Choose hiking gear

Don't leave home without the right kit

Hiking requires determination, skill and endurance. Its other major requirement is a little less personal and often comes wrapped in a cardboard box. Yes, suitable and sufficient hiking gear is every bit as important as your enthusiasm to climb the highest mountain explore the longest trail. But choosing the right gear among the endless shelves is a difficult and often confusing state of affairs. WideWorld asked outdoor store Millets how to ensure you buy the right kit.

These boots are made for walking

The most important items to get right when hiking are walking boots. Available in all shapes and sizes, the quality of the boot depends on the activity; less expensive ones will suffice for the Lake District but if you’re going to trek the Himalayas, a sturdier boot is vital.

Berghaus (www.berghaus.com) have a brilliant selection of breathable and waterproof boots – an essential in rainy Britain.

Always try the boots in store. Every manufacturer uses different sizing and it is essential to get the perfect fit, otherwise it won’t offer support for your foot and you will be prone to painful blisters.

Take a spare pair of socks

Walking socks are every bit as important as the correct boot. Saving space is important when you have a heavy load, but a second pair of socks is essential. If you change your socks, you will reap the benefit of a freshly cushioned sock, reducing impact on your feet. Most outdoor stockists supply inexpensive socks. A good make is Bridgedale Walking Socks (from �12.99; www.bridgedale.com).

When in doubt, get the Compeed out

If you follow professional advice when choosing boots, there should be no reason to get blisters. But it is always recommended to take Compeed just in case (www.compeed.co.uk).
Applied to the blister, Compeed works as ‘second skin’, giving your painful foot a second lease of life and preventing rubbing on your hard-wearing boot.

Stick with It

Hiking sticks (or poles) aren’t for everyone, but if you suffer from bad knees, they’re highly recommended. They’re especially useful when going downhill by distributing your....

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