People like to get out and stroll. Drive down an urban or suburban street any summer evening and you will see friends chatting and walking happily wearing sandals, walking sneakers or running shoes. What happens when you leave the concrete and venture onto trails or dirt paths, however? Do you need to replace your sneakers with more serious hiking shoes? There may be several factors that would determine when you need to exchange your sneakers for more serious walking gear. In the end, the most important rationales for buying men’s and women’s boots online are the nature of the hike and the conditions you will face.
Parks and Path Walk
Many urban locations harbor green spaces where dirt paths run through fields or along rivers and hillside cliffs. Where these paths are mostly flat and made of crushed limestone, smooth sand or soft dirt, running sneakers are appropriate. In fact, in many cases sneakers may be preferable for use on these footways: They can run cooler in hot temperatures; they are easy to pull off and slip on again if you envision doing so repeatedly; and they are lighter, allowing for effortless walking over shorter distances. Of course, if you need extra comfort and support you can just use Protalus shoe inserts.
Winding-Trail Daytrip
If you plan to slip on a daypack and trek through some local woods, a state park or any national forest, you will likely find yourself traversing terrain comprised of stones, rocks, tree roots, crevices and other hard, uneven elements. These ventures call for North Face hiking shoes to enhance both your walking efficiency and ultimate safety. These shoes have stiffer, harder soles, and more supportive collars and upper pieces. Because they are constructed in this way, your shoes absorb and deflect the sharp obstacles and more easily convert your energy to potential force for climbing hills and pushing off rocks.
Backpacking Journey
When the trek turns into a backpacking excursion, don’t even think about making the trip wearing mushy running sneakers. All factors that apply to daytrips are taken to extremes because you face potentially harsher obstacles, sport an extra 40-pounds or so and spend far more time on your feet. Under these conditions, you need Timberland hiking boots that preferably rise above the ankles. The extra support will reduce the chance that you will roll an ankle on rough terrain. Even if you choose a shoe with a short build, the stiff sole and upper will still give you great support.
Exception Activity
There is one circumstance in which running sneakers are appropriate apparel for rough paths: trail racing and training; hiking boots would be too cumbersome for this sport. Keep in mind, many runners select running shoes specifically built for trail running.
When recreating, your choice of footwear will make the difference in how you feel both during the activity and at the end of the day. For casual, family-focused afternoon walks, running shoes may provide a fatigue-free outing. However, if your venture involves more extreme, or technical, hiking, then you need to choose a hiking boot that is made to take you to the top of the mountain (or hill) and back.