Tips & Advices
1. Boots for Serious Trekking
Although choosing a reliable brand is important, it is even more important to find one that fits. This is especially important for long treks that last a few days. Boots for this category have to be tough, sturdy and provide enough support and protection to the feet and ankles. Getting the right fit is critical. The boot will not "give in" to the foot in the event that it is a mismatch.
The boot should have enough room to accommodate your whole foot comfortably without having toes squash up inside but yet hugs the heel and instep so that the heel would not slide up and down in the boot during the trek.
The front and the heel of the boot have to be hard and strong to protect the foot from the occasional kicking of rocks. With the foot in the boot and slide it all the way to the front, there must be enough room to fit two fingers at the heel. This would prevent the toes from sliding and banging into the front of the boot during long decent.
Stand on a downward slope to determine how well the boot holds onto the foot during long descent.Test the sole of the boot on sharp edges. It should be strong enough to protect the arch of the foot from them.Check the stability of the boot and amount ankle support by rocking your foot sideway.
2. Winter Clothing Layering System
For outdoor enthusiasts, maintaining a comfortable body surface temperature is a great challenge. During the early morning or periods of inactivity, the body surface temperature would drop. In the afternoon or during exercise, the body may overheat and when the sun sets, the temperature would fall again. Add in the wind chill factor and it would seem impossible to stay at a comfortable temperature. To compensate for the ever-changing temperature condition, it is essential to have a flexible system through layering with garments.
Innermost Layer
This is the most important layer as it is closest to the skin where the heat and moisture is generated. The main function of this layer is to draw moisture away from the skin quickly and vented through subsequent layers, thus it is advisable that the thermal underwear be slightly tight fitting. To increase the comfort of the thermal underwear, it should also be soft, lightweight and pliable.
Second Layer
This layer provides the insulation against the cold at the same time allowing moisture to escape. The insulation property is generally achieved by trapping a layer of air. For people who engage in winter sports, a fleece is a better option over wool as they absorb very little moisture as compared to wool and dries quickly.
Outermost Layer
In the outdoors, it is important that the inner layers are protected against wind, snow and rain. However, the outermost layer has to breathable to allow the moisture to escape from the body. When choosing the outer shell, it has to be large enough to accommodate the two layers of clothing within.
3. Feet, Hands and Head
In very cold condition, the body maintained its core temperature by reducing the blood flow and thus, heat loss through the extremities such as the fingers and toes. Hands and feet should be layered accordingly to maintain its temperature. As an estimated 30% heat loss is through the head, it is also important to have a good hat that insulates the head.
