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Tuesday, 4 June 2024

Let’s talk hiking shoes

 

The jury is still out on whether it’s best to hike with hiking boots or takkies. So, my advice here is based on my personal preference, informed by personal experience. I’ve said it before, I’ve seen people completing multiday hikes with running sneakers. Would I try that? Definitely not! And not because I think what they’re doing is wrong, just that it’s not for me. So, yes, different strokes…!

I own a pair of hiking runners with good traction, but I still feel it was fruitless expenditure on my part seeing that I hardly ever use them, simply because I’m comfortable with some ankle support. And I know this may also sound wasteful, and I’m not suggesting that you do this, but I have three pairs of hiking boots for different terrains. I still say I’m not suggesting that you go and buy three or four pairs of hiking boots. I’m just indicating that even boots specifically made for hiking, may not always work for all terrains. I’m not an expert here, so I’ll only share what I saw working for me, and the differences I observed with each pair, including the very first pair of hiking boots I bought.

 
Not all terrains are made equal and your chosen pair must always be equal to the task. (Photo by Tony Sibanda)                                                                 

My first pair

When I bought my first pair of hiking boots, I didn’t have a clue about what to look for. Unfortunately for me, the shop assistants were either not helpful, or probably equally not clued up. It’s been quite a journey but yeah, here I am, giving you tips that will hopefully make your hiking experience less stressful. So, about my first pair, I went for what was then the known brand for hiking apparel, at least in my world. And I bought a pair that I could afford. Did I check if it was waterproof? What the hell is that? Did I check traction? Oh, is it a car tyre?  And support? I had no clue. All I knew was that hiking needed boots, and that’s it! And I was ‘smart’ enough to take that pair on a five-day gruelling hike in China. No, I didn’t get blisters, but my feet felt like I had been walking barefoot on stones. I left the pair in China. And I went on to buy more pairs that were either wrong for my feet or for the terrain, so, a lot of trial and error. Today there are some outdoor shops with staff who are not only informed, but who also care enough to give good advice. So please, no online buying for your first and even second pair. Wrong shoes will potentially give you blisters and leave you feeling so miserable you may hate hiking forever and miss out on the bliss that is being in the outdoors.


What  I look for

I’m still no expert around hiking footwear, however, over the years I’ve come to understand what works for me. Maybe I need to mention that my feet are special in a not so special way. My right foot supinates extremely, which is also called under pronation. These are terms I learnt as I struggled with all sorts of pains which I thought were age related.  My lightbulb moment came when the podiatrist reminded me some years back that for any structure to hold, the foundation must be solid. So, with my weight rolling to the outer edges of my right foot with every step, it means I am misalignment in motion, and that causes many other problems, requiring me therefore to be selective with the type of shoes I wear. And this is something I wish I had known growing up.  As they say, it’s never too late!

Anyway, back to what I look for. I think that sermon was necessary so I don’t come out as a finicky hiker. And I hope I’m sparing you the trauma here. So, the first thing I look for is ankle support, followed by cushioning. Ankle support for me is key because in the outdoors you may have to deal with slippery terrain, loose gravel, sand, stones, exposed roots, and other obstacles that may lead to your foot twisting. I have already mentioned my not so straight gait. Until you feel like you’ve been walking barefoot, you may not understand the importance of cushioning. And you’ll spare yourself that torture by buying well-cushioned shoes.

And then there’s a question of waterproofing and breathability. Yes, it is important to plan for inclement weather; in the bush, nature is king!  And there are streams and some water puddles to consider also. And on that note, maybe I should mention that even with waterproofing, if you’re going to be exposed to rain for a long period or your feet are going to be submerged under water, that will not help. There isn't much you can do when it rains and you have to keep walking, but with river crossings, hiking sandals and aqua shoes may help. I don’t advise going barefoot at all.  It is advisable to have an extra pairs of socks on hand, preferably moisture wicking socks, so you can change should you get wet. More on this in later posts. In hot weather, there’s also a question of sweating, which may cause blisters if your shoe does not breathe. And now that’s no picnic, especially when you still have a distance to cover or even more days!

Leather or synthetic?

I started with leather, and I was comfortable until I tried synthetic, and I never looked back. But what’s important for me besides what I mentioned above, is how light the boot feels. I sometimes do multiday hikes where I must carry my pantry, kitchen, wardrobe and bedroom on my back and the last thing I need is extra weight on my feet. And I’m not suggesting that leather necessarily translates to heavy or synthetic to light. I must mention that with the house that I carry, comes the need for more steadiness of the shoe, hence I mentioned that I have three pairs. One for easy to moderate hikes, the other for moderate to difficult day or even multiday hikes where I don’t have to carry weight; and the last one for those times where I must carry my house on my back, which is mostly on seriously rugged terrain.

When carrying part of your house on your back, you need all the support you can get from your boots.

At the end

Please do your research before buying your shoe. The best advice I got was to buy a size bigger. This was a serious game changer for me. Remember, we wear thick socks to give our feet the much-needed extra cushioning, but our feet still need to breathe! A good hiking shoe should be lightweight but still give you waterproofing, cushioning, support and good traction to enable you to navigate challenging terrain with a bit of ease, putting one well-cushioned and supported foot in front of the other, one step at a time!

 

Td

 

 

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