Exploring the wilderness of Colorado and hiking in rough terrain are all part of an outdoors lifestyle that many women enjoy. One of the most common pitfalls of hiking is simply fatigue and accidents that are a result of inappropriate footwear for the terrain. If you’re going to be exploring the great outdoors, you will need the right protective footwear such as women’s hiking boots or shoes. Of course you’re going to need other equipment such as a good backpack, hiking clothing, trekking sticks, perhaps an outdoor watch that can tell direction, altitude and atmospheric pressure. You’ll only need such a watch per group, not everyone needs to get one. But let’s get to our boots!
Best Hiking Trails in Colorado:
Shoes are generally more popular as they offer just enough support to ensure that your feet aren’t in pain. In addition, shoes are lighter weight and they allow you to cover more ground in less time. However, in Colorado hiking shoes are only deemed appropriate if you’re going on a short hike on a well-known trail and carrying a light load. For all other types of terrain or for a long trip, we always recommend women’s hiking boots to get the job done! There may be special cases when you need your boots to fit your specific situation. For instance, you may be looking for the best hiking boots for women, or for wide feet, or for high arches, or plantar fasciitis etc.
Contrary to common wisdom, I would suggest you go with hiking shoes whenever you can. Did you know that thru-hikers actually trek over thousands of miles wearing running shoes and not boots? That’s because it’s been proven that weight on your feet is 4-6 times more taxing on the body than weight on your back. In other words, taking 1,5 pounds off your feet is like taking 12 pounds off your backpack. The numbers are truly like this! And with comfortable shoes on, you minimize the risk of getting blisters, which you’re more likely to get when you wear rigid boots. There’s also the fear to not wear waterproof boots. It’s however preferable, especially in the warm season, that you wear light shoes that dry out quickly, than boots that take a long time to dry, and get a lot heavier when wet.
Information About Colorado Hiking Boots
Colorado hiking boots offer better protection as well as ankle support, therefore, they’re much more appropriate for a longer wilderness trip or hike. The one setback of choosing boots is that they have a stiffer construction that may take a while to break-in, but the tradeoff is, of course, full protection of your feet.
You will find that hiking boots are a great option if you have to tackle rough terrain for prolonged periods of time. As an additional bonus, you need to take into consideration that the right boots offer protection against insects, tarantulas or even snakes! One can never be too careful when hiking outdoors as there are plenty of critters to take into consideration.
Beginner hikers in Colorado can also experience the benefit of ankle protection during the hike and the prevention of tweaked knees. As you hike more, your muscles grow accustomed to the fatigue and the rough terrain, but until you reach that point, it’s best to find supportive footwear such as women’s hiking boots.
A Few Shopping Tips for Hiking in Colorado
- When you’re ready to go shopping for hiking boots, it’s important to give your purchase some thought. Though we always advise that you buy your boots in-person, that’s not always a possibility. Here are a few shopping tips:
- Only opt for boots that have quality construction and are weather-resistant. You do get what you pay for, so be prepared to spend a bit of money on the right boots.
- Arch support is a must-have in hiking boots as hours spent on your feet can prove to be painful and lead to a number of problems.
- For durability, choose natural leather shoes as they can be waterproof and with time, leather can stretch to fit your feet better.
- Never purchase boots that are too small! You should have an index finger’s amount of space between your heel and the heel of the shoe to ensure the fit is right.
If you’re ready to see what the great outdoors holds for you, tackle your adventure with the right pair of boots and we guarantee there will be no hiccups during your outing.
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