Before you start comparing the many brands and styles of hiking boot, consider the type of terrain and your style of hiking. Do you take extended treks through the mountains or just stroll through the local park or greenbelt? Select a boot based on the most difficult terrain you will encounter. Do you carry a heavy pack? The heavier the pack the sturdier boot you will need. Are you an all-weather hiker? Do you need a lightweight breathable fabric or a heaver waterproof material?

Modern hiking boots do not weigh as much as older styles. Lightweight high-tech materials have replaced the metal shanks used in older boots and modern fabrics offer many advantages. A lightweight boot can still offer plenty of support and be a lot easier on the feet over less rugged trails. Many of today’s top quality lightweight hiking boots offer a Gore-Tex® liner that helps keep water out while still allowing your feet to breath. All-leather boots provide more support than the leather and fabric styles and they are easier to waterproof. They lend themselves to rocky terrain but they are heaver and less flexible. In my experience, leather boots will outlast the lighter styles, partly due to the heavier construction but also due to the fact that they have less seams which are always the weak point in any boot.

Have your feet properly measured and wear the type and thickness of sock you will be wearing on the trail when trying on boots. Boots should fit snugly but not too tightly. Remember they will become more comfortable with wear. Make sure they fit and provide support around your ankle and instep. You will need good ankle support, especially when carrying a pack. Hiking boots will never feel as comfortable as that old favorite pair of sneakers, but if you develop blisters or have pressure points, then you need a different boot. Look for boots with foam padding around the ankle and tongue for comfort. Removable inserts will help to fine-tune for a perfect fit.

Once you’ve found the perfect pair of hiking boots, be sure to break them in slowly. Start with short walks around the neighborhood and progress to 3 or 4 hour hikes before that weeklong hiking vacation.

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Where in day hiking you may be able to get away with wearing light-weight boots or shoes, in remote mountain hiking it’s a good idea to wear heavier supportive boots to protect your ankles and feet. Walking with a sprained ankle on a day hike is inconvenient compared to trying to limp out of the back-country mountains with the same problem and a heavy pack. Thinking ahead and being prepared with the right mountain gear, guides, and information can literally mean the difference between a minor mishap and at times death. Take your safety seriously.

As elevation increases the atmospheric pressure decreases (amount of oxygen doesn’t actually drop until over 50,000 feet) which means there’s less pressure to ‘push’ the air into and fill your lungs. Because there is less air going into your lungs you’ll fatigue more quickly. How much does the pressure really change? According to an academiclibrary.com article (that can be applied to mountain hiking) the barometric pressure can drop by 40% between sea level (average 760 millimeters of mercury) and 12,000 feet (483 millimeters of mercury). Obviously having 40% less oxygen available to your body (because of the pressure drop) will impact you.

Now if you had a 40% decrease in your ability to deliver oxygen to your body during an average day wouldn’t you be concerned? Add in the fact you’re asking more of your body in terms of keeping you warm in a cooler/cold environment, you are constantly losing water from your system, your reactions are slowed, and your not around the corner from the nearest hospital. Your mountain hiking equipment becomes a more important consideration the higher the altitude and the more remote your location.

Depending on how cold the temperatures you might encounter are you’ll probably want some good insulated hiking boots (depending on the altitude and temperature you may need mountaineering boots), hiking clothes, sleeping bags, camping tents, and other equipment used for hiking rated for lower temperature than what you think you’ll actually experience. This will give you an extra margin of safety. Also keep in mind that mildly uncomfortable mountain hiking gear will become a bigger problem…

If you’d like more information about mountain hiking click here for the rest of the article. You may also want to take a look at a couple of related articles on how to pick the best hiking footwear.

Author: Marc Wiltse

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Define Your Objectives: Select a trail according to your planned activities. Hikers hoping to photograph wildlife are going to want a quiet, secluded trail that sees little foot-traffic. Short trails over easy terrain are better suited to hiking with children. A trail with miles of ups and downs will be great for physical conditioning.

Consider Your Level of Experience: If you’re going to hike alone, take an honest assessment of your experience and physical abilities. Are you in good shape or has your physical activity been limited? Can you navigate with a compass and map? If you have a cell phone, take it along. Realize though, that it may not work on the trail and if something goes wrong, you need to know what to do. Unless you have a lot of experience, don’t hike alone.

If you’re hiking with a group, select trails based on those with the least amount of ability and experience. If you want to reach the summit of mount Buena Vista, make sure you hike with companions that can reach the top. Novices should start on shorter trails over easy terrain until they are comfortable with navigation and carrying a backpack.

Account for Distance & Time: It’s easy to underestimate the time you need to complete a hike. This can turn a planned 3-hour hike into a 6-hour ordeal. A good rule of thumb is to plan on 5-10 miles per day over moderate terrain if carrying a full load. On flat terrain, you’ll probably cover a mile in about 30 minutes. For every 1,000 feet you gain in elevation add another hour. For every 1,000 feet you lose in elevation add 30 minutes. Factor in 5 minutes of rest for every hour hiked and remember that multi-day trips should include a full rest day for every 4-6 days on the trail.

Location Matters: The trail you select should have ample links to other trails or alternative routes should you find a section closed or in case of a medical emergency. If you’re going on a multi-day trip, make sure the trail comes within close proximity to water, campsites and places to re-provision if necessary. Don’t hike trails (however well-marked) that don’t have a map.

Factor in Weather: Seasons affect the hours of available daylight and use patterns on a trail. Check local weather forecasts. Certain patterns (sudden storms, for example) are more typical of certain seasons. Don’t forget to take into account variables that might affect the weather like changes in altitude along the trail.

Rules & Regulations: Regulations or restrictions on group size limits, campfires, hunting or breeding seasons may be in affect in areas around certain trails. Check with park or trail officials regarding any restrictions or necessary permits that may apply to the trail you’re considering.

Author: Kathy Burns-Millyard

Experienced hikers will always tell you that every detail matters when you pack hiking gear, especially tents and camping stoves. The right hiking gear and clothing, a properly and ergonomically packed backpack, positive mood and good fitness – all these elements play an equally important role in the success of any hiking trip.

Hiking boots are the most important part of your hiking gear. The right footwear will serve you longer and take you farther and safer than any training shoes or sneakers will. You can wear a cheaper pair of pants or an old t-shirt, but a good reliable pair of hiking shoes or boots should be as expensive as you can afford.

Many people consider their jackets as another important clothing item for a hiker, especially in the colder periods of the year. A hiking jacket can be a true lifesaver if you choose well. A Gore-Tex top layer will shield you from cold, wet, and windy weather. Many hiking jacket manufacturers use a layering approach in their jackets, so that an outer shell layer becomes not insulation, but goes over insulating clothing. Underneath a Gore-Tex layer your can wear a lightweight and even trendy fleece jacket, which you can use in warmer months and for other sporting activities too.

Hiking tents are a must if you plan to camp in mountain regions in all three hiking seasons – spring, summer, and fall. Hiking tents can be used for protection from storms, winds, small animals and insects. Along with a tent pack a sleeping bag and an insulating ground pad which also brings warmth as well as ironing out bumpy ground.

A lightweight, dependable backpacking stove is much easier to use than campfires which are often prohibited in certain areas. A camping stove manufactured by such trustworthy brands as Primus and Coleman are basically a fuel container and a fire faucet with burner grates. These grates can collapse for compact storage. More expensive models even have electronic ignition so you won’t need matches or lighter. Although it is always a good idea to pack matches anyway in case of ignition failure. Another version of a camping stove is a storm cooker which basically consists of a spirit burner with windshield and handle and a pot or pan for cooking. These stoves are lightweight because you don’t need a propane container, but are sufficient for one or two people only.

The newest models of camping stoves are environmentally friendly, odor-free, and very accommodating. To cook and eat take a pot, spoon, and a cup. To start the camping stove, if you don’t have an ignition feature, lighters are more reliable than matches. Take more fuel than you initially planned – camping stoves “eat” more fuel in cold weather.

To fully enjoy your hiking trip you must prepare beforehand. Even a small mistake in selecting your hiking equipment may result in an injury or at the least in discomfort and a negative experience. Check and fire up your camping stove while still at home and double check your hiking gear and equipment using a hiking checklist before you head out.

Author: Kathryn Whittake

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