Camping is an awesome thing to experience, but picking the can be harder than you thought. There are different kinds of terrain wherever you go camping; some require wet resistant clothing while other hikes might require warm winter boots.
It is wise to be prepared for any scenario, but whatever you do – don’t pack two pair of boots. You will need as light equipment as possible while exploring the area where you decide to camp. So, with all these different options, what do you choose?
Well, it’s never a given choice. Ultimately, comfort and functionality beats every other factor. The boots need to keep water and cool weather outside, other than that – they should be comfortable.
Online < Outdoor Store
While it might be financially wise to order boots online, you miss out on a good opportunity to try out the boots before heading out in the wild. You can search the web and read up on different sizes depending on where you order boots from.
Some online shops offer an open purchase, allowing you to regret your purchase if you for some reason would be dissatisfied with your product. Those are worth trying out, but time might be precious!
Check out your local store before ordering anything online. That way, you can try out the boots and walk around in them before paying up.
Shoes that are too big are actually not too big! You are actually supposed to pick a pair with extra space for your socks.
No walking boots should fit perfectly as you always need to have extra space for thick socks to keep you warm while walking. This is another reason to why it’s wise to go to a physical store instead of ordering boots online.
If you have lots of time until you go hiking, feel free to order online if the web shop allow you to send back the product if you aren’t happy with it. Lots of online shops doesn’t allow you to send back products if you are dissatisfied with them, so double check that before you order anything online for your hiking trip.
Wear double socks!
Wearing double socks comes with perks. First of all, make sure that you aren’t using cotton socks as they entrap moisture inside which make your feet colder than they need to be.
Using wool or a synthetic blend can increase the temperature of your feet by several degrees. If you still get cold, try to air the boots and socks occasionally to get rid of moisture.
Moisture can easily cause blisters to appear on your feet from all friction inside your boots. You should try to wear two different types of socks, one should be a slim sock but you also need a thicker (preferably) wool sock too.
This 2-sock combination allows you to use the internal friction to stay dry and to generate additional heat.
Fjällräven – A Brand of Wildlife Quality
If you plan on ordering online, check out Fjällräven; a very trustworthy brand from Sweden – a country where survival equipment is as vital as food and water. These wildlife experts offer products for any scenario in the Scandinavian wilderness.
Even the Sami’s, the Swedish Inuit’s, are using equipment from Fjällräven. Their undisputable reputation is a reassuring confirmation that they can provide you with practically any kind of equipment to complete your trekking experience.
With 50 years in the business, they have the sturdiest solutions for every hiking enthusiast. I can remember hearing grandparents and family friends speaking about Fjällräven products as a necessity in the ice cold wildlife of Scandinavia.
Thick & Resistant
Thick boots are important, but the resistance is actually more important.
Even the biggest boots will be able to absorb more water than small boots due to volume. So whatever boots you choose for your trip, make sure that they are resistant against both water and cold. Protection against the cold might seem super important, but the water will definitely give you ice cold toes if it manage to get into your boots.
If your feet or boots do get cold, you can quickly warm them over a fire. Wet boots is a much greater setback than cold feet since cold feet is usually a symptom from wet feet.
Thick can be important, but being water resistant is extremely vital if you are planning on staying in the woods for more than a day or two.
Walk your boots in
It’s super important that you feel comfortable on your trip, in as many ways as possible. Your feet and head are two of the biggest heat generators on your body, so it’s very important to stay dry and warm throughout the journey.
Your new boots might actually cause your feet to be chafed, which could set you back as you will probably lose speed and blood circulation which makes you colder in the long run.
Take your new boots for a proper “warmup” walk and see how they feel before you take them out for the real deal. If you can, try to go hiking for a few days, there is probably a good place to go from where you live to try them out.
Make sure to find out how water resistant your boots really are.