7 Tips And Tricks On Choosing Comfortable Hiking Shoes
Finding the right pair of hiking shoes can be tricky. There are a lot of options for what kind of shoes to hike in. From classic hiking boots to athletic sandals from viakix , there is something for every foot. It all depends on what you look for in an athletic shoe.
A hiking shoe takes a lot of damage so it is important you choose the right shoe. There are so many options available to you that it might be difficult to figure out how to find the right shoe for you. You need a shoe that can keep up with you.
With so many different styles of shoes offering different comfort and durability, it can be difficult to wade through the bad shoes. Figuring out which hiking shoe will go the distance is a huge part of preparing to go hiking. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you in your search.
1. Fit
Arguably the most important part of buying any shoe is making sure it fits correctly. That is doubly important in a hiking shoe. The fit of a hiking shoe could make or break your adventure.
A good hiking shoe is snug everywhere. You should not be able to slide your foot around at all. A sliding foot means blisters, and blisters can end a fun hike quicker than just about anything else. They also can keep you from going hiking for quite some time while you heal
You should be able to wiggle your toes inside a good hiking shoe. It also should not pinch anywhere. Walking around for a few minutes inside your hiking shoe before you purchase them is a good idea. Make sure you are wearing the type of socks you intend to hike in.
2. Where Are You Hiking
Knowing what sort of terrain you are going to hike is very important for buying your shoes. Ideally, you want the lightest possible shoes for what you are doing. If you can get away using a trail shoe for your hike then do that.
There is no need to buy a huge hiking boot for light backpacking on well-kept trails. There isn’t really even a need for huge hiking boots unless you are going somewhere very cold and wet with a lot of weight to carry. Make sure you are wearing a boot that isn’t just making you carry more weight.
Wearing a shoe with little to no waterproofing while hiking in the pacific northwest is just asking for wet socks and a miserable hike. Wearing huge boots with no room to breath in the desert is going to yield the same bad results. Take into account where your shoes will be going and buy for that.
3. Shape
Making sure the shape of your shoe is right for your foot is incredibly important. If the form of the shoe does not match your foot it is not going to feel good for long. It does not matter if it is the best-made shoe in the world if your foot is the wrong shape. The shape is not the same as fit, really.
It might seem like they are similar, but the fit has more to do with the stretch and sides of the shoe than shape does. The shape of your shoe is determined by the piece of wood your shoe was carved out of and everything was built around. If that piece is thinned or shorter than your foot then it does not matter how well the rest of the shoe fits.
4. Details
The little things like padding can make a huge difference in a hiking boot. A well-padded tongue could be the difference between a fun hike and your shoelaces wanting to cut your foot open. The details you need depend on where your foot could use some help.
If you have ankles that tend to twist, you are going to need shoes with ankle support. If your feet get cold easily you need something insulated. Making sure your shoe works for what you need and not just for hiking is a good way to get the right shoe.
The tread on the bottom of your shoe can also be something people overlook. If you are hiking somewhere wet you need a tread to keep you from slipping. If you are climbing rocks you need shoes that will dig in. Making sure the details of your shoes are correct for what you are using them for could make all the difference.
5. Socks
Socks are a very big part of wearing hiking shoes. Every time you wear your hiking shoe you are going to be wearing socks. If you want a good fit for your shoes you need to make sure you bring the socks you like best to your shoe fitting.
Wearing a huge sock or a light sock when you are trying on hiking shoes could make a very big difference later on. If you try a hiking shoe on with a much lighter sock than you are going to wear on the trails you might find your boot has shrunk when you start hiking.
Your sock is always going to be there when you wear your shoes so make sure you factor it into your fitting. Even if you think it won’t matter in the long run because you are planning on buying a big boot, still check. It isn’t hard to put on a sock it is really hard to handle torn up feet on the trail.
6. Be Thorough
Make sure you look into every type of shoe that you feel might work for you. Stopping at the shoe that you think is good enough might make you miss the perfect hiking shoe. There is nothing wrong with trying on fifty different shoes.
Your feet and shoes go through a lot together. Making sure you get the right shoe for your adventures is important. Even if it means that you have to try on a ton of shoes to get it just right.
You might feel silly asking for the same shoe in three sizes. You might not want to spend a day trying out different shoes in different shops, but it will be worth it when you are hiking. Making sure the shoe you buy is the most comfortable shoe with the right details is more important on a hike than you think when you are just trying shoes on.
7. Upkeep
The upkeep of the shoe you buy is important. If you are not willing to put work into the upkeep of your shoe then make sure you buy one that is ready to go and that you are fine only lasting a year or so. Your hiking shoes will put in the amount of effort you put in.
Keeping your hiking shoes weatherproofed is a good way to keep your shoes in hiking shape. Making sure that your shoes are broken in before you go hiking will help prevent blisters, making sure your shoes aren’t completely falling apart will do the same.
Shining your shoes is a good way to keep them looking good and to reinforce them. You want your shoes to become flexible and move with your feet, but you don’t want them to completely fall apart on you. Knowing when to replace your shoes and when they just need some TLC is a good skill for a hiker to have.
Remember
There is a lot that goes into picking the best pair of hiking shoes for you. Whether it is for a long hike on a good trail or a short hike on a bad one, there is a shoe to make it easier on you. The pursuit of the best shoe might require trying on a ridiculous amount of shoes, but it will be worth it when you end your trip without huge blisters and with feet that don’t want to fall off.
Many things go into finding the perfect shoe. The fit of the shoe is an obvious one, but taking into account the shape of the shoe and what the shoe was made for can be very helpful. Knowing where you want to go hiking, what your shoes need to be able to withstand, and how light you need your shoes to be to stay comfortable are incredibly important if you intend to hike .
There are more parts to a shoe than you think. Even if you think you only need to focus on the basic fit and if they are waterproof, you might end up with very unhappy feet. Educating yourself about the area you are going to be hiking in and what type of shoes are best for that environment is never a bad idea.
So make sure you plan ahead. Make sure you know your size. Most importantly, make sure the shoe you choose is one you are willing to spend a lot of time in. Hiking is a fabulous hobby. Especially in the right shoes.