Boot

Rigid sole mountaineering boot

Snow on trail? Ice on trail? then consider a boot that you can fit a crampon to aswell. Need a dent or insition in boot heel to fit an ice crampon? Steepness of walking? Going mountain climbing? (not a trekking option)

Great for winter uphill adventures on snow and ice and for compacted snow underfoot when you need a foot to make a staircase in the snow with a boot edge especially when snow refreezes over night. Great in the mountains on slopes where walking with a trekking boot or a trail shoe would be too slippy. Great for ice terrain if it can also fit a crampon, ideal with an adze ice axe in hand too. Not good for trekking in summer or on flat when a foot expands after several days of walking and needs room to move and flexibility.

Boot

A flexible trekking summer boot that bends between your hands a bit

Boot height? Sole grippyness and traction for mud and wet grass? Sole for a rock surface is called Vibram? Need to protect ankles from moving rocks or moving scree? Carrying a bif back pack?

A flexible trekking boot offers ankle support for crossing rockier ground. Sole has tyre grip on it for muddy surfaces/slippy grass. A vibram sole offers grip on rocks. Consider ankle protection if descending scree slopes where rocks move. You can easily put on an elasticated crampons over a trekking boot which are great for flat terrain (not an ice slope or vertical ice waterfall). Feet will swell in the summer upto a size bigger is not unusual. Body expands when exercising.

Shoe

Trail shoe

Need to grip? Go up hill and down hill? Need a sole like a mountian bike tyre? Need protection over the toes from rocks? Need front of foot reinforcements to shoe area?

Lighter than a trekking boot. Great for jogging sections too. Possible increase chance of a twisted ankle on rocky ground as no ankle support from shoe laces or covering of the ankle. Ideal on a sunny dry day if no snow on trail and not carrying a heavy rucksack. Great on wide trails that are flat and dry, ideal if not crossing a long section of scree slope going down a steep mountain side or on a steep area of wet grass.

Shoe

A sports shoe

Sunny dry flat path where no grip needed? Weight of shoe is appealing? No need for support where a runner would have impact zones? Carrying a heavy back pack?

Great for jogging sections too but only on even flat ground and where grippiness is not required. Possible increase chance of a twisted ankle on rocky ground as no ankle support from shoe laces or covering of the ankle. Fine if not carrying a heavy rucksack. Great on wide trails that are flat and dry, ideal if not crossing a long section of scree slope going down a steep mountain side or on a steep area of wet grass.

Shoe lace

Spare shoe lace

A spare with many uses.

Does it fit through the hole in your foot wear?

Flip flop

Flip flop

Great if you discover blisters unexpectedly and need to let air get to a blister.

Shower essentials. Light weight foot relief after a day walking.

Scissor

Toe nail cutting scissors

Avoid damage to feet by cutting nails short.

Can be used to cut a plaster to size too.

Plaster

Plasters big enough to cover a blister

Avoid infection by covering open wounds with a plaster including blisters on ankles, or open cuts on hands and legs.

Large strips of plasters can be cut to size.

Walking socks

Summer walking sock with a heel padding and protection under the sole where there is an impact zone needing additional padding can be useful for protecting under foot areas from swelling up and blistering on long trails.

A sock with too much padding can then stop a boot working properly if not fitted out together. Buying a new boot needs consideration of sock preferences too. A thin cotton sock is far thinner and so take up less room.

A sock is often designed to compliment an equipment like a ski boot or a mountain boot or a trekking boot or a running shoes so look at the areas of padding. Consider how high up the knee the sock should go. They can offer protection from sharp ice or snow crystals, brambles, rocks, insects and stinging nettles.

Normal socks

A fresh cotton sock is nice after a day of walking. Also makes a great handkerchief and is easily washed out.

Can be nice to wear after a day walking and inside a sleeping bag to keep sleeping bag / sleeping bag liner nice and clean.

A mini cotton sock is nice in a sleeping bag.

Crampon

Crampon for a Mountaineering Boot

How many crampon points do I want? How easy is the crampon to adjust and fit to the boot myself?

A crampon should be tested on a boot to check they work together. Useful if on solid ice conditions on a steep or vertical slope requiring a spike penetration and grip into solid ice or hard compacted snow that has frozen over night.

Crampon

Everyday crampon that slips over the trekking boot like a maxi elastic band for walking on flatter slippy icy terrain.

Trekking crampons come in different sizes and use jumbo elastic bands to go over the foot.

What size is my trekking boot? What size is my trail shoe? Does the jumbo elastic band fit around the trekking boot?

Soap

Strong soap to wash feet bacteria after a day of walking

Clean all foot blisters out to avoid infection and wash under running water

Cut soap in 2 and keep a piece spare in the bottom of ruck sack.

Gaiters

Great if walking over scree slopes or really muddy areas as they cover the area of leg under the knee. They are essential for crossing snow with snowshoes to stop snow going down into the boot and freezing feet inside a boot.

Hook under the ankle with a strap and fasten at the front. Some also have an elasticated band that goes around the leg to hold the gaiter in place.

If they fall down the leg add an extra elastic strap to the shin area with a toggle to hold in place.

Insole

Angular insoles tip the foot towards the front of the boot which can be useful for winter walking and in a stiffer mountaineering boot.

Boot too big? If a boot too big then a walking boot insole can help or especially when too baggy or stretched.

Even a cheap budget insolve can offer extra padding under the sole of the foot and can be cheaper than a technical walking sock. An insole supports the sole of the foot. An insole supports the ankle. The insole supports the entire body and weight of a rucksack.

Talc

Talc powder can prevent dampness between the toes, absorb dampness, dry out wet skin, and prevent trench foot on longer hikes.

Hot feet? Athletes foot? Odour feet? Fungi feet?

Talc dries feet out when resting and whilst exercising. Great in summer. There are also anti athletes foot talc available in chemists that prevent the arrival or any foot fungi or foot bacteria that like dampness in summer time. Talc with tea tree oil added can offer antiseptic qualities.

Nail polish

Colour fun

Best to avoid nail polish on all fingers in case you need to do peripheral saturation O2 saturation tests of the blood which requires one finger to be nail polish free (middle finger).

Which colour do you like? Colourful feet do not interfere with the equipment for measuring O2 saturation in the blood but fingers do, is one of your fingers nail polish free?