Edition 43: Summer 2008

Whether you’re hiking up Kilimanjaro or trekking in the Ethiopian highlands, having properly fitted hiking boots is essential. Here, Matt Phillips steps into the heart and sole of the matter.

Finding the proper sized shoes is easy – do they feel good on or not? The only question that is really left needing an answer is whether or not they cause the dreaded ‘heel slip’. And solving that only requires a simple lap of the store.

Buying the correct hiking boot for you involves your doing a little more legwork – there is no one brand that is perfect for everyone. You’ll need to ask a lot of questions, and yes, you’ll even have to venture back to childhood and worry about how much room is sitting in front of your ten precious toes. Why? Well, while your feet are no longer growing, trekking with a backpack will slightly flatten your feet, and thus lengthen them. And most importantly, as you make long descents, each successive footstep will force your toes painfully forward in your boot. If you’ve sized your boots as you size your trainers, you’re in for a world of hurt.

While shopping for boots, a quality store should be able to supply you with both a weighted backpack, and a ramp to test walking both downhill and up. Besides taking steps down the ramp, try everything in your power to make your toes touch the front of the boot – even kick the front of the boot into the floor if necessary. An ideally-sized pair will have enough room to protect your toes, while at the same time fitting snugly enough around the heel and the length of your the foot to hold it comfortably in place.

Taking strides up the ramp will enable you to see if the heel cup is properly suited to your feet. If your heel slides up, or if the cup puts too much pressure on the Achilles area, the boot is not for you (even if it passed the toe test).

For long treks with a backpack, you should avoid low- or mid-cut boots, as they don’t provide enough ankle support. Ankle support is crucial, so before even trying on a boot see if you can bend the ankle section with your hands. If it gives, it’s not worth trying on. A boot made with its upper made from only one piece of leather (including the tongue) will maintain its support much longer than one made from several pieces stitched together. The same can be said for synthetic boots – the fewer the number of panels stitched together the better. A quality high-cut boot should also contain a shank: a rigid piece of plastic or metal running along the length of the boot. It’s shaped to help your stride, as well as to prevent your sole from feeling rocks underfoot. They substantially reduce fatigue over long treks and add greatly to your comfort.

If you will be trekking through wet weather, such in the Ruwenzoris, waterproof boots are best. Having wet feet causes more blisters. If the best fitting boot for you isn’t waterproof, consider GORE-TEX socks.

Lastly, after purchasing your boots, wear them around the house for a week or two. You’ll quickly come to realise if there are any issues. If there are, the fact you haven’t worn them outside will ensure you can return them without a problem.

Happy hunting! And happy hiking!

New on the scene

Sunny Days
Designed to cater for gadget users who often find themselves in remote, powerless situations, the Globe Trotter bundle uses the latest in cutting edge solar technology to convert solar energy into electricity, making free power readily available to charge items such as mobile phones, Blackberrys, iPods, GPS units and digital cameras.

The bundle iconsists of a compact 1.5 watt crystalline solar cell (dubbed the ‘Super Charger’) and a storage battery unit (dubbed the ‘FreeLoader’). The system is so efficient that it can be fully charged in as little as four hours. Conveniently mobile, the Globe Trotter bundle weighs in at a total of only 308g. The Super Charger is housed in an extremely durable travel case to allow continued use in extreme weather conditions (-20 to +80 degrees Celsius). Featuring two innovative buckles and a velcro strap, the Super Charger can be securely attached to virtually anything such as luggage, bike panniers or a tent. The Globe Trotter bundle also features a carry pouch to protect the durable FreeLoader battery unit in challenging environments; this carry case also has a pocket to accommodate the necessary accessories (cables and adapter tips).

This new system is a super fast and green way of keeping your gadgets on the go in any situation. The Globe Trotter bundle retails at £49.99. Available at www.solartechnology.co.uk.

Balancing Act
With airlines continually reducing their maximum luggage weight, as well as increasing their charges for tipping the scales, more and more people have been precariously balancing on their bathroom scales with their luggage. Thankfully, they no longer have to.

The Balanzza is the first and only portable digital luggage scale, bringing a simple low cost solution to the problem. Simply strap the Balanzza to your bag and then lift for an accurate measurement. Being compact and weighing only 300g itself, the scale can travel with you, allowing you to weigh your bags before your return flight, typically the time when most of us – laden with gifts and prized market finds – truly tip the cost-incurring scales with our luggage at the airport.
Retailing at £19.99, the Balanzza has a large digital display and can weigh objects up to 44kg (100lbs). It’s currently available from the official Balanzza website www.balanzza.co.uk.