If you own Winter hiking boots, you probably don't want to slip those on for a Summer hike. Those are meant to keep your feet warm and dry, and you may end up with sweaty feet, which will promote painful blisters [1]. You also don't want to be wearing your cutesy Chaco sandals [2] since they won't protect your feet from pebbles, sticks, ticks, or injuries if you tripped.

When choosing Summer hiking boots, look for:

• A boot that covers your ankle to prevent you from getting a sprain — those rocks can be pretty wobbly, slippery, and uneven.
• Rugged soles to prevent slippage. You also want them to be durable because if you're spending $100 to $200 on a pair, you want these boots to last.
• Think about what kind of hiking you'll be doing. Boots made out of a combination of leather and material like these from Merrell [3] and will be lighter, so they're great if you're expecting to carry a heavy pack. They're also easier to break in, which means they'll feel comfortable in a short amount of time. All-leather boots are more durable and they're also breathable and water resistant so your feet won't overheat and you'll be able to splash in a brook or mud.

To find out what else you should keep in mind just .

• Try them on with the lightweight wicking socks you plan on wearing when you hike.
• The boot should feel snug but not tight. Make sure your heel doesn't slide up and down (this kind of rubbing is a recipe for blisters). Practice walking down an incline to make sure your toes aren't jamming forward.
• It may take several uses until your boots break in and feel comfy, so I wouldn't buy them the day before you plan on going on a 6-hour hike. Go on a few short hikes at first, and gradually increase the time as they begin to fit you better.