with a large variety of toe shapes, they are traditionally made with a pointed toe.

Roper style cowboy boot would usually have a more rounded heel, of only an inch or sometimes even lower. Roper boots are also usually made with rounded toes, but new styles are being created all the time, and the two styles will probably ultimately blend.

Hand-made western boots, made to your exact requirements can be expensive. You are probably wondering why. The simple fact is that boots are complicated to make. They can take up to a year or more and the construction is not simple. There are dozens of individual steps to the manufacturing process.

High quality hand crafted leather western boots have approximately 290 individual steps to their production, from the first cut of the leather, until the boots are quality inspected and boxed. To create special boots requires a team of specialists. Thus it is obvious that much of the cost goes towards paying specialist labor.

Next let us consider materials. Leather --- more specifically cowhide --- is often the first choice for a durable western boot. While cowhide has been the traditional leather, western boots are now made with a wide variety of exotic skins as well. With the proper care, a pair of leather western boots will last for many years. Many finishes are available from suede to distressed leather. Each will give the boot an entirely different feel and look.

Although traditional western boots would have leather soles, or outsoles as they are called in the trade, the trend is towards rubber. Rubber soles tend to outlast leather, and also make the boot less costly.

You may wonder how the sole is attached to the boot. High quality boots are usually pegged (with lemonwood pegs), cemented and sewn. Lower cost boots are nailed in stead of pegged. These all factor into the cost of your western boots. It may be worth noting that soles which have been nailed or pegged, can usually be able to be re-soled.

On western boots, cowboy heels are usually slightly sloped and a little less than 2" in height. Traditionally, roper style boots and walking heels would have heels which are larger at the base and shorter, with a uniform or no slope.

Western boots typically have either a narrow toe, a medium round, or a wide round toe. Narrow toes give a more traditional style, but wider toes offer substantially more comfort.

Own a pair of western boots, and you own an enduring symbol of American history. And with the right care and attention, your leather western cowboy boots will last you for many years, becoming part of your own history.

http://www.mybestboots.com

Fabroc - A new Intelligent Fabric that Keeps you Warm - Boot Liners

by Hans Dekker

Protection from the elements is one of the fundamental necessities in life. Exposure to extreme temperatures can be deadly and every year there is an increasing number of outdoor enthusiasts who succumb to extreme weather. New technologies are addressing this problem by devising heated clothing. Fabroc is one of these new technologies -- a polymer-based material which can be made into a variety of clothing.

Fabroc uses electric current supplied by a power source such as a lithium-ion battery to produce heat. It is flexible, waterproof, windproof, and stretchable. It has a number of practical applications including heated clothing for outdoor use, an alternative source of household heat during periods of inactivity, industrial battery heaters, and patient heating during surgical procedures.

Fabroc is a self-regulating heating material because as its temperature rises, the resistance of Fabroc increases, which means it draws less power and produces less heat. Conversely, when the temperature drops, Fabroc draws more power and produces more heat.

It is the perfect material for clothing because it produces uniform heat over the entire surface. Unlike other heating sources, Fabroc does not produce hotspots. The heat produced can be finely controlled so it is a safe fabric to use for any application.

Because Fabroc can be used to generate heat over a large area, it can be used for many different types of clothing as well as heating pads for beds, saddle heaters for horse riding, ski boot liners, heated gloves, and military applications.

Fabroc is lightweight, flexible, and strong. It can be powered by a number of sources including lithium-ion batteries, AC wall adapters, DC adapters, or solar power sources. It can operate on very low voltages and a small battery can provide up to six hours of heat on one charge.

Fabroc is currently being used for outdoor clothing of all types including underwater wetsuits for deep-sea use.

About the Author

The revolutionary Stormrider Heated Vest is available at the authors website. http://www.exo2-fabroc-store.com/ We welcome all your questions and ideas.

http://www.mybestboots.com/