What should I wear? What should I bring?

Good shoes, water and snacks.

If you just want to enjoy the outdoors for a day every few months, make sure your feet, legs and belly are happy, and your brain will be happy, too. But if you plan to hike a bunch…

Spoil Yourself

Our favorite gear splurges include shoes, socks and hydration packs.

Boots/shoes can be your biggest expenditure. Consider factors like when/where you’re hiking, how wet those trails are, how your feet are shaped, how you walk, and how hot your feet usually get.

Locally owned outfitters (like Great Outdoor Provision Company) can be helpful because of the extra customer service and counsel.

Beth rotates 3 pairs: rigid, waterproof Merrell Cross-Training Shoes with Vibram soles; lighter Ahnu trail shoes with rigid, Vibram soles; very light Salomon trailrunners for easy, not-wet-or-rocky trails. Shawn rotates high- and low-top Keens with Salomon trailrunners, also depending on trail terrain.

Good socks are a treat. Beth likes Thorlo Experia because they breathe and don’t slip down in the heel, and Shawn digs Injinji Midweight Socks with the separated toes.

For hydration packs, we love our CamelBaks and carry 70-100 oz. reservoirs (even if you don’t need all of that, you may meet someone on the trail who does).

Beth carries a CamelBak L.U.X.E. and Shawn has a CamelBak Alpine Explorer, but you can purchase a reservoir separately, too, and stick it into a pack you like.

Pick your pack size by factors like how far you want to hike and how much you want to carry (how big is your camera? How many extra layers do you want to squish in there? How much food will you pack?).

Not sure how many ounces to make your reservoir? Check out this hydration calculator. Every online “hydration calculator” seems to provide different results, but it’s at least a rough guide if you’re shopping for a reservoir.

Other useful gear include…

– A good quality waterproof jacket (in a bright color in case you find yourself in gamelands in the wrong season). Beth loves her Marmot for winter and Outdoor Research for summer storms.

– Yaktrax for ice and snow! Like snow chains for your feet. We’ve found that Yaktrax are easy to install on your shoe but typically only last a season. Luckily, they’re not expensive.

– Shawn and his lady have picked up trekking poles to save their knees, and maybe they’ll write about that someday soon.

Shawn and Beth say, “Sir/Ma’am, nobody wants to hang out with shabby feet. Remember to pumice.”