Trail Footwear Since 1964 You are using a version of Internet Explorer whose Browser Mode and Document Mode are not allowing correct display. Please press your F12 key and set Browser Mode and Document mode to the highest versions available. This site is not compatible with versions of Internet Explorer older than 8. Please update to a newer browser version or use an alternate web browser e.g. Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome.If you wear hiking boots and get blisters when you go hiking or if your boots don’t fit as well as you’d like, there are a handful of powerful hiking boot lacing techniques that you can use to dial in a good fit. Unfortunately, these lacing techniques have become somewhat of a lost art since well-trained boot fitters are so scarce. However by learning these techniques, you can completely eliminate the painful banging of your toes against the front of your boots, heel lift which causes those painful heel blisters, and sore spots on the top of your foot where the laces are tied too tightly.

If you experience any of these issues, you need to watch these videos! For example, if you get heel blisters when you go hiking, it’s probably because your heel is lifting up when you take a step forward and rubbing against the inside of your boot. This source of friction causes a blister, essentially a friction burn, on the back of your foot. However, can eliminate heel lift using a lacing technique that people call the Heel Lock. Rather than using the normal back and forth diagonal lacing most of us know, this lacing technique (shown in the video above) uses the open hooks (speed lacing system) on the side of your boots to create a pulley like system for mechanical advantage, letting you crank down the most resistant leather or plastic boots and firmly lock your heel in place. I use this Heel Lock lacing technique in winter to tie my mountaineering boots and it works extremely well for eliminating heel lift. It takes a little practice to tie, but is definitely worth learning, and can be used with any boot, trail runner, or shoe where heel lift is an issue.

Another essential lacing technique is called the Surgeon’s Knot, which my father, a doctor, taught me when I was a young boy. It’s like the simple overhand loop that you normally use when tying shoes but instead of just going around once and pulling it taught, you go around twice or even three times, creating a friction-based lace lock which won’t slip loose when you let go.best soccer cleats to buy 2014 Using a Surgeon’s Knot, it’s possible to isolate different parts of your laces from one another, creating areas that are tighter or looser. nike mens shoes sale canadaFor instance, if you have a sore spot on the top of your foot above your arch, you could make the laces below it tight, lock them off with a Surgeon’s Knot, and then tie the area above the sore spot more loosely. best cute shoes for walking

The Surgeon’s Knot is shown in the second video above, along with the Heel Lock again. Lacing windows are another useful, but counter-intuitive lacing technique that breaks traditions with the standard back and forth diagonal lacing we’re all familiar with. Instead of threading a lace diagonally, you thread it vertically to the next higher eyelet on the boot, creating a gap in the lacing that relieves some of the pressure on the top of the foot. This is good for people with high arches or who get sore spots on the top of their feet when their laces are tied too tightly (see the video above for a demonstration.) Unless you are willing to spend the money for a custom pair of hiking boots that are tailor made for your feet, you will probably have to adapt the fit of your boots using the lacing techniques describe here, augmented with one or more sock layers and insoles. This is the norm when it comes to fitting hiking boots and becomes more important the heavier and stiffer the boot is.

Individual variations between individuals and even between feet (see Is One of Your Feet Bigger than the Other?) make it unlikely that you’ll find a pair of boots that fit both of your feet perfectly, hence the need to have multiple tools including these advanced lacing techniques in your quiver of boot fitter tricks.Go to the United States store or select your country from the list below:What type of shoes you choose to wear for hiking is largely a matter of personal choice. There are no stringent rules for what type of shoes are best, though different hiking boots or trail shoes are made for different terrains and it's important to choose wisely, especially if you are heading for a challenging backcountry hike. However, a tennis shoe or sneaker can work just fine if you're going on an easy, mostly flat day hike. One of the most important factors when deciding on hiking footwear is the amount of tread needed. The tread allows your shoe to grip uneven surfaces and prevent slippage on downhill slopes.

Most sneakers or tennis shoes have light tread that won't be suitable for rocky, uneven terrain or hills. If you plan to walk a flat trail with only slight uphill and downhill grades, a tennis shoe will suffice. Any more than that and you should consider a hiking boot or trail shoe, suggests REI. Hiking shoes offer support and stiffness. If you are carrying a backpack while hiking the backcountry, you will want a true hiking boot with more ankle coverage and stiffer midsoles. If your ankles sprain easily, higher ankle coverage is a must. If you are doing day hikes with little or no extra weight from a pack, a light trail shoe is a good idea. They offer support and come up slightly higher on the ankle than a regular sneaker, but have stiffer midsoles to handle uneven terrain. There are hiking shoes -- sometimes called trail runners -- that feel almost like a sneaker in that they are light but offer more support and tread. Exposure to water while hiking is another consideration.

Some hiking boots and shoes have a waterproof lining that allows you to walk through mud or streams without getting a soaker. Other outdoor shoes are made of mesh material that lets water flow through the shoe but are designed to dry quickly. Tennis shoes will stay wet and heavy under these same conditions. If you are an infrequent hiker that doesn't plan to go on any long, difficult hikes, then you can stick with your tennis shoes. But if you hike with any regularity, consider investing in hiking shoes so that you can be prepared for the changing trail conditions, including hills, uneven surfaces and rocks. Most sporting good stores have wide selections of hiking boots and shoes, so try on a bunch and take long walks around the store. Gain 2 pounds per week Gain 1.5 pounds per week Gain 1 pound per week Gain 0.5 pound per week Maintain my current weight Lose 0.5 pound per week Lose 1 pound per week Lose 1.5 pounds per week Lose 2 pounds per week