How To Choose The Right Hiking Shoe Or Backpacking Boot
If hiking is your intention, one of the most important things you can do is take good care of your feet. Everyone has different feet. High arches, flat or wide feet are just a few of the things that can make finding the right fit challenging. but if you take the time to make the best decision possible, your whole body will thank you.
Defining your use is the first step. Doing shorter hikes at the local parks with less challenging terrain requires only a good pair of trail shoes. These look like sneakers. The big difference is much better support. If you will be going on a multi-day hiking trip where you will be carrying a pack over more rugged terrain, you will need a pair of backpacking boots.
Standing there in front of the shoe and boot wall at an outdoor retailer can be a little intimidating. The trick to determining the best choice comes from knowing the 5 major components involved in the construction of all shoes and boots and the level of support that each component should provide.
The tread on the bottom of the shoe is called the outsole. The best outsoles provide traction in all kinds of conditions. Look for tread designs that are staggered and avoid those that are uniform. Staggered treads provide better traction while readily releasing dirt, mud and debris.
Above the outsole is a layer called the midsole. It's purpose is to disperse kinetic energy. You've heard of the saying that every action has an equal and opposite reaction right? When your feet hit the ground while hiking, an opposite force bounds back up your body. If you didn't have a good midsole, your muscles,Jordan Breds, tendons and ligaments would be responsible for releasing that energy. Good midsoles eliminates alot of shock and stress.
So, how can you tell if a shoe has a supportive midsole? Hold the back end of the shoe firmly in one hand, while applying pressure to the front of the shoe with the other. As the front starts to bend upward, you will feel resistance. The shoe or boot with more resistance will have better support. Although they may not be as flexible, they should still have flexibility. Otherwise, you may not feel rocks and other hazards beneath you.
The insole, commonly referred to as the footbed is a thin piece of closed cell foam fitting the shape of the shoe providing cushioning and support to the anatomical curvature of the bottom of your foot. If you remove a footbed and you can twist it out of shape easily, it does not have sufficient support. Manufacturers tend to include footbeds that aren't really supportive. Over time,http://shopjordansforsale.webs.com/, the original footbed will compress and you will loose cushioning. Try a replacement footbed with real support. I love Superfeet. Significantly reducing stress, a good footbed provides support for your feet and your body.
The body of the boot or shoe is called the upper. Some are leather,Air Jordans For Sale, some are made of synthetic materials and some are a combination of both. While it takes longer for full grain leather boots to break in, synthetics conform to the shape of your feet quicker. Shoes that employ breathable mesh panels are cooler in warmer conditions. The upper also contains the laces and the tongue.
Most people relate ankle support to the height of a boot,Cheap Concord 11, but that isn't the case. All of your ankle support comes from an area of the shoe which wraps around the heel area under the outer materials called the heel counter. Some low cut shoes have excellent ankle support where many full cut boots do not.
Imagine a line that goes straight down the back center of the shoe, then put the heels of your hands on either side of the shoe and press them together toward that line. The area along that line at the top of the shoe may fold, but if the area at the bottom of the line closer to the heel folds. you will not have sufficient ankle support.
Other than knowing these attributes, you know when a shoe feels right. It may or it may not and the only way to know is to try them on. Once you've found the right fit, your outdoor adventures will feel so much better!
James Warner is a distance hiker and mountain guide. He feels that the more of an active outdoor lifestyle one leads, the happier and healthier they tend to be. If you liked this article and would like to learn more about hiking with comfort and safety,Jordan bred 11 For Sale, check out: hiking with comfort and safety guide |
