Take good care of your feet by choosing footwear that matches the terrain and fits comfortably. As a biped, remember that the well-being of your feet can literally make or break your trip. So, caring for the feet in other word purchasing better camping and hiking footwear is important before planning the trip.
Before you purchase or pack footwear, you’ll want to consider the lightest option that is adequate to protect your feet. Especially, on the trail and perhaps include another type of footwear to relax your feet in camp.
For the easiest terrain in warm climates, it may be sufficient to take running shoes and a pair of flipflops for use in camp, or you may be able to reduce your footwear to just a pair of adventure sandals. For other types of terrain and conditions, you might consider conserving space and weight by only taking boots.
The good news for women is that they no longer have to make do with men’s models: several footwear manufacturers produce models for women that provide, for example, a narrower heel.
Camping and Hiking Footwear for the Terrain
For tips on keeping your feet in good shape, choosing right camping and hiking shoes are important. While choosing the boot, one should consider some stuff, read proper guidelines if possible. Here are my few tips that might come handy while selecting the right shoes and other footwear.
Proper Boots for Hiking in Different Terrains
Basic categories of boots include lightweight hiking boots for casual rambling or day hikes, mediumweight boots for backpacking and trekking in mountainous or snow-covered terrain. Also, there are some other shoes like the heavyweight mountaineering boots for demanding work on ice, snow, and rock.
Purchase boots to match your trekking aims: look for ankle support, robust heels and toes, and the lightest model that can meet your demands. As a rule of thumb, a couple of pounds (1 kilogram) on your foot is the equivalent of carrying over 8 pounds (4 kilograms) on your back.
In hot climates consider adventure sandals or fabric boots; leather boots do well for colder climes. If you wear boots, gaiters can offer your ankles and calves some protection against a prickly scrub, snakes, and leeches, and they do a good job of preventing snow, rain, or mud from seeping around your ankles and into your boots.
Consider Construction Quality
Boots come in many guises, but the main elements of boot construction are sole, footbed, upper, and lining. If you are planning for camping in rain then the quality should be great for better use. In all sorts of condition the quality is important though.
The sole has to be hardwearing and capable of providing a good grip. For lightweight trekking boots, a cut-away heel is common. Whereas the camper can use deep treads and block heels in heavier boots.
The footbed, often made from foam or other shock-absorbing material, retains the foot in its optimum position inside the boot. The upper surrounds the top of the foot, holding it in position and protecting against the elements.
Materials and Fabric of the Boots
For upper material, leather has retained its popularity–the best types are made from one piece of leather. A recent development has been a hybrid leather upper with a Gore-Tex inner forming a waterproof breathable lining. Better grip is also important for hiking boots. It gives you better support on hiking in rough and hilly areas.
Fabric uppers, typically a mixture of nylon and suede, offer reduced weight and are cooler in hot climates. They are available with or without a waterproof, breathable lining,
As the major contact point between boot and foot, the boot lining must be hard wearing, easy on your feet (no folding or stretching to create blisters), quick drying, and able to draw away moisture from your feet. Linings are available in soft leather and synthetic fabrics.
Try Proper Shock That Fits Well with the Shoes
When trying out boots, use the socks you expect to wear while trekking, perhaps a combination of a synthetic liner and a woolen outer. Proper shocks will keep your feet in a right place along with your feet in the shoe.
At the same time, take the opportunity to try on a variety of socks, including thick and thin types that you anticipate wearing during the life of your boots.
Tapping the Foot Properly for Camping
Before the camping setup, you need to place the foot properly in your shoe. That will make your trekking comfortable. So, with the boot unlaced, tap your foot gently inside so that the toes are in the toe area, and then check that there’s enough space for you to slide your finger down the back of the heel.
This allows for expansion of your foot in hot weather. This also allows prevents your toes from scuffing into the front of the boot on steep downhill sections. Once your foot is laced in, check that the instep feels comfortable, that the boot doesn’t feel too narrow or pinched, and that your heel sits snugly.
Break in Your Boots Before Camping
Because most people’s feet vary in size from one foot to the other, don’t part with your money until you’ve tried boots on both your feet. Especially that applies to camp footwears because you will have to wear it for a longer period.
So, you need proper preparation for hiking footwear. So, the step after purchase is to break in your boots, wearing them frequently for several weeks on day hikes, in town, or at home.
Get used to wearing them with your usual hiking socks and a load equivalent to what you expect to be packing on your travels. Don’t wait until your trip starts; otherwise, strife between your feet and your boots might be the most memorable event on your travels.
Proper Maintenance of the Shoe and Boots
Always make the effort to care properly for your boots. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to see whether or not your boots should be conditioned with silicone, wax, or special tanning agents. Don’t dry off boots beside or on top of direct heat-allow them to dry naturally.
If they are damp inside, stuff them with newspaper and replace this whenever the paper has absorbed moisture.
Camping and Hiking (advanced) Sandals
Sandals have been popular footwear since ancient times. Adopted by rafters and trekkers in the 1980s, and comfortable trekking sandals in 2010, sandals are now professionally designed. Also, the designs are made with these enthusiasts in mind. You will find the advanced sandals as one of the major hiking footwears and camping footwears.
The design of adventure sandals usually features straps or loops configured. It gives maximum support for the ankles, heels, and toes; durable, high-traction soles made from Vibram or other materials (some models use recycled vehicle tires); shock-absorbing midsoles; and molded footbeds (raised to keep out stones and grit and minimize stubbed toes).
Advantages and Down backs of Advanced Sandals
The main advantage of this new breed of adventure sandals lies in massive weight reduction compared to boots and excellent ventilation (and quick-drying capability) when used barefoot or with socks in warm climates. If you are planning to camping in hot weather then, sandals will be better choice than the boots.
One drawback of sandals can be the burrs, vegetation, sand, and so forth that latch onto the straps or lodge in the footbed. Leather or synthetic leather straps offer less grip for burrs, and if the toe space is enclosed make sure there is space to shake out irritants. If you’re striding through the day in strong sunlight, use sunscreen to prevent sunburn on your feet.
Looking at the bluest sky, I forget all my stresses. Going through the green I try to breathe, more than I do in my reality. So, that’s why I love camping.
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