The Art of Hiking - Hiking Alabama: A Guide to the State's Greatest Hiking Adventures - page 466

eering boot for most day hikes and backpacking. Trail running shoes provide a
little extra cushion and are made in a high-top style that many people wear for
hiking. These running shoes are lighter, more flexible, and more breathable than
hiking boots. If you know you'll be hiking in wet weather often, purchase boots or
shoes with a Gore-Tex liner, which will help keep your feet dry.
When buying your boots, be sure to wear the same type of socks you'll be
wearing on the trail. If the boots you're buying are for cold weather hiking, try the
boots on while wearing two pairs of socks. Speaking of socks, a good cold weath-
er sock combination is to wear a thinner sock made of wool or polypropylene
covered by a heavier outer sock made of wool or a synthetic/wool mix. The inner
sock protects the foot from the rubbing effects of the outer sock and prevents
blisters. Many outdoor stores have some type of ramp to simulate hiking uphill
and downhill. Be sure to take advantage of this test, as toe-jamming boot fronts
can be very painful and debilitating on the downhill trek.
Once you've purchased your footwear, be sure to break them in before you hit
the trail. New footwear is often stiff and needs to be stretched and molded to your
foot.
Hiking poles. Hiking poles help with balance, and more importantly take pres-
sure off your knees. The ones with shock absorbers are easier on your elbows and
knees. Some poles even come with a camera attachment to be used as a monopod.
And heaven forbid you meet a mountain lion, bear, or unfriendly dog, the poles
can make you look a lot bigger.
Backpacks. No matter what type of hiking you do you'll need a pack of some
sort to carry the basic trail essentials. There are a variety of backpacks on the mar-
ket, but let's first discuss what you intend to use it for. Day hikes or overnight
trips?
If you plan on doing a day hike, a daypack should have some of the following
characteristics: a padded hip belt that's at least 2 inches in diameter (avoid packs
with only a small nylon piece of webbing for a hip belt); a chest strap (the chest
strap helps stabilize the pack against your body); external pockets to carry water
and other items that you want easy access to; an internal pocket to hold keys, a
knife, a wallet, and other miscellaneous items; an external lashing system to hold