We love hiking with our international friends. Many also enjoy exploring with their classmates.
Hiking can be fun and enjoyable. It doesn't need to be long and hard. But it should always be comfortable and safe.
Choosing the right shoes is most important. If you are on pointy rocks, you want strong/thick soles. If you are on slippery gravely trails, you don't want to slip and maybe fall.
Thin, smooth soles, like street shoes, tennis shoes, or even running shoes, are not that good (or safe) for hiking. Converse tennis types are definitely out! Look for hiking shoes. If you have weak ankles get hiking boots.
Look for nobly treads on the soles. They will protect you on pointy rocks and on slippery trails.
Where to buy them, sources you can afford?
Big Five Sporting Goods, 2259 N Fremont St, Monterey has many good hiking shoes and boots at very good prices. They also have special weekly sale ads.
Walmart in Marina is also a good store. They have a good selection in the store, but a lot more are available online. Here’s a link to their “Hiking Shoes.”
Amazon is another good source.
Need to return them? If you buy them but they don't fit, all these sources let you return them, usually within 30 days. Big Five is easy because it's close and you can try them on. Ordering online from Walmart? You can return them to the store. With Amazon, usually you can return them by dropping off at the UPS store.
Socks and pants are also important.
Unless you are hiking to a beach area, we recommend long pants (jeans). We also recommend socks that go above your ankle and up into your pants. The reason? On some trails there are certain bushes that can cause a significant rash if it touches your skin. If the trail is narrow, or you walk alongside a friend and a piece of the bush sticks out, you don't want it to touch your ankle. So, buy yourself some good socks. They will also help make the stiffer hiking shoes/boots more comfortable.
Good hiking everyone!
Hiking can be fun and enjoyable. It doesn't need to be long and hard. But it should always be comfortable and safe.
Choosing the right shoes is most important. If you are on pointy rocks, you want strong/thick soles. If you are on slippery gravely trails, you don't want to slip and maybe fall.
Thin, smooth soles, like street shoes, tennis shoes, or even running shoes, are not that good (or safe) for hiking. Converse tennis types are definitely out! Look for hiking shoes. If you have weak ankles get hiking boots.
Look for nobly treads on the soles. They will protect you on pointy rocks and on slippery trails.
Where to buy them, sources you can afford?
Big Five Sporting Goods, 2259 N Fremont St, Monterey has many good hiking shoes and boots at very good prices. They also have special weekly sale ads.
Walmart in Marina is also a good store. They have a good selection in the store, but a lot more are available online. Here’s a link to their “Hiking Shoes.”
Amazon is another good source.
Need to return them? If you buy them but they don't fit, all these sources let you return them, usually within 30 days. Big Five is easy because it's close and you can try them on. Ordering online from Walmart? You can return them to the store. With Amazon, usually you can return them by dropping off at the UPS store.
Socks and pants are also important.
Unless you are hiking to a beach area, we recommend long pants (jeans). We also recommend socks that go above your ankle and up into your pants. The reason? On some trails there are certain bushes that can cause a significant rash if it touches your skin. If the trail is narrow, or you walk alongside a friend and a piece of the bush sticks out, you don't want it to touch your ankle. So, buy yourself some good socks. They will also help make the stiffer hiking shoes/boots more comfortable.
Good hiking everyone!