Category: Hiking Boot

Foot fatigue is a common problem that many people experience after long hours of standing. Here are five practical tips to prevent foot fatigue.

When you’re planning a spring camping trip, it’s necessary to bring all the essentials so that you can stay prepared for anything. Keep the weather and terrain in mind as you pack. Here’s a list of what you should pack for a spring hiking trip when it’s cold.

Insulated Jacket

The first thing you should pack for a chilly spring hiking trip is an insulated jacket. Staying warm and dry is necessary when the weather is cold and potentially snowy. A warm jacket that stays insulated and that holds in body heat is ideal.

Warm Headwear

Next, you’ll want to pack warm headwear. A hat, earmuffs, or a fuzzy headband will all work effectively to keep your head warm and protected from the wind and cold weather. The ears are some of the quickest parts of the body to get cold, so finding headwear that covers the ears and holds in heat is crucial.

Functional Gloves

A functional pair of gloves is another essential to pack. You’ll need a pair of gloves that’s warm and that also allows you to move easily. Gloves work better than mittens, as they give your fingers the ability to grab independently and with ease.

Snow Pants

Another packing item for your hiking trip is a pair of snow pants. Waterproof, windproof pants will ensure you stay dry and warm in cold or snowy weather while you’re hiking. Conditions can get frigid and icy at higher altitudes, so a pair of snow pants is something you won’t want to leave out when you’re packing.

Long Johns

Long johns are another crucial item to have on a hiking trip in colder climates. Layering keeps you warm and holds in your body heat while you’re hiking. You can find one-piece long johns, or you can opt for a two-piece set that comes with a shirt and bottoms. Making sure you have warm layers while you’re on a hiking trip will ensure you stay warm and protected from the cold temperatures.

Thick Socks

You’ll also want to pack a pair of thick socks for your trip. The feet are another part of the body that can get cold rather quickly, so wearing a pair of thick socks will prevent your feet’s heat from escaping while you’re hiking. Wool socks are great options that are thick and warm.

Tactical Hiking Boots

The last thing to pack for your winter hiking trip is a pair of tactical hiking boots. Depending on where you choose to hike, you may encounter some rugged terrain, so it’s necessary to have shoes that will protect your feet from any obstacles. Tactical hiking boots are fantastic solutions that will keep your feet safe, warm, and comfortable.

Now that you have your list of what to pack for a spring hiking trip when it’s cold, you can begin getting your essentials together. ALTAI has a superb selection of waterproof tactical hiking boots perfect for any outdoor enthusiast’s hiking trip.

Backpacking is a brilliant way to see the world and get a great workout while you do it. The hard part is choosing which place to go for your next trip. We’ve compiled a list of the top ten most beautiful backpacking destinations for you to consider for your next adventure.

Cinque Terre

Hikers consider Cinque Terre one of the most stunning hikes in all of Italy. The trail runs along the seashore mountains of the region and makes its way through local villages. It takes hikers and backpackers just a day to hike the trail, which is more manageable than some more demanding and time-consuming hikes on this list. Along the path, you’ll witness a breathtaking view of the beautiful blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Because Cinque Terre works its way through local towns, you’ll be able to stop along the way to enjoy a cup of coffee or a delicious Italian lunch.

Mont Blanc

Mont Blanc is another beautiful backpacking destination that spans France, Switzerland, and Italy. The hike itself takes approximately 10 to 12 days from start to finish. The Tour du Mont Blanc offers diverse and stunning scenery as it takes you through meadows, valleys, forests of rhododendrons, and Alpine passes. The Tour du Mont Blanc also brings you through some quaint Alpine villages where you can stop for a breather or a bite to eat before continuing on your way. At certain parts of the path, you can take cable cars up or down some of the more challenging terrain.

Samaria Gorge

Samaria Gorge is one of the most popular attractions on the Greek island of Crete. This trail offers scenic views as it winds its way through beautiful pine forests and valleys and ends at the Libyan Sea. The hike begins with some steep terrain but levels out to an easily navigable path. Around the trail’s halfway mark, you will come across the gorge, the most famous part of the hike. Agia Roumeli is a small village along the path where you can stop to browse local shops and get some lunch. The town is also home to unique black sand beaches where you can take a relaxing swim.

Machu Pichu

The Inca Trail in Peru is a perfect hike for anyone with Machu Pichu on their bucket list. However, this particular hike requires a bit of bravery as it contains two 13,000 foot passes. In addition, this trail has a rich ancient history. It was the route the ancient Incas took almost 700 years ago. You can still see many stones from the original path, which is a unique experience for everyone who hikes the Inca Trail. The ancient Incas also created two tunnels still part of the path today. On this trail, you will get the chance to see several wondrous waterfalls and the ancient Incan ruins of Machu Pichu, which is a worthwhile destination of a lifetime.

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is one of America’s most famous geographical locations and serves as a perfect place for backpacking. One of the Grand Canyon’s most popular trails is the Bright Angel Trail. This path takes you down the cliffside, across a large plain, and then down by the Colorado River. The views are breathtaking and unlike anywhere else in the world. The hike is just a little over 15 miles long and descends 4,380 feet from the canyon’s edge down to the water. As you are hiking, you may get the chance to see some of the mule trains that also frequent this trail. The Bright Angel Trail is very well taken care of, allowing easy navigation.

Annapurna

The Annapurna Circuit trail is a 108-mile trek that takes, on average, about 17 days to complete. This unique hiking experience takes place in Nepal and weaves its way through some of the highest peaks in the world. Annapurna begins in the jungle and ascends to the mountaintops. The famous Thorung Pass stands here at 17,770 feet and gives you an immaculate view of the surrounding mountains. Poon Hill is another popular location on the trail that many people hike at sunrise. This particular spot allows you to see 14 of the tallest mountain peaks on the planet. Overall, Annapurna is a hiking experience like none other, and people travel from all over the world to enjoy it.

Puez-Odle Altopiano

Puez-Odle is a hiking trail in the Italian Dolomite range and offers some of the region’s most spectacular views. Puez-Odle is a nine-mile hike that begins at the top of the Dantercepies cable car. The trail is wide, which makes for easy navigation, and takes about six to nine hours to complete. As you hike the Puez-Odle, you will see the stunning Stella Towers and the Sassolungo massif. The views on this trail are amazing, and the restaurants along the way are superb, giving you a chance to enjoy delicious food and drinks.

Kalalau

The Kalalau Trail winds along the Na Pali Coast on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The lush green landscape and ocean views make you feel like you’re in paradise. This path is perfect for anyone who prefers a more tropical climate and wants to experience a bit of the ocean breeze along the way. Many hikers and backpackers hike the Kalalau Trail in three days, often stopping in Hanakoa to rest and ending at Kalalau Beach to complete their journey.

Angels Landing

Angels Landing is a trail in Zion National Park, Nevada. This hike, while beautiful, is not for the faint of heart. The towering heights and narrow ledges are staggering. However, the trail is only five miles roundtrip and doesn’t take too long to complete—as long as you can work up the nerve to make the journey. The Step of Faith is one of the most famous parts of the trail that takes you through a narrow stretch of the path with steep vertical drop-offs on either side. Angels Landing is an incredibly unique hike for backpackers that might give you a few butterflies in your stomach, but the views are breathtaking.

The Jordan Trail

The Jordan Trail ends our list of the top ten most beautiful backpacking destinations. This hike runs from the town of Dana to Petra, Jordan and gives you the experience of a lifetime. The desert terrain makes for a unique hiking background and allows you to enjoy a remote backpacking trip. In addition, hiking the Jordan Trail leads you to the famous archaeological site of the Treasury in Petra, which is a brilliant facade carved into the red sandstone. These archaeological sites are impressive remains of an ancient civilization’s kingdom and temples. This Jordan Trail will leave you speechless and feeling spiritually connected.

Now that you know the top ten most beautiful backpacking destinations, you can plan your next trip today. Don’t forget to pack all your essentials! ALTAI Gear offers a wide selection of lightweight duty boots that will be perfect to wear for all your backpacking adventures!

Hiking in the wilderness is fun if you know how to survive. Exploring the great outdoors can be rough and difficult, but the experience is very rewarding for anyone who loves a challenge. To stay safe on the trails, many hikers learn basic survival skills for off-the-grid journeys. Here are a few of the survival skills every hiker should know.

Use Gear Correctly

For a safe trip, you will need to bring all hiking equipment and gear, such as tactical hiking boots or shoes and a sturdy backpack. Whatever gear you decide to bring, make sure you know how to use it properly. This will prevent damaging the gear and injuring yourself and possibly others.

Navigation Skills

If you decide to go exploring off the hiking trail, navigation skills will come in handy. Since your phone and other electronic devices might not have signal, you cannot rely on these devices. You can use a map and compass or use the sun and sky. If you do not have a compass and it’s the middle of the day, you can place a stick upwards towards the sun so that there is no shadow. After a few minutes, a shadow will appear pointing east or west, depending on the time of day.

Clean Water

Nothing is more important on the trail than finding and drinking clean water. The human body can survive for weeks without food but cannot survive more than three days without water. There are multiple ways to clean water, such as boiling, using iodine, a filtering device, and more.

Emergency Signals

Another one of the survival skills every hiker should know is how to use emergency signals. Even the most experienced hikers should always travel in a group, but it’s always helpful to know how to signal others in case of emergencies. You can use a whistle, smoke, flares, flashlights, and more to signal for help. The SOS is three dots, three dashes, then three dots again.

All boots are not the same, as different activities call for different features in footwear. As you decide between the assorted products available to you, knowing what to expect from common boot categories can help you find the right fit for you. Learn the difference between hiking and work boots with the information we share here.

Flexibility

Flexibility is one major point of differentiation between boots. For hiking boots, stability on uneven ground is the highest priority since users will wear them on rocky terrain. For this reason, hiking boot soles are flexible, allowing them to distribute weight more evenly, protect feet from sharp stones, and keep you comfortable. In contrast, work boot soles are thicker and more rigid. While this makes them somewhat harder on the feet, it is necessary to keep sharp nails from puncturing them.

Traction

Another difference between hiking and work boots is in their level of traction. A strong grip is necessary for both hiking and work scenarios, but the specific patterns that boots possess will vary depending on which activity the manufacturer made them for. If you look at the patterns on a hiking boot sole, you’ll notice that they are highly diverse. Bumps and grooves point in all directions and come in many shapes and sizes within a single boot. This variety allows them to maintain traction when you walk over snow, ice, mud, rocks, and slimy plant matter. Work boots, on the other hand, have more regular lug patterns that offer adequate slip resistance for the jobsite but not as much as the lugs on hiking boots. Work boot traction stands up to bad weather and water.

Weight

Hiking and work boots diverge in weight because of the safety features that they have. Since hikers will carry backpacks while walking over unpaved and bumpy earth, they have rubber reinforcement or toecaps at the front to reduce the likelihood of tripping. At the same time, though, hiking boots must remain lightweight so that people don’t become over-exhausted while wearing them. Work boots need to act as armor because the people who use them may stand and walk near heavy objects, tools, and machinery. They frequently contain composite or steel toes to prevent foot injuries, which increases their weight.

To find versatile waterproof outdoor boots and work boots, visit ALTAI™ today online. We have several models of varying heights that are lightweight and robust for physically demanding situations.

To the uninitiated, hiking might not seem like an intense physical activity, since it is not very fast-paced. This cannot be further from the truth, though. Trekking for several miles over rugged ground that is often on an incline takes a great deal of energy and a high level of fitness. Moreover, you must come prepared with the right supplies and gear to evade injury and exhaustion. Discover some of the biggest hiking mistakes to avoid making, so you aren’t caught off-guard when you venture out to your first trail.

Forgetting Food and Water

As stated, hiking will tire you out to a much greater degree than you may be used to if you spend most of your time sitting. This is why it is critical that you bring enough food and water to sustain you along the way. The quandary that you will run into, though, is finding a balance between carrying adequate fuel and fluids and keeping your pack light. The solution that hikers have found for this is to pack energy-dense foods, including nuts, dried fruits, jerky, granola bars, and sandwiches. These items won’t weight you down, but they’ll still provide you with enough nutrients and energy to keep you moving. You can’t get around the weight of water, but you should still bring a large bottle or two, so you don’t become dehydrated as you perspire.

Tackling Challenging Trails First

You might think that you’re ready to tackle a hard trail right away, but this is one of the biggest hiking mistakes to avoid making. Not only are you uncertain about how physically challenging hiking can be in general, but you also do not have a good idea about what kinds of situations you may face while on the trail. It is more prudent to gain a general feel for hiking through shorter, less taxing trails first. There, you can work out how much food and water you need relative to the difficulty of the hike, how much time it takes you to travel a certain distance, and what supplies you need that you didn’t think about before. Approaching hiking with care will help you prevent extreme fatigue and dangerous situations that you may not know how to respond to.

Wearing Unsuitable Clothing

Having the right clothing is imperative for hiking, but many newcomers to the activity may not realize this. As with the other mistakes we’ve mentioned, wearing unsuitable clothes can increase your risk of getting hurt. You should wear fabrics made of wool or synthetics, such as polyester, instead of typical cotton because these materials wick away moisture. Not only will you be more comfortable this way, but this will also help stop you from losing too much body heat in colder temperatures. For this same reason, you should pack a waterproof jacket to protect you if it starts to rain while you’re on the trail. As for your feet, you need hiking boots that provide good grip, comfort, and a hardy construction. They’ll support your ankles and keep you from slipping or otherwise injuring yourself while hiking.

Contact ALTAI™ today if you are interested in getting into hiking. We provide sturdy hiking, work, and uniform boots that work effectively in outdoor settings.

The boots that you wear on a trek can make or break the experience. Unlike the sidewalks and indoor floors you might usually walk around, hikes can include rougher ground that is less even, more loose, and wetter. Footwear that is not suited to the conditions you tackle will quickly become damaged and won’t give you the proper traction, stability, and comfort. For this reason, you need to find boots that will meet your demands. Here’s how to choose the right hiking boots.

Consider Your Needs

Before you go looking for a new pair of boots, you can narrow your choices by determining what you will use them for and, consequently, what specifications you need and prefer. If you only go on shorter-length day hikes and prioritize traveling light, you can probably choose footwear that has a low- or mid-cut and which provides midsole flexibility. If you hike over extended distances for several days and don’t always follow the trail path, a heavy-duty high-cut boot with maximum ankle support and a rigid full-grain leather upper may be your best choice.

You should also consider the climate and terrain. Breathable, lightweight boots will give you the ventilation you need to stay comfortable in a dry, warm region. Thicker, waterproof boots, on the other hand, will fit a cold area where it may rain or snow. For hard ground, an outsole that has wider treads is ideal for gripping because it makes the most contact with the terrain. For softer ground, an outsole with deeper treads is preferable, as it can dig into the soil and prevent you from slipping on the surface. Many boots offer an effective medium between these two sides for all-around use.

Find a Good Fit

A pair of boots could have lots of impressive details, but if they don’t fit right, they’ll cause you pain. When you try on new boots, there are several factors to be aware of. First, you should aim to test the boots in the afternoon when your feet are slightly larger due to swelling that occurs over the course of the day. Wear the pair of socks you plan to use when you go hiking to account for the added layer as well. The boot should be the proper length for your foot so that there remains some space in front of your toes, even when you walk down a slope.

As for the rest of the boot, you shouldn’t feel any uncomfortable pinching or pressure on any portion of your foot. Your heel should also remain secure as you walk so that you don’t develop blisters. Note that the way you lace can change the feel of a boot, so try a few different methods when testing a pair out. Additionally, you might switch out the insole with a custom version to accommodate high or flat arches. If you already use orthotics, bring them with you to the store so you could see how the boots feel using them.

If you’re looking for hiking footwear, consider AltaiGear’s lightweight tactical boots. They offer traction, breathability, and all-day comfort so you can pursue adventure unimpeded.