Hiking Checklist For Your Feet

When thinking about the next hiking trip is when the fun starts to begin. What is the next trail I am going to conquer? How high up the mountain can we go and how fast can we get there? What condition will the trail be in, smooth and wide or rocky and narrow? All very important questions to ask yourself to be best prepared when taking that next trek.

But what about your feet? When it comes to a hike whether it is a day trip or a multi-day overnight trip, it is key to ensure your feet are taken care of. The last thing you want to be doing is limping around the trail with blistered and bruised feet or even worse having to head back down the mountain while the others finish the journey without you.

Choosing Your Boot

When searching for that perfect boot, you should always start off by asking yourself these simple questions:

What type of terrain will I be hiking on the most? Will the trails be mostly groomed and taken care of or will we going off the trail through rough terrain? All of Meindl Boots are rated for any type of terrain you could experience. From our A flex-use rated boots for those more casual walks to our C and D rated boots on the most extreme terrain.
What kind of load will I be carrying with me? Chances are if you're going on a day trip the load will be light but for those multi-day hikes you could be packing a lot of weight where you need a boot that provides the support required to carry the weight.
What kind of weather can you expect this time of year? Nobody can predict what the weather will do but it's key to understand what you can expect during that time of year for your location, rain, snow, hot and dry, etc. By understanding this it can help you identify what type of boot you need from waterproof, insulated vs. non-insulated.

Breaking In Your Boots

Once you have identified the right boot for your next journey it is time to ensure the boots fit correctly and to begin the break in process.

When trying on your boots always try them on with the socks you will be using when out on the trail.
Always try boots on at the end of the day. During the day your feet start to swell, and this helps make sure you are not buying boots that are too small.
Make sure your heel is locked into place and you are not experiencing heel slippage. This will result in a guaranteed blister on the back of your foot.
The last step is to check for toe room at the front of the boot. Toe room is especially vital on those downhill hikes, if those boots are too small it can lead to some bruised-up feet or loss of toenails.

If you are questioning the proper size of your boot, try unlacing your boots and sliding your foot to the front where your toe is just grazing the front of the boot. Place your index finger in the back of the boot behind the heel, and make sure you have at least an index finger width behind the heel.

It is best to confirm a proper fit before taking to the outdoors. First, wear the boots inside your home for a few hours for several days (or carry them to work and change into them indoors and wear them around the office), with the laces tied snugly, but no uncomfortably tight. Make sure the tongues and gussets are straight and smoothly folded. The ides is NOT to wear them out or anywhere they can become soiled or damaged, which would prevent you from returning them in the event you decide they do not quite fit.

After trying your boots and and going through the proper steps to determine you have the proper fit, it is time to start the break in process. There is no exact timetable when it comes to breaking your boots in, it all varies from boot to boot and person to person. But one thing is for certain, we highly recommend allowing plenty of break in time when getting a new pair of boots and always start slow in the process. For more detail visit our blog, Breaking In Your Boots, or follow the below steps:

Start walking outside, around the block, and around town all while increasing the length of time you have the boots on your feet.
Head to the trail, starting with those well-groomed trails while slowly progressing to more challenging trails.
Enjoy the boots! The fit is right, the boots are broken in, now is the time to enjoy the boots. Knowing you took the proper steps you can feel confident knowing the boots are going to take you where you want to go.

Packing For The Hike

Socks

We can't talk about socks enough and how vital of a role they play in keeping your feet comfortable and blister free. There are three key elements when looking for quality socks, cushioning, moisture wicking, and temperature regulations. The easy way to capture all three elements are socks with a high percentage of merino wool. The merino wool will provide quality cushioning, regulate your temperature and allows for quick drying when they do get wet.

Always start with a fresh pair of dry socks when hitting the trail, while our Meindl Merino Wool Socks wick moisture there is no sock in the world that will completely stop your feet from sweating. Once your feet start sweating or get wet that is when you can develop blisters and hot spots. By having multiple pairs on a trip, it allows you to rotate your socks and keep your feet dry, which is why we always offer a discount when you buy three or more.

Accessories

When it comes to a trip there are some small accessories that are easy to overlook while planning for your feet.

Insoles - Thinking of those multi-day hikes and your insoles start to get wet from those sweaty hikes, that extra set of insoles can make all the difference in keeping the inside of the boots dry.

Laces - What happens when out on the trail and a sharp rock cuts through a lace, not something that happens every day but why no be prepared. Having that extra set of laces available allows you to keep your boots tied properly and feet secured if something unexpected should happen.

Wax - When on a hike there are a lot of elements on the trail that can hurt a pair of boots, for example a rock scraping or gouging that leather. Bringing some boot care like a jar of our Meindl Sport Wax that can help you address the damage immediately to prevent any further damage from occurring.

Moleskin - No matter how prepared you are there is always a chance a hot spot could occur. It's not always possible to fully prepare your feet for that exact terrain you will experience. By bringing some moleskin you are able to address those hotspots immediately.

As we all know preparing for a hike can take a lot of time and there is much to be considered. By following this guide, we can ensure your feet will be taken care of before hitting the next trail.