Embarking on a walking adventure begins with selecting the proper outdoor footwear. The ideal walking shoes or walking boots provide comfort, support, and durability, ensuring you can take each step of your journey in confidence.
At Taunton Leisure, we understand the importance of choosing the perfect pair, especially for beginners. Our team has put together a guide to help you make an informed decision, pick up the must-have basics, and find the best shoes for walking.
Understanding Your Walking Needs
Before diving into specific shoe recommendations, we recommend considering the following factors to whittle down the best footwear for you.:
- Terrain: What type of hike are you undertaking? Are your walks primarily on pavements, trails, or uneven paths?
- Frequency: How often do you plan to walk?
- Foot Type: Do you have wide feet, a narrow heel, or even arches that need support?
Understanding these three key fundamental aspects will help you determine the best shoes for walking and your specific needs.
Key Features to Look for in Walking Boots and Shoes
All footwear, from trainers to formal shoes, must meet certain criteria to ensure wearability. Given the various terrains, conditions, and miles you’ll clock up, this is arguably more critical for walking footwear.
Missing the mark on one of these features could cause discomfort and even injury. We recommend considering:
- Comfort: Ensure the walking shoes have adequate cushioning to absorb impact. Try on the footwear before purchasing to get a feel for them—if they’re uncomfortable, this will impact your walking activities.
- Support: Look for walking boots and shoes with arch support that match your foot type. This support will help your feet cope with different terrains and stay injury-free.
- Fit: The footwear should fit snugly without being too tight, allowing for natural foot movement without being too tight that they cause rubbing (resulting in blisters and other issues) or too loose that they risk falling off and not offering full support.
- Breathability and Water Resistance: Materials that allow air circulation keep your feet dry and comfortable during long hikes, where your feet will naturally sweat following exercise. Waterproofing is also important; weather can take a turn for the worse, or you may encounter wet, muddy paths and streams to traverse.
- Durability: High-quality materials and construction will extend the lifespan of the shoes. It’s a good idea to check the materials and build of the footwear, ensuring that you’re making an investment that will last for many years and walks to come.
Top Walking Shoes and Boots for Beginners
Now that you’re aware of the key elements in choosing the perfect beginner hiking boots, how about some inspiration? Our team has put together a list of some of our favourite footwear, ideal for those starting out hiking and exploring the great outdoors on foot.
Walking Shoes:
✅Comfortable ✅Supportive ✅Brethable ✅Water Resistant ✅Durable
✅Comfortable ✅Supportive ✅Brethable ✅Water Resistant ✅Durable
✅Comfortable ✅Supportive ✅Water Resistant ✅Durable
Walking Boots:
✅Comfortable ✅Supportive ✅Brethable ✅Water Resistant ✅Durable
✅Comfortable ✅Supportive ✅Water Resistant ✅Durable
✅Comfortable ✅Supportive ✅Water Resistant ✅Durable
Tips for Selecting the Perfect Pair of Shoes
Once you know what you’re looking for, have researched, and have window-shopped for brands and styles you like, it’s time to decide on the right walking footwear.
When selecting, we recommend to:
- Try Before You Buy: Visit one of our Taunton, Bristol, or Exeter stores to try on different pairs and ensure you find the perfect fit.
- Consider Your Budget: You should invest in quality shoes to prevent discomfort and injuries. However, that doesn’t mean you need to break the bank. Taunton Leisure offers a wide range of beginner hiking shoes to suit all budgets.
- Seek Professional Advice: Our expert staff includes outdoor enthusiasts and experienced hikers. They can give you personalised recommendations based on your needs to ensure your footwear is right for you.
The best walking footwear isn’t just about the initial fit but how it holds up over time. Taunton Leisure’s selection of walking apparel features top brands known for durability, so you can rely on our products for miles of exploration without compromising comfort.
Caring for Your Walking Shoes
Once you’ve found the perfect pair of hiking boots or shoes, you must safeguard your investment and extend the life of your footwear.
- Rotate Pairs: If you walk frequently, consider rotating between two pairs to extend their lifespan.
We find it’s a good idea to have one pair of walking boots (that offer more ankle support for trickier terrain) and one pair of walking shoes (suitable for flatter hikes), switching between the two depending on your needs. - Keep Them Clean: You should proof your shoes before use and regularly clean them to maintain their condition, especially after a hike. Taunton Leisure offers a fantastic range of footwear cleaning and proofing products to ensure you’re prepared.
- Replace When Necessary: Over time, even the best shoes succumb to miles of adventuring and ultimately wear out. It’s important not to get too sentimental. Once you notice a decline in support or comfort, you should look to replace your footwear.
With the right pair of walking shoes, you can enjoy exercise and exploration in the great outdoors without worrying about discomfort or injury to your feet. If you have any questions about our range of walking boots and shoes, please don’t hesitate to contact the team, who will assist you in making the best choice for your first walking adventures. Or visit one of our stores in the South-West, and be sure to book a free footwear fitting.