What kind of shoes are comfortable for outdoor sports? How to choose shoes for hiking?

Outdoor sports require adequate preparation, especially when going to places with complex terrain. Choosing suitable professional outdoor sports shoes can protect our feet and ankles well. So what shoes should we choose for outdoor sports?

What shoes are comfortable for outdoor sports?

Each shoe is suitable for different scenarios. Generally, according to different terrains, various shoes can be divided into several series.

Alpine Series

Designed for professional mountaineering activities, suitable for hard rock surfaces and mixed terrains of ice, snow and rock.

This series includes five parts: sole, upper, shoelace, tongue and lining. Generally, those used in places above 5,000 meters are called mountain boots. This type of shoes has strong support, good warmth retention and crampon slots.

Crossing Series

It can be used for long-distance crossing activities on complex terrain, and can also be used for low-altitude mountaineering, hiking, cross-country running, etc.

Low-altitude mountaineering generally has high-top, mid-top, and low-top series, and the height of the top is adapted to different environments. For example, heavy-duty hiking across complex terrain for several days requires mid-high top shoes. Generally, they are for ankle protection, wear resistance, grip and other performance. Cross-country running shoes are characterized by strong breathability, anti-skid and good cushioning due to long-distance and high-volume exercise.

Hiking Series

Suitable for short distances with little difficulty and slightly flat terrain. General outdoor hiking shoes have average performance and low strength requirements.

Other professional outdoor shoes

In addition, there are river tracing shoes, rock climbing shoes, cycling shoes, etc. that can cope with single but professional environments.

How to choose shoes for hiking

The choice of hiking shoes should first be based on actual needs, and then choose the right shoes according to your own economic situation, focusing on the sole, upper and lining. The soles of hiking shoes have patterns and anti-slip designs. Leather is widely used in this type of upper material, and some shoes will also use leather and nylon wear-resistant fabrics to increase breathability and reduce weight.

The upper of hiking shoes: low uppers are lighter, but not suitable for places with more gravel; mid-top shoes are placed just above the ankle, are flexible and protective, and can meet the requirements of most road conditions; high uppers have excellent protective performance and are suitable for areas with complex road conditions, but they need to be tried on and run-in a few days before departure to prevent blisters.

How to choose the right sports shoes

Use the Finger Test

Completely loosen the laces and bring your foot as close to the front of the shoe as possible. If you can still fit a finger in without any pressure on your toes, this usually means the shoe is the right size. Otherwise, get a larger shoe and retest. The reason for this is that when we go downhill, our foot slides forward and we have to leave some space to prevent our big toe from hitting the tip of the shoe.

Barefoot test

Take off your socks and try them on barefoot to see if your toes are pressed by the shoes, especially your little toes and the upper and lower arches of your feet. If there is pressure, it means the shoes are narrow.

Wearing socks test

When you put on your socks, always make sure that they are stretched and there should be no feeling of restriction or looseness on any part of the foot.