Size
Buying your child the right hiking boots goes beyond determining his usual street size, and then ordering a corresponding pair of kids' hiking boots. Instead, take your child to an outdoor store wearing the socks he will wear while hiking. Have him try on and walk around in numerous pairs of hiking boots made by different manufacturers. You may discover that size and fit vary significantly among the different children's hiking boots.
Style
mountain sokol in crimea image by Galyna Andrushko from
Fotolia.com
As has happened with adult hiking boots, children's hiking boots now come in a variety of styles designed for specific uses. Choices of hiking boots for kids range from ultralight, low-top day hikers to rugged, waterproof leather boots. Select the right style of kids' hiking boots by thinking about how often and in what fashion you believe your child will use them most.
Durability
Once you've narrowed the field, but prior to purchasing a particular pair of kids' hiking boots, conduct research on how well these boots have held up for other customers. Internet shopping sites often offer helpful customer evaluations and reviews that can help you determine the durability of a particular style of children's hiking boots. Alternately, ask a salesperson or other parents for recommendations of top styles and brands.
Selection
hiking image by Frenk_Danielle Kaufmann from
Fotolia.com
Well-known boot manufacturers that make children's hiking boots include Columbia, Hi-Tec, KEEN, Merrell, The North Face, Timberland and Vasque. Most major outdoor sporting goods retailers carry a decent range of kids' hiking boots from at least some of these manufacturers. You can find smaller selections of children's hiking boots at department stores as well.
Bargains
With price tags ranging from $15 to $100 and up (as of February 2010), kids' hiking boots can definitely take a bite out of the budget, especially for parents needing to purchase pairs for more than one growing child. Shopping for Internet bargains can help cut expenses considerably. Succeed in Internet bargain shopping for kids' hiking boots by already knowing which size(s) and style(s) of hiking boots will fit your child beforehand.
Article Written By Alli Rainey
A professional writer since 1997, Harvard graduate Alli Rainey has written several books, including "Wyoming: An Explorer's Guide." Her articles have appeared in "Climbing Magazine," "Rock & Ice," and "Men's Fitness," among many others.
