Your must-have travel accessory on your adventure-filled hikes and backpacking trips isn’t your costly camera or fashionable gear—it’s your feet. No matter what harsh mountain or vast terrain you’re tackling, every outdoors adventure requires you to be on them. They’re your companions in travel and adventure, there to get you from Point A to Point B and back again. But what happens when your heels are riddled with blisters, or your toes are completely bruised? What then? You can’t just hop on a bus or telephone a taxi; you still have to return to where you came from on foot, but now, it’s in pain. In order to not tarnish your future exploring endeavors around the world, I’ve come up with some tips on how to take care of your feet, so that you never have to limp or hobble on an adventure ever again. You’re welcome.
1. Proper Boots
Be sure to be prepared for your trek with formal hiking boots. How stiff they are is incredibly important; the stiffer your boots are, the easier it’ll be for you to roam without any hesitation or fear of a misstep. High-top boots that reach your ankle are typically better, since they help support your heavy backpack’s extra weight. In addition, the most important, but overlooked matter might be that of size: Make sure that your boots fit. The boots should secure your feet, but also leave your toes free, so that you don’t leave to your destination with ten toenails and come back with none.
2. Break Them In
Once you find the perfect pair of footgear, it’s time to break them in. Strut them around the house in the socks you plan to wear (a wise option to look into is a moisture-wicking synthetic liner inside a wool-mix sock) on your trip and ensure that the lacing is tight. Once you’ve done that a few times, graduate to day hikes, slowly increasing in distance. The creases you make during this period will mold the boots for however long you wear them, so it is of utmost importance that this process is done correctly. No pressure.
3. Prepare for the Worst
No matter what, it’s always best to be safe, so before you take on your hike, always apply the necessary lotions, treatments, and medical tape to the areas of your feet that your boots typically rub up against. If you’re already on a trail and feel the slightest tingle or twinge, immediately stop and take care of it. You know that phrase, “the sooner the better”? Like in many other aspects of life, in backpacking, it also rings true. So don’t delay paying attention to even the slightest bit of discomfort– your feet will wiggle in delight and love you for it.
