To stay comfortable in your hiking shoes, avoid blisters and injuries, and get the most wear out of them, you need to use them properly. Let’s look at the habits that will help you make the best use of your hiking shoes.
Choosing the right pair of hiking shoes is only the first step: you also need to use them properly. Even the best shoes are no use if you do not know how to wear them or neglect their care. Here are a few simple steps to help you get the most from your hiking shoes.
Wear the right pair of shoes
You may have several pairs of hiking shoes in your wardrobe. If so, choose the pair best suited to the day's outing before you leave. For a gentle summer walk on flat ground, you might wear hiking sandals or low-cut shoes. For a long mountain hike, choose higher-cut shoes, either high-cut or at least mid-cut, to give your ankles better protection. If you expect rain, water or snow, make sure your shoes are waterproof, perhaps with a Gore-Tex® membrane. These are all factors to consider before heading out.
Choose the right pair of socks
Once you’ve chosen your shoes, it’s important to choose the right socks too. Even if you don’t own several pairs of hiking shoes, you probably have several pairs of hiking socks. Assuming all your socks fit the shape of your feet, choose a pair that suits both the shoes you’re wearing, if you have more than one pair, and the day’s outing.
Choose the height of your socks to suit your footwear, the weather and the terrain. If you are heading out on a long mountain hike over steep, rugged ground with significant elevation changes, you need socks with sufficient, high-quality reinforcements, particularly at the heels and toes. Fabric and thickness matter too, and should suit the hike and the day's temperature. If it is cold or you may encounter snow, choose thick socks containing some merino wool. If you expect to sweat because it is a hot day or the route is particularly technical, opt for synthetic fibres, which wick sweat away more effectively, or a medium-weight blend with a relatively low wool content.
Only hike in properly laced shoes
It may seem trivial, but lacing your shoes correctly before a hiking trip is essential. This simple step has a major effect on your comfort and safety. Properly laced shoes follow the shape of your feet without creating pressure points. You need enough support while retaining some flexibility and freedom of movement, particularly around your toes. Well-laced shoes should maintain the tension you set across both the lower and upper foot. Above all, they must not come undone mid-hike.
Check your equipment regularly to make sure it is in good condition
Shoes and socks are often overlooked, yet they are among the biggest factors in hiking comfort and safety. Make sure your equipment is in good condition. Regularly check the outsoles of your shoes: they should not wear smooth over time, and they need to provide the same traction and grip as when they were new. Check that the outsole is not coming away from the upper, too, so it does not take you by surprise mid-hike. Outsoles can often be repaired: ask a cobbler whether they can reattach, reinforce or replace yours. Also check the condition of the uppers, which may be vulnerable to abrasion, as well as your laces and eyelets. You do not want them breaking while you are out.
The same goes for your socks: they should always provide good support without squeezing your feet. They must not be so loose that they bunch up, causing friction and blisters, or slip down your calves and expose your ankles to rubbing against your shoes. For the same reason, your socks should not have holes. Check that the reinforcements are in good condition too, especially if you’re about to tackle significant elevation changes.
How to care for your hiking shoes
Hiking shoes in good condition are either new or well cared for. That is why regular maintenance matters. After every outing, remove dirt and dust, take out the insoles to dry, give the outside of your shoes a quick clean, and air them until they are completely dry. Then store them somewhere dry, away from dust, heat and direct sunlight. From time to time, clean them more thoroughly, including the inside of the shoes and the insoles. Finally, treat your shoes between one and four times a year with a product suited to their materials. For example, use a conditioning treatment for full-grain leather, nubuck or suede. Treatments are also available to restore the water repellency of synthetic shoes. Together with proper storage and use, these steps will help prevent premature wear and keep your shoes in good condition
