How to choose hiking shoes, five uses of outdoor shoes

When you are crossing the jungle, crossing the canyon, or hiking in the desert, a pair of high-quality outdoor shoes will definitely give you an extraordinary experience. However, some travelers often cannot figure out what kind of hiking shoes they should wear due to their lack of understanding of the performance and adaptability of outdoor shoes.

I think the reason why many people don’t know what kind of outdoor shoes they should wear is based on two deficiencies in understanding. First, there is a lack of understanding of what kind of shoes are needed for various terrains in nature; second, there is a lack of understanding of the performance and technical indicators of different series of outdoor shoes. Once we understand these basic elements, we will know what kind of outdoor shoes to wear in different areas.

Classification of outdoor shoes:

As far as outdoor shoes are concerned, each brand and each category of outdoor shoes has a very clear purpose (design goal). According to the functional classification of outdoor shoes, they can be roughly divided into five series:

1. Alpine series: (also called heavy-duty mountaineering boots)

This series of boots are designed for climbing snow-capped mountains. The soles are usually made of Vibram or Sky walk, lined with steel plates, have strong impact resistance, and can be equipped with crampons. The boot upper is designed to be very high, usually more than 20cm, and the upper is made of hard plastic resin or thickened cowhide or sheepskin. It is lined with warm overshoes to adapt to complex and harsh mixed terrain of snow, ice, and rocks, and can effectively protect your feet.

2. Low mountain series: (also called heavy climbing shoes)

This type of shoe is intended for climbing mountains below 6,000 meters above sea level and climbing ice walls or rock walls mixed with ice and snow. The outsole is made of wear-resistant rubber (Vibram or Sky walk) with an organic carbon plate lined between the midsole and the outsole. The sole is very hard and has strong impact resistance, providing sufficient support when climbing. The upper is made of a whole piece of thickened (3.0mm or more) cowhide or sheepskin. In order to enhance the waterproof and breathable effect, Gore Tex or SympaTex is often used as the lining, with an insulation layer in the middle. The shoe upper is usually more than 15cm high, which can effectively protect the feet and reduce injuries in complex terrain conditions. Some styles are equipped with crampons, and those without fixed structures can use binding crampons. Lighter than heavy hiking boots, more comfortable to walk without crampons than heavy hiking boots.

3. Crossing series: (also called medium-sized hiking shoes)

This series is designed for relatively complex terrains such as low mountains, canyons, deserts, and Gobi, and is suitable for medium and long distance load-bearing hiking. The structural characteristics of this type of shoes are also high-top shoes. The upper height is usually 13-15cm. It has strong support and can effectively protect the ankle bones and reduce injuries. The outsole is made of wear-resistant rubber. Some excellent brands also design nylon plate supports between the outsole and the midsole to enhance the hardness of the sole, which can not only effectively prevent the deformation of the sole, but also enhance impact resistance. The upper is usually made of medium-thick top-layer cowhide, sheepskin or a leather blend, and the leather part is made of Dubang's super-wear-resistant Cordura fabric. It is much lighter and more flexible than the alpine and low mountain series. In order to solve the waterproof problem, most styles use Gore-Tex material as lining, and some use oil leather for waterproofing. This type of shoe can be used for walking in water or rain below the ankle.

4. Hiking series:

The hiking series is a commonly used variety in outdoor sports. It is designed for short to medium distance hiking with light loads. It is suitable for gentler mountains, jungles, general outings or camping activities. The design features of this type of shoes are that the upper is less than 12cm and has a structure to protect the ankle. The outsole is made of wear-resistant rubber, the midsole is made of microporous foam and double-layer encrypted rubber, and high-end brands have a plastic plate sandwich in the outsole, which has good impact resistance and shock absorption. The upper is made of full leather, leather or leather mixed materials. Some styles have Gore Tex lining, while others are not waterproof. The advantages of mid-top shoes are lightness, softness, comfort and good breathability. When walking in an environment with simple terrain, mid-top shoes should be better than high-top shoes.

5. Hiking series:

The hiking series of outdoor shoes are often referred to as low-top shoes, which are designed for regular wear and non-weight-bearing sports. The wear-resistant rubber outsole means you never have to worry about the wear of the soles affecting their use. The elastic midsole can both reduce the impact of the ground on the feet and relieve the pressure of body weight on the feet. High-end low-top shoes usually also have a keel design, which can effectively prevent the soles from deforming and enhance support. The constricting upper design makes you feel like the shoe is grown on your foot. This type of shoes is often equipped with leather uppers or nylon mesh uppers, so it is lighter in texture. A pair of shoes often weighs less than 400g and has good flexibility. Currently in some European and American countries, this series is the most commonly used and best-selling variety.

Different outdoor shoes are used in different occasions. . Through the above detailed introduction, I believe everyone has a certain understanding of how to choose outdoor shoes. Faced with a variety of outdoor shoes, you no longer have to worry about which one to buy.