Footwear
Field camp and field based classes are very hands on. You will be doing a lot of hiking, walking, and traversing all over the place for days at a time. Your field location is going to influence what the terrain is like and what you will need to be prepared for and in turn, having the proper footwear is of the utmost importance for any and all field experiences. Some of the questions you will need to consider include what the terrain will be like, how much equipment you will be carrying, and how will weather influence the landscape.
First off, for field camp, you will most certainly be in a remote, back-country location with no trails. The terrain will be anywhere from flat, to forest, to rolling hills, to feeling like you are rock climbing to get to the top of a ridge. In addition, the ground cover can be anywhere from soil, to grass, to cobbles, or large boulders. You need to consider what will happen if the weather changes, because rocks get slippery when wet, or if you anticipate needing to cross streams or rivers. In essence, you are going to need to be prepared for such a variety of factors and at the end of the day you will need footwear that can support such diverse settings.
Since you will be out in the field for hours, you will need footwear that is reliable, durable, and supportive to your body’s needs. Thus, hiking boots are the best shoe to get for field camp. Hiking boots are defined by an ankle collar that covers and provides stability for the ankle and the last thing you want to happen is for you to roll or hurt you ankle at field camp. Making sure your feet are comfortable, safe, and secure is most important. During those long days of hiking and carrying equipment, support keeps the ankles and feet from tiring quickly and you want to make sure you have as much energy as possible throughout the day.
There are so many hiking boots on the market, how do you know which one will be best? This question is tough since there are many factors to take into account such as comfort, traction, durability, and even water resistance.
In my experience, comfort is one of the most important factors. You need to make sure that they feel good on the sole, that your toes are not squished, and that the ankle collar is comfortable. After many miles of traversing terrain, you need boots that will remain comfortable to your feet. I highly recommend that whatever boot you decide to get, you take time to wear them and break them in. You will be much happier about doing this when field camp starts because there is a possibility for blisters to form while the boot molds to your foot.
As noted before, you will be traversing through a variety of terrains and you will want to make sure that your boots have superb traction. Having a boot that can climb and descend steep rock slabs, that won’t lose grip on wet rocks, and that can get through mud is important. The last thing you want happening is for you to slip while taking notes. Take home story – make sure the boots have solid traction.
Along with traction, durability is a huge factor. Since you will constantly be on the go, you do not want boots that will wear out easily. Wear and tear is obviously expected with time but you want boots that will surely last field camp and maybe even longer. Many lightweight hiking boot models will have great traction with their rubber soles; however, the trade off to this is that the soles wear quickly. In terms of durability, there is going to be a compromise with materials and construction of the boot.
The last aspect that should be taken into account is water resistance. At some point you will likely come across a stream or river and having dry feet is important, especially because dry feet are key to avoiding blisters. It is recommended to look for boots that have a waterproof, breathable membrane in the lining and that have a track record of being water resistant.
From my experience at field camp, having two pairs of boots is a good idea. During my field camp, many people brought two pair, including myself, just in case something happened to the first pair. I wish before I started I had broken in my boots because I got a decent amount of blisters. I also did not do a good job lacing and tying my boots, which caused the back of my ankles to get blisters. Please, wear your boots properly. You are going to be out in the field for a while and the last thing you want is to have damaged feet.
During my time, I did see other students with hiking shoes (without ankle support) and even with barefoot hiking shoes. It is really risky not having ankle support because you will be walking on rocky terrain at times and one wrong footstep and there goes your ankle. If you are somewhat new to this, like I was, get boots!
