The fabric closest to your feet has the most impact on them. Don’t imagine the old cotton athletic socks in your drawer will do. They don’t. They aren’t designed for walking long distances, they’re designed for chasing inflatable rolling orbs…

Read the whole thing

No two feet are alike, but shoe manufacturers seem to think otherwise. Which means you have to go to the store and try on half-dozen models and sizes to see what feels best on your feet. Do you need big…

Read the whole thing

There’s nothing worse than getting rubbed raw in your nether regions, which can happen (especially on hot days) on long hikes, especially if you’re wearing the same cotton briefs you wear in your non-hiking life. Synthetic, boxer-style briefs fit snug…

Read the whole thing

A constant annoyance is having to stop what you’re doing, find someplace to sit down, take off your shoes and dump whatever bits of dirt, gravel or whatever has insinuated into a place seemingly calculated to cause the most discomfort.…

Read the whole thing

A couple years back I bought a pair of nylon hiking pants with the zip-off lower legs. They have a bunch of pockets for maps and other stuff, weigh practically nothing and have worn like iron. Also: extremely comfortable. When…

Read the whole thing

I never hike without my floppy hat and sunglasses. Ultraviolet rays from the sun are almost perpendicular to the top of your head, which means if you go around with no hat on you’re essentially asking nature to grant you…

Read the whole thing

Always take some food along — it keeps your energy level high and means less of your hike will be spent wishing to hell it was over. You don’t need much: an apple, an energy bar, some dried fruit, homemade…

Read the whole thing

This story at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer describes the so-called 10 Essentials for Wilderness Survival. On day hikes in good weather in the Bay Area you won’t need most of them, but it’s important to understand them. You can also buy…

Read the whole thing