Shoes/gear for easy hiking?

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  • BeeerRunner
    BeeerRunner Posts: 728 Member
    If your hikes are short and relatively flat, gym shoes will be fine. When you start going longer distances and the trails are rocky, your feet will thank you if you put them in some hiking boots. We went to Glacier National Park last year, and my 1st day, I wore my trail running shoes, which have a rock plate at the bottom so you don't feel the rocks quite so much. We probably hiked about 10 miles round trip, but it was slow going...stopping to take pics, eating huckleberries and thimbleberries along the way. We were out hiking for 4 to 5 hours. My feet were killing me! Now, I've ran trails well over 10 miles, but I wasn't on my feet for so long. I wore my nice comfy Merrell hiking boots the rest of the trip, and it was so much better.

    When you're ready, I would go to a sporting goods store and find something comfy for your feet. I love my Merrell hiking boots, but what feels good to me may not to others. Colorado will have a lot of options.
  • columbus2015
    columbus2015 Posts: 51 Member
    I live in the same area as the OP...maybe even the same city.

    I use a runner style hiking shoe - good grip and waterproof. As soon as you start to get out of the "tourist" hikes, the paths can be quite steep, rooted, exposed shale sticking up, etc. You need good grip. And lots of well shaded areas on paths can have snow well into the summer, so waterproof is a good idea.

    You may want trekking poles (basically ski poles), you may not. They're quite a personal preference.

    Other than that, a backpack, water, maybe an apple/nibble of some sort (pack your trash out!), a jacket or shell (the weather uphill can be a lot cooler/damper than at ground level)... take a camera! MEC can outfit you, but they are pricey. Atmosphere is my secondary choice, the one across from MEC can be helpful, the rest not so much. Kijiji might be an option as well.

    Banff has some great easy hikes... down by the river is a great loop that goes back to the highway and past the Banff Springs. Minimal climbing, lots of pretty. There are trail maps available in town and most of the "standard" hikes are very well marked and used. The real popular hikes are pretty much a parade in the middle of summer.

  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,764 Member
    The first time I hiked in the Canadian Rockies, I used a book called, "Don't waste your time in the Canadian Rockies." It rated various hikes for difficulty, beauty, etc. I don't know whether it goes as far south as the Kananaskis Country though. It was a bit too picky, because it low balled some hikes I liked, but it definitely gave an idea of where to go when time was limited.

    Are your photos from Peter Lougheed PP? We camped there when we hiked the GDT. I think that is a waterfall.
  • SueSueDio
    SueSueDio Posts: 4,796 Member
    spiriteagle99 wrote: »
    Are your photos from Peter Lougheed PP? We camped there when we hiked the GDT. I think that is a waterfall.

    Yes - I had to double-check, it's been a while, but yeah. It was the Upper Lake we tried to hike around. :)

    Thanks, everyone, for your continued advice and ideas... I appreciate it!

    @columbus2015 Banff is a couple of hours away, but it would be nice to visit again sometime and take a closer look at the area! Last time we went there it was so touristy in the town itself that it didn't really appeal to us, but we'd only stopped for lunch on the way through so didn't look around much.
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