Camping

These boots were made for walking hiking, and that’s what I’m gonna’ do in ‘em . . . . after I’ve worn them in of course, don’t want to put up with any blisters on my hike. Okay, you might think that I look a bit silly wearing my hiking boots around the house . . . . especially in my pj’s, but I know what I’m doing!

There have been loads of versions of this great song . . . Nancy Sinatra with the original (and many would say the best)  . . . Jessica Simpson probably the most popular of late (but not necessarily for the singing) . . . but I thought this one was a little different. Anyway, hiking boots were made for walking.

“Walking: the most ancient exercise and still the best modern exercise.” — Carrie Latet

Image via Wikipedia

Hiking boots or shoes are the single most important part of your hiking gear. If you have the right pair of well fitting (and well worn in) hiking boots you can hike further, faster and much safer. Hiking boots are designed to deal with the rough terrain which many hiking trails through at you offering protection against mud, water, rocks and anything else the back country likes to throw at you.

Hiking boots offer valuable protection and support for the ankle to prevent it from twisting but without restricting  the movement too much. Of course, there are other types of footwear too which is suitable for hiking, depending on the time of year, the length of the hike and the type of terrain you’ll cover on your hiking adventure.

• Hiking boots – yes, we know about those . . . I said other types of hiking footwear.
• Hiking shoes - sometimes known as trail shoes . . . these are great for hiking in a dry climate on a well trodden path . . . one that ain’t too rugged. They’re not really suitable for the long haul hiker, they don’t provide anywhere near the same amount of support as you get from a good pair of hiking boots, but are great for a day hike with a nice, light backpack.
• Hiking sandals – we’re not talking flip-flops here (although you might like to pop a pair into your pack for when you go for a dip in the wonderful cool lake at the end of the hiking trail). Hiking sandals are kind of like hiking shoes but with ventilation and straps! Great for shorter, summer hikes when you don’t have too much weight to carry.