How to choose shoes and socks for outdoor travel?

Getting started with outdoor travel should start with walking. People cannot escape from walking, and walking is one of the most basic skills of human beings. Depending on the destination you are walking to, the shoes and socks you choose will be different.

For ordinary outings, you can return on the same day and just wear ordinary sports shoes.

Don’t wear new shoes when walking in the wild, especially on mountain roads. Because your feet have not yet broken in with the new shoes, wearing new shoes can easily cause fatigue and injury to your feet. When walking in the mountains, you will encounter various situations, so you should choose sturdy shoes when walking in the mountains: the soles should be thick, with large and deep patterns on the bottom, which can play a good anti-slip effect; the soles should be made of hard rubber , can effectively protect your feet on gravel and uneven roads; the upper should be high and hard to support the ankle; when wearing this kind of shoes, water will not easily penetrate into the shoes. These shoes are commonly known as hiking shoes. The uppers of hiking shoes are usually made of cowhide or 1000D nylon fabric. The leather itself has a certain waterproof and breathable function, and the nylon surface plus a waterproof and breathable membrane can also play the same role.

After putting on the shoes, feel whether the toes can move. If they cannot move, the shoes are too small. There should be a centimeter gap at the front of the toes. Also walk around to see if the heel slips between the heel and the heel, it is easy to scratch the foot, and this kind of shoe is also inappropriate.

Do not tie your shoelaces too loosely or too tightly, as this will cause your feet to tire prematurely and make them prone to injury. Cut shoelaces that are too long to avoid tripping or getting caught on foreign objects. Use flat strap-like shoelaces instead of round rope-like shoelaces, because rope-like shoelaces are difficult to tighten and loosen easily. If you find that your shoelaces are loose during the march, you must tie them immediately to avoid danger.

The size of the socks should be moderate, not too big or too small. The feet are the most diligent and hardworking in walking, so you should treat your feet well. Socks are divided into cotton, wool, chemical fiber and mixed systems.

Cotton socks: absorb sweat, non-perspiration, good touch, suitable for outings. During a multi-day march, feet wearing these socks are most likely to develop blisters.

Wool socks: warm and comfortable to wear in cold weather, but heavier.

Chemical fiber socks: good at wicking away perspiration but prone to odor, so they should be changed and washed frequently.

Chemical fiber fleece socks: warm, light weight and comfortable, the first choice for outdoor sports in cold weather.

Hybrid socks: sweat-absorbent, wicking, good touch, suitable for multi-day marches.

If you are going to be outdoors for a long time, it is best to prepare several pairs of socks.

In addition, where there is a lot of friction between your feet and shoes, you can apply some Vaseline or oil-based skin care products to reduce friction and prevent foot damage.