Principles of Choosing Hiking Shoes

The comfort of hiking shoes depends on the fit, but the shoes must also have the correct shape and sufficient padding. To find the right footwear, consider the following principles of ergonomics of the shoe.

The tongue padding should be sufficient and yet relatively stiff to prevent "cut" feeling on tight laces. The stiffer the sole, the stronger the tongue should be padded to counteract the torque of a rigid sole. Unfortunately, many boots with stiff soles stretch on the tongue padding and become painful on steep climbs or long descents.

Internal ankle padding is a well-hidden feature that is vital to your well-being because your ankle does not lack greasy layers of skin, but it bends and folds a thousand times a day. Ensure a secure fit around the heel and ankle to avoid excessive movement and after proper padding on both sides of the joint to minimize chafing.

Most of the blisters appear in the heel area because they are badly broken in the boots, the heel off of too stiff soles or poorly shaped heel shells. Some heel friction is inevitable, especially with stiffer boots, but you can easily avoid most discomfort by making sure your boots are well embedded. If the discomfort persists, retailers can apply heat and pressure outdoors to better shape the heel cups of the boots.