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Please note: due to local and state guidelines surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, some information below may not be accurate. Before you travel and plan your next adventure, make sure to check each business/park/campsite for any closures or guidelines and for the most up to date information.

When you first start camping, it’s not easy to know what you will need. Plus, you have to decide which items you should buy, and what you can rent or borrow from your own household supplies. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of gear that you should take on any camping trip, whether you’re car camping or backpacking.

Of course, these aren’t necessarily the only things you might want to carry, but these essentials will put you on the path toward a successful camping trip. You can rent most of the equipment here, but if you plan to start camping regularly, some things (like a good tent and water bottles) are worth the investment.

1. Tent

A good shelter is critical because it will protect you from the elements and keep you dry, warm, and comfortable.

What to look for:

• Elbow Room If bad weather hits, you might huddle inside your tent for hours, so choose a shelter that’s not cramped and has enough space for each person. Before you buy, crawl inside the tent to check the floor length and ceiling height. Can you sit up straight? Can the tallest person in your party stretch out completely?
• Three-season shelter For spring, summer, and fall camping (as well as winter in Alabama), go for a “three-season” shelter, which typically has a tent body, a rainfly, and mesh panels, which provide critical ventilation and prevent the interior from getting stuffy and damp.
• Camping with kids If you’re car camping with small kids, you can go big with a cabin-style tent that’s designed to sleep a specified number of people. Consider getting older kids their own decent-sized tent for more space and privacy.
• Weight If you are car camping, weight doesn’t really matter. For backpacking, choose a tent that’s relatively lightweight, with a “packed weight” that’s two pounds or less per person. For example, if two people will carry the tent, aim for a packed weight that’s four pounds total or less.
• Important extras A two-door tent will allow you to exit without crawling over a partner, and larger vestibules provide storage for packs and dirty boots.

2. Sleeping Bag

A good sleeping bag is just as important as a good tent—if you’re miserable and can’t sleep, you won’t enjoy your trip.

What to look for:

• Temperature rating Bags are rated to be comfortable in a certain temperature range, so look for one that handles the coolest temps you’ll face. Keep in mind the listed rating is an estimate, and you have to factor in whether you sleep hot or cold. If you tend to be cold, buy a bag that is 10 or 15 degrees warmer than the lowest temperature you’ll encounter. Or, buy a bag liner to add warmth.
• Rectangular vs. mummy For mild climates, where temperatures don’t drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, you can use a less expensive rectangular bag. For colder conditions, choose a mummy shaped bag, which hugs your body to eliminate pockets where cold air can accumulate. If you are backpacking, mummy bags are a better choice because they are lighter and less bulky.
• Gender-specific bags Top brands offer bags with torso and hip areas tailored to fit a man or woman. Also, avoid a bag that’s too long, because if there’s lots of empty air space in the foot area, you’ll get colder.
• Synthetic vs. down insulation If you need to save money, buy a bag with synthetic insulation, rather than down. Synthetic insulation bags are sometimes heavier and bulkier, but are still lightweight enough for backpacking, will keep you warm if they get wet from rain. While traditional down bags won’t insulate well when they’re wet, they’re lighter than synthetic models and compress more to occupy less pack space. On down bags, you’ll also see a “fill-power” number, from 600 to 900. The higher the number, the warmer, lighter (and more expensive) the bag.

3. Sleeping pad/mattress

A sleeping pad or mattress is crucial because it puts a layer of cushioning and insulating air between your body and the cold, hard ground.

What to look for:

• Comfort For car camping, go as plush as you’d like and get the thickest, most comfy air mattress or pad that you can stuff into your tent. If you have an inflatable mattress for guests in your house, you could make that work. But backpackers need a lightweight, durable pad that’s either inflatable or made of foam. Most high-quality, lightweight pads range in thickness from 0.75—3 inches. If you tend to be uncomfortable when sleeping on a floor, go for an inflatable pad that’s two inches or more in thickness.
• Insulated pads If you sleep cold, or you plan to camp frequently in really cold climates, consider getting an inflatable pad that includes insulation.
• Pad weight With inflatable pads, keep in mind that you’ll pay more for models that are super lightweight. If you don’t need a really thick pad and you’re more concerned with reducing your backpack weight, get a pad made of dense foam. It will not only weigh weigh less, but also be more durable and cost less.

4. Cooking Supplies

Obviously, a stove is crucial for preparing tasty meals, but it can also be used to purify water and make warm drinks to keep your core temperature up in cold climates. That being said, ask yourself these three questions when shopping for a stove—will you be car camping or backpacking? Will you actually cook, or just boil water for freeze-dried meals? And how many people will rely on the stove for meals?

What to look for:

• Car camping vs. backpacking For car camping, a large dual-burner propane stove will hold multiple pots and simmer well, so you can prepare more complex meals for several people at once. For backpacking, get a lightweight liquid-fuel stove, canister stove, or integrated canister system.
• Liquid-fuel stoves operate more efficiently than canister stoves in cold weather, but they’re a bit heavier, messier, and are more difficult to operate.
• Canister stoves are best for cooking in moderate conditions, because they’re lightweight, easy to use, and typically allow you to fine-tune the flame and simmer.
• Integrated canister systems are best for trips where you’ll eat only freeze-dried food. Outfitted with heat-exchange systems, they transfer heat from the burner to the cook pot efficiently and boil water in a couple of minutes, but these systems don’t usually simmer well.
• Don’t forget utensils Newcomers to camping can save money by using their own kitchen supplies, such as plastic cutlery, bowls, and cups. For backpacking, invest in lightweight pots made for the outdoors. Because kitchen items get dinged up while camping, you’ll eventually want to replace your home items with durable products that you only use outdoors.

5. Knife

Whether you need to slice potatoes, cut nylon cord or spread cream cheese on a bagel, you’re eventually going to need a knife or multi-tool for camping.

What to look for:

• Car camping You’ll mostly use a knife for food prep, just make sure that you wrap or cover the blade. Also pack a fixed blade knife, folding knife, or multi-tool (such as a Leatherman) for utility situations.
• Backpacking A lightweight folding knife or multi-tool with a blade will work for prepping meals or doing random jobs, like cutting cord to make a tent guyline. If you do get a folding knife, make sure that the main blade locks into place when you’re using it.
• Scissors If your first-aid kit doesn’t include scissors, get a knife or multi-tool with small scissors to cut moleskin for treating those blisters.

6. Headlamp/Lantern

Lights not only allow you move around and do things in the dark, but can also serve as signal devices in emergency situations.

What to look for:

• Headlamp A headlamp will allow you to keep your hands free when it’s dark, whether you’re eating, answering nature’s call, or scrambling over rocks. For general use around camp, most headlamps on the market will perform just fine, but if you spend about $30 or more, you can get a more durable headlamp with greater “lumens” (how brightly it glows) and more beam distance, which is helpful for climbing and hiking in darkness.
• Lantern Whether you’re car camping or backpacking, it’s helpful to have a battery-powered lantern for common eating areas and the interior of your tent. With the soft glow from a lantern, you can eat or read without blinding fellow campers. While most people are familiar with large battery powered lanterns, be aware that a slew of lightweight backpacking lanterns have hit the market in recent years.

7. Water Bottle

Maybe you’ve heard the phrase, “hydrate or die”? It’s essential that you have something to hold water and other drinks while camping, whether you use bottles or a hydration reservoir (or both).

What to look for:

• Bottles For decades, campers and backpackers have relied on durable plastic water bottles, which are not only handy for drinking, but also for filtering water and pouring liquids while cooking. In recent years, the bottle markets has exploded, and you’ll find hundreds of shapes and styles made of glass, steel and rugged plastic. For car camping, steel or plastic works fine, but backpackers will want plastic to reduce weight.
• Hydration reservoir When you’re walking or biking, it’s more convenient to use a hydration reservoir. It’s basically a bag of water with a tube that goes over your shoulder, so you don’t have to stop or reach to get some water. Some backpacks come with them, or you can just slide them in. For backpacking, get a reservoir that holds 2 or 3 liters, so you don’t’ have to refill it as often. Also, if you use a reservoir, consider taking a bottle as well for filtering and food prep. To save space in your pack, get a collapsible plastic bottle.

8. Camp Chair

After you sit for a few minutes on a bench or the hard ground, you’ll wish you’d brought some type of camp chair.

What to look for:

• Car camping For your first trip, use any kind of chair that you might use at the beach or tailgate parties. If you want to up your comfort level, invest in a high-quality chair that’s made of mesh or breathable material, which will prevent swamp butt and back. A built-in cup holder will keep ants out of your drink.
• Backpacking For many backpackers, a lightweight chair or chair kit makes a trip so much more comfortable that it’s worth toting the extra weight. While some companies make collapsible fabric and aluminum backpacking chairs, the lightest option is a kit, or fabric sleeve, that allows you to transform a sleeping pad into a chair. Typically, these kits weigh 7—13 ounces.

9. First Aid Supplies

Cuts, stings and other pains are common while camping, so you should always pack a first aid kit.

What to look for:

There are a couple options—you can build your own kit, or buy a pre-assembled kit. Pre-assembled kits can actually be less expensive, and some include helpful tips.

To choose the right kit, consider how long you will be out in the wilderness, how many people are going with you, and any special needs of your group (allergies, etc.). At most outdoor stores you’ll find a wide range of kits from super-lightweight pouches for solo travelers, to beefy family kits. Whether you build your own, or buy a kit, bring extra moleskin or other products to address blisters.

Written by Marcus Woolf for RootsRated in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of AL and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.

Featured image provided by James Dziezynski

Learn the steps to protect yourself from Lyme disease contracted from ticks.

Please note: due to local and state guidelines surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, some information below may not be accurate. Before you travel and plan your next adventure, make sure to check each business/park/campsite for any closures or guidelines and for the most up to date information. Enjoy your next Spring hike well prepared to ward off the critters!

In Alabama, the springtime brings so many wonderful things, like wildflowers and warm, breezy air. But, it also brings something that literally bugs us—ticks. Lots and lots of ticks. When we hike this time of year, we always end our day with a “tick check” to make sure no uninvited guests have hitched a ride.

In recent years, an increasing number of people in the United States have contracted Lyme disease from ticks, and spring and summer are the peak seasons for ticks. To help you stay healthy, we’ve highlighted important info about ticks and some advice to help you avoid these blood-sucking creatures..

Know The Enemy

The first step is to know what types of ticks are common where you live or where you plan to be outdoors. There are many species of ticks in the United States—wood ticks, dog ticks, Lone Star ticks, Blacklegged ticks (a.k.a. deer ticks)— and they carry different diseases. If blacklegged ticks aren’t common in your area, then you’re at a lower risk of getting Lyme disease. You can determine the types of ticks in your neck of the woods and the current level of tick activity by visiting (www.tickencounter.org). Plus, the site has a helpful Tick Identification Chart.

Perform Daily Tick Checks

The best time to do a tick check is when you get back home, or get back to camp—basically, when you can strip down and look carefully at your entire body in decent light. There’s even a Tickencounter app to help you know where on your body to search for ticks.

Treat Clothes with Tick Repellent

Ticks don’t fly or fall from trees—they crawl up, and they want to feed on blood around the head, neck, and ears of their host where the skin is thinner and hosts have more trouble grooming. So, your prevention strategy should begin from the ground up. Nymphal deer ticks—the ones the size of poppy seeds—hide in leaves, so they’ll crawl up from the ground. To avoid them, treat your shoes with Permethrin bug repellent.

Lone Star tick nymphs hang out a bit higher than the leaves, and they’ll crawl up your legs, so use Permethrin spray to treat the inside of pants or shorts, or get clothes pre-treated with a repellent like Insect Shield. Keep in mind that ticks are more likely to walk up the inside than the outside of your shorts. If a tick rubs against permethrin for five to 30 seconds, it will likely get a dose that causes it to fall off and eventually die.

Remove Ticks with Tweezers

Use pointed tweezers to remove a tick as if you were removing a splinter. Try to grab the mouthparts right next to the skin. Don’t try to kill it by squashing it, because that will push germs to the front end of the tick, which is attached to your skin. Also, things like hot matches and Vaseline don’t work as consistently as tweezers.

Protect Your Pet

If you hike with your dog, be sure to check your pet for ticks before you hop back into your car, as ticks can latch onto fur or your dog’s skin and hitch a ride into your home. You can remove ticks from your pet using tweezers, and you might consider treating your pet with a product that can kill ticks or make them detach quickly.

Written by Marcus Woolf for RootsRated in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of AL and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.

Winter Camping

Please note: due to local and state guidelines surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, some information below may not be accurate. Before you travel and plan your next adventure, make sure to check each business/park/campsite for any closures or guidelines and for the most up to date information. Enjoy your next winter camping adventure in Alabama this season!

If you typically put away your camping gear during the winter and leave it stowed until spring, you’re missing out on some great days in the outdoors. During the winter, the bare trees reveal mountain views you just can’t get in the warmer months, and the cold conditions drive off the masses, providing a greater sense of solitude. Plus, the dry, cool air creates ideal conditions for stunning sunsets.

But, winter camping also poses special challenges. During the winter, the temperatures can fall below freezing, even down to single digits, and you need the proper knowledge, gear, and clothing to stay warm, dry, and comfortable. If you don’t pack wisely in summer, you might be uncomfortable, but it’s usually no big deal. But, in the winter, you risk illness, injury, or a really miserable outing if you’re not prepared.

To help you fill your winter with safe, enjoyable, and memorable adventures, we’ve put together a list of 11 important camping tips.

1. Check the Weather

As with all of your outdoor adventures, you should do your homework and find out the weather conditions you’ll likely encounter while camping. You can check the forecast with local media or the National Weather Service. Remember that conditions can change quickly, so be prepared with all of the clothing and supplies you’ll need for a worst-case scenario.

Also, keep in mind that the weather can affect road conditions, and you need to make sure that you’ll be able to reach your destination and return safely. Whenever possible, check the websites of parks or other recreation areas or contact park rangers or other experts to get the latest road and trail conditions. Rangers and other official personnel can also offer suggestions on the best campsites to use in winter.

2. Choose the Right Campsite

Whether you’re backpacking or tent camping, the right campsite can be the difference between an enjoyable, cozy winter outing or one that’s miserably cold. Look for a campsite that has trees or rocks that can partially block the wind, but make sure the trees are sturdy and that they’re not dead, dying, or rotting. The same goes with branches. Don’t pitch camp under dodgy looking limbs that could come crashing down.

3. Dress in Layers

The trick to staying comfortable outdoors during winter is to remain warm and dry. To do this, you need to regulate your body temperature so that you’re never too hot and sweaty, and never so cold that you’re core body temperature drops. The most efficient way to regulate your temperature is to dress in layers so that you can quickly add or remove clothing.

Basically, there are three layers you should carry:

• Baselayer: These clothes sit against your skin and move moisture away from your body to keep you dry. They should be made of synthetic materials or wool and include little or no cotton, which holds water and robs valuable heat from your body. Mid-weight long underwear is a good choice for moderately cold winters. When temps start heading below freezing, you might consider heavier baselayers.
• Middle layer: This is your insulating layer that will retain your body heat, but also allow some air to circulate to prevent overheating. This could be a sweater or jacket made with synthetic and/or wool materials. (This would include most puffy jackets.)
• Outer layer: This is also known as the shell layer and includes jackets and coats that offer some protection from wind and moisture. If there’s a chance you’ll encounter rain or heavy snow, be sure to pack a waterproof shell.

4. Dress for Sleeping Success

It’s not always comfortable to change clothes while hiking or camping in the cold of winter, but you should change into dry, clean clothes before you go to sleep. If your clothes are dry you’ll stay warmer at night, and dirty clothes typically hold dirt and oil from skin, which reduces their insulating properties.

5. Pack the Proper Tent

Choose either a three- or four-season tent for winter camping. A three-season tent works for most mild winter conditions, and it will allow more ventilation to reduce the amount of condensation that can form inside the tent. During the winter, be sure to open the tent’s vents and expose mesh panels to reduce condensation.

Four-season tents are designed to withstand high winds and heavy rain or snow. To reduce drafts, they typically have little mesh for ventilation and a rainfly that extends almost to the ground. Plus, the poles are very sturdy so they can stand up to the wind. The downside is that four-season tents can build up lots of condensation in the more humid areas of the US.

When you choose a tent, be sure that it has room for an extra person—if two people will be sleeping in the tent, get one designed for three people. This way you’ll have space to place gear inside the tent or the vestibule to keep it out of the elements.

6. Choose the Right Sleeping Bag

Sleeping bag temperature ratings aren’t supremely accurate, because many factors affect your body temperature at night. Some people tend to sleep hot, while others tend to be cold. Plus, your warmth is affected by the number of calories you consume before sleeping. So, it’s a good idea to choose a sleeping bag that has a temperature rating 10 degrees lower than the coldest temperature you expect. You can also use a sleeping bag liner to add five to 25 degrees of warmth.

Keep in mind that most bags filled with down will be more lightweight and efficient at keeping you warm. However, they lose their thermal effectiveness when wet. A bag with synthetic insulation might weigh more, but it will continue to keep you warm if it gets wet. Also, be aware that some bags have water-resistant down that gives you the best of both worlds.

7. Insulate Yourself from the Ground

Much of your heat loss while camping is from sleeping on the cold ground. If possible, use two pads under your sleeping bag—the bottom pad should be closed-cell foam, while the upper pad should be thin and inflatable. Remember, pads are rated by their “R” value from 1.0 to 8.0, with 8.0 being the best. A good average pad has an R-Value of 4. Also, spread a ground cloth or tarp under your tent to prevent moisture from forming inside.

8. Consume Plenty of Calories

When planning your meals, make sure they’re high in calories, which your body needs to burn to stay warm. Keep your meals simple and easy to make, preferably one-pot meals. When you arrive into a cold campsite tired and hungry, you don’t want to mess with anything that’s difficult to prepare.

Be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, which can actually be more of a problem in the cold than in the heat of summer. Also, be sure to bring a stove so that you can make hot water. If someone gets hypothermic you can warm the person’s core temperature quickly with hot chocolate or another warm drink.

9. Stay Warm with the Old Hot Water Bottle Trick

An easy way to stay warm at night is to heat water, put it in a plastic bottle, and place it near your feet or between your legs inside your sleeping bag. Make sure it’s not too hot and use a plastic bottle instead of metal so that you don’t get burned.

10. Don’t Run Out of Power

Batteries have a nasty habit of dying in the cold. Alkaline batteries tend to lose power faster than lithium. If your batteries die, try warming them in your hands or in your sleeping bag. That might jumpstart them again.

11. Use These Tricks for a Better Winter Campout

Here are few other tips for winter camping:

• When you gotta go, go! An empty bladder means your body uses less energy to stay warm.
• If you like to use a hydration reservoir, make sure the tube has an insulated sleeve or the water in it will freeze. If the hose isn’t insulated, leave the reservoir system at home and use water bottles instead.
• If you do use water bottles, store them standing upside down at night. Water freezes from the top down.

Find the best winter camping gear at Alabama Outdoors. We want everyone to enjoy the outdoors, and we work to build loyalty one connection at a time. Visit one of our stores or take advantage of our shipping or curbside pickup! #BeOutdoors

Written by Joe Cuhaj for Matcha in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of AL and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.

If you camp in a hammock in winter, you need to take extra steps to stay warm.

With the right strategy, hammock campers can sleep comfortably during cold winter nights.

They call it “cold butt syndrome.” When you sleep in a hammock, the parts of your body that press against the fabric get cold because they’re more susceptible to the wind.

If you camp in a hammock in winter, you need to take extra steps to stay warm. Leaning on our own experience, as well as advice from hammock manufacturers, we’ve come up with seven solid tips to help you stay toasty in your hammock.

Seek Natural Shelter & Consider the Wind

As you set up your hammock, a main goal is to deal with potential wind. So, note the direction of the wind and take advantage of natural windbreaks, like hills, rock formations, and trees. Instead of hanging your hammock in an area that’s relatively open, move to a cluster of trees and take advantage of their natural sheltering effect. You could also consider hanging a tarp between two trees as an extra layer of protection.

Use Quilts to Stay Warm

To help trap heat and block the wind, use an under quilt, which is an insulated blanket that you string up beneath your hammock. This creates a layer of air between the quilt and the hammock, so heat is trapped to provide more insulation. You’ll be warmer if you deploy an under quilt, rather than just using a sleeping bag inside your hammock. In a hammock, the insulation in a sleeping bag gets compressed and loses its ability to trap heat.

While a sleeping bag will still do a good job of insulating the top of your body, many hammock campers forego a bag and instead use a top quilt that’s made specifically for a hammock. Typically, top quilts are light and compressible, so they’re easy to carry into the backcountry.

Use a Sleeping Pad

An alternative to an under quilt is an under pad, which you place beneath you inside the hammock. You can use a standard foam or inflatable sleeping pad, but be aware that these can slip and even slide out of the hammock as you move around while sleeping. Some hammocks have an inner compartment that holds a foam or inflatable sleeping pad and prevents the pad from shifting.

Another option is to invest in a pad made specifically for a hammock. These not only have side sections that fold to conform to a hammock, but some also feature materials that reflects your body heat. You can also find sleeves that slip over a pad and have reflective materials to help you retain heat.

Rig a Tarp Above the Hammock

If you rig a tarp above your hammock, it can block wind, rain, and snow, and also trap heat. Keep in mind that it’s best to place the tarp as low as possible. Once you’ve attached the tarp to a spot on the tree just above your hammock straps, pull the tarp corners as low as possible and secure them. On the market you’ll find a wide variety of rainfly and tarps from several hammock manufacturers.

Rest Your Head on a Pillow

To stay warm in winter, you should prevent your skin from pressing against the hammock fabric as much as possible. So, pack a travel pillow, and also cover your neck and shoulders as you sleep.

Layer Your Clothing

It’s a good idea to wear many layers when you camp in winter, even when you’re using a hammock. This will allow you to regulate your temperature to keep from getting too hot or too cold. With a little practice, you’ll even learn to add and remove clothes without leaving the cozy confines of your hammock.

It’s wise to keep extra clothing inside your hammock at all times so it stays warm and readily available. Also, be sure to remove snow from your clothing before you get into your hammock. While this might sound obvious, it can make a big difference in keeping you dry and warm.

Stash a Hot Water Bottle

Here’s a trick hangers have used for years—fill an insulated water bottle with boiling water before you go to bed and stash it near your feet. This will help warm your whole body during the night.

Written by Marcus Woolf for RootsRated in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of AL and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.

On Alabama trails, you’ll likely tackle uneven terrain so having sturdy boots or shoes is important.

Please note: due to local and state guidelines surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, some information below may not be accurate. Before you travel and plan your next adventure, make sure to check each business/park/campsite for any closures or guidelines and for the most up to date information. Enjoy your next Alabama adventure!

If you’re gearing up for a fall hike, the most important piece of gear you can buy is a good pair of shoes or boots. If you suffer blisters or a twisted ankle, it can ruin a day hike or wreck a backcountry trip. And when tackling uneven terrain strewn with rocks and roots, you’ll need sturdy footwear to protect your feet and provide plenty of support and traction.

When shopping for any type of outdoor gear, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the many choices available and the myriad technologies that manufacturers tout. With shoes and boots, it’s no different. To steer you put you on the right path, we’ve highlighted seven key points to consider as you shop for your next pair of hiking footwear.

Treat your feet to quality footwear

Gear can be expensive, but it’s critical to invest in high-quality shoes or boots. If you go with something cheap, it’s more likely that seams or fabrics will leak, rip, or tear, and the outsole might wear down quickly or delaminate. Also, bargain boots sometimes don’t live up to their claims of being waterproof. You’re best bet is to buy the type of top-notch footwear found at specialty outdoor stores and footwear stores. If you buy shoes or boots online, be sure that you know how different brands fit your feet. Also, shop online well in advance of a trip so you’ll have time to swap out footwear that doesn’t fit.

Waterproof or non-waterproof?

If you plan to trek in the rain or cross lots of streams in cool or cold conditions, consider buying waterproof shoes. But, remember that waterproof shoes can feel miserable when it’s warm and humid. A waterproof membrane will trap warm air and moisture around your feet, which can cause blisters and break down the skin. Also, in warm, dry areas, a waterproof shoe will make your feet hotter. So, think about the conditions you’ll face for the majority of your hiking.

Boots or low-cut shoes?

If you carry a daypack or a load of 30 pounds or less, you can usually wear a low-cut shoe for hiking. If you prefer more ankle support, you can also try a mid-cut shoe that rises a bit above the ankle. But, most backpackers carrying more than 30 pounds need a full boot, because it will offer the rigidity and midsole structure needed to bear a heavy load. Keep in mind that some low-cut shoes provide more support and traction than others. Talk with a salesperson or do research online to determine whether shoes offer a decent support system for your feet.

Test shoes in the store

If you try on shoes in a store, take time to stroll around for several minutes to get a feel for any potential trouble areas. Also, some stores will have a small ramp you can walk on to see whether your foot slides forward while descending or your heel rises while ascending. If the store has a ramp, stand on it with your toes pointed downhill and stomp your feet as you walk down. If your toes don’t hit the end of the boots, you’re most likely good to go.

Consider using different insoles

Many companies outfit shoes with flimsy insoles that provide little support, so consider purchasing high-quality insoles. These will not only provide superior support, but they can also improve the fit of a shoe that has slightly more volume than you need. Be aware that insole brands carry different models of varying volumes to fit specific types of footwear.

Don’t forget about socks

Want happy feet? You need the right socks as well as the right shoes. Avoid cotton socks, because they retain moisture and cause blisters. Instead, choose a merino wool sock or synthetic sock that will wick moisture from your feet. Also, remember that you can fine-tune the fit of a shoe by using socks to occupy space. Because socks are available in many different thicknesses, it’s important to try on shoes with the socks you’ll actually use while hiking.

Allow time to break in leather boots

Many hiking boots these days require very little break-in time, but companies still offer burly styles with relatively stiff leather for backpackers who will carry heavy loads. If you need heavy-duty boots, buy them weeks in advance of your trek so you’ll have time to break them in. This will help prevent blisters on the trail. To break in the boots, begin with brief hikes and work up to wearing them for long periods of time.

Written by Marcus Woolf for RootsRated in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of AL and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.