How to Find the Best Hiking Boots for Flat Feet
If you have flat feet chances are that walking long distances is not your most favorite thing to do in this world.
Yes you love the outdoors and would like to get away but those darn flat feet will not let you enjoy it.
What's a flat-foot to do? Finding the best hiking boots for flat feet takes a little research and due diligence on your part and this article will help guide you through the process.
What are flat feet? All babies and very young children have flat feet, then when they turn 2 or 3 the arch begins to form.
But for some people the arch does not form and when they stand the instep of the foot comes in contact with the ground.
People with flat feet tend to over pronate when walking, meaning their feet tend to rotate inward.
A sign of over pronation would be excessive wear on the inner part of your soles.
This can lead to bunions, knee, back and hip pain, blisters and shin splints When you are looking to buy hiking boots for flat feet the search criteria should be based on the type of trip you will use them for and not based on arch support.
The reason is because the insole is what determines the arch support not the boot itself.
While most hiking boots have passable arch support it is usually not enough for people with flat feet.
Just like anyone looking for the best hiking boots the best style for your feet depends on the type of hiking you will do.
Are you going on a day hike, weekend trip or long backpacking trip? Will you be mostly on trail or off trail? Will you be carrying a light or heavy load? Search online for the boots that best match these criteria.
The top recommended brands by fellow flat footed people are Salomon, Keen, Vasque, Merrell and Asolo.
After narrowing your search down you should go to your local outdoor or sporting goods store to try them on.
You will usually be helped by a knowledgeable employee.
Wear the socks that you will hike in.
Also sense feet swell after activity make sure to go in after exercising,walking a good distance or at the end of the day so that your boots will not be to tight on the trail.
Look for low volume boots.
A boot that has low volume has less space for your feet to fill than a high volume boot.
People with flat feet have feet that do not take up a lot of space in their hiking boots and will need low volume boots so that their feet are not swimming around in the boots.
Most boots for hiking have removable insoles that are designed to provide ample cushioning and arch support but will probably not fit your special flat-footed needs.
You can remove them and replace them with third-party insoles from a podiatrist.
One product that hikers swear by is Superfeet.
These are the highest recommended insole and come in a variety of types depending on your boot/shoe type and what type of activity you will need them for.
The Green Superfeet will be the best for hiking boots.
At the end of the day your feet will thank you for taking care of them and for doing your research to find the best hiking boots for flat feet.
Yes you love the outdoors and would like to get away but those darn flat feet will not let you enjoy it.
What's a flat-foot to do? Finding the best hiking boots for flat feet takes a little research and due diligence on your part and this article will help guide you through the process.
What are flat feet? All babies and very young children have flat feet, then when they turn 2 or 3 the arch begins to form.
But for some people the arch does not form and when they stand the instep of the foot comes in contact with the ground.
People with flat feet tend to over pronate when walking, meaning their feet tend to rotate inward.
A sign of over pronation would be excessive wear on the inner part of your soles.
This can lead to bunions, knee, back and hip pain, blisters and shin splints When you are looking to buy hiking boots for flat feet the search criteria should be based on the type of trip you will use them for and not based on arch support.
The reason is because the insole is what determines the arch support not the boot itself.
While most hiking boots have passable arch support it is usually not enough for people with flat feet.
Just like anyone looking for the best hiking boots the best style for your feet depends on the type of hiking you will do.
Are you going on a day hike, weekend trip or long backpacking trip? Will you be mostly on trail or off trail? Will you be carrying a light or heavy load? Search online for the boots that best match these criteria.
The top recommended brands by fellow flat footed people are Salomon, Keen, Vasque, Merrell and Asolo.
After narrowing your search down you should go to your local outdoor or sporting goods store to try them on.
You will usually be helped by a knowledgeable employee.
Wear the socks that you will hike in.
Also sense feet swell after activity make sure to go in after exercising,walking a good distance or at the end of the day so that your boots will not be to tight on the trail.
Look for low volume boots.
A boot that has low volume has less space for your feet to fill than a high volume boot.
People with flat feet have feet that do not take up a lot of space in their hiking boots and will need low volume boots so that their feet are not swimming around in the boots.
Most boots for hiking have removable insoles that are designed to provide ample cushioning and arch support but will probably not fit your special flat-footed needs.
You can remove them and replace them with third-party insoles from a podiatrist.
One product that hikers swear by is Superfeet.
These are the highest recommended insole and come in a variety of types depending on your boot/shoe type and what type of activity you will need them for.
The Green Superfeet will be the best for hiking boots.
At the end of the day your feet will thank you for taking care of them and for doing your research to find the best hiking boots for flat feet.
