As a hiker or trekker, the shoe is the first element of your equipment. Suffice to say that his choice will be essential to take pleasure in sports practice. But sometimes hard to find. So for you, here is the complete guide to putting on the right shoes!
The choice of your hiking or trekking shoes is guided by many criteria: the field of practice, the duration of your outing, the weight of your backpack, your footwear habit, and of course the weather. So many criteria that will allow you to find the shoe that suits you so that your outing rhymes with comfort and serenity. Well-shod, all you have to do is look up and enjoy the scenery!
1/ YOUR PRACTICE FIELD IS…
If there’s one question you should ask yourself before choosing your shoes, it’s “what kind of hiking am I going to do?”. That is to say, on what type of terrain? For how long? And with what weight in your backpack?
Regarding the terrain, there is a wide choice of hiking shoes designed according to the place of practice. If you go out on the plain, you will not have the same needs as for a mountain hike. So each field has its specificity.
IN THE PLAIN, IN THE FOREST, OR ON THE COAST, WITH LITTLE ALTITUDE
If you opt for a short hike in the plains, in the forest, or on the coast, opt for nature hiking shoes instead. They will offer you maximum comfort and cushioning so as not to feel the roughness of the trails. These shoes offer dual-density soles, i.e. a first sole close to your foot provides softness for your comfort while a second sole close to the ground provides cushioning to insulate you. pebbles. Their studs and outsole allow excellent grip on natural paths – such as forest paths or by the sea for example. Nature hiking shoes are very suitable for hikes with little elevation.
IN THE MOUNTAINS, ON STEEP TRAILS
Are you looking to reach the summits via more technical trails, with more elevation? If you practice mountain hiking more often and you take scree for example, it is best to orient yourself towards mountain hiking shoes. They offer more lightness so that your steps are less heavy when climbing. Their sole and studs also offer good grip so you don’t slip on steep trails or in scree. Mountain parhaat vaelluskengät are generally equipped with the PARASTA concept. This technology offers stretch materials and a specific design on the joint area of the foot, allowing the shoe to perfectly fit the shape of the foot.
ON SNOW-COVERED PATHS
Climbing snow-capped peaks? In this case, your choice will be quite different! Because who says snow, necessarily says warm and waterproof shoes. We advise you to favor snow hiking boots that insulate you not only from the cold but also from the humidity of the snow. Snow hiking boots are equipped with membranes to ensure impermeability and breathability. Their sole is also insulating and they have an anti-intrusion system preventing you from having to walk with snow in your shoes. Some of our pairs of snow hiking boots are equipped with SNOWCONTACT technology, resulting from long-term tests. SNOWCONTACT soles are designed from a specific component and a crampon design adapted to ensure the best possible grip and grip. They are therefore more effective than conventional soles on snow.
WALK DURATION
If the nature of the terrain is decisive in the choice of your shoes, this also applies to the duration of your hike. Once again, you will not have the same needs if you leave for half a day or for several days.
Does your outing take place over a few days to several weeks? Are you planning to explore new trails for a week on a trek? If the answer is yes, you will need strong and durable shoes that will not fail you throughout your stay – especially if you are hiking for several days in the mountains and you do not have the possibility to bring several pairs of shoes. In this case, orient yourself towards trekking shoes. Their resistance will allow you to swallow the kilometers day after day on all types of terrain. Their high upper also allows you to properly maintain your ankle for more comfort over time.
If you rather plan to go hiking for half a day or a full day, your selection criteria will be different. Indeed, if a trekking shoe is more resistant, it can also be heavier than a classic hiking shoe. For a day hike, equip yourself with hiking shoes rather than trekking ones.
3/ THE WEIGHT OF YOUR BACKPACK
Another important element to take into account when choosing your hiking or trekking shoes is the weight of your backpack. Who has the reflex to try on a pair of shoes in the store with 10 kg on their backs? Certainly not many people. However, the weight of your backpack will strongly influence the choice of your shoes.
If you don’t wear a backpack, or if it’s light because you’re planning a short outing, you can opt for flexible and light shoes, if the terrain allows it. If, on the other hand, you are loaded with a heavy backpack, containing your equipment for a trek of several days, you will prefer another type of shoe. In this case, it would be wiser to prefer a shoe with a high upper, for more support, and rather rigid, for more stability.
4/ MAINTENANCE
To finish guiding you in your choice, here is one last criterion to take into account: support.
The more you hike on rough or steep trails, a high upper will be useful to support your ankle well. This also makes it possible to avoid the intrusion of stones or dust into the shoe, for example.
