Choosing the right pair of walking boots can be difficult with such a wide variety available to purchase. Many outdoor brands are competing for your business, and you can guarantee that each will claim to have all the features you are going to need and that their walking boots are the best on the market. How can you be sure which are the best boots to buy? What features are you going to need? And what technology is the best? If you narrow down the selection on offer using the five criteria below, you can be sure of the maximum performance and can then choose the style you prefer and the brand name which you trust the most.

Durability

If you want to walk wherever takes your fancy and want to be able to cover difficult terrain and get the best value for money, you need to choose a model with a hard wearing construction which will be up to the rigours of all terrain walking, in all weather conditions. For the maximum durability choose a model with full grain leather uppers and an outsole rubber compound able to cope with abrasive terrain without wearing down quickly. Most performance brands such as Brasher, Berghaus, Salomon, Merrell and HI-Tec all offer walking boots with high quality leather or nubuck uppers which will give the maximum lifespan, even with rough treatment.

Support

Walking boots are designed to offer maximum support for long walks and mammoth trekking adventures. In contrast to standard outdoor shoes and boots which will be fine for a couple of hours walking, for more extensive adventures in the great outdoors the feet need to have specialist support. As the feet get tired, the muscles stop working as efficiently leaving the feet prone to injury. Choose a pair of walking boots with rigid arch support to keep the feet well supported. Many brands offer technology to improve the efficiency of the walking stride, relieving the muscles from having to work so hard. With good support and an efficient stride pattern you can walk for longer before muscle fatigue sets in, and you will really feel the benefit after a full day on the feet.

Lightweight construction

For long walks over varied terrain and for hill and fell walking, the going can be hard, especially with strength sapping mud and boggy ground to factor in. Choosing a pair of lightweight walking boots will make all the difference at the end of the day, and will make walking much easier work. Most of the top brands keep the weight of the boots to the minimum, however Merrell and HI-TEC walking boots specialise in lightweight designs to keep muscle fatigue at bay for longer. There will be a slight trade off between the robustness and the weight, however what only seems like a few grams at the start of a walk, will feel like pounds at the end of the day, and lightweight walking boots will keep your legs and feet fresher for longer.

Traction

Check the tread pattern and the rubber compound used in the outsole design, and choose a model which will give you the maximum grip for the terrain you plan to cover. If you only ever walk on trails, soft ground and grass, choose a compound which is highly sticky to give you maximum traction. If you also walk on hard and abrasive surfaces, you should choose a compound which offers greater durability to prevent the tread from wearing down quickly. Vibram rubber is an excellent choice, giving a great balance of stickiness for off-road traction and durability for a good long lifespan.

Weatherproofing

The final consideration is the weather, and whilst you may not venture out of the house when the rain is pouring, if you like to go on long walks, you don't want to be caught out by a heavy shower. Choose a pair of waterproof walking boots which features a waterproof treatment for the uppers, or better still, a Gore-Tex fabric lining. This lightweight material ensures a totally waterproof seal to prevent external water from entering the shoes, whilst allowing moisture to exit to keep the feet cool and comfortable.

Pay attention to each of these criteria, and your choice of boots can then be made on whichever style and design takes your fancy.