When choosing tourist hiking footwear, you must pay attention to a number of requirements. First, such shoes must be durable so that they do not come unglued or fall apart at the most crucial moment. After all, you can be many kilometers from civilization, and a torn boot can ruin the entire hike. Second, they must be moisture-resistant, because your health and comfort depend on it. Wet boots can rub your feet more, causing discomfort. And the saying "keep your feet warm" makes sense: if your feet get cold, a cold is almost inevitable.
Third, shoes should be comfortable and not cause inconvenience, fitting well on the foot (but not tight, so it is advisable to break them in before the first trip). Finally, shoes should protect the foot from injury. It is desirable to have a rubber toe cap and a sturdy, non-slip sole.
Hiking footwear can be roughly divided into three segments: winter, summer, and autumn-spring.
For example, travelers most often choose sandals or sneakers in summer, and they can also be taken on autumn or spring hikes. Such shoes are excellent both for nature and for city walks. They are worn on simple trips where there is no need to constantly move over mountainous terrain. They are perfect for trails, paths, and easy cross-country terrain. As with all tourist footwear, the sole should have a good tread and cushioning.
Tourists also love trekking sneakers or boots. Summer models are more like powerful sneakers than boots resembling military boots. Such shoes have a well-designed ventilation system, so even in hot weather, feet hardly sweat. Summer tourist sneakers can have a reinforced base and be lightweight, despite the powerful sole. New models of hiking footwear widely use various membrane technologies to wick moisture away from the feet. The properties of membrane fabrics are such that they allow vapor from the feet to escape, but reluctantly let moisture from the external environment in.
Today, this segment is the most popular among all the variety of tourist footwear, and you can choose from a large number of models.
Boots for off-season walks are suitable for use from mid-autumn to early spring. That is, during the time when the weather deteriorates, there may be high humidity and mud, the temperature at night drops to zero, and during the day it is still relatively warm. Hiking boots designed for such weather use membrane fabric that is waterproof but at the same time allows vapor to pass through. For the sole, durable rubber with excellent grip on the road surface is often used.
These models can also be used for hikes in summer, especially in temperate zones when daytime temperatures do not exceed 25-30 degrees. When choosing off-season shoes in a store, first of all pay attention to the sole and the quality of the material.
If your excursion is limited to a few days in the city or involves a trip to some not very difficult terrain, you can take any shoes: sneakers, trainers, sandals. For a mountain hike, you need to find sturdier sneakers. The most important thing is that there should be a heel so that your feet do not ache during long walks.