Boots can be classified as lightweight, middleweight or heavyweight. Choosing the right boot for your use is very important. Here's the info on each class of boots:

Lightweight
- Best for short hikes (day hikes or one night backpacking)
- Usually very lightweight
- Not as sturdy as heavier-weight boots
- Not as protective as heavier-weight boots (minimal ankle support)

Middleweight
- More all-purpose
- Good for short to medium length backpacking trips
- Provides more protection than lightweight boots, usually waterproof
- Sturdier than lightweight boots

Heavyweight
- Very sturdy
- Designed for the longest of backpacking trips
- Often used with crampons for travel through icy/snowy conditions
- Usually weighs more than middleweight boots
- One piece leather upper

Other Boot Information

Breaking Boots In
Breaking your boots in is as important as selecting the right type for your uses. When you break boots in, you wear them for a short period of time at first, then increase the amount of time spent wearing them. Breaking boots in reduces how much the boots rub against your skin, reducing the chance of blisters.

Socks
Socks are very important as padding and protection for your feet. A thick sock is usually used over a thinner liner (often polypropylene) sock to help prevent the boot from rubbing against your skin and creating painful blisters.

Blisters
While hiking, especially in new and/or non-broken in boots, people's skin often rubs excessively against the boots or socks, resulting in a blister. The best solution to blisters is prevention; break in your boots and wear liner socks. But, if you start to develop "hot spots" on your feet, you can often prevent a blister by covering the area with tape, or perferably moleskin, a felt like tape, which protects your skin from rubbing and often prevents the blister from forming.

Lightweight Boots:

Middleweight Boots:

Heavyweight Boots: