I am not one of those gals who grew up loving shoes. In fact, I was the exact opposite. I grew up running around my backyard without shoes and absolutely hated wearing any kind of “closed-toe” shoe. In the summer months, tennis shoes made my feet warm and very uncomfortable. Well, some things never change. As an adult, I still don’t like wearing tennis shoes in the summer. If you happen to see me, I’m usually wearing my Chaco sandals.

There have been multiple summers where I’ve hiked solely in my Chaco sandals and my feet have not complained. My first pair of hiking boots were purchased from amazon which gave me awful blisters, so I preferred hiking in my Chaco’s (because why not). My current Chaco sandals were purchased in 2013 and have since then been sent back to the Chaco company to have the straps and soles redone three different times. I cannot quite get myself to buy a whole new pair because frankly, I like my old ones. The soles on my pair are made from Vibrant whereas the newer pairs have soles made from Chaco which I have heard wear-out easier. The arch support that Chaco sandals provide is one of their best qualities and one of the main reasons I would rather hike in them than in my hiking boots. But my opinion changed ever so slightly when I got a new pair of hiking boots.

In the winter of 2020, I got the Timberband MT Maddsen boots and was pleasantly surprised with how comfortable they were. During spring, I wore them frequently to have them fully broken-in for my first solo-backpacking trip that July. I was thoroughly flabbergasted because I didn’t get a single blister from these new pair of hiking boots. Unbeknownst to me, hiking boots shouldn’t cause blisters and if they do, they probably aren’t the right size for your feet or your socks are rubbing against the inside of the boot. Cotton socks are also known to cause blisters while hiking. Cotton socks soak up the sweat produced when hiking which rubs against your shoe causing hotspots and eventually blisters form. In the spring, fall, and winter I wear two sets of sweat-wicking socks (Smartwool or Darn Tough socks). In the summer, however, prefer to wear only one set of socks because my feet tend to get really hot and uncomfortable.  

Speaking of uncomfortable, when I’m out on the trails there are times when I switch out into different shoes to make my feet happier. River crossings are one of those specific circumstances. I choose to cross bodies of water in my Chacos rather than my boots because I don’t like hiking in soggy socks/boots and because my boots are not waterproof. During a river crossing my feet get pretty cold/ uncomfortable and warm up quickly once back in my socks and hiking boots. I also choose to wear my Chacos instead of my hiking boots when I have made it to “camp” or have made it back to my car so that I can give my feet a little break and some fresh air. These two strategies help to make my hiking day pleasurable, not miserable.

The importance of finding the right footwear for the trail can either make or break your day. The most miserable hikes are the ones where my feet are uncomfortable and rubbing against my socks creating hotspots. One of the most essential items I carry while out backpacking is duct tape. Duct tape has saved the skin on my heels and even my shoulders from getting blisters. No, I don’t carry an entire roll of duct tape in my bag that would be very silly. I do bring enough to wrap around a Nalgene water bottle a few times and then just take a little bit off when needed.

All in all, I would recommend getting some hiking boots that are correctly sized to not give you blisters and ones that you are willing to get dirty. My best advice is to read through multiple reviews before buying the most expensive boot because sometimes the most expensive one is not necessarily the best. I would recommend breaking-in your new pair of hiking boots before going on a really long trip. If you are backpacking, make sure to pack a separate pair of shoes you can walk around camp in. The big takeaway here is to take care of your feet and they will take you wherever you want to go.