New to Hiking

[BigTex]

I am new to hiking. Wife has been hiking for several months and I decided to do it also to spend quality time with her. We hike in San Antonio Texas hill country. My question is concerening shoes. After a 5 mile hike thorugh the hills my feet and ankles are in pain from walking over the rocks and uneven trails. I weigh in at about 325 lbs so I know I need to loose the weight ( hiking is helping ) but in the interim can anyone suggest very good hiking shoes for cushioned soles and ankle support. right now I wear your normal pair of sneakers , tennis shoes....etc...etc.

[Rockytibby]

There are alot of different brands out there.What I would suggest is to go to a sportsmans warehouse or sports authority maybe even Big 5 and try on several hiking boots that cover your ankles. You should probably stay away from shoes. Good quality hiking boots will run you some coin but well worth it. In the winter I wear Belleville thinsulate with goretex soles (military issue).In the summer I wear running trail shoes unless I am going to be walking over rough terrain.

[Gershon]

Socks are also important. I'd suggest Smartwool socks. They make my feet feel a lot more comfortable even in shoes.

Five miles is a lot for a person just starting to hike.

Hiking shoes are important because their soles give a better grip. What fits and feels good is the rule of thumb that works after that. Cheap ones from Big 5 or places like that tend to fall apart early. Stay away from Coleman. Bear Paw seems to work pretty well.

Trekking poles help a lot. I wouldn't recommend cheap ones. Leki or Black Diamond are two good brands. There will be some sticker shock, but they are worth it.

You might consider cutting the distance and having a picnic at the end until you lighten up a bit.

[natedizzle]

go to a retail store that has a good selection of outdoor shoes and try them on. I wear vasque breeze and i looooooooooove them: lightweight, waterproof, comfortable, /gasp. I have more narrow feet though, and they fit me well. Def get high cut boots because they will have the ankle support u need.

socks are a good recommendation and trekking poles i definitely recommend. I generally dont use trekking poles when Im day hiking and moving with a lightweight pack, but when i got the heavy pack on its a must.

Dont listen to gershon about the distance. Honestly... I say go further. Ive noticed not only does getting outside and hiking help to burn calories, but it also makes you crave healthier food. As long as you focus on maintaining your hiking rituals (stretching, healthy eating, keeping active) you'll do fine. Don't be like my bro... who will hike 20 miles with me and then the next 2 days not doing a single thing. Yeah hes in shape now at the age of 22 but itll catch up with him.

anyways, gluck with boots sir, and keep on hiking

[Gershon]

Well, training is a whole different question. As you can see, there are different opinions.

Back to the shoes. I'd suggest going to REI. There is one in San Antonio. For $20 you can become a lifetime member which makes returns without a receipt easier. If you save receipts, there is no need to be a member. The advantage to REI is you can return things just because you don't like them. Keen shoes are wide in the front and good for big feet.

If you decide to go with ankle length, REI is probably still a good place to go.

But if you decide on heavy boots, REI isn't the best place.

I've done a lot of research on modern combat boots. Some are for sitting at a desk, others are for an occasional 20 mile rucksack hikes. Others are for Afghanistan with 20 mile hikes each day.

The last is this boot. I bought a pair and I can't tell the difference between them and my lighter hiking shoe even though they weigh more. They have an energy transfer system in the sole that uses the impact of your heel to propel the next step.

They also come in wide sizes for infantry feet. And since army packs are heavy, they work for heavier weights. Unlike the old style black combat boots, they are comfortable right out of the box. They are also waterproof and breath well. If water does get in the top, they dry in about an hour unlike cheap shoes which might take days.

I'm against the majority on the benefits of combat boots, but I thought I'd throw it out as an option. In the end, it will be whatever works for you.

[Sergemaster]

Also take into consideration what type of hiking youplan on doing before you buy a "one size fits all" type of footwear. Will you be going on some really rough and tumble trails, or will you be sticking to the groomed persuasion meaning trails that are so worn from foot traffic they could technically fall into the "paved" category.

Search around the forum, you'll see lots of topics covered from gear, boots, to inserts that should help you make a decision about what type of gear you think will be best in defining all your needs, good luck..

Cheers,
Serge