Side by side with he althy habits and proper nutrition, sports are beginning to come into fashion. One of the popular destinations is hiking. Hiking, hiking, trekking - these activities perfectly train the mind and body, and do not require special skills. Of course, those who are fond of morning jogging and training of various kinds are more likely to succeed in overcoming routes, but the main condition for a successful expedition is the right shoes.
Tourist equipment for a beginner is a mystery shrouded in darkness. Previously, no one had questions - the strongest shoes in the house were covered with goose fat and even baked in the oven. Today, such shoes can no longer be found, and there is no need - modern stores offer a wide range of tourist uniforms. But it is not easy to understand this diversity. In particular, the footwear required for any hike is classified according to a number of criteria, including season, type and purpose. How to choose the right hiking shoes?
What to look out for
When choosing the rightclothing for legs, the main criteria should not be the brand and cost, but quality characteristics. Those that ultimately leave a feeling of comfort will help keep pleasant memories from the most difficult and long routes. So, the best hiking shoes are those that meet the following criteria:
- Strength. A few kilometers from the nearest settlement, a torn sole can seriously spoil your mood.
- Moisture resistant. Whether it be boots or sandals, they should not get wet. Excessive moisture contributes to the loss of heat, for a summer walk it threatens with a cold, for a winter walk - frostbite. In addition, wet shoes will rub your feet.
- Safety. Mountain trekking or a walk in the forest can become a traumatic adventure if you travel in the wrong shoes. Requires secure ankle support, non-slip soles and additional toe protection.
- Convenience. Any shoes - tourist, casual or weekend - should not bring discomfort. You can not choose shoes that do not sit well on the foot, even if they are at least three times high-quality and strong.
Types of hiking shoes
We classify shoes by purpose:
- Extreme.
- Shoes for difficult routes - mountains, off-road.
- Tracking. There are also walking shoes, which, like trekking shoes, are a simplified version of boots for mountain routes. Special differences between trekking and walking clothingfor legs not revealed.
Extreme shoes
A feature of extreme boots is the presence of two layers at once. The outer is designed for fixation and impact resistance, the inner is for thermal insulation. It is also possible to supplement the design with elements such as crampons or snowshoes. The inner liner can be made in the form of special shoes that are designed to overcome rocky areas at low temperatures.
Shoes for difficult routes
Like extreme footwear, off-road touring footwear provides secure foot support and protection from injury. These shoes also have a steel plate, roller lacing and a special sole. But unlike extreme equipment, these boots are made of leather or nubuck, and there is no liner.
Trekking shoes
For trekking or hiking, you can choose special sandals or sneakers. A feature of such clothing for the legs is the presence of well-developed ventilation, which allows the legs not to sweat even in sneakers or boots. In addition, membrane materials that do not allow water to pass through are increasingly being used. The average weight of one shoe is no more than 700 grams per foot.
How to choose a brand?
In travel and sports stores, you can stumble upon a wide range of different manufacturers and brands. Most of them confidently keep the brand, offering experienced and novice travelers comfortable and high-quality equipment.for legs. The following manufacturers top the rating of tourist shoes in Russia: Salomon, Columbia Sportswear Co, Asolo, Scarpa, Meindl, Aku, La Sportiva, Lowa, The North Face, Dolomite. Each of these companies is ready to offer tourists modern technologies, comfort and reliability.
What to do if hiking boots are torn?
As you know, any thing tends to become unusable at the most unexpected moment. What should I do if my trekking or climbing boots are damaged? You can find ads offering special materials for gluing broken soles and seams. If you wish, you can even find a workshop, the list of services of which includes the repair of hiking shoes.
In fact, high-quality hiking boots or sandals can last more than one year, even with active use. At the same time, nothing should peel off and peel off from them. If trouble has occurred, it is better to find a more reliable replacement.
Looking for a replacement for special shoes
What if you have to go on a trip tomorrow, and there is no time or money left to buy professional boots?
It is easy to find a way out of this situation, because tourist shoes differ from ordinary ones only in the presence of a special membrane that protects the feet from snow and rain. Therefore, if you are planning a city tour or a trip to the forest, limited to a few days, then any clothes for legs will do. You can choose sneakers, sneakers, boots, sandals, any other slightly wornshoes with small heels. The presence of a heel is an important condition, as the foot gets tired very quickly from walking on a flat sole.
In winter, shoe covers can save you from an excess of moisture. Shoes for a winter walk should be one size larger, as the foot will have to be insulated with warm woolen or thermal socks. Tight boots can cause frostbite, so you need to make sure that your feet are not cramped.
If you have to hike in the mountains, then the routes for beginners will withstand durable and high-quality sneakers. It is not at all necessary to purchase expensive extreme boots for a test climb, when you just want to test your strength and impressions of the walk. But if the terrain is difficult, and mountain trekking develops into a serious hobby, then you will have to buy special shoes.
