What Can I Say?

Tonight I had one of those rare experiences in retail that left me nearly speechless.  Doesn’t happen to me very often, I can assure you.  A young man was looking at the pack wall and started asking questions.  I inquired about his trip and he told me he would be hiking in Utah for three weeks.  I asked more questions, and it quickly became clear that he had very limited experience and little idea about what his trip would entail.  The he fessed up: he was actually planning to walk from LA to Provo, Utah.  He expected to do it in three weeks.  He hoped to leave a month from now.  He had no idea about his route, how much water to carry or even how much his pack might weigh.  He said he wanted to walk and think and meditate.  Now I don’t like to crush people’s dreams, but this seemed a foolhardy enterprise at best and deadly at worst.  I told him I didn’t think there was public land let alone trails all the way to Provo (he wasn’t aware that all that land by the side of the highway was privately owned).  I told him that even experienced long distance hikers don’t cover 500 miles (assuming he followed Interstate 15) in three weeks.

I am facing a dilemma: my job is to sell equipment, but I won’t ever recommend gear that is inadequate or unnecessary.  I have even refused a customer boots that I knew were insufficient.  But that is the limit of my authority.  I can’t really say, “This is stupid.  You’re going to die.”  If I let him go ahead with this plan, advising as best I can, I am afraid I will see one of two taglines on the nightly news: “Hiker arrested in Barstow” or one far worse.

For now, I suppose I can try to discourage him as gently as possible.  Or suggest an alternative trip.  If you happen to read this and are considering an equally bizarre outing with little to no preparation, I beg you to rethink it.  Please don’t burden some poor kid at the camping store with trying to outfit this kind of madness.  I guarantee you, it is way above his pay grade.

Stay Wild! (but wise)

These Boots Are Made For Hiking

Choosing your hiking boots is a subject close to my heart.  I have been a bootfitter for over six years, and I know well that the right boots can make or break a trip.  There are thousands of opinions about which boots or brands are best, but ask any decent fitter, and they’ll tell you the same thing:  The best boot is the one that fits you (and your trip) best.  Here are a few things to help you find the right footwear for your next adventure and beyond.

Boots are lighter and more comfortable these days than they have ever been.  Often, they are broken in after only a few hikes.  The trade-off is limited durability.  The old waffle-stompers from the 70’s may have lasted 20 years, but they often weighed a ton and made your feet bleed for six months.  Today’s footwear is built to last 5-10 years or about 500-850 miles.  It is also built to be used.  The flexible rubber and midsole materials degrade over time.  If you buy a pair of boots and leave them in your closet for 12 years, don’t be surprised if they blow like a bad tire on the first outing.  So get out there and use them!

Every boot is built on a “last”:  This is a specific foot shape.  There are lots of variations, so it is important to find one that matches your foot type.  Take a close look at your foot.  Does it look long and thin like a floppy fish?  Maybe it’s thick and stocky like Fred Flintstone’s feet.  Do your toes curve or is your foot a perfect rectangle?  Does the top of your foot come off the ground like a triangle, or is it flat to the floor?  Now look at the shape of the boot.  Does it look like your foot?  If so, you might be on the right track.

Footwear is designed for a specific activity:  Shoes and boots that are light and flexible are made for moving quickly.  If you are carrying a heavy pack, moving over really rough terrain or you don’t have the strong feet of a sprinter, you might need something with more support.

Ankle support comes from the base of the boot, not its height:  It’s true!  Footwear with a stiffer plate or shank gives your foot a solid base to work with.  The squishier the midsole, the harder your foot will have to work to stay balanced.  To test rigidity, grip the boot by the toe and heel and twist it like a dishrag.  The more it resists the twist, the more stable the base.  A high-topped boot will simply prevent serious injury if you roll your ankle.  Consider high-top boots if:

1. You are carrying a pack:  If you roll an ankle, your body will have to catch additional weight, and a more structured boot can help prevent injury.

2. You like to go off-trail.  A high boot can help keep debris out of your shoes, but so can a pair of gaiters if you want to stay fast and light.

3. Every hiker has a point at which the “stupids” set in.  This is when you get fatigued and stop paying attention to foot placement.  You start stumbling, tripping and stubbing toes.  Mine is the eight mile mark.  If you are going farther than your stupids threshold, a higher boot can keep you from injuring yourself.

Lace the boots snugly.  You shouldn’t be able to easily slip a finger under the laces.  Try walking up and down a ramp.  Your heels shouldn’t lift much and your feet shouldn’t slide forward.  There will always be a little movement, but only 1/4 inch in any direction.

Here is the big one!  The ball of your foot needs to sit in the shoe’s “flex point”.  This is typically the widest part of the forefoot (both on your foot and on the shoe).  This ensures that the boot and your foot are flexing in the same place.  Your toes should be 1/2 thumb to a full thumb’s width from the end of the boot when you are standing to allow for movement and swelling.

When bootfitting, I always operate on a “90% rule”.  If the boot isn’t 90% right, no amount of creative lacing or modification will make it fit.  A good, experienced bootfitter is a great ally.  They can dramatically reduce time (and blisters) in the hunt for the right boot.  Always go to the store with an open mind, but don’t be afraid to speak up if the boot hurts or feels truly uncomfortable.  In the end, you are the one who has to like it.

Some last minute tips:

Wearing your boots around town for a few days is a great, gentle way to start the break-in process.  Plus you will look cool and outdoorsy!

Wear synthetic or merino wool socks.  They will wick sweat and help prevent blisters.  Liner socks are optional, but I always carry a pair in case I start to feel chafing.  No cotton!  Ever!

Don’t go in for a boot fit or a modification if your feet are blistered or injured.  Nothing will feel good until they heal.

Don’t forget to trim your toenails!  It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised…

Stay Wild!