So, you want to get into hiking and you're not sure what to do first. Well, your feet play a big part in moving you down the trail and if you take care of them, they will take care of you. I would suggest finding a pair of supportive trail shoes or boots that will do just that.
What type of activity that you wish to pursue? If you are only putting a few miles under your feet at a local or state park with less challenging terrain, all you really need is a pair of trail shoes. These lower cut shoes resemble more of a sneaker but they have better support and a better tread. If you will be going on a backpacking trip where you will be carrying more weight and dealing with more challenging terrain, you will need a more supportive light hiking or backpacking boot.
Viewing the selection at a local outfitters can seem a little intimidating. Making the best choice is based on understanding five components in all shoes and boots and the proper support each part must have.
Your outsole is the rubber tread which makes contact with the ground. The best outsoles have a staggered tread for better traction. In other words, the raised lugs of the tread should not be in tight, uniform rows. Having a staggered tread also assures that when your shoe flexes, dirt and debris will be released.
Above the outsole is a layer called the midsole. It's purpose is to disperse kinetic energy. You've heard of the saying that every action has an equal and opposite reaction right? When your feet hit the ground while hiking, an opposite force bounds back up your body. If you didn't have a good midsole, your muscles, tendons and ligaments would be responsible for releasing that energy. Good midsoles eliminates alot of shock and stress.
How can you tell if a boot or shoe has a good midsole? Hold the back of the shoe in your left hand, put the front of the shoe against the palm of your other hand and apply pressure. The front of the shoe will start to bend upwards. Some shoes produce more resistance than others. The more resistance, the more support the midsole provides. Most footwear without sufficient support just fold in half. Your choice must still be flexible. The stiffer the shoe, the less likely you are to feel trail debris under your feet which can be dangerous. You don't want to loose contact with what's happening under your feet.
Often overlooked, the footbed, AKA insole is an important part of the puzzle. Most shoe and boot manufacturers make good footwear, but terrible footbeds. Once removed, if you can easily twist it out of shape, it will not provide any real support. Before long, those flimsy foam footbeds will be compressed paper thin. Once that happens, you get no support or cushioning. Replace those with a pair that provides actual anatomical support, much better!
The upper is the material of which the main body of the boot or shoe is manufactured. The most common materials are leather, synthetic leather, nylon, ballistic nylon and breathable mesh panels. The upper also contains the tongue, lacing hardware and laces. A shoe or boot made of full grain leather traps more heat, has less breathability and takes more time to break in. Having mesh panels makes for a more comfortable shoe in warmer conditions.
Contrary to popular belief, the height of a boot has nothing to do with ankle support, only abraision resistance and protection from debris, mud, snow, etc. All ankle support is determined by the heel counter. The heel counter is a band-aid shaped piece of material located between layers of the upper, wrapping around the heel area at the back of the shoe just above the outsole.
Imagine a line that goes straight down the back center of the shoe, then put the heels of your hands on either side of the shoe and press them together toward that line. The area along that line at the top of the shoe may fold, but if the area at the bottom of the line closer to the heel folds... you will not have sufficient ankle support.
Other than knowing these attributes, you know when a shoe feels right. It may or it may not and the only way to know is to try them on. Once you've found the right fit, your outdoor adventures will feel so much better!
What type of activity that you wish to pursue? If you are only putting a few miles under your feet at a local or state park with less challenging terrain, all you really need is a pair of trail shoes. These lower cut shoes resemble more of a sneaker but they have better support and a better tread. If you will be going on a backpacking trip where you will be carrying more weight and dealing with more challenging terrain, you will need a more supportive light hiking or backpacking boot.
Viewing the selection at a local outfitters can seem a little intimidating. Making the best choice is based on understanding five components in all shoes and boots and the proper support each part must have.
Your outsole is the rubber tread which makes contact with the ground. The best outsoles have a staggered tread for better traction. In other words, the raised lugs of the tread should not be in tight, uniform rows. Having a staggered tread also assures that when your shoe flexes, dirt and debris will be released.
Above the outsole is a layer called the midsole. It's purpose is to disperse kinetic energy. You've heard of the saying that every action has an equal and opposite reaction right? When your feet hit the ground while hiking, an opposite force bounds back up your body. If you didn't have a good midsole, your muscles, tendons and ligaments would be responsible for releasing that energy. Good midsoles eliminates alot of shock and stress.
How can you tell if a boot or shoe has a good midsole? Hold the back of the shoe in your left hand, put the front of the shoe against the palm of your other hand and apply pressure. The front of the shoe will start to bend upwards. Some shoes produce more resistance than others. The more resistance, the more support the midsole provides. Most footwear without sufficient support just fold in half. Your choice must still be flexible. The stiffer the shoe, the less likely you are to feel trail debris under your feet which can be dangerous. You don't want to loose contact with what's happening under your feet.
Often overlooked, the footbed, AKA insole is an important part of the puzzle. Most shoe and boot manufacturers make good footwear, but terrible footbeds. Once removed, if you can easily twist it out of shape, it will not provide any real support. Before long, those flimsy foam footbeds will be compressed paper thin. Once that happens, you get no support or cushioning. Replace those with a pair that provides actual anatomical support, much better!
The upper is the material of which the main body of the boot or shoe is manufactured. The most common materials are leather, synthetic leather, nylon, ballistic nylon and breathable mesh panels. The upper also contains the tongue, lacing hardware and laces. A shoe or boot made of full grain leather traps more heat, has less breathability and takes more time to break in. Having mesh panels makes for a more comfortable shoe in warmer conditions.
Contrary to popular belief, the height of a boot has nothing to do with ankle support, only abraision resistance and protection from debris, mud, snow, etc. All ankle support is determined by the heel counter. The heel counter is a band-aid shaped piece of material located between layers of the upper, wrapping around the heel area at the back of the shoe just above the outsole.
Imagine a line that goes straight down the back center of the shoe, then put the heels of your hands on either side of the shoe and press them together toward that line. The area along that line at the top of the shoe may fold, but if the area at the bottom of the line closer to the heel folds... you will not have sufficient ankle support.
Other than knowing these attributes, you know when a shoe feels right. It may or it may not and the only way to know is to try them on. Once you've found the right fit, your outdoor adventures will feel so much better!
About the Author:
James Warner is a distance hiker and mountain guide. He believes that the more of an active outdoor lifestyle one leads, the happier and healthier they are. If you liked this article and would like to learn more about hiking and backpacking, check out: hiking and backpacking guide
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