Conquering the peaks is a slow and gradual process. You cannot conquer the highest peak after you have undertaken a few leisurely hikes. The degree of difficulty has to be increased gradually. If the process isn’t followed step-by-step, then the consequences can be fatal for your feet.

Here are the steps you can take to make the breaking experiences better

  1. Put on your hiking boots after you’ve put on your socks. This way, they’d feel nice and tight. The tongue and the gusset need to be levelled up as well in order to form comfortable creases. You can start walking around the house while wearing them.
  2. After you begin feeling comfortable, you could walk around your backgarden. This way, the soles and the boots would begin taking the form of your feet. You’d feel a bit uncomfortable at first, but that’s perfectly normal with a new and a sturdy pair of hiking boots. If there is a continuous pain or pinching that doesn’t go away, it can perhaps mean that the size you have chosen is wrong.
  3. After you’ve started feeling comfortable, these boots can be worn while short walks are being undertaken. Start slowly at first as going for long walks and hikes might lead to blistering. Blistering is caused due to heat and moisture.

In Order to Avoid Blistering, You Can Also Follow the Following Steps  

  • Buy the boots that fit properly and are aptly sized
  • Try strengthening the bottoms of your heels by walking barefoot at home
  • In case you are suffering from foot fungus, it is advisable to get yourself treated before you go hiking
  • If your boots are not breathable, take them off during breaks. This would allow your feet to dry
  • Provide your feet with an adequate amount of rest

After you are done with testing your boots, you can go for your first weekend hike. You should still bring an additional pair of hiking or running shoes if these boots do begin to get uncomfortable.

Most importantly, you need to take good care of your hiking boots. If they are wet, you can stuff them using crumpled paper. This would allow help absorb water at a faster rate. If the boots are made of leather, regular conditioning is required. Also, it is advisable not to dry them under direct sunlight.

After you return from the trial, always ensure that the boots you are wearing are dry and clean. It is also advisable to remove the insoles when you return from a hike. If wet insoles are left inside the boots, fungus and other harmful bacteria might begin growing inside the boots.

Also, make it a habit to impregnate your boots for hiking regularly. This would keep them waterproof. The impregnator needs to be applied over the boots periodically. To check whether your boots are intact, undertake this easy exercise.  Spray some water on them. If the water rolls off, your boots are fine, but if it starts soaking into the boots, apply a layer of impregnator to make them waterproof.