For which season are you looking for a new shoe? And what types of tours do you do the most? Do you wear insoles, or do you have a misaligned foot? This information is important when choosing the perfect hiking shoe. For example, if you bend slightly inwards with every step, an orthopaedic insert helps prevent this. The best thing to do is to tell your problems and hiking preferences to the sales staff first.
Our tip: go shopping for hiking shoes in the afternoon! Feet swell up during the day, and a shoe that fits perfectly in the morning could feel uncomfortable in the afternoon. The best thing to do is to visit a sports retailer, where you can test going uphill and downhill in your new shoes. Speciality shops often offer such tests, including measuring the foot. Are you a complete novice and only started hiking? Do a running analysis in the speciality shop. There you will immediately see where you put the greatest strain on your feet.
It is also advisable to take hiking socks with you to buy shoes. Because only then can you find the right shoe size. The best are socks that reach the lower calf and are made from a blend of merino wool and synthetic fibres. So the moisture is not held on the foot, but absorbed by the material. The effect: there is no friction and the feet are spared from blisters.
If you have observed these points, it depends on the fit of the hiking shoe. If the rolling behaviour feels smooth, the shoe is perfect. We do not recommend ordering online when buying hiking shoes. It is better to take a few minutes of fitting time in store so that there are no nasty surprises during the tour.
Read more details about finding the right hiking shoes here!
