A tourist trip requires responsible preparation. One of its main points is the equipment, including the most comfortable shoes that correspond to the intended goals. In many ways, your health, comfort and safety during the hike depend on what you will be wearing.
Factors influencing the choice of hiking shoes
Choose hiking shoes based on factors such as the terrain your route runs through, the season (seasonality), and the difficulty level of your trip. If you have to walk a short distance on uncomplicated terrain in warm and dry seasons, you can wear regular sneakers. Thanks to their light weight, flexible midsole with shock-absorbing inserts and a mesh upper, your feet will feel comfortable even under heavy loads.
Shoes for hiking in the forest, with water rafting and difficult terrain
If you are going to go to the forest, it is better to wear sneakers with a dense upper, not with a mesh, to protect against stones, branches, etc. It is good if your shoes in this case will have a rubberized toe and edges of the sole - for additional protection from unexpected obstacles.
Does your trekking route include water rafting? In this case, rubberized sneakers are also ideal shoes, as they dry quickly and do not weigh down your feet. You can also choose trekking shoes - lightweight and practical, with cushioning and support functions. The outsole of these shoes provides reliable traction on different types of surfaces, which protects you from the risk of injury.
For hiking on difficult terrain (mountainous terrain), shoes must be chosen especially carefully. After all, if you slip, for example, on wet stones, the risk of serious injury will be quite high. To protect yourself as much as possible from this kind of trouble, wear hiking boots with high tops and lacing. Such shoes will reliably fix the ankle and protect the muscles and ligaments of the legs from sprains and injuries, even in the event of a fall.
Hiking Shoes: Helpful Hints
A heavy backpack (over 12 kg) is another reason to think about supporting your ankle muscles. Therefore, even if your approach is on uncomplicated terrain, in this case it is worth wearing high boots.
Be sure to pay attention to the soles of the shoes in which you plan to go hiking. It must have sufficient thickness and a large tread pattern to provide good traction on all surfaces, be it wet stones, mud, etc.
When hiking in low temperatures, use insulated boots. Wear a thick cotton sock for any hiking footwear. In winter, wear a woolen sock over a cotton sock.
You should not choose new shoes for the hike, as in reality they may not be as comfortable for your foot as you would like. Opt for tried-and-true sneakers or boots that make your feet feel confident and comfortable.
