Best Hiking Shoes-Guidelines To Choose One

By Adam Torres


With the recently developed popularity of adventure sports among youngsters and mid-aged people, hiking has become an escape medium for many. More and more people are trying to relax and get out of their busy schedule by going on hiking. Although people have become well aware of the needs of hiking, the intricate details of hiking successfully and comfortably are yet to come to the surface.

People visit online and real-life shoe stores to buy hiking shoes. However, they often get confused with which shoe to opt for. Although every type of shoe which you see on the racks of hiking shoe stores may appear to be very lucrative and fancy, each one has been designed for a specific purpose. Hence, if you are also in a similar kind of problem and is completely lost with which shoe to opt for, make sure that you read through and consider this piece as you initial guide of selecting the perfect hiking shoe.

Understanding hiking terrains Your choice of hiking shoes should vary depending on the type of terrain you are planning to hike in. For instance, muddy and snowy terrains which are characterized by slippery platforms should be treated with a specific type of hiking shoe, like the ones that can avert abrasions and allow you to get a better grip over the surface. On the contrary, lightweight shoes are ideal for short hiking trips, where you are not expecting to carry heavy loads.

Comfort level Comfort level should be your preliminary criterion for selecting any hiking shoe. While some people find it comfortable to slip in pure leather or full-grain leather shoes, most people, as well as experts recommend to opt for split-grain leather or nubuck leather, as they provide more cushioning, have lesser break-in time and sometimes even come packed with additional padding for enhanced comfort.

Fitting It is customary to never choose a hiking shoe by its looks. Just as the saying goes, "looks are deceptive", you must never rely or choose your shoe depending on how it appears. Rather, the ideal process of choosing a shoe is to slip in and take a nice walk. It is only when you start walking in your hiking shoes, that you will be able to notice the downfalls and fitting of the shoe. Be aware of collapsing shoe fabrics, as the fabric may greatly irritate your skin and lead to the formation of blisters, which is absolutely undesirable for hiking.

Material of the upper shoe Considering the material of the upper shoe is vital, as it is the upper shoe material which gets greatly exposed to the terrain and suffers wear and tear with use. Since hiking shoes are available in different material varieties, you must clearly know about the ups and downs of using a particular variety. For instance, full-grain leather, nubuck leather and synthetic shoes are known to be more comfortable and do not even call for long break-in time. However, these varieties may not suffice up for your expectations of longevity or strength.

On the contrary, full-grain leather shoes are known to be much more durable, strong and longer lasting. Full grain leather shoes can avert abrasions and wear and tear like no other material.

Weight of the shoe The more the weight of your hiking shoe, the greater will be the difficulties for you to advance through the terrains. Hence, it is always better to opt for shoes which are lightweight and less baggy.




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