Hiking is an outdoor activity that most of us have thought about taking up at least once.
Do we have the necessary wear, or more precisely, footwear for the occasion?
On one side, we have hiking enthusiasts who gladly put their heart and soul into finding and buying the right equipment. Still, we should not fail to acknowledge those that want to combine useful with comfort.
Let’s say that you’re a construction worker, and you’re wondering if there is another purpose your work boots can fill. Maybe a more precise question would be:
Can you wear your work boots for hiking? Is this acceptable, or is it considered breaking the law, figuratively speaking?
Well, that’s what we’re going to dig into today.
Stick around to determine whether your construction boots are made for hiking, how often you should take them outdoors, and some common misconceptions that might lead you to second-guess this decision.
Scroll down!
The Answer Is —Yes!
Work boots are made for working, but they can also come in handy if you need a pair for a weekend hike you’ve been invited to.
Sure, they’re not the ideal and expected equipment if you find yourself in a group of well-prepared hikers.
Most professional hikers would argue that you should get hiking boots instead, but there’s no reason for you to take this as a life-or-death situation and rush to the shop or order just any pair of hiking boots you can find online. Let’s not jump to conclusions yet.
What you should do, instead, is look at this possibility from a slightly wider angle. Think about the difference between the two types of boots, the possible pros and cons of taking your work boots for a hike, and how often you plan on doing so.
All of this can be crucial to making a well-thought-out decision.
Work Boots vs. Hike Boots: What’s The Difference?
Most of you wouldn’t believe how much the shoe industry has evolved and worked on improving customer comfort and wearability.
Since we’re talking about work and hiking boots, this would be an excellent time to gloss over the difference between a regular pair of construction work boots and a pair of hiking ones.
Weight
There’s no doubt that you’ll feel the weight difference when you pick up your work boots, put them down, and then pick up a pair of professional hiking ones.
Don’t worry if you don’t have both of them to experiment with — the results are already known:
Working boots are much heavier than the hiking pair sitting in the shop window.
Why? Well, mainly because they’re designed to withstand pressure and prevent workers from potential injuries. Work boots are designed to perform as a “foot-shield,” and that’s one of their primary purposes.
The main reason for the weight difference is that most work boots come with a steel toe and shank on top with a leather upper. This helps protect the wearer from cuts, punctures, and other impacts at work. If you’re in construction, these features are a must-have.
Also, work boots will appear stiffer than hiking boots.
Traction
Both work and hiking boots are made from lug soles. These thick rubber soles contribute to sound footing and provide the person wearing them with added grip.
However, if you turn the two boots upside down, you’ll see that there’s quite a difference in the construction and pattern of the soles. The rubber material might seem similar, but the design is the main difference.
If you take a closer look at the soles of your hiking boots, for example, you’ll notice unusual, almost random-like patterns. And although this might seem like a fashion thing, it’s not — they’re not random at all.
The soles of your hiking boots and the patterns drawn are very carefully made that way, taking into account the unevenness of the ground you’re walking on.
The depth and space between these patterns make it easier to balance when walking on rocky or loose soil, which is not shared with work boots.
There is a rule hikers abide by. The more random-like the pattern, the better the grip.
Price
Buying another pair of boots for hiking purposes might not be a good idea for everyone’s wallet. If you’re not a committed hiker, there’s a good chance that you’re second-guessing this investment for a reason.
Hiking equipment can be expensive, but you’ll find that high-quality work boots could cost you a lot more than a pair of hiking ones.
The main reason for this is their purpose: wearer protection. Work boots are made of more complicated and stiffer materials, primarily rubber and leather, to prevent possible injuries.
Therefore, the price of work boots can go anywhere between $75 and $700. The ones manufactured in America are more likely to carry a more expensive price tag.
A lower price tag doesn’t diminish the quality of hiking boots, though. The materials invested in manufacturing these boots are also high-quality, but the emphasis is on durability.
Flexibility
In terms of flexibility, you’ll see a big difference when you try to fold or do a squat with your work boots vs. hiking boots.
With hiking boots, you’ll feel almost no pressure when it’s time to squat or climb. This is because the rubber these boots are made from is aimed at improving flexibility while rock-climbing, for example.
In hiking expeditions, your feet are more likely to fold, and the wearer needs boots that will succumb to this action almost effortlessly.
As for work boots, the emphasis is not so much on flexibility as it is on the stability of the foot.
The Pros & Cons of Wearing Work Boots on Hikes
It would be desirable if you could find a boot that you can work and go on a hike in sometimes. From what we’ve learned, that’s possible.
But is it a good idea, though?
You’ve been hearing a lot about why you should or shouldn’t do it, so here’s our take.
We’ll be dismantling popular prejudices and leaning towards a rational conclusion of going on hikes in your work boots.
Pros
The most apparent advantage of hiking in work boots is saving money. This is, of course, if hiking is not on your weekly plan.
Spending money on a quality pair of hiking boots that you’re likely to put on two or three times a month is not money well-spent for someone working on a tight budget.
Work boots can be used for periodical hiking expeditions, and you won’t have to spend an extra hundred bucks on a pair that will sit in your shoe drawer for months on end, making you feel guilty for not going on hikes more often.
Durability would be the next on the list of advantages of wearing your construction boots on a mountain hike. As we said, the materials incorporated here are high-quality and made to withstand high pressure and damage.
Cons
Now, let’s look at the not-so-enviable side of wearing work boots on hikes.
For starters, on account of the last advantage, the durability of work boots might help you get away with something falling on your foot, but it won’t stop your foot from cramping or feeling stiff. The heaviness of these boots takes a toll after hiking in them for a while.
To get around this problem, work boots wearers opt for anti-fatigue insoles to help them manage. They act like the wearer’s personal mat that allows them to carry on for hours, and it has proven to be very helpful so far.
It’s also essential to mention the patterns on hiking boots’ soles. Since hiking involves moving on uneven surfaces, the added traction can be a life-saver if you slip.
Also, work boots are not waterproof, and hikes sometimes involve river-crossing expeditions. It’s not a pleasant feeling getting your feet wet and continuing the 5-hour hike in this condition. Trust us – even changing your socks doesn’t help.
Summing Up
As it shows, work boots are suitable for hiking expeditions but with a slight twist.
If you plan on going on two or three hikes, just for the fun of it, it certainly won’t hurt to reuse your work boots and hit the trails. If you’re planning on making this a regular activity, it’s probably not a good idea.
Although work boots are made from a high-quality rubber material to protect your foot from wear and tear – it’s not exactly the ideal footwear for long-term hiking.
Hiking boots are specifically made to get you through slippery or rocky soil without tripping, and they’re more flexible.
The bottom line: you can lace up your work boots and hit the tracks a few times. It won’t cause any long-term damage, no worries there.