How to choose your hiking shoes
Before setting off on an adventure and discovering new horizons, it is important to be well equipped. One of the elements of your equipment that should not be neglected is your shoes. It is essential to have a pair that is suitable for walking long distances.
We all have different body types and therefore different feet. Your shoes must be comfortable, waterproof and technically adapted to your needs. A hike can quickly turn into a nightmare. If your shoes are not suitable for you and you start to feel discomfort or pain in your feet, you will not be able to finish your hike. No matter how long your hike is, whether it's a few hours, a day, or several days, there are a number of important criteria to consider when choosing your hiking shoes.
A type of shoe for every practice
As you know, the choice of your shoes depends first on your practice.
- For day trips or walks, opt for ankle-lenght shoes. They are light and flexible and are ideal for easy paths with little height differences.
- For more intense hikes or hikes that can be done over several days, more versatile shoes are needed. These shoes often have a medium height. This is an intermediate category of shoe with good grip, a fairly good ankle support without being too heavy and cumbersome.
- For trekking or long hikes, choose rather waterproof trekking shoes. They are taller and more rigid. Perfect for difficult terrain or if the weather conditions aren't good.
Maintenance and protection
Before buying your hiking shoes, try them. If comfort is essential, maintaining and protecting are also very important, especially on steep slopes or on steep terrain. If a shoe can bend easily, it means that it doesn't guarantee good support on slippery or uneven surfaces. It's therefore reserved for short trekking. On flat or on pretty even terrain, a soft shoe is more comfortable. It protects you foot, although it doesn't maintain it well.
Conversely, when the shoe resists and doesn't twist, it means that it's rigid (high shoe). It's essential to hold the foot and to grip mountainous terrain (rocks, slope). High shoes are heavier. They are reserved for difficult terrain and/or highly uneven slopes. They ensure a better support and protect your foot and ankle from twists that can occur, especially during descent.
Soles and waterproofing
The grip is a key element, especially on wet soils. Good shoes solve part of the problem but having a good sole is essential before you go on an adventure. Stability, grip and cushioning depend entirely on soles. Most of the time, brands call on specialists such as Vibram.
If you are a fan of long expeditions or if you are hiking in places where the weather is variable, make sure your shoe is waterproof. Whether it's crossing streams, moutain streams, névés, or in case of rain, the goal is to keep the foot dry, not to feel cold and to avoid friction.
For this, the shoe is equipped with a membrane, the most well-known being Gore-Tex. Its technology prevents your foot from getting wet. The sweat is evacuated thanks to the shoe's breathing capacity.
The ideal fitting shoes welcome your feet and hold them when you walk. If they are well adapted, the rigidity of the shoes will bring you comfort and safety during your hikes.
