Whether you’re trying to hike the hills during the wet spring months, the hot summers or the windy but picturesque fall, there are some steps you’ll want to take to help care for your feet before, during and after your hike. Today, we share some of those tips.
Hiking and Your Feet
Here are some tips to keep in mind before you hit the hiking trails this year.
1. Finding The Right Fit – Protecting your feet begins with finding a well-fitting pair of hiking boots, but that doesn’t mean you should just buy a pair in your size from an online store. The best way to get the right fit is to head into a store that specializes in hiking gear. Not a big box store or even an athletic department store, head to REI, Gander Mountain or Red Wing Shoes. For the best fit, head there in the afternoon, as your feet swell and grow a little throughout the day, and this will make for the most accurate fit. If you’re going to wear any specialty or thick socks, bring those along to try on in the store. Your heel should feel snug in the shoe, but there should also be enough room in your toes that they don’t feel compressed.
2. Break Shoes in Slowly – It may be tempting to take those new boots on a 10-mile weekend hike, but you’ll want to break them in first. Wear them while you run errands or while you take the dog for a walk. Odds are they’ll feel a little uncomfortable at first, but after a few days and a few miles your shoes should start to feel more comfortable. The shoes may rub in certain places until they are broken in, but this way you’ll be able to take them off if they start to hurt or if you feel a blister coming on.
3. Comfortable But Breathable Lacing – Even if you’ve found the right boot and you’ve broken them in, you can still run into problems if you don’t lace them properly. You want to lace your boots so that your heel doesn’t wiggle but your foot still has room to breathe. Check out this video for some examples of how to properly lace your hiking boots.
4. Moisture Control – The last tip you’ll want to keep in mind is that you’ll want to try and keep your feet dry. There are a number of different ways you can accomplish this feat. First, you can start by applying some antiperspirant spray or foot powder. These products are designed to prevent or limit perspiration, so they are certainly a good option for longer hikes. Another smart investment involves purchasing a few pairs of hiking socks. These will be available at most outdoors stores, and they will be designed to help let your foot breathe and regulate heat. If your foot can’t expel heat, moisture is going to develop. It’s also a good idea to pack a few extra pairs of socks in your backpack so you can swap out socks during your hike in the event your feet start to sweat or you step in a puddle.
Happy hiking!