Buying Shoes

Buying Shoes

If you plan to purchase new shoes for Trek, now is the time to buy! You don't want to hit the trail with brand new shoes on. It will be miserable! You need to give your feet plenty of time and experience with the shoes before tackling something as difficult as Trek.

So here are some tips on footwear; what to look for and how to buy:



First off, there are two schools of thought regarding shoes. 1) the best shoes to use for Trek are athletic shoes, they are comfortable and breathe well.  You really can't go wrong with these types of shoes. 2) you are better off with good hiking shoes. These kinds of shoes tend to be a bit more rigid and durable.  They are usually water proof and provide better foot and ankle support.

If you tend to have foot and ankle problems, I'd suggest a good hiking shoe.  It will offer better support.  There is no need to worry about water and wet shoes.  Where we'll be trekking is pretty arid and dry. Overall, the athletic shoe is a better bet for 99% of feet.

With that in mind...here are some tips for buying GOOD athletic shoes:

 -    There is a difference between walking shoes and running shoes. Walking shoes tend to be more rigid and stiff, while running shoes are more flexible.  For Trek the waking style of shoes is preferred for greater support of your foot and ankle.
-    Know your foot type: most higher end shoe stores can evaluate your type. Your foot type will have a big influence on what kind of shoe you need. Some good stores are: Striders (in Layton), Salt Lake Running Company (SLC) and DeBoer's in Bountiful.  (tip: if you buy shoes at DeBoer's and pay CASH they will give you a 20% discount).
-    Have your foot measured every time you buy shoes.  Believe it or not, your feet change as you age (even if you’ve stopped growing).  It’s also better to try on shoes later in the afternoon, your feet will be larger later in the day.
-    Your feet swell as you exercise.  The longer you run or walk, the larger your feet get.  The exercise makes them swell, so make sure you leave enough room for that.  The standard recommendation  is to buy a half size larger for shoes to wear during exercise.
-    Make sure that when you try shoes on, that you wear the socks that you will be using with the shoe.
-    There is no such thing as “Breaking in a shoe”.  Good shoes should feel comfortable right away.  If the store has a treadmill, go for a good walk or run with the shoes on before buying them.
-    Higher price doesn’t always mean a better shoe.  If it fits, feels good and works, then get a good inexpensive shoe.  Big 5 is a good place for fair priced athletic shoes.




If anybody has any other tips, please comment here and share them!

Thanks