Footwear

The human body weight was made to be spread over four feet rather that two, so our feet are under constant pressure. With the added weight of heavy backpacks, hiking through rocky terrain, or wet ground makes protecting your feet a difficult and strenuous task. Footwear must always be broken in before being used. Break in leather boots by wetting them, then wearing them until they are dry. When hiking, keep you feet clean, wash your feet and dry them out daily. Always wear clean, dry socks, and look out for signs of blisters like hot spots on your feet. To learn more about blister, and how to treat them; read my last blog, First-Aid Part Three, for more details.

1. Lightweight

There are two types of footwear, light and heavy. Lightweight footwear consists of: sneakers, desert boots, and fabric boots. Sneakers provide comfort for tired feet around camp, and are good for wearing around boats. However, while they are light and comfortable thats just about all they are good for. They don't have much protection and might induce injury rather than help. Desert boots have tough soles and lightweight leather wrapped around the ankle. Desert boots would most likely be worn, you guessed it, in the desert. Because they allow the feet to breathe while keeping sand out. The sturdy leather and high ankles provide support and durability. Unfortunately, these boots are pores and don’t fare well in wet conditions, so they take time to dry. Fabric boots are normally worn in the mountains and can be used for lightweight tracking. These boots are heavy and are normally made from molded plastic and rubber. Fabric boots focus less on protection, but more on stability. When wet, fabric boots do dry out quickly; which can not be said about heavy-duty footwear.

2. Heavy-Duty

Heavy-duty footwear consists of: hiking boots, jungle boots, and plastic snow boots. Hiking boots are the classic go to boot. These boots are a good compromise between lightweight, durability, and protection. This produces a strong well rounded boot with: cleated soles, water resistance, and ankle productions. Jungle boots, like desert boots, would normally be worn in the jungle. Since jungles are constantly wet, these boots are waterproof and have extreme ankle support extending past the ankle. These boots provide protection from sharp sticks, rocks, and animals. With rubber soles, these boots keeps out water, while allowing your feet to breath through the canvas upper half. Plastic snow boots are designed to hold the foot in a fixed position while using crampons, metal spikes, for gripping on the ice. These boots are heavily insulated for use in the coldest climates imaginable. Like snow boots, but awkward to walk in. They also have a thermal liner in the form of a separate boot. This is like a thick wool sock, witch could be worn separately or taken out to dry.

Shoes and boots are all meant to be worn with socks. This is to protect and cushion your feet when walking or standing. Picking out a good pair of boots is almost as important as looking after them. This includes: replacing shoestrings, cleaning, and properly drying them. It might sound silly, but this could be the difference between life and death. Stay tuned for more next week and remember to always be prepared.

Thank you, and please leave a comment or suggestion below about what I should blog about next week.