What are hiking boots

In recent years, people prefer to travel a lot and explore the world. Hiking has become very popular. One of the types of walking tourism is hiking.

Hiking concept

Hiking is a leisurely trek through moderately rough terrain, carried out along pre-planned routes and with recreational and educational purposes.

Hikes according to this program vary in duration, complexity and content. Their implementation does not require special training or support from a guide.

The obvious advantage of hiking is that this type of hiking does not require significant financial investments in equipment, but at the same time ensures that the body receives a certain physical activity in the fresh air, allowing you to simultaneously feel unity with nature.

This type of ecotourism has gained the greatest popularity in the West.This is explained by the fact that the mountainous and forested zones there are mainly closed to free movement, since they are considered a protected area.

Rules for choosing shoes for hiking

Before you start hiking, you should take care of choosing the right shoes for this. Hiking boots are lightweight, well-ventilated and have a secure ankle fit. Products of this kind perfectly protect the foot from accidental scratches, small stones, etc.

Suitable shoes for hiking can be divided into the following types:

• Lightweight hiking boots made from leather and synthetic materials - for walking in low-impact terrain, well-trodden roads and low hills;
• shoes with medium weight (backpacking or midweight hiking boots) - for bumpy roads and relatively gentle slopes;
• footwear for mountain hiking (mountaineering or heavyweight hiking boots) - products with a fairly massive non-slip sole that provides good ankle support.

Reference! Hiking boots in most cases have a soft, unreinforced sole, a rubberized toe and heel, usually without a membrane layer.

When choosing the right hiking shoes, we recommend following these tips:

• you need to purchase proven models in stores that have already proven themselves well;
• When choosing, you should not focus solely on the cost of the product;
• Products of this kind must be tried on before purchasing.

Most often, hiking boots are quite high with a massive tread. Many models have mesh inserts.These products can be used as the main shoes for hiking without heavy backpacks on the plains in the warm season.

Tips for trying on hiking shoes

When trying on these shoes, you must adhere to some rules:

• for the first time, shoes should be put on without tightening the laces too much;
• putting on shoes, you need to walk around in them for a while and then take them off;
• after this, you need to put on your shoes again, this time tying the laces with force;
• then you should walk around in shoes for about 5-10 minutes;
• For fitting, you need to wear a thick sock suitable for traveling on foot.

Recommendations for beginners

You can’t immediately go hiking in new boots. First, the shoes purchased for this purpose need to be broken in a little.

Advice! To travel in areas with frequent rainfall, it is recommended to choose products with a membrane.

Dry hiking boots necessary only in the shade. They should not be placed indoors in close proximity to a heating radiator.

After hiking, boots should be cleaned with warm water.

It is recommended to prepare in advance for any hike. Even with specialized hiking boots, you can easily develop blisters if the shoes were chosen incorrectly or the planned route was not studied for possible obstacles.

Reference! Shoes with an aggressive tread pattern can provide strong traction on wet surfaces.

How to lace hiking boots?

There are several ways to lace hiking boots to ensure the shoe fits perfectly on your foot. Such lacing techniques will significantly reduce the pain that appears in the legs after a multi-kilometer hike.

One such technique is the so-called "military lacing". This method allows you to quickly get rid of pressure on the top of the foot.

There is also a special "hiking lace" eliminating the risk of falling, getting tangled while walking in inappropriately untied long laces.

You can also apply lacing "lock", protecting your feet from slipping and blistering. You can also use fingerless lacing to relieve pressure specifically in the toe area.

1st day as a new couple

Trying on hiking boots is a mandatory step before going on a hiking trip. Beginners are not recommended to immediately take on long forced marches of 10-15 kilometers, but rather start with short distances, gradually increasing the load.

It is recommended to start with short walks, after which you can gradually move on to hikes over longer distances.

Important! The greater the degree of rigidity of the shoes purchased for hiking, the more time it will take for the foot to adapt to it.

If you plan to take a backpack on a trip, you should definitely take it on your first training walk to get a clear understanding of how the pressure will be distributed across the feet.

It is very important to listen as much as possible to your own feelings. The feet themselves will at some point let you know that the feet have already sufficiently adapted to the new shoes.