Determining the proper footwear for your hike is absolutely essential for a smooth and painless trekking experience. Before eagerly diving into your next hiking foray, invest some time in deciding exactly what type of footwear is best tailored to your needs. This can seem utterly complex, taking into account all of the various options - hiking boots, hiking sneakers, and hiking sandals to name a few. However, considering these few key points will simplify your quest in discovering the most optimal hiking footwear.
Let’s start with the hiking shoe, which combines the functional versatility of a running show with the durability of a hiking boot. Hiking shoes should be light enough to walk at a brisk pace or even slow jog. The hiker should still be able to calculate low to moderately treacherous terrain such as bulging tree roots and the occasional loose rock. For the most part, however, hiking shoes should be reserved for more reliable terrain with well-traveled trails and few obstacles. Most hiking shoes do not include ankle support, thus making one more susceptible to ankle twists and sprains. Technical terrain requires a durable hiking boot with reliable ankle support. Moreover, evaluate other key features in your potential hiking shoe including arch support, sole cushioning, and other overall quality elements such as a waterproofing. Try to find the best balance between the sturdiness of the shoe and the functionality it provides.
More advanced, technical terrain requires a similarly advanced hiking boot. Long treks and several days’ worth of hiking with heavy packs necessitate the proper boot to handle the strain. Calculating a steep, slippery trail with a 60-pound pack, while wearing a support-less hiking shoe is begging for an unfortunate ankle injury. The right hiking boot provides a high-level of foot and ankle support so that the hiker has the ultimate confidence to tackle highly technical trails. Make sure that the ankle support runs high enough on your shin so that you can comfortably romp through the occasional muddy patch, puddle, or shallow creek along the hike. It’s crucial that you invest in a boot with extra sole traction and thickness, even if it means spending a few extra dollars on the ideal boot. You will need to trust that your boot can handle even the must unexpected traverse obstacles and this requires a proper investment in the best one that works for you.
One must evaluate the difficulty of the terrain when determining whether or not to sport hiking shoes or boots. On lengthy camping trips in the wilderness, it may even behoove you to take a pair of each – one for daily treks on difficult terrain and one for relaxing around the campsite in the evening. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so always have the safety and sanctity of your ankles at the top of the list when determining the most optimal hiking footwear.