How to choose suitable hiking shoes correctly? These points must be kept in mind
Reading times:245 Update time:2023-09-08
For mountaineering enthusiasts, wearing suitable hiking shoes can bring joy to hiking activities. On the contrary, if the shoes do not fit properly, hiking activities are not only uninteresting but also very laborious. This indicates that choosing the right pair of hiking shoes before climbing is crucial.
There are many materials available for hiking shoes, which means there are many options available, and different materials obviously have an impact on the fit of hiking shoes.
In most people's perception, soft materials inside will fit the foot better, but in fact, on the contrary, using hiking shoes with leather inside can better adapt to personal foot shape. This is because leather has a good shaping effect, so it is more excellent in adapting to foot shape.
The fit of a pair of hiking shoes largely depends on the shoe last used during production. A shoe last is a wooden or plastic foot model that serves as the foundation for making shoes, so the shape of the shoe last is the shape of the shoe.
Different brands of shoe lasts are completely different. Mountaineering shoes use several different shapes of lasts to ensure that the shoes can meet the needs of different foot shapes. Therefore, when trying on, if you feel that the style is not suitable, you must try another style instead, and do not settle for appearance or budget reasons.
In addition to standard shoe lasts, there are also several special shoe lasts: wide shoe lasts, suitable for users with wider and thicker foot boards, especially in line with the common foot shape of Asians; The hallux valgus last is designed for users who suffer from hallux valgus. The wide toe last, which uses a wide version of the last head and is relaxed at the toes, is the most spacious choice for internal activity space.
A specially designed shoe last is very helpful for your feet, as it means you can find hiking shoes that match your personal foot shape without being forced to choose other styles because the standard shoe shape is not suitable for you.
If you purchase hiking shoes from a professional outdoor store, the salesperson will assist you in selecting the appropriate hiking shoes; But if you choose online shopping, you also need to consider the factor of foot length, and it is recommended to measure it very accurately. You can measure foot length in this way.
After putting on hiking socks, place the paper on the ground and step on the paper with your feet. The heel needs to align with the edge. At this point, draw a contour along the edge of the foot on the paper and use a ruler to measure the distance from the heel to the farthest end of the toe, which is the length of the foot. The farthest end usually falls on the tip of the big toe.
Before purchasing hiking shoes, be sure to try them on well. The best time to try on is in the afternoon or evening, as after a whole day, the feet usually swell slightly, just like when hiking; When trying on, it is necessary to pair with hiking socks to avoid size errors as much as possible; Be patient and try it on, don't make hasty decisions. After putting on your shoes, try to walk as much as possible. If the pressure points or friction areas do not disappear after walking for a period of time, make sure that your toes will not hit the toe of the shoe when going downhill, so it is probably the same when actually hiking.