Hiking needs proper preparation. If you are interested in duck boots then you must know whether they are good for hiking or not. It is not possible to have a successful hiking experience by sudden planning. Having proper preparation brings the most thrilling experience of hiking. Hiking boots are the most important things to choose before going hiking. Let’s move into the duck boots.
In my own experience, Duck boots are one of the most popular boots for a long time. And they are suitable for casual wear like- jeans, tee shirts, jumpsuits, etc. The fashionable and exotic designs of the boots for both men and women have made the boots loved by casual lovers. They are undoubtedly best-for-hunting, camping, walking at the beach, etc. But are they good for hiking? Let’s find it.
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What are Duck Boots?
Leon Leonwood Bean, who was an author, inventor, outdoor enthusiast, had first invented duck boots, also known as bean boots. Leon Bean used to go hunting and was sick of having wet feet every day. So to solve this problem, in 1912, he took the initiative of making a kind of boots that are not only completely waterproof but also suitable for the outdoors.
He designed a boot that was made using both rubber and leather. The sole and the upper portion of the boot were respectively made of rubber and leather. The rubber sole protects feet from any kind of natural element like- dust, mud, water. On the other hand, the leather exterior of the boot makes it much comfortable to wear like any other boots.
Why are they called “Duck” Boots?
The boots are called “Duck” boots because they were primarily used by the duck hunters after the birth. The waterproof quality of the duck boots has made them popular among duck hunters. The duck hunters needed to be at swampy and muddy places all day long. So, duck boots were the best option to choose while going hunting.
Thus the association of the boots with duck hunters named them to duck boots. But they are also called bean boots, named after its inventor Leon Bean.
Many companies have adopted this idea of making duck boots afterward. The name duck boots got more famous after that. Now duck boots are not only used for going for hunting. People wear duck boots for going outdoors, or on a trip, or while camping. Durability and waterproofness have made them come this far.
Pros and Cons of Duck Boots for Hiking
Pros:
Comfortable: Duck boots are very comfortable to wear. They are capable of preventing your feet from getting wet and hurt. They also relieve your feet from coldness and dirt.
Easy to put on: They are really easy to put on than many other boots. If you are in a hurry for going hiking, you can select the duck boots with your casual outfit.
Waterproof: The duck boots are specialized in waterproofness. You can walk on muddy or dumpy trails comfortably wearing duck boots.
Cons:
Fit: The spacious interior makes the drawback of duck boots for hiking. The spacious rubber sole increases the friction for the constant movement of your feet. The friction is responsible for creating sweat, heat, or even blister during hiking.
Ankle support: The ankle support that the duck boots provide is not sufficient enough for hiking cause your ankles will be in a vulnerable condition while hiking. Duck boots do not have that much stiffness to provide strong ankle support.
Breathability: The waterproof feature of the duck boots becomes worthless if you walk on dry trails. It becomes a drawback of the duck boots then and makes the interior of the boots less breathable. Lacking breathability and ventilation creates more sweat, which not good for hiking.
Traction: The duck boots are mainly designed for wet, muddy, and slippery conditions. The boots will not give satisfying service if you are hiking on dry and jagged terrain. The duck boots do not have enough traction for being in use for hiking.
Is it worth wearing duck boots / Bean Boots for hiking?
If we evaluate the pros and cons of the duck boots for hiking, we can see that there are more cons than pros to using duck boots for hiking. Besides, the suffocating interior makes them incapable of being used for hiking or long walks.
So if you are planning on buying hiking boots, it would be better if you do not go for duck boots. You can have duck boots for other uses, but certainly, they are not good enough for hiking.
Best Uses of Duck Boots / LL Bean Boots:
Hunting: Duck boots were primarily used by the duck hunter for the waterproof quality of the duck boots. So you can easily use them for going out for hunting. It is also a safe option if you need to go to the woods for hunting.
Fishing: To go on fishing, you need to be at the riverside places, which are much muddy or dumpy. So using duck boots while going on fishing would bring the experience out for you. You will have very comfortable and enjoyable fishing without wetting your feet.
Camping: Duck boots are also best for camping. You need to go to rough and muddy places while camping. So duck boot is the best option available for going out for camping.
Beach Walking: Beach walking is all about walking beside the sea. If you do not want to wet your feet while beach walking, you can select duck boots without giving any second thought.
FAQs
Are duck boots good for snow walking?
Yes, the duck boots are up to good for snow walking. The duck boots were made especially for the people who want waterproofness in their boots. So the duck boots work fine in the dump or muddy grounds. They are also excellent for all seasons- summer, rainy season, and winter. So you can easily select duck boots for going out for snow walking in winter.
Are duck boots slippery?
No, the duck boots are not slippery, even in a snowy environment. The duck boots have high traction, which makes it highly suitable for being in use on muddy or slippery grounds. Even, the main specialty of the duck boots is to be capable of giving great service on slippery grounds.
Do duck boots stretch out?
Although it is not recommended, but you can stretch out the duck boots. But as the sole of the duck boots are made of rubber, they stretch out automatically after being in use for a little while.
How can you clean your duck boots?
You can wash your duck boots by using a soaked sponge or wet cloth. But never put your duck boots directly in the washer because if the leathery portion of your boot comes in touch of water, it can damage your boots. The steps that you can follow to wash your boots are-
1. Soak a sponge.
2. Apply the soaked sponge on the rubber sole of the boots, be careful about not wetting the leathery portion.
3. To clean the leather portion, extra dirt and dust, you can use a leather cleaner.
What are the qualities hiking boots should have?
Hiking is not an easy job to accomplish. Hiking requires a lot of physical energy and strong determination. Your feet and legs go through a lot of pressure and stress during hiking. So choosing boots for hiking is a crucial task before going for hiking. There are some characteristics that you need to notice before choosing hiking boots.
Traction
The most frequent reasons for getting injured while hiking is- slipping and falling. So to prevent this problem there should be resistance underneath your boot, and the resistance is called traction.
To measure traction, necessary tests are needed to be conducted to determine the coefficient of friction and the slip resistance characteristics for shoes or materials under varying surface conditions. The closer the value to 1, the slipping is less likely. Increased outsole traction and midsole stability help hiking boots have enough traction for hiking.
Breathability
Lacking of breathability is a major problem of conventional hiking shoes. It is natural that your feet might sweat a lot while hiking. So low ventilation and high humidity of your boots’ interior can make you feel so much uncomfortable. It can even cause various skin problems like allergies, rashes and infections.
If the upper materials of your hiking boots are much moisture absorbable, then the boots will be more breathable, and thus those will be more comfortable to wear.
Weight
The weight of the boots is an important factor to consider before purchasing. The weight of your boots is related to your oxygen and energy consumption. The heavier your shoes are, the greater stress would be felt by your muscles and your back. So try to select boots with lightweight to avoid extra stress on your muscles and lose extra energy.
Cushioning
Cushioning is the ability of boots to absorb the shock of the wearer’s feet. The human body can feel any disturbing motion like discomfort or pain. Wearing boots all day long while hiking can create this type of discomfort or pain on your feet.
Cushioning is the way to reduce the pain or discomfort of the wearer. Adding rubber, air soles, gel, pads or fluid soles to the boots is the way of cushioning. It is a much important part of hiking boots.
Comfort and Protection
Comfort and protection are the important factors before choosing hiking boots. Oxygen consumption of a boot is closely related to the comfort of the wearer. If the boots consume more oxygen, the muscle activity of the wearer increases, and then he or she will feel uncomfortable because of the extra fatigue.
Besides, some other factors closely associated with the factor of comfort like- breadth of the forefoot, changes in muscle activity, foot shape, fit between foot and footwear, foot sensitivity, the weight of the shoe, and temperature.
The pair of your hiking boots also should be capable of protection against harsh conditions on the trail. The weight of the boots is a consideration while thinking about protection. Usually, heavy boots provide extra protection. Also, there are 2 important factors when it comes to protection-
- The material of the boot
- The presence or absence of additional features like the toe cap
Support and Stiffness
If you are bearing heavy baggage while hiking, you will need ankle support. Otherwise, there is a high chance of getting injured. To support your ankles, you will need boots with stiffened cuffs. But the drawback of the stiffness is, it reduces the movement of your feet, which can create a discomforting situation for you.
Durability
The durability of your boots depends on the material, technology used, storage, duration of use, the terrain as well as weather conditions, including humidity. It also depends on how well you are taking care of the boots.