If you’re planning on hiking, having the right boots is of critical importance. Hiking demands strong footwear that provides the support and comfort you need. Not everyone hikes often enough to have a dedicated pair of hiking boots, and you may be wondering if your duck boots are good for hiking.
While you absolutely can hike in duck boots, they are not intended to be hiking boots, and are best for short and simple hikes.
Duck boots have been around for over a hundred years, and were originally invented by L.L. Bean as a way to merge the rubber bottom of a work boot with the leather upper of a hunting boot or casual boot. Since then, they’ve become fashionable for casual wear. Their distinctive look and versatility is what has kept them so popular for so long.
How well duck boots will work for you while hiking depends on a few different factors, which we’ll break down for you below.
Pros Of Wearing Duck Boots For Hiking
Although duck boots aren’t dedicated hiking boots, they luckily do have many key characteristics that make them a fine choice for short and simple hikes. We’ll explore these below.
Comfort
Once broken in, duck boots have a reputation for being a great-fitting boot. Luckily most models are made with leather uppers, which can conform to the shape of your foot over time, resulting in a good fit that reduces friction when hiking.
Sole Support
Duck boots feature soles that are semi -slip-resistant and have a lot of grip, making them great for different simple terrain. Also, L.L. Bean brand duck boots include steel shanks in the soles of the boot, which provide additional rigidity and support.
Weight
Duck boots aren’t terribly heavy, which is an important factor when thinking about the longevity of your hikes. They aren’t the lightest boots out there either, but the weight shouldn’t be a problem for most people.
Water And Moisture Protection
Duck boots feature a rubber bottom, providing excellent water resistance against snow, mud, and other wet conditions.
Cons Of Wearing Duck Boots For Hiking
Duck boots are stylish, versatile, and easy to take on and off – what’s not to love? Well if you’re hiking, there are a few things that you’ll not be loving about duck boots. Read on to learn more.
Less Traction
Although the soles of duck boots are patterned, they still leave a lot to be desired for grip and traction. Duck boots may have a good reputation for their snow performance, but snow itself is pretty simple terrain – add in rocks or uneven ground, and you’ll be slipping around quite a bit, exposing yourself to a potential fall.
Reduced Breathability
Duck boots have rubber lowers that are great for external moisture protection, but the downside is that they trap moisture inside the boot as well. Not only is hiking in wet socks not comfortable, but it can also lead to blisters over longer hikes. Keeping your feet dry and cool as you hike is very important, so bring along an extra pair of hiking socks if you insist on wearing duck boots on your next hike.
Too Much Room For Foot Movement
Duck boots have plenty of space inside, which is great for comfort when wearing them casually or for short periods of time. However, this space will allow room for the foot to move around, causing friction and eventually blisters – no good!
Lack Of Ankle Support
A good hiking boot with proper ankle support is critical for preventing injuries while hiking. Duck boots offer very flexible leather uppers, which may be great for comfort, but offer almost zero protection in the ankle support category.
Tips For Hiking In Duck Boots
If you’re looking forward to sporting your duck boots on your next hike, follow these simple tips to ensure you have the best experience possible.
Make Sure Your Duck Boots Are Broken In
Take it from us: you never, ever want to go on a hike wearing brand new boots of any kind. It takes a little time to break them in, and the discomfort you’ll experience won’t be worth the great style you’re sporting.
Test For Proper Fit – And Lace Up Right
Make sure your feet can’t move too much side-to-side (wear two pairs of socks if you have to in order to minimize movement), and that there are no areas where you feel pinching in your boots. Also pay attention to your toes inside the boot – they should never touch the front, and if they do, you risk bumping them and getting black toenail (no fun!).
Once you know the fit is good, then experiment with lacing them up at different tightness levels to make sure you are minimizing friction and giving your ankles good support.
Wear Proper Hiking Socks
If you’re set on wearing your duck boots while hiking, do yourself a huge favor and wear a pair of well-fitting hiking socks. If you’ll be going on a longer hike, bring an extra pair along to change into for prolonged comfort.
Are Duck Boots Good For Hiking? Conclusion
Although we don’t recommend duck boots for serious hiking, you’ll be just fine to use them on short and simple hikes – just be sure to wear hiking socks and make sure your boots are broken in before you go.
Have any stories from hiking in duck boots? Please share them below, and let us know if you have any questions.
If you’re looking to get further into hiking, take a look at our comparison on hiking boots vs work boots, hiking in Doc Martens, and our guide to how much toe room is needed in hiking boots. As always, have fun and enjoy your hike!