HOW TO SELECT YOUR TREKKING SHOES.
Stomping through the woods or on mountains on a rigorous hike gets more exhilarating with each step. But are your feet as excited as you ? Your feet take on the bulk of the work on trekking or hiking excursions, so it's important that they have the right padding and protection.
Choosing the right trekking boots is a matchmaking process. Your dream hiking boots need to sync with how and where your hike or trek. Before you tie the knot, though, you also have to be sure they are a perfect fit.
You have a dizzying array of choices, from ultralight trail shoes to mountaineering boots.Understanding a little more about what goes into uppers, lowers, mid-soles, out-soles and other parts of a boot can help you refine your selection. No one ever loved a pair of ill-fitting boots. The difference between blisters and bliss is taking the time to get a great fit.
Trekking shoes are one of the essential equipment when it comes to trekking in India or Nepal, especially in the Himalayas. It can break or make your trek, especially while trekking in the high altitude regions of the Himalayas. Your dream walk boots will synchronise with where and how you walk. But you must also be certain that they are a perfect fit before you tie the knot.
Trekking shoe is very different from your normal running or sports shoes. There are a lot of features in the shoe that help you get through different kinds of terrain, weather and support your feet and ankle while you walk.
Key features of trekking shoes are :
1. Good grip and traction for all different kinds of terrains without slippage.
2. Built material which helps protect your feet from getting hurt or twisted.
3. Waterproofing for different kinds of weather.
4. Durability and usage for a long period of time.
5. Cushioning, comfort and breathability for long hour hiking / trekking.
What you should keep in mind before buying a trekking shoe ?
There are four important factors which have to be taken in consideration before you buy trekking shoes :
1) The kind of terrain on which you will be trekking - paved trail or uneven rocky terrain.
2) Duration or the number of days you would be using the shoes, ie weekend treks vs expeditions.
3) Weather conditions on the trek, ie monsoon trek vs snow trek.
4) The weight you will be carrying on you, ie backpack weight.
So, there are three types of shoes you can buy from the market. Hiking shoes which are less expensive and good for short hikes. Trekking shoes for a high altitude trek for a week to 10 days , and Expedition boots for multiple days high altitude with shock resistance and extreme weather.
HIKING SHOES :
If you are trekking on a well-paved hiking trail like Kheerganga or Nag Tibba, this is the shoes you can get as there is less chance of ankle twisting or your foot getting hurt due to harsh terrain.
Buy hiking shoes when you are trekking in summers or dry weather as they are made of breathable material but not advisable for rainy or snow trails as they are not waterproof.
Weight of the backpack should be less as hiking shoes are made of flexible soles and low cut with no ankle support.
Hiking shoes are light weight, breathable, flexible sole, low cut with no ankle support. The price normally varies around Rs. 2000/- to Rs. 3500/-.
Some brands available are - Quechua, Forclaz, Adidas, Soloman, Woodland, etc.
TREKKING SHOES :
If you are trekking on an uneven/rocky trail like Hampta pass or Sar Pass or Dhaulagiri trek you have to get a trekking shoe which will give you more ankle and feet support as it is made of stiffer construction.
This is a shoe for all weather as it is waterproof and can be bought when going on a snow trek or monsoon trek.
If you are going on multiple day hikes / treks you can get these as it helps reduce the burden on feet and ankles.
On multiple day hikes / treks, the load of the bag will be much more so the stiffer material gives your leg muscles the support it requires.
Trekking shoes are heavier / stiffer material for toe and feet support, mid-size ankle support, good anti-slip outer sole. The price is around Rs. 4000/- to Rs. 6500/-.
Some brands available are - Quechua, Woodland, Wildcraft, Solomon, etc.
EXPEDITION BOOTS :
These boots are great for any type of weather mostly during extreme cold weather as they have extra insulation for your feet.
If you are going on a long expedition choose these boots for ankle and leg support as well as comfort.
Expeditions will require you to wear heavy clothing and backpack which in turn puts a lot of pressure on the feet. With good ankle and leg muscle support and slip resistance feature will keep your feet intact.
Expedition boots have high rise for ankle and leg support, shock resistance, anti slip resistant and good insulation for extreme weather. The price range will be around Rs. 5,000/- to Rs. 10,000/- .
Some brands available in India are - Dynafit, La Sportiva, etc.
HOW TO SELECT YOUR TREKKING SHOES ?
Concentrating on our today's blog title - HOW TO SELECT YOUR TREKKING SHOES, let us understand it's construction and aesthetic which determine the durability and comfort of the shoes.
The trekking shoe has 3 main components to it's construction : The upper, mid sole, and the outside sole.
1. The Upper : the upper part affects the shoe's weight, longevity and water resistance. The upper layer is also important to ensure that your feet are ventilated properly. The top section of the shoes consists mainly of two substances - Leather and synthetic.
The best way to ensure longevity, safety and comfort are to have leather shoes. Aesthetics and waterproofing are influenced by the form of timber. But you can use synthetic leather with the same versatility as leather if you want your shoes to be a vegan option.
2. Mid sole : "Sole is the Soul of a shoe", it is the sole that a shoe is comfortable & stable. This keeps the shoes comfortable and coats the feet. Therefore, it is difficult for a sole to shield you on rough, rocky terrain from an abrasive shock. Ethylene-vinyl acetate and polyurethane are the most popular materials you can find in your sole.
3. Outer sole : The lug patterns of your shoes at the bottom determine your grip on mountain trekking. It facilitates your grip on mountain trekking. It facilitates your journey by gravel, trail or ground. The deeper and denser the pattern of the lug, the more it tracts your feet.
The elevated area of the heel at the foot of your shoe, also known as the brake, reduces your chance of descending steeply.
Some of the Best Trekking Shoes available in India :
Find below some of the best trekking shoes available in India with an average rating of most than 4 out of 5 by customers. This list has been prepared after comparing more than 54+ shoes by different brands like Solomon, Quechua, Wildcraft, Adidas, Columbia, and Woodland on different websites like Amazon, Decathlon store, Flipkart & Wildcraft stores. The price range of these trekking shoes is from Rs. 3,000/- to Rs. 13,500/- (prices may vary according to time & offers) :
1. Solomon Synthetic Quest Prime GTX mid ankle hiking shoe.
2. Forclaz Trek100 men's trekking shoe.
3. Quechua women's hiking shoes MH100- Brown.
4. Woodland men's boot - Grey.
5. Quechua Forclaz 100 mid WTP shoes for men.
6. Columbia Men's Redmond Mid waterproof hiking shoes for men.
7. Columbia women's Newton Ridge Plus Sued Leather trekking shoe.
8. Quechua men's snow hiking shoes SH520 X-Warm mid.
9. Wildcraft Hypagrip TRKNiQ X (trekking shoe for women).
10. Wildcraft Hypagrip TRKNiQ Argon 2.0 (trekking shoe for men).
11. Furo by Red Chief for men's hiking shoes.
Myself have noticed that, trekkers are perpetually confused about which trekking shoes to buy. There are so many options in the market these days, with costs climbing as high as Rs.35,000/-.
Most of the trekkers want to own a pair of trekking shoes, instead of getting a pair on rent. Which is why I started looking out for good trekking shoes that do not burn a hole in your pocket.
Many of my trekking friends have suggested the NH150 Trekking Hiking Shoes by Quechua, Decathlon*. Which is why I wanted to test it out. This shoe was tested on the Gidara Bugyal trek, a moderate-difficult Himalayan trek, in snow, slush and small stream-crossing. This shoe is very much budget friendly at Rs. 2500/- approx.
Decathlon marks this as off-roading hiking shoes, rather as trekking shoe, as a result most trekkers hesitate to buy this for a Himalayan trek wondering whether it will work or not.
This shoe was tested on 4 aspects - Grip in the shoe, Ankle support, Flexibility of the sole, and Water repellent.
Grip in the shoe -
Ankle support -
in this respect many people doubt this shoe, but are not to be blamed because it has a very soft ankle support & people think that it needs to be more firm and padded to actually support your ankles. But this is not true, as it is the length of the ankle support that matters , this shoe with mid ankle length works perfectly well.
Flexibility & cushioning of the sole -
this sole is extremely flexible, it worked great when on boulders when feet are in awkward positions. You feel an extension of your feet.
Water repellent or waterproofing of the shoe -
It performed well when walking in water as well, also while walking on shin deep snow it came out without getting wet. Parts on the top surface got bit wet but dried up pretty quick. The in-sole and socks did not get wet.
At the end of the day if you ask me , I would definitely say yes, go for this shoe . Most people think the more you spend, the higher the quality of the shoe., if you ask me it is an endless journey. I always believe in - "SPEND LESS AND TREK MORE". You can even use this shoe even for tougher Himalayan treks like - Buran Ghati, Kedarkantha, Deoria Tal, Rupin pass, Goechala, and similar. This shoe will easily last you on 6 - 7 Himalayan treks of this calibre.
If you have used this shoe for yourself, would love to know your experience of it, drop in your comment below, even for any doubts write to me at partha63.pd@gmail.com .
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