If you ignore the fact that the guy’s backside in this video appears to be on fire, it’s pretty informative stuff.

The main points covered:

• A good pair of boots is hard to come by. It takes a lot of research and time to break them.
• If you’re backpacking with a heavy load, you want extra protection on the bottom of your feet.

• Figuring out what type of hiking you’ll be doing will help you determine the height and weight of your new boot.
• He strongly suggests trying it on, or if you buy online, make sure you have enough time before your hike in case you get the wrong size.
• Bring socks when trying on hiking boots. He recommends a two-layer sock system—a thin polypropylene lining and a heavier rag sock. These two layers create a friction barrier to deter sock-to-skin friction.
• Too much friction will create blisters, which, of course, is what you don’t want.
• When you get your boot, wear it around the house with your socks for at least a week if not a month.