Good boots and great socks. Simple as that.
A good pair of boots will have a Vibram sole and Gortex upper. You need boots that can withstanding a pounding but also breathe and keep out the water. Cheap boots are a recipe for lovely blisters and aching feet. If you are hiking on hilly uneven or rocky terrain, get boots that come up over your ankle for more support. If you have lumberjack ankles or are hiking moderate/difficult trails then a tennis shoe style hiking show will work fine.
Learn how to tie your shoes. You are likely doing it wrong.
- Lace up boot to ankle
- At ankle, crisscross the shoe lace twice
- Finishing lacing the boot
- Tricky part. Tie the knot…basically upside down or backwards than you were taught. This is the stronger version of the knot. It is also very weird to figure out how to do it.
Socks. Can’t say enough about socks. Yes, good socks are expensive and worth every penny. I like Smartwools and Thorlos (two different brands). They each have their perks. And a zillion choices of padding, sock height, and colors. And, they wick water away from your foot. I’m not a fan of the double sock method as I find it only adds to the problems of things shifting around and either you have the inner sock bunched around your arch or you get a blister.
Toenails and heels. Keep your toenails neatly trimmed. Use a pumice stone or a sugar scrub to get rid of dead skin on your heels. (That’s enough on that.)
If you begin feeling fatigue. Take a break and take your boots off and let your feet rest while you rest. When you get back to civilization use a mint/oil rub on your feet. I use olive oil with peppermint essential oil. It takes away some of the aches and pains while also smelling nice. And, you can make it yourself so you know exactly what is in it. You can’t say that about the OTC mental rubs.
Please share this with your peeps!