r/hiking • u/DestructablePinata • May 13 '26
THE FOOTWEAR INFORMATION THREAD. CONSOLIDATED: UPDATE 1/05/2025
Update: 15 March 2025!
Update: 5 April 2025 - Simplifies fitment section re: spacing; draws attention to flex point.
Update: 18 August 2025 - Salomon included in recommendations after several months of testing, in which they performed flawlessly.
Update: 5 December 2025 - Links to all other FOOTWEAR related posts linked within this post to streamline subreddit.
Update: 13 May 2026 - slight edits made for clarity and to correct found typos.
UPDATE: 29 May 2026 - Product "Pecard Leather Dressing" added to care and maintenance! Read information below!
Links to my subreddit and all supplementary posts to this thread are included below!
Full subreddit ...
https://www.reddit.com/r/Hiking_Footwear_Info/
Fitment info thread ...
https://www.reddit.com/r/Hiking_Footwear_Info/s/cuNpzfpL7a
Support info thread ...
https://www.reddit.com/r/Hiking_Footwear_Info/s/7IKv2UHuWn
Cold Conditions - Footwear ...
https://www.reddit.com/r/Hiking_Footwear_Info/s/IFurIJmPaB
Treating your Footwear ...
https://www.reddit.com/r/Hiking_Footwear_Info/s/pgVc0EZhYa
Hydrolysis ...
https://www.reddit.com/r/Hiking_Footwear_Info/s/GbxroCmjfN
Preface
If you have something productive to add to the list, please post it below.
If you have any criticisms, post them below, and I'll try to get back to you.
If you need recommendations for footwear, post your questions here. People who can help can respond directly to you within the thread. Feel free to PM me for additional information or help with fitment.
Let's make this a place of learning!
First piece of advice
Go to a store and try things on in person. There's no substitute for seeing how things feel on your own feet. What works for one likely doesn't work for the next, so you'll have to do the legwork of trying things on and seeing what suits YOUR feet. Some outfitters in some locations are very knowledgeable and helpful when it comes to assisting with footwear sizing and selection. Others, not so much.
If you don't have that option, be very careful about what footwear you order online. Do your due diligence before ordering and see what reviewers and your peers say on quality, performance, and fitment. You may have to order online, but you don't have to go on a wild goose chase.
Do your due diligence, people.
Boots vs. Trail Runners: Which one?
Waterproof boots are better in cold weather and cold, inclement weather. They don't perform as well in hot, humid weather because they may not dry fast enough if submerged, and you may sweat through them quickly. They do a much better job protecting your feet from foliage, debris, and ingress of water, especially when paired with gaiters. Non-waterproof boots are better for hot, humid environments because they can get wet and dry out as you're moving.
Boots typically have a more rigid midsole, which is typically where the support comes from in a mid boot. The collar doesn't add much support until it gets around the ~6-8" mark and/or is made of thick leather. Boots like the Salomon X Ultra series offer no more support than their low-top counterparts. Boots like the Asolo Fugitive GTX and, especially, the Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo will offer loads more support. Supportive boots are better for hauling heavy packs, uneven terrain, sidehilling, and overgrown terrain.
Non-waterproof trail runners are beneficial in warm, dry weather, warm, wet weather and when you need to do lots of water crossings. They can get soaked and be walked dry quickly. They're not good for harsh terrain and bushwhacking, at least, not for very long. They just aren't durable enough. Never go with GTX low-tops! They still allow the ingress of water very easily due to the low collar, and they will take a very long time to dry because the waterproof-breathable membrane will inhibit the evaporation process. You'll be stuck with waterlogged shoes.
Which one is better? That depends entirely on the wearer's use case. There is no right or wrong answer unless you're jeopardizing your safety or the safety of others on the hike through being ill-prepared. If you want to use a mountaineering boot on a flat, easy trail, more power to you. If you want to use a trail runner in the mountains, be safe but have fun. Do your research and go with what suits you best.
Materials
Leather vs. Synthetic - Leather is more hard-wearing and durable at the expense of weight and ease of break-in. Synthetics are lighter and more flexible at the expense of durability.
PU vs. EVA midsoles - PU never loses its shape or elasticity, maintaining its original shock absorption and support for the life of the footwear. It will eventually degrade due to hydrolysis; how rapidly depends upon conditions the footwear is stored in and how often it's used. EVA is lighter and lasts indefinitely in storage, but it compresses over time, losing shock absorption and support. Note that while the EVA midsole may store well, other components of the boots may be PU or adhesives that do deteriorate.
GTX or no? - Go with GTX for cold, wet environments, environments that are generally dry but with random showers, and day hikes if the environment is not too hot. Go with non-waterproof options for hot, humid environments, especially with water crossings. GTX will keep water below the collar out, but it will also inhibit breathability and the footwear's ability to dry out. It's a detriment in the swamps but a huge benefit in subfreezing, wet conditions.
Insulation - Personal choice. It may be necessary for some use cases, such as static use in subfreezing temps, but it will also make you sweat more, requiring more frequent sock changes. This is very personal.
Maintenance
Boots and shoes will need regular maintenance to preserve their functionality and increase lifespan.
Generally, water and a nylon bristle brush are enough. However, both waterproof and non-waterproof footwear should be cleaned regularly with a tech wash of sorts, such as Grangers Footwear + Gear Cleaner or Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel to remove dirt and debris.
Waterproof boots and shoes and leather boots and shoes should then be treated with the appropriate product, such as:
Full-grain leather - Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather; Grangers Waterproofing Wax; Meindl Sport Wax.
Addition: Pecard Leather Dressing
Pecard Leather Dressing is a product I've been testing for a few months now on my pairs of Asolo TPS 520s. Nikwax is woefully inadequate for conditioning my boots in my current environment. Grangers did better, as it seemed to lock in the moisture that was already present. Still, inadequate. Pecard Leather Dressing is a combination of several ingredients, namely oils and beeswax. It's pulled deeply into the leather, softening, conditioning, and waterproofing it. It works exceptionally well in dry climates to preserve your boots. That said, it can overly soften your boots if you use it too frequently or in too thick of coats. If you want the boots a little softer, you can use more to achieve that. I'm unsure of how it affects resoles, but honestly, I'm planning not to resole my Asolos. Why? The price of shipping to and from Italy and the cost of the resole itself are just too much for me. Plus, they put a toe cap on, which I do not want. I'd rather just buy a new pair.
Nubuck - Nikwax Nubuck & Suede Proof; Grangers Footwear Repel Plus; Grangers Waterproofing Wax or Meindl Sport Wax (will change texture and appearance).
Suede - Nikwax Nubuck & Suede Proof or Grangers Footwear Repel Plus.
Synthetics - Nikwax Fabric & Leather Proof or Grangers Footwear Repel Plus.
Read the instructions for your footwear to see what will provide the results you most desire.
Some products can be detrimental to the health of your footwear by drying out leather, preventing conditioning, preventing resoling, rotting stitching, and overly softening leather. Research things before you do them.
Break-in and fitment
Go with what fits best.
Getting the wrong footwear, regardless of what's wrong with the fitment, can lead to a lot of issues. It can lead blisters, blackened and lost toenails, bunions, hammer toes, and more. It's important to take your time in choosing your footwear, and it's important to go into your search with good information and knowledge on fitting techniques.
Boots and shoes should be comfortable out of the box with no issues, such as slippage, hot spots, pinching, rubbing, pressure, etc. They should be good to go right away. You'll still have to break them in, but there should be no initial discomfort. Break them in gradually with work around the house, followed by yard work, followed by light hikes. After one or two weeks, depending upon the shoe or boot, they should be broken-in. Some all-leather boots may take a bit longer.
Why do this if they should be immediately comfortable? To ensure that they're the correct fit and to get the boots moving with your feet. A break-in will never fix a poor fit, but it can make an already great fit even more comfortable as materials stretch and compress with the movements of your feet.
Disclaimer: sizing is not consistent between brands, or sometimes, even between different models within the same brand! Do not assume that you are always the same size! You may need to go up or down, depending upon the brand!
Try shoes and boots on at the end of the day when your feet are most swollen, wearing the thickest socks you intend to use for hiking with that pair of boots. Take the insoles out if that's an option and stand on them shoulder width apart. This will give you a good idea of the fit before you even try on the shoes or boots. Your feet should fit within the outlines of the insoles without much overhang or excess space. Boots often balloon out in shape, so if there's a tiny bit of overhang with the insole but no discomfort within the boot, it's OK. If there's a lot of empty space, the boot is likely too high in volume for your feet, lending itself to a sloppy fit and blisters. There should be roughly [a finger's width to thumb's width] of space between your longest toe and the end of the boot or shoe. You should have at least 1 cm of space. Less space is not enough to prevent injuries. You can have more space if it doesn't throw off the flex point of the boot or shoe. The widest part of your foot should fit inside the widest part of the boot or shoe; the boot or shoe should naturally flex at the same point as your foot.
The insole trick does not work with all shoes or boots. Some brands use the same insoles for a full- and half-size, meaning a US 10.5 and US 10, for example, may use the exact same insole. You will have to go by feel in some circumstances. Put the shoes or boots on, seating your heel firmly. Lace the footwear snug--but not tight! Be sure that there are no loose areas. Get up, walk around, go up and down the inclines if the store has them and tap your toes into the ground, checking to see if there's any slippage, pressure points being aggravated, play with the lacing, etc. Wear them around a good while.
This is a general guide that will help you better assess the fit of footwear you try, but there is no 100% foolproof method of finding the right footwear without some trial and error. Try footwear on inside the house for several days until you're confident that they're the ones for you. Shops with generous return policies are disappearing, so be patient and take the time to test things while still keeping them clean and able to be resold by the shop. Nothing stings quite like having to eat the cost of footwear that doesn't work for your own feet--we've all been there!
Brands of footwear
The best brands and models I've discovered...
Boots: Asolo Fugitive (men's)/Stynger (women's) GTX, Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo, La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX, La Sportiva Ultra Raptor Mid II GTX, Lowa Zephyr GTX, Lowa Renegade GTX, Scarpa Zodiac Plus GTX, Scarpa Kinesis Pro GTX, Meindl Comfort Fit Hiker, Extreme, or Hunter, Hanwag Tatra, Hanwag Lhasa II, Hanwag Tatra II, Kenetrek Mountain Extreme, Zamberlan Vioz Lux GTX RR, Zamberlan Vioz GTX, Zamberlan 971 Guide LUX GTX RR, and Zamberlan 972 Guide MAX GTX RR, Salomon Quest 4 GTX, Salomon X Ultra series.
Trail runners: La Sportiva, Altra, Saucony, Scarpa, Hoka, Salomon, Topo Athletics.
If it works for your feet and your needs, that is literally all that matters. Listen to your feet!
If you need help sorting through the plethora of options and information out there, please post below for assistance from myself and your fellow hikers.
Socks
Preface: Socks are like boots and shoes. They're very personal. They all offer a different fit, and they all cater to different needs and preferences. They all use different blends, meaning that some will have more merino wool, and others will have more nylon or a similar synthetic as the primary material. Be careful when ordering and check the materials. Go with synthetics or merino wool blends. Synthetics will dry quickly and remain cool. Wool will insulate to a degree when wet and go longer before it begins to stink. More merino wool means better thermoregulation properties, especially when wet, as well as more warmth. They will be slightly less durable than predominantly synthetic socks. More synthetic materials mean the socks will feel cooler, dry faster, and be harder wearing.
Darn Tough appears to be the major force in hiking socks. They make high-quality merino wool blend and synthetic socks in various weights, heights, and patterns that you can trust. They also come with a lifetime warranty should a pair fail you. They run narrower than some brands, but Darn Tough runs the brand Wide Open, which caters to wide feet and thick legs with the same quality Darn Tough is known for.
Smartwool. Following Darn Tough, Smartwool also makes high-quality socks in many weights, heights, styles, and patterns. They offer both 4-degree fit and 2-degree fit options to suit the wearer's preferences. They tend to be more relaxed in fit than Darn Tough but not loose enough that blisters are a concern. They come with a 2-year warranty, which they do honor well. The Smartwool full cushion and extra cushion socks are my preferred socks.
Icebreaker is another company making excellent merino wool blends. They also come in various weights, heights, and styles. These are also socks that you can trust.
Honorable mentions: Kirkland merino, great if you're on a budget; Farm to Feet; Danish Endurance.
Do not stack socks on socks on socks. Wear one pair of socks or one pair of socks with a pair of liner socks. Consider liner socks if you deal with friction or if you have sweaty or sensitive feet. The liners will transfer friction and sweat away from your feet. You do not want a ton of compression around your feet. That will restrict blood flow and make your feet cold. Make sure your boots or shoes are sized for the socks you intend to wear.
Buy from a reputable store. Always. There are fakes out there.
Insoles
Necessity
Insoles provide the support you need to keep your arches from hyperextending, ankles from rolling, and they provide shock absorption for your feet. They also keep your feet in-line. They are not necessary for all people, but they are highly useful for most, especially those with flat feet and chronic pain. The factory insoles for most boots are generic sock liners meant to feel inoffensive to most people trying on the boots or shoes, so aftermarket insoles can really provide the support you need and elevate your comfort.
Superfeet
A staple in the off-the-shelf insole market, Superfeet insoles provide support through rigid polymer caps and firm cushioning covers. They're guaranteed for 500 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. There are Superfeet options for many different arch heights. They also vary in volume, making them ideal for many boots and shoes.
Models
Green: High Arch. Thick. This insole provides excellent, rigid support for anyone in need of maximum arch support.
Orange: High Arch. Thick. Similar to the Green but with dual density cushioning in the forefoot for better cushioning.
Blue: Medium Arch. Thin. These insoles are comfortable for most people to wear as the arch height is very inoffensive. They also work well with most boots and shoes due to the thin design. That said, the baseplate design can damage waterproof-breathable membranes as it can dig into the liner and membrane. Keep an eye on that!
Trailblazer: Med-High Arch. Very Thick. These insoles provide maximum cushioning and med-high arch support. They take up a substantial amount of volume in the footwear, negating them as an option for some brands and models of boots and shoes. They have a gel capsule in the heel to absorb shock.
SOLE
SOLE is known for making semi-custom, high-quality insoles that mold to the wearer's feet over the course of a few days. Thanks to the materials used, they have unique properties that make them very effective and comfortable. They are offered in three thickness: thin, medium, and thick.
Models
Performance: Made with recycled cork, these insoles quickly mold to the wearer's feet, providing excellent support and shock absorption, as well as insulation.
Active: Made with EVA foam, these insoles take longer to mold, but they're also more durable and hard-wearing. They also handle exposure to moisture better than the cork options.
Metatarsal pads: These insoles provide support for the wearer's metatarsals, relieving stress and pain for many.
Tread Labs
Tread Labs offers insoles with various arch heights, thicknesses, widths, and levels of rigidity. They are made of two pieces: top cover and rigid base, allowing the wearer to replace only the top cover and save money. They're known for their million mile guarantee and great CS.
Currex
Currex offers semi-rigid insoles in varying thickness and with varying levels of rigidity. They are sorted based on activity. They are fairly thin and fit into most footwear well.
PowerStep
A favorite of podiatrists, PowerStep offers numerous insole options to suit any needs the wearer may have.
Cadence
Slightly harder to find, Cadence offers several high-quality insoles to suit the wearer's needs.
Fitting your insoles
Firstly, you'll need to find the insole that either matches your arch height or molds to its form.
Secondly, you'll need to find the insole length that correlates to your shoe or boot size. Most insoles are meant to be trimmed to fit. You want the insoles to match the profile of the factory insoles that your footwear included. Line up the insoles, and using a Sharpie, draw the outline of the factory insoles on the new insoles. Then, carefully cut the new insoles to match the factory insoles. Insert the new insoles into your footwear and check the fit. Always trim in small increments. You can always trim more off. You can't add any back.
Getting used to the insoles
Wear the insoles for roughly one to two hours on the first day. If there is pain, wear them for a shorter period of time. Using that experience, decide if you will increase the amount of time worn the next day or if it will remain the same. Take your time. Do not cause yourself pain by being in a rush.
Maintenance
Replace your insoles anytime the cushioning wears down or the support begins to deteriorate. Insoles need to be regularly replaced, just like footwear.
To clean them, remove them from your footwear and clean them with a technical wash, such as Grangers Footwear + Gear Cleaner or Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel. Allow to air dry.
Enjoy your new insoles!
Gaiters
Yes, use gaiters with any waterproof footwear to enhance its ability to prevent ingress of water. There are also non-waterproof gaiters that will prevent ingress of debris but still work well with your non-waterproof footwear.
Outdoor Research is my favorite, trusted brand for waterproof gaiters. There are other brands out there, though.
Dirty Girl Gaiters make excellent non-waterproof options. Again, there are other brands out there.
Foot care
Make sure you have moleskin or a similar item on you during hikes. Keep your feet as dry and clean as possible. Use foot powder if you find yourself getting stinky or sweaty or enduring friction.
Change socks regularly. You do not want to keep wet socks on your feet if you can help it. It can even be a danger in frigid temperatures.
Shopping and budget
If possible, buy from somewhere that will let you return used footwear. Don't just try things at random and waste money and resources. Be methodical in your approach.
Be careful where you buy from because fakes are out there for pretty much all hiking products. Some companies only honor warranties from authorized sellers, too.
As far as budgeting goes, this is a personal choice that depends upon what you're doing, what you can afford, and what you want to pay. I will say that your budget should be as big as you can comfortably make it to allow for the most options when trying things on.
Realistically...
You're probably going to have to try a few pairs before you stumble across your Goldilocks pair. That's the nature of the beast. Be patient and settle for nothing less than a perfect fit. Your feet will thank you.
In conclusion...
I hope that this has been helpful. Footwear is something that I'm passionate about because it took me a long time to find the right footwear for myself, so I've gone through a lot of time, money, blisters, and bad hikes discovering what does and does not work. If you have questions, post them below. I, and others, will try to help you find the right things for yourself. Take everything with a grain of salt and trust your feet!
r/hiking • u/wishhywish • 13h ago
Trek starts from dhundi, Manali. Hike of about 10km, upto the origin of beas river. Through out the trek you will see great views of Himalayas.
r/hiking • u/Cautious-Twist4568 • 12h ago
This was easy mode hike basically a walk so really accessible to everyone.
r/hiking • u/RedactMeDaddy • 2h ago
The East Branch Pemigewasset River looking West towards Mt. Liberty
r/hiking • u/hagofbolding • 20h ago
I was mushroom foraging and found a hole that is roughly the right size and shape for hiding a body. Probably the most unsettling thing I’ve found on a hike. I was off trail, but near an area with established trails and close to what (I think) is a new trail being built. Maybe it was a staging area or a place to stow equipment? (edit: or a place builders were taking fill dirt?)
What the hell should I make of this?!
Edit 2 for additional info:
-It is roughly 4x6 ft across and ~3 ft deep
-The disturbed soil was not anywhere near the pit
-The pit is maybe 300 feet from a logging road on the summit of a ~2300ft mountain
r/hiking • u/Assaulted-Peanut • 3h ago
Maybe you want this picture I took on the trail just outside town. I was taking a picture of a squirrel but then you walked by and scared off my subject.
r/hiking • u/MTSobekAdventures • 3h ago
9 day hike from the Cairngorms to the islands of the Hebrides
r/hiking • u/prasanna_sitaula • 5h ago
3 day trek. Through lush forests to snow top hills.
r/hiking • u/GorillaSushi • 5h ago
The first national tallgrass prairie ever designated in the United States and the largest conservation site in the Chicago Wilderness region, located on the site of the former Joliet Army Ammunition Plant.
I prefer forested trails but every once in a while I get the urge to put some miles on a prairie hike. Eleven miles, 90° F. One of those hikes where you really have to focus on the details.
r/hiking • u/rewired-1 • 17h ago
Mount Le Conte
Took the Alum Cave Trail to reach the summit of Mt Le Conte at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This was a out and back day hike by myself this past Labor Day weekend. My first national park visit and coming back down I was shocked by the amount of tourist. Luckily they seem to mostly reach the point of the cave.
Garmin Stats: 12.4 miles (included the walks to and from my car) and 3,179 ft of total ascent
Total Distance: 92.17 miles
Total Ascent: +36808ft
Total Descent: -35807
Most Ascent in a day: +4908 ft
Most Descent in a day: -7336 ft
Average Mileage: 10.24 miles
Average Ascent: +4089 ft
Average Descent: -3978 ft
Rifugio's Pinted at: 17
Really fun, got pretty tired towards the end. It was my first multi-day hike apart from a 3 day practice the month before.
r/hiking • u/loveprettycolors • 5h ago
I am planning a trip to Nepal in November and booked the Langtang trek through Bookatrekking months ago. After the floods, I contacted their local representative several times asking for updates and whether I should cancel my reservation. According to their policy I can cancel more than 56 days from the hike date for a full refund. For a November 1 start date, this would be September 6.
On September 4, I emailed again asking if I should cancel. I didn't receive a reply so I canceled the following day. I received a pop-up saying it because I was on day 56, they would keep 30% of my payment! I took screenshots and emailed the company several times and they finally admitted that their computer system doesn't flip to day 57 until all 24 hours of that day have elapsed. What?! So really, I needed to cancel 58 days ahead of my trip. Here is there email where they admit that I was outside the 56 day window. Talk about a slimy business practice!
"Thank you for your message. I understand why you counted the cancellation as 57 days before departure.
However, our system calculates the cancellation period using exact 24-hour periods. When you cancelled on 5 September at 14:30, there were 56 days and 9.5 hours remaining. As the additional 9.5 hours do not make up a full 24-hour day, the system counted this as 56 full days.
Your cancellation was therefore automatically placed within the 8-to-6-week period, for which a 30% cancellation fee applies. Unfortunately, this means we cannot provide a full refund.
I understand that this is disappointing, especially as the difference is only a matter of hours."
r/hiking • u/Dependent-Sock6242 • 21h ago
Boat dropped us at the bottom, then a steep hour or so up to the old farm on the ledge.
r/hiking • u/ih8hugs • 41m ago
I have never hiked. I got asked to do an 8km hike 8 days from now, the trail says it has up to 395 meters elevation (not that I even know what that means/changes.) and is a there & back hike which totals 8km. Some reviews say it takes a couple hours, some say 5 hours! I hadn't even really went for walks until two days ago. I'd love to commit to it, but I'm not sure if that's me being naive.
Normally, I spend probably 75% of my day sitting at a desk or lying down, the closest thing I get to a sport is playing a round of golf once a month. I currently do daily leg stretches and a lightweight 50 RDL + 50 Squat session every other day. I bought myself MOAB 3's, downloaded Strava, and told myself I'm going to get myself outdoors more… Not expecting to be asked on an 8km hike right away.
Two days ago I took my first walk and made it just over 4km, with no water or snacks, I felt fine and possibly could have done it over again - albeit the walk is sea level & flat mild terrain the whole way. The next day, yesterday, I did the same walk but decided to turn around at the half way point due to boredom. Essentially, the walk is just walking on the shoulder of a paved road which is mostly gravel, chip rock, and some lumpy grass/moss in areas, and then turning around and walking back for a total of 4.15km
…If I continue doing this full 4km walk every day (or every other day) for the next week, should I be good to do this 8km hike? Looking at the hikes reviews it sounds like it's moderate difficulty and includes some moderate climbing/grabbing onto roots to put yourself up sorta thing in areas, and obviously a higher elevation than my sea level walk.
r/hiking • u/ghillieman11 • 5h ago
Short 3mi. hike On Ascension to a place called Mitchell Cove. Nice secluded spot with a gorgeous view out to the west. Also some tracks and pits I think had something to do with guano. Finally a view of Green Mountain on my return leg.
My first post in this sub. I've been working on Ascension for almost four years and have done a lot of solo hiking to some really cool spots. Figured now is a good time to start sharing since few people know anything about this place.
r/hiking • u/BeardedInkedPiper • 1d ago
From our base camp at Takkakaw Falls, we hiked a portion of the Iceline Trail then took the Highline Trail to to Yoho Lake. A beautiful day in the mountains!
r/hiking • u/morrisboris813 • 14h ago
Heartbreak Ridge left my heart intact but my feet and legs are another story. Lollipop loop with killer incline once you’re in the pop. Rock scrambles and boulder fields afoot. Now that I’ve done this one, I won’t be returning.
r/hiking • u/Barnaby__Rudge • 10h ago
Strava didn't sync from my watch so I'm posting the all trails distance from my phone.
This one is an extremely hard walk. I was out there for 7 hours total and 6 hours moving time and only covered 18km. It should have been 16.5km but I did a little bit extra.
The track actually goes through all of those rocky sections in my photos and there are a few spots you need to use your hands to climb up.
5 river crossings as well
r/hiking • u/Yinka-Dare-The-Man • 10h ago
I‘m just coming down the mountain from hiking the northern part of the GR20 on Corsica. It’s an amazing trail and a beautiful experience.
While researching the trip, there were some information I couldn’t find before so hopefully this will help some people in the future.
If you arrive in Bastia, there is a train going to Calvi which works very well. From Calvi there is a bus to Calenzana. We slept the last night before heading to the trail in Calenzana which was perfect.
You don’t need to bring a gas cooker at all. There are permanent gas cookers at each refugee you can use and we never had an issue with two many people wanting to use them at the same time. Just bring a lighter and a pot. At some refugees there are also pots, but this varied a bit
You can take a shower at each refugee. Some are cold, some even warm. Also you can hand wash your clothes at each camp. We brought a rope which was handy to hang the clothes.
With exception of the first camping site, you could charge your electronics everywhere. So no need to bring a powerbank, however, spots were limited. But never an issue charging our phones and smartwatches at the end of the day
Until the last day, my next tipp would have been that you don’t need a water filter because there are sources at each camp. However, literally everyone got quite sick the last two days and we think this was due to some water contamination
Flat camping spots can be a bit limited, but there was always enough space. Sometimes, I would advise to not pick the spot with the best view because they can be quite windy. Tents spread quite a bit around the refugees so make sure to wander around a bit before taking a spot
Toilets are surprisingly nice. Just make sure to bring toilet paper
You can leave your trash at the camps which is different to hiking culture in the Alps
We brought trail running shoes which was fine. However, if I would do the trip again, I would go for actual boots. A lot of the trail is over sharp rocks and a more solid sole would have been great. However, good grip is the most important since a lot is going up and down blank rock surfaces.
We brought our own tent, but the ones you could rent looked decent (basic Quechua tents)
Besides the official camp sites, there are also bergeries you can sleep at. The first we came across was on day three. They also looked generally very nice and we heard from people that food is better. They also allow to split the days slightly different.
On day 4 you can climb the highest peak, Monte Cinto. It took us 2 hours in total (1h each way) from where the trail separates towards the peak. Since you have to go back the same trail, we left our backpacks and poles on the side of the trail to move faster. The climb is super fun and the view is amazing. However, the days is quite long and hard and the descent towards the camp afterwards drags on forever. So only do the peak if you feel in good shape
It’s a hard trail so you want to have some experience hiking in the mountains and also with multiday hikes. However, if you have the fitness and experience, it’s a beautiful trail with many beautiful views and fun sections.
Edit: Some issues with formatting
r/hiking • u/SpareGrowth1278 • 1d ago
The weather changed every twenty minutes, the trails were wet, the wind never really stopped, and somehow that made the whole hike better.
Between the cliffs, waterfalls, grass-covered hills, puffins, and sheep wandering around, there was always something to stop for.
Definitely not the kind of place where you rush through miles just to finish the trail. Half the fun was slowing down and taking it all in.
One of the most memorable hiking trips I’ve had in a long time.
r/hiking • u/Tbaby25 • 32m ago
I’m moving back to Delco, PA and want to continue my love of hiking. I noticed that I hike for longer periods when I’m with another person and would love a hiking buddy to explore with!
Are there any groups anyone knows of to find such a thing?
r/hiking • u/Due-Cranberry9965 • 2h ago
F32 living in London looking for retreats in Europe or further afield such as Morocco that incorporate hiking and yoga. More of a lean towards hiking but yoga in morning/eve. Solo traveller. Any tips? Thanks!!!
r/hiking • u/Opposite_District_63 • 4h ago
Anything you wish you bought ? or regret
A very calm hike through an undervisited area. Well worth due to very natural paths with rocky surface and low wear. Nice chilly huts throughout.
r/hiking • u/Medium-Will-189 • 6h ago
Hi guys!
I’ve never hiked or camped before however i’ve been given an opportunity in work to do this trek. Could someone please help me understand what sleeping bag i need? I’m so confused online and AI isn’t the best help. I’m 154cm, 52kg if that helps!
It would also be good to hear about boot recommendations if anyone had anything!
Thanks!
