Boots

Weight

1. Stay at home, thus avoiding wearing the boots.
   
2. Avoid getting your boots wet.  This means (a) staying in your sleeping bag on rainy days, and (b) removing your boots every time you need to cross a river.  Self-respecting trampers will avoid doing the latter in popular areas where there is a high risk of being seen.
   

Comfort

1. The aforementioned water and stones;
2. The unmitigated pleasure of sliding icy boots over your cold wet socks just after getting up (assuming you decline to pre-heat these in the billy as some have been reported to do);
3. Losing your toenails on a long descent, from constant ramming into the nose of your boot.  Your mother was right after all: you should cut your toenails from time to time!
   

Grip A tramper needs a firm grip on the world.  Slipping is dangerous.   For this reason, we advise avoidance of all the ice and loose rock you'll find in the alpine regions.  Yes there are crampons, ice axes, and ropes, but hey: would you rather be warm and alive down below the bush line, or cold and dead at the bottom of an icy slope?  Come to think of it, wouldn't you rather be warm at home in bed? Rigidity Boots should give good support to your soles and (particularly) ankles.  In theory stiff boots mean you won't sprain your ankles by coming down awkwardly.  In practice, stiff boots will act as a good tight splint to keep you upright after you do sprain your ankle.  Also, the cold water in your boots will help reduce the swelling in lieu of an ice-pack.

Safety is our primary concern.

Price

Caring for your Boots Our advice is to remain seated comfortably on your sofa, with your boots off your feet.  If they don't look completely new, put them somewhere where visitors will see them and gain the impression that you are a sporty, outdoors type.  Used in this manner, a good pair of boots will last your whole lifetime.