Are Logger Boots Good for Hiking?

A logger boot is a very solid and stable work boot that is made specifically for people working in the logging industry. The terrain and conditions would be very similar for someone heading out on a hike. You would require the same type of stable boot or shoe that provides good support for your feet and ankles. So, are logger boots actually good for hiking?

Logger boots are good for hiking. Although they are on the heavier side when compared to a typical hiking boot, you’ll find they are plenty sturdy for the most rugged of hiking trails you will encounter. Just make sure your logger boots are broken in and you have plenty of time in them before heading out on a long hike of 3 or more miles.

Let’s take a closer look at the features of logger boots and what makes them great for hiking.

Why Logger Boots Make Decent Hiking Boots

Logger boots can make good hiking boots because of the support they provide your ankle in addition to the traction commonly found on their soles. The upper material is sturdy but flexible enough to keep you stable as you climb over difficult terrain.

Usually, the length of the logger boot reaches up about 9 inches over the ankle. This will support your ankle and allows you to hike through thick foliage without worrying about scratches or injury to your lower legs.

What sets logger boots up to be good hiking boots is the raised heel they have. This heel is meant to combine with a pair of climbing spurs, which will give you more traction on your hikes.

While this is all true, logger boots aren’t exclusively made with hiking in mind. This is important to consider because of the amount of walking you’re likely to do while on your hike. There is plenty of ankle support, and the traction is great for climbing obstacles, but walking long distances isn’t what logger boots are made for.

Logger Boots vs Regular Hiking Boots

Now, even though logger boots can be great for hiking, they were made for loggers in mind. The material used is meant for climbing and wet, marsh terrain. The biggest difference is the logger boot wasn’t made with long walking in mind. While they would help you by preventing slips or falls on the trail, your feet could end up suffering by the end of your trek.

Logger boots are designed to be work boots, which means they’re better suited for that kind of environment. Hiking boots are made with a long walk in mind. Hiking boots will have additional support for the inner sole to keep your feet comfortable at all times during your hike.

Remember that logger boots are made to protect your feet from outside forces, such as insects, snakes, and other dangerous things you might find in a forest. It’s also meant to keep the water out. While these can be great features in a hiking boot, they aren’t made for that purpose.

Who Makes the Best Logger Boots?

Danner Boots and Nicks Handmade Boots are two of the best logger boots out there. Both brands utilize the best features of logger boots into the best of the best to make your work experience a comfortable and safe one.

Danner Boots

Danner Boots offers three types of logger boots, with the first type offered in brown or black. They advertise that they have all of the features of a logger boot, but in a more lightweight model. This makes their boot ideal for all work types because it adds another level of flexibility to your footwear.

 

Danner Boots also uses Vibram rubber for its outer sole. This type of sole ensures great traction on the logger boots. The way the company stitches together the upper material with the insole ensures that you’ll have a wider surface under your foot, which gives you a more stable footing.

Danner Boots are much cheaper than Nicks Handmade Boots. The first option they have is their non-insulated logger boot. This boot uses all of the best features for a logger boot, such as the raised heel and the oiled leather upper. They are 100% waterproof, which is something a hiker would benefit from in a boot.

The next logger boot Danner Boots has is the insulated option. These boots have the same features as their non-insulated ones, except that they also have a 400g Thinsulate Ultra material inside the boot to keep your feet warm throughout rain or snow. This insulation is lightweight, so it keeps the entire boot remaining an easy, lightweight choice.

From there, the most expensive logger boot Danner Boots offers is the insulated composite toe logger boot. This boot will protect your toes from falling objects, and it doesn’t set off metal detectors. 

Nicks Handmade Boots

Nicks Boots are a great option for boots because they are completely handmade. You can go in and design the perfect boot for your purposes. They also provide stock boots, which are just boots already made that they keep in stock. Those will take two weeks to receive.

 

Their boots are a lot more expensive, even for the stock boots. Their price ranges from $490 to $545 per pair. This can be a bit too high if you’re just looking for a casual hiking boot. What’s really great about Nicks Handmade Boots is that they offer such a wide variety of stock boots and even more custom-made boot options. 

When you submit your order for custom made boots through their website, you’re then able to submit a form that allows you to send the company your boot measures. Their made-to-order logger boots start at $539, and it lets you pick every aspect of the boot you want. You can either pick your own size, or you can have them send you a fit kit, so you know you get the right size for you personally.

Do Loggers Wear Steel Toe Boots?

Some logger boots will utilize a steel toe or a composite toe to add a level of protection in case of falling objects. This isn’t a requirement for a boot to be considered a logger boot. However, having a steel toe or composite toe is required by some employers, which is why this is an available option. 

In some cases, a composite toe will be sufficient for work, but other jobs may require an actual steel toe. If you plan on using a logger boot for hiking, it’s unlikely you’ll need a steel or composite toe. That could just add weight to your footwear that you won’t want on a hike.

Why Do Logger Boots Have Kilties?

Kilties are an interesting piece of any boot. Their origin goes back to Scotland when the Scottish gentry members would wear their boots with their kilts. The landscape of Scotland can turn quite muddy during different parts of the year. The kilties were added to boots to add an extra level of protection to the boot’s tongue.

A kiltie is a piece of leather that is inserted at the base of the boot’s tongue. It looks like a piece of fringe sticking out of the bottom of your laces. These days the kiltie is more decorative and less of a necessity when you wear your logger boots. Today, most boots can be made of a material that will repel mud and muck from the marshland you might find yourself trekking in. 

Closing Thoughts

In the end, you need to make the best decision for your own feet. Logger boots will work for hiking boots, but will they provide you with the proper comfort for hiking a long trek? They aren’t designed with hiking in mind, although they would work in a pinch. Despite logger boots being good for hiking, your best option is to purchase hiking boots for a hike and leave the logger boots for work purposes. 

 

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