Wherever you are traveling the human feet are likely to be taking the brunt of pressures of the outdoors. With the added weight of supplies and most likely a backpack, it is very likely that pressures on your feet will be extreme. Combine that fact with rough and rugged terrain and you can wear your feet out quickly.

Before we explore the basic types of footwear that are on the market, a few general tips: Always break in any footwear before being used. A good way to break in leather boots is to wet them. Secondly, always bring ample amounts of clean socks with you on any outing. A foot can quickly turn into a big blistering sore mess if not taken care of properly.

The following is a quick sampling of different boots. Each is geographically suited and you should always bring the right pair of boots!

1) Desert Boots:
Good desert boots will be made of light leather with extremely tough soles. This allows the foot to properly breath and also will withstand the incredibly hot sand below. The boot is also constructed with high sides to keep sand out of your shoes.

2) Fabric Boots:
Prwfered by many mountaineers, the lightweight fabric boot is characterized by shock absorbing treads suitable for icy and snowy terrain. The fabric is usually designed to dry quickly and allow for decent ventilation. Some argue that fabric material does not provide as much protection as leather however,many believe that the lightweight nature of the boots and fact that they dry faster than leather makes them well suited for the mountain.

3) Hiking Boots:
In general, a good hiking boot will have a high level of traction grip with pads along the upper part of the ankle to provide high support during climbs. When buying hiking boots be mindful of the weight of the boot; look for a good balance of strength, padding, and flexibility.

4) Jungle Boots:
Unlikeountain, desert, or snow, the jungle requires a different type of boots to adequately protect againt insects and other animals. Secondly, with the high mosture level in the jungle, look for boots which allow the toes to breath. Walking around all day with wet feet can cause infections and impede any survival attempts. Jungle boots also should have high ankles, in order to protect the ankles and keep rain and pond/ stream water out of them.

5) Snow Boots:
Usually constructed out of high grade plastic and heavily insulated, a snow boot’s main purpose is to allow you to navigate safely through ice, slush, and snow without freezing. Additionally, like many of the boot’s described above, a good snow boot will allow for breathability. In cold conditions moisture and sweat will strip your bodies core temperature and can lead to death. Some good quality snow boot’s have insulated inner sections which can be removed and cleaned.

No matter which boot’s you are using always unlace your boot’s and let them air out on a nightly basis in order to adequately dry them out. Despite common knowledge, it is never a good idea to place boot’s to close to a fire or sun source, as intense head can damage the boot’s or even worse, crack leather.  Many companies sell a waterproofing compound which you can apply to most boots.