Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Selecting Proper Hiking Footwear

Proper footwear is vital in providing the hiker with an enjoyable hike.  Nothing can ruin a good hike like bad footwear, so understanding the features of various hiking footwear can help you choose the most appropriate shoe for your hike.

The first thing to consider is how frequently you plan to hike.  If you are just an occasional hiker, you may not want to invest a large amount of money in hiking footwear.  However, if you plan to hike more frequently, spending a few more dollars up front ca prove to be a wise investment in the long run.
Durable, water-resistant hiking boots are in for the long hull.
What Kind of Hiking Will You Do?
The next thing to consider is the types of hikes you plan to take.  Will they be short hikes over a moderate terrain or longer hikes over a rough terrain? For shorter, more moderate terrain hikes, a trail shoe may meet your needs.  Trail shoes are generally well ventilated and light weight.  For longer hikes over rough terrain, a more substantial water-resistant leather based boot with a steel shank will provide more support and durability.  The trade-off is less ventilation and greater weight.  
Water-Resistant Hiking Boots
Another consideration is water-resistance.  If you think your hiking will take you through wet terrain, you may want gortex-lined or other water resistant membrane boots.  It is no fun hiking with wet feet!  The trade-off with water-resistance boots is that you may not have as much ventilation, but at least you will have dry feet!   

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