Equipment |
Footwear |
Equipment footwear
I carry spare shoes on me. Some people consider it as unnecessary, but for me changing the shoes after a long walking day is a relief. Also, this is a backup in case of blisters (you need to control the foot, detect blisters early, pierce it and put waterproof plaster on).
Sandals, like other hiking shoes, should have good cushion, arch support and the heel strap. For years I’m using Teva company, model Terra Fi 3 (€90) and I am very happy with them. Such shoes are designed for light trekking, not with a heavy backpack. I respect Asolo company for trekking shoes (see below), but their sandals were a failure (all stripes broke).
I work in outdoor shop and clients often asking me to show them the lightweight, comfortable, waterproof, breathable and cheap shoes for long trekking. Well, these kinds of shoes don’t exist. First of all, ask yourself - what do I need shoes for? Walking around town, day walks or a long hiking?
A longer hike automatically means heavier backpack, so the boots should be adequate cushioned. There is no lightweight shoe with great cushioning. Even running shoes are divided into heavier long distance with good cushioning or light racing one (only for racing, not enough cushion for every day run).
The second thing is the sole stiffness. In longer walks our foot will be more relaxed if stays more or less in one position, what means in the shoes with hard sole. The thin soles which easily bend will affect our feet on every step, on even small stone, branch etc. It will be more tired. The problem is convincing the client that the rigid shoes are better than those which seem softer and more comfortable (in my own experience). Yes, because the flat shop surface seems ideal for the first moments, an hour or two, without a backpack, light – in these conditions soft shoes are more comfortable. However, the situation is changing after several hours of walking. Conclusion - the longer distance, heavier backpack, uneven terrain, the stiffer sole should be. Most companies in the world are using Italian Vibram rubber soles with excellent grip, friction and wear resistance.
Now, the stiffer sole, the stronger upper lining shoe must have. Glue synthetic shoe can’t sustain the strength and finally will burst. If you have a stiff sole the shoe must be sturdy, made from leather (or plastic mountain shell). And 
that means it won’t be too light. Leather is good for winter and summer, has good thermoregulation – like the nature keep the cows - neither too hot in the summer nor too cold in the winter. An additional advantage could be if the shoe toe section is covered with hard, usually black, very strong rubber - it protects the shoe from cutting by sharp edges (rocks, ice).
It's recommended if the shoe has ankle support, as it protects against twisting the ankle joint. Remember that the socks should be over the top of the shoe, otherwise we might chafe the calf. I recommend any socks but cotton, as it holds the moisture, so you'll get blisters. Synthetic socks dry quickly, but stink terrible. Merino wool is the best for me, but isn’t cheap. However, you can find on the market 40% wool blended socks for decent price. If you are afraid of blisters, you can wear a double sock - synthetic thin liner close to the skin, and wool over it. Then, the friction will occur between the socks, not between the sock and your skin.
In most scenarios it would be good if the shoe has a waterproof membrane. In case of Scarpa or Asolo this is Gore-Tex. It should be noted that the manufacturers often saying "waterproof", but the shoes might not have a Teflon membrane (membrane like Gore-tex), but only the outer layer impregnation. Some leather shoes are waterproof - as leather itself is waterproof but the seams are not sealed underneath - the water eventually will get through. Some manufacturers indicate that their product has a laminated membrane, but really it is only at critical points of the shoe, not on its entire surface. It’s a "trick" and retailer sale assistants often don’t know the true. The best way is to choose a few products, read specifications and reviews on the forums, then decide to buy. However for desert hikes (dry and hot) I use non gore-tex leather shoes (as sand might get in through the fabric, like in running shoes).
Shoe's leather should be cleaned after the hike to make it usable for years. If you already have a waterproof membrane I wouldn’t additionally impregnate the shoe before the hike - in my opinion it doesn’t make sense, it just limit the shoe breathability.
Although the manufacturer will be advertise its product as breathable, however Teflon membrane is an additional layer and barrier, which in some way restricts breathability.
Size. Running shoes should fit us perfectly. We’re rather not running longer than an hour or two. Trekking shoes is another matter. I lost in pain more then one nail, so I learned to buy shoes one size bigger. The worst thing we can do is to buy too small shoes. Too small mean even a light touch with toes to the front footwear. After several hours of walking, a few thousand steps when each one makes us pressure on nails (especially on descent), trekking might be a nightmare. Usually we buy shoes when our foot is rested, but after a long work our foot swells a bit (more blood in circulation). My heel is moving slightly up in my superb Italian shoes Scarpa ZG10 GTX or Kinesis GTX, but I have plenty of room so it's not a problem. Unfortunately, they weighs 1700 grams and cost a fortune €210.
Never wear new shoes for a long trekking - blisters guaranteed. A new shoe has to be brake in before the adventure. Initially one or two hours walking a day should be enough. We can extend the time after a week.