Hiking - Come share your tips and experiences.
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yardprincess wrote: »I used to do a lot of hiking before I had children - now that they are older I tried to get back into it (and take them along) but it's more enjoyable with people who actually want to be there of their own free will.... anyway, I used to wear boots, but they were well worn in. I also used to wear two pairs of socks, one inside out and one regular.
My hiking experiences were in the Gros Ventre mountain range in Wyoming (USA) and I went a time or two up in the Sawtooth mountain range in Idaho, USA. Both very beautiful and challenging!
Definitely a good knife is essential, and sure way to make a fire (such as a flint- rock or a case to keep matches dry).
PS if you like to read about experiences ie survival in the wild, I would suggest the book "Hatchet" by G. Paulson - sort of a kids book, but an easy read you could finish in a day.
Best of luck to you as gain health and fitness though hiking!
That raises another interesting question there as I have always hiked alone, does everyone tend to go in groups over there?
I got a pair of dual layered socks that are basically the same thing as wearing two pairs, definitely a huge help in reducing the outward blisters so a top tip there!
I'll check that book out, maybe save it to read on the phone if I go ahead with multiday hikes, would make a great nighttime read
Thank-you and thanks for sharing all your tips and experiences too 0 -
I've done a ton of hiking, and I eventually got to the point where I almost never wore hiking boots on trail. A good fitting running shoe will work on most popular trails. If the trail is wet, a Gore-Tex running shoe, or an ultra-light-weight hiking shoe will work.
Rocky, or on snow or ice, or the footing is treacherous, or steep terrain, then you need a more substantial sole and ankle support. If I anticipate rough terrain higher up, I carry my boots in my backpack and wear running shoes down below. Makes for a heavy backpack, though.
Get your blisters mostly healed before you do another long hike. Keep your feet dry. Moisture wicking socks - wool in cold weather.
As for blister first-aid, I hesitate to say this, but I've always popped my blisters and cut off all the loose skin with sterilized scissors. Keep the sore super clean and exposed to the air as much as possible. Lots of antibiotic ointment. Stay off it. If I can do that, my blisters will heal enough in just a few days.
Moleskin on small blisters or hot spots always worked well for me on the trail. I always carry a sheet of moleskin in my first-aid kit.
If you're really serious about hiking and you're sure you're going to lose your toenail, go to a doctor and ask to have it removed. My brother finally did that after suffering with a loose nail for 3 months.
It definitely seems that that sort of terrain is very lacking around here so the need for boots is a bit of a pointless one. Looking forward to swapping over to something light-weight for my next hike.
Maybe I'll skip a hike tomorrow, give it another week to let things heal then. It will mean I have the money to get trail runners before the next hike as well then.
Yeah I gave up after a week and just lanced the blister against 'medical advice', it was just so annoying an instantly felt better once the pressure was off. I used well steralised equipment as you say and am doing my best to keep it well cleaned. This one is a bit weird though as the initial blister was pretty large (inside of right big toe) so I tapped the two toes together with cotton wool between for the following hike. It sort of worked but I've ended up with a sort of blister under the blister along the top edge. Hard to describe lol
I can't say that it is really causing any discomfort right now so might wait until it is actually starting to detach and I know 100% it will go. There are 4 in question, each of differing condition. I accidentally pierced the skin when trimming the nail on the left big one and lots of liquid came out like the whole nail had a blister under it. I'm rather glad I did as it seems to have helped and is now the healthiest looking one of the lot.
Thanks so much to you and everyone who has posted, been great hearing all about your experiences too!0 -
I haven't been hiking the distances of some of you, but it is something my husband and I enjoy doing.
We live in Tasmania, and there are many hikes here which we are working our way through. And when we went to Canada recently we did a hike to the top of Mt Cheam with my cousin.
Regarding footwear, I have a pair of sort of hiking-style shoes which I bought in 2009 and which have been great ... very comfortable. When we went to Canada, I picked up a pair of hiking-style shoes at a Walmart.
They worked surprisingly well. But then I know I need shoes with certain features to fit my feet, so that's what I go for.
I also wear a thin pair of socks topped with a thick pair of wool socks. That's what I wear for any walking or hiking ... and actually for my cycling too. It's the most comfortable combination for me.
Hiking in Tasmania ... in my heavier days ... about halfway out to Cape Raoul and back, maybe 6 or 7 km.
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=1536
Hiking in Tasmania ... Cape Hauy ... 8.8 km ...
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=1533
Atop Mt Cheam ... me a little bit lighter ... 9.5 km
http://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/mount-cheam/
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I need to visit Tasmania, it is beautiful 0
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queenliz99 wrote: »I need to visit Tasmania, it is beautiful
The first two photos are Tasmania, the last one is Canada.
I think they're both beautiful and both have some really good hiking.
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queenliz99 wrote: »I need to visit Tasmania, it is beautiful
The first two photos are Tasmania, the last one is Canada.
I think they're both beautiful and both have some really good hiking.
Ah, I see that now. Canada is beautiful too, I have been there a couple of times. The lasting impression, other than its beauty, is the people are super nice.0 -
Hiking in Tasmania is seriously awesome.
We used to hike (we also call is bushwalking here) a lot before kids. We'd organise road trips around different places we wanted to walk and photograph (one person carrying the camera gear, the other the hiking gear & food).
Now the kids are older, we're getting back into it. By ourselves (husband and I), we go at a steady pace. With our 8yo leading.... we go a lot faster LOL
I choose my footwear depending on the terrain and the weather. For an easy walk on a dry day, I just use runners. A harder, longer walk, then I use my boots.0 -
I agree about checking the fit of the boots. Also Keep using dual socks. The inner pair should be light and slippery, like polypropylene or silk. The outer pair should be a wool blend with a wicking fiber. NO COTTON SOCKS. Try on boots while wearing these socks.
Consider using foot talc between your toes.
Have fun!0 -
The trail runners versus conventional full hiking boot question for me balances on what the load and distance are. I love TR's but used injudiciously by me on a long light hike in Colorado when I should used a stiffer boot cost me pain weeks later. The only blisters I have suffered in years are from pounding downhill with too many pounds on my back. It was a nine day trip with 13-16 mile days. That is a lot food weight for the first half of the trip with a significant pass each day. [US based between the Central Rockies and the Great Plains...Powder River Basin and the Bighorn Mountains
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Shoes are a matter of preference and depend on whether it's wetter drier, trail conditions, weight carried, and distance. Moleskin, however, should be in your pack always and applied at the first sign of a hot spot (before a blister even appears).0
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Jonny15121983 wrote: »
I've never been a "speed hiker" type. I don't like stopping a lot but my hikes are more about keeping a steady pace for long periods of time rather than attaining a certain speed. I havent been hiking as much as I'd like since having a kid, but before then my favorite hikes were multi-day backbacks. I had a full pack, about 40-50 pounds, and averaging 15-20 miles a day.Jonny15121983 wrote: »I have hiked in lightweight shoes, but for long hikes, hikes where I'm carrying any significant weight (backpacking), or rough terrain, I need the stability of a hiking boot. Also a taller waterproof boot is nice when crossing streams. You can just stomp through the middle and your feet stay dry.
Walking in boots does feel different than walking in shoes. Your gait changes slightly as your body adjusts to the stiffness.
Even my regular sneakers have more support than most. My feet hurt if I try to wear thin shoes for long.
My hikes are always one shot continuous without stopping hikes so I manage to keep my pack fairly light with just water, a snack, med kits, headlamp/torch for nighttime hiking and a jumper. The terrain is somewhat rough but I just feel so out of contact with it in my boots, I average about 3mph through the hike which is probably a pretty reasonable speed considering the terrain. No water issues to be concerned of here either.
How far would you usually hike in one go? For how long? At what speed? I'm curious as to what most people do and aim for/enjoy in their hikes,
You should carry the "10 essentials" in case you get lost/injured/stuck. I'd add a knife, firestarter, and a space blanket to your supplies at least.
That sounds like a lot of fun, I've been thinking about going for some multi-day/ hiking holidays. I think there are definitely a few things I need to add like the ones you listed there. I occurred to me today that I really need something a simple as spare laces for my boots too!
Paracord = Spare laces, lashing, anything you need it to be.
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I love to hike / backpack / go back-country skiing and mountaineering. I don't get to fit many overnight trips into my life these days, so I really enjoy trail running because I can fit that into my schedule frequently. Running trails for but a few hours opens up territory that would take an entire day to cover hiking. It also happens to be fantastic exercise.
It's a delight to be able to cross rough terrain in lightweight shoes. On the other hand I'm not carrying a lot of supplies. In areas where there is no cell coverage I often take a radio, but not always. Never run farther in than you want to limp out or be carried LOL.
Trail running hasn't replaced my love for hiking and such, but I do spend a heck of a lot more time running in the mountains now.
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I hike regularly in the Smoky Mountains and wear Injinji toe sock liners. I don't get blisters but I lose toenails all the time. Some I have lost more than once.0
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Hey everyone
Thanks for all of your replies! I think I have found the best set-up for me now. I do hike reasonably fast and over some reasonably long distances in one straight shot (43 miles in 16 hours straight was my longest) but my pack weight is low, usually starting at around 1 Stone in weight. As such the boots were indeed a bad idea and I have reverted back to a lighter shoe. I have also pretty much solved the blister issues with a pair of the Injinji Toe Socks, best money I ever spent!!
@RobynLB83 I've added a spare pair of laces into my Medical kit along with specialist blister plasters that work amazingly although I no longer have a need with my new socks and shoe setup
Thanks so much for everyones advice and keep those stories coming of your own hiking experiences as I do love to hear about them 0 -
I've not done a lot of hiking, but every couple of years we do trips with hiking. PNW and Arizona and Utah.
I would rather have a pair of boots. A good pair that is properly fitted and with good socks. and waterproof. The extra support makes me feel more sure footed.
for established trail runs, i wouldn't have an issue with trail runners. but hiking boots for hikes0 -
queenliz99 wrote: »
Last month I hiked the Angel's Landing in Zion National Park in Utah, USA which was series of switchbacks almost 6 miles long roundtrip. This is a pic of my hubby taking a pic, LOL. If you ever visit the U.S. and like hiking I highly recommend Zion. In fact, I met a lovely couple from England at the top. But we have many amazing places to hike. I have done a bunch. Checkout this link
We visited Zion last fall and hiked Angel's Landing. Well, I hiked it, my hubby and our friend chickened out before reaching the summit, so I ended up finishing solo. Fortunately there were other people around...I am pretty sure I would not have done it completely alone. It was quite an adrenaline rush on the narrow trails. Next week we are heading to Acadia. I am looking forward to checking out Precipice trail. I heard it's equally exciting!
As far as foot wear, I have a pair of Gortex Northface hiking shoes. I like them much better than boots because they offer more flexability, and I feel like they provide me with plenty of traction and support.
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I live in Vancouver, British Columbia. Our coastal mountains are super rugged - anyone taking off from YVR (not my screen name) can see that readily. Even though this is a "big" city by Canadian standards, I can get to a trail head within 30 minutes from my front door.
Here's an example of something I run in lightweight running shoes:
It's not just the shoe/boot that protects us, it's balance, agility, and technique that matter most. Like the OP I always favour lighter weight shoes for most hiking, and for all trail running. The only time I don stiff boots is when wearing crampons for ice field and glacier travel, or for kicking steps in same when conditions allow.
Running allows me to turn a notional 5 hour hike (maybe less for the OP) into a sub 2 hour run so I can visit these falls far more regularly. My dog loves the pools below... and we'll be heading there today or tomorrow!
@Jonny15121983 43 miles in one day of hiking? Super beast mode! I'm not at all surprised you favour lighter shoes. It's simply easier to lift our feet with lighter shoes and the longer the distance the more pronounced the difference that makes.
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Wanted to get in on the thread, not sure how much advice I have because I only just started hiking with my husband over the last 2 months. Plus it sounds like OP has resolved his initial issues since.
I have decided I like hiking in a middle weight boot. I asked a lot of questions before purchasing them and tried on about 20 pair of various shoes over many different visits to my local REI. I decided to go with Keen mid rise boot. I really liked how large the toe box was and even though I don't have wide feet, I wanted the option to wear a thicker sock and have room for my feet to swell while hiking. Plus I don't feel the ground walking walking over rocks and rough terrain, which tends to make my feet tired. I did buy them a half size bigger because the very knowledgeable sales associate and another customer said I'd lose toenails if they were too small or tight. I'm trying to get accustomed to carrying weight, as my husband and I want to start doing some 2 and 3 day hikes (backpacking) and so far my day pack is about 16 lbs. For my size I never want to carry anything over 35 lbs.
So I must have gotten lucky because my very first pair have been a complete successs. I haven't yet had a blister and my feet are never sore afterward. Mind you we hike about 2 to 3 miles per hour and are never out more than about 4 hours at a time. I'm progressing slowly because I have a knee that can get inflamed.
My hubs has had a lot of trouble with blisters! First it was the wrong boots ( too small, even though I told him to get a bigger size). The second pair has been a lot better, and thanks to REIs return policy, we were able to take them back even though they had about 15 miles on them. Since then he's also learned a few tricks, he wears a sock liner and uses tape at the back of his ankles. He's still losing weight and this gait will continue to change, so this will continue to be something he needs to perfect.
I'm hiking about 8 to 12 miles a week currently for enjoyment and fitness. I live in southern California and there are many trials within a 30 miles radius that are lovely any time of year. Once it cools down some I know we'll be able to stay out longer. Lately if we aren't done by 11am, it is just too hot and not fun anymore. Nice to know there are others on here that share my new found love for hiking.0 -
My wife and I hike almost every weekend and most of our vacations center around it too. Tasmania is high on our list for a future trip. Last year we did 120 miles in Yellowstone and next summer we're hiking the West Highland Way in Scotland.
I think I'm like most people who take up hiking avidly. I started off with boots and heavier duty equipment in general. As I've become stronger and more agile, I've scaled that down and now use trail runners and lighter weight gear. I get less blisters with them but you also need to have enough confidence in your balance and ankle strength to use them because they do offer less support. In the end I think the lighter weight and quick drying that mesh shoes offer are well worth it once your ankles and feet are strong enough for them.
No matter what shoe you use, you can't go wrong with a good pair of Merino wool socks. They're the best piece of gear I have.0 -
Leslierussell4134 wrote: »Wanted to get in on the thread, not sure how much advice I have because I only just started hiking with my husband over the last 2 months. Plus it sounds like OP has resolved his initial issues since.
I have decided I like hiking in a middle weight boot. I asked a lot of questions before purchasing them and tried on about 20 pair of various shoes over many different visits to my local REI. I decided to go with Keen mid rise boot. I really liked how large the toe box was and even though I don't have wide feet, I wanted the option to wear a thicker sock and have room for my feet to swell while hiking. Plus I don't feel the ground walking walking over rocks and rough terrain, which tends to make my feet tired. I did buy them a half size bigger because the very knowledgeable sales associate and another customer said I'd lose toenails if they were too small or tight. I'm trying to get accustomed to carrying weight, as my husband and I want to start doing some 2 and 3 day hikes (backpacking) and so far my day pack is about 16 lbs. For my size I never want to carry anything over 35 lbs.
So I must have gotten lucky because my very first pair have been a complete successs. I haven't yet had a blister and my feet are never sore afterward. Mind you we hike about 2 to 3 miles per hour and are never out more than about 4 hours at a time. I'm progressing slowly because I have a knee that can get inflamed.
My hubs has had a lot of trouble with blisters! First it was the wrong boots ( too small, even though I told him to get a bigger size). The second pair has been a lot better, and thanks to REIs return policy, we were able to take them back even though they had about 15 miles on them. Since then he's also learned a few tricks, he wears a sock liner and uses tape at the back of his ankles. He's still losing weight and this gait will continue to change, so this will continue to be something he needs to perfect.
I'm hiking about 8 to 12 miles a week currently for enjoyment and fitness. I live in southern California and there are many trials within a 30 miles radius that are lovely any time of year. Once it cools down some I know we'll be able to stay out longer. Lately if we aren't done by 11am, it is just too hot and not fun anymore. Nice to know there are others on here that share my new found love for hiking.
I'm in Southers CA too! San Diego and OC area mostly. What areas do you hike?
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