General News
24 April, 2026
Barry's Corner: Shoe selection
There are plenty of opportunities presented to get the right shoe for the job planned.
There are plenty of opportunities presented to get the right shoe for the job planned.
Selecting the correct footwear is vital for healthy feet and wellbeing.
For hiking tour it is not a good idea to get blisters and have sore and aching feet that interferes with walking the next day.
Looking after the feet and boots is crucial to a happy experience.
Many types of shoes or boot made that make the walk or job so much more comfortable and enjoyable.
Hiking boots are rugged and are used in rough terrain and wet, snow conditions but they might take some drying.
Hike boots have a sole with good grip and lace up front.
They perform well in mountainous conditions and they are ideal with a stiff sole that makes them capable of scrambling over rocks and scree.
If these boots are used in sandy areas like Little Desert and Wyperfeld the walking gets harder because the hard sole has less flex and tends to dig in at each step.
This breaks the soil surface and can cause erosion, whereas the sandy district needs a flexible soft shoe/boot that glides over the ground and it easier on legs, knees and hips.
The sand shoe is almost soft enough.
If carrying a full camping load over a few days it is most important to take more attention of the state of those.
The extra kgs will put more pressure on the human body and suffering will result.
Lots of tradies have tapped into the work boot mode and for good reason when they work on construction sites every day.
There are so many variations for appropriate foot wear we are almost over whelmed for choice.
No need to have too many pairs, they take up too much room.
Walking up or around a steep mountain will test the fitness of your feet in short time.
For a few weeks before hand practising walking with at least a partially weighted pack could pay dividends on a walk.
Many of retail shoes stores can provide advice and help with the selection of the boots.
Shoes have been marketed for decades as important for the human foot and more safety is assured with boots. Too many bindii even in some bushland.
Get a well fitted pair of comfortable boots and they should last for a really long time.