Footwear for Hiking & Camping (sneakers, boots, puttees, gaiters, socks & footwraps)

Several subscribers have asked, “What is your preferred footwear for hiking and camping?” Instead of just answering this question, I’ve broadened the question to include historical information from the late 1800s to the present: boots, sneakers, puttees, gaiters, socks and footwraps.

My recommendation is to select the footwear that is comfortable for you and the environment where you are hiking. My preferences depend on the situation:
1) Go barefoot if the ground is sandy or soft (with no thorns, biting insects or parasites).
2) Wear athletic shoes (such as, New Balance, Converse) if easy trails.
3) Use hiking boots (such as, Timberland, Merrell) if the trails are challenging or rocky.
4) Wear thoroughly waterproof boots (such as, Original S.W.A.T #165431) if the trails are wet or boggy.

Puttees and gaiters are a type of protective clothing for a person's ankles and legs below the knees. They are worn when hiking for protection from dense underbrush and protection against snake bites.

Many soldiers suffered from trench foot (also called immersion foot) during WW1. This was an infection of the feet caused by cold, wet and unsanitary conditions. Men stood in waterlogged trenches for hours, without being able to remove wet socks or boots. Their feet would gradually go numb and the skin would turn red or blue. If untreated, trench foot can result in gangrene and amputation. Soldiers were told to keep their feet dry, coat them with grease and change socks at least twice daily. Unlike frostbite, trench foot does not require freezing temperatures. Any wet environment can cause the problem. Nowdays, it is most commonly seen in people who spend a lot of time outdoors. Doctors today recommend 1) wearing sock liners that wick moisture away, 3) not wearing socks when sleeping, so the feet can dry out, 4) using talcum powder or vaseline to keep moisture away, 5) selecting shoes that fit well and are kept dry, and 6) using drying agents, if you have sweaty feet.

In several parts of the world, people historically did not wear socks. Instead they wrapped their feet with cloths or blankets. These sock substitutes work very well and some people think they are better than socks, because they are easy to make, to clean and they can easily be smeared with grease, to keep dry feet. Footwraps were used by the armies oin Eastern Europe up until the beginning of the 21st century.

Much of what I know about footwear came from my mother. When reviewing family pictures for this video, I was surprised to discover that in the 1920s, mother carried her bedroll the same way that I do when re-enacting 1800s camping. Wow. This video is dedicated to mother, Margret Evlyn Harshaw, 1913 - 1994.

Videography by Ken Kramm, 5 November 2015; Lake Niederhoffer, Sam Houston National Forest, Texas, USA; Canon Vixia HF G10, iPhone 6+, Final Cut Pro X. Public Domain and Creative Commons photographs. American eagle march by New York Military Band, Creative Commons License, http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/search.php?queryType=@attr%201=1016&query=American+eagle+march&num=1&start=1&sortBy=&sortOrder=id , American War Songs by American Brass Quartet, Creative Commons License. http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/search.php?queryType=@attr%201=1016&query=Tramp&num=1&start=1&sortBy=&sortOrder=id

Видео Footwear for Hiking & Camping (sneakers, boots, puttees, gaiters, socks & footwraps) канала KennethKramm