The Perfect Sweater for Winter

If you are about to join a conservation corps for the summer, then you will likely have to purchase a new pair of work boots to keep your feet safe while you work on trails and other public land projects. If you have little experience doing trail work, you may not know exactly what boots you need to purchase. Here are two of the most important things that you should look for in your boots that will help keep your feet comfortable all summer long. 

Lasting Sole Attachment 

There are two main ways that soles can be attached to a shoe. The cheapest and most common method is called cementing and involves gluing the sole to the body of the shoe with an adhesive. While this method will result in a more affordable boot, it will likely not stand up to the hard abuse boots take during trail work. Trail work often involves nudging small rocks into place with your toes or otherwise scraping the toe of your boots along the ground. Boots with cemented soles can often have issues with the toe of the sole separating from the body of the boot. 

The second method of attachment involves stitching the sole of the boot to the body and is called welting. There are many forms of welting, the two most common being blake welting and goodyear welting. Blake welted boots can be less waterproof, making them less than ideal for wet areas. However, goodyear welting usually results in a solid sole attachment and potentially waterproof boot, making it one of your best options for trail work. 

Full Ankle Support 

If you usually wear sport shoes or dress shoes, then you may not be used to wearing a boot that offers full ankle support and you may be tempted to purchase a boot that only offers partial ankle support because you think it will be cooler during the hot summer months and lighter for long hikes. However, because you will be standing, stooping, and completing physical labor for long hours each day, it is important that you purchase a pair of boots that offer a high level of support. 

Boots with ankle support will cover your ankle bone and be relatively stiff when you first purchase them. They may need some breaking in before you get started, so you may want to purchase them a few weeks before you start with your conservation corps. 

If you are planning to work with a conservation corps this summer and haven't purchased your footwear yet, start your search with these two features. To learn more, contact a company like White's Boots.