3 Great Tips on Hiking Kids’ Footwear

• How to select the best hiking boot for kids
• How to select the best socks for hiking kids
• When to replace your kids' hiking boots
• BONUS: Five great quotations for hiking kids

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

When to replace your beloved hiking boots

When should your hiking boots be replaced?

Hikers love their boots with a passion, and letting go of them can be as unthinkable as a professional athlete giving up his jersey number. Still, no pair of boots last forever, and while they often can be repaired, the time does come when they need to be replaced.

Hiking boots that are falling part simply don’t provide the support and protection that they should. Repairing a boot often will be more expensive than simply buying a new one. In short, no matter what great adventures they’ve taken you on, they need to go.

Your hiking boot is past its prime when:
• Blisters form on your feet every time you wear them despite that you’ve hardly gone any distance. This indicates that the boots have been stretched so much from wear that your feet are shifting inside the boot as you walk.
• Feet, legs and hips ache whenever walking short distances in them. In such cases, different parts of the boot (especially the sole) have worn to the point that they no longer fit properly. In fact, wearing them has become more harmful than helpful.
• Debris (twigs, tiny rocks) and water get inside your boot. The boot either has significant holes (though the holes may look tiny) in them, are tattered at spots around the tongue, or the fabrics that offer waterproofing protection have worn through.
• Treads no longer provide grip or traction. The lugs probably have worn to a nearly flat plain, increasing your chances of falling.
• Boot sits baggy and shapeless when off your foot. This means the boot’s structure is giving way. The boot’s ability to provide you stability fades with the loss of this structure.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Consider tongue design when buying boots

The design of your hiking boot's tongue can help keep out water.

An often overlooked consideration to make when purchasing hiking boots is the tongue design.

You’ll want to purchase hiking books that have a gusseted tongue. Such a tongue is attached at its sides to the boot’s upper. Compare this to a tennis or a dress shoe in which the tongue is attached only at its base to the upper. A gusseted tongue is necessary because it helps keep debris and water from entering the boot. This isn’t a significant problem on sidewalks and buildings where people work, so a gusseted tongue isn’t needed for tennis or dress shoes.

There are two types of gusseted tongues. In a half-gusseted type, the stitching connecting the tongue to the boot’s upper stops before reaching the ankle support area, also known as the scree collar. A full-gusseted type has stitching that goes all the way up to the ankle support; this sometimes is referred to as a bellows tongue.

If you’re mainly day hiking on dry terrain, a half-gusseted tongue is sufficient. The rougher the terrain gets, and especially if you must make a water crossing or will encounter snow, then a gusseted tongue is needed. You can cross creeks and walk through snow with a half-gusseted tongue, but splash from your footfalls likely will seek into your boot; further, if the water level rises above the stitching, moisture will enter your boot no matter how tightly you’ve laced the boots.

Regardless of which type of tongue you go with, always ensure it’s padded. In addition to preventing hot spots and blisters from the aces on the top of your foot, a padded tongue will help prevent heel lift.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Consider bringing along specific gear for desert hikes with children

Mojave Desert, Calfornia

As a dry, severe environment, deserts offer both incredible scenic wonders and grave dangers. Because of the former, they make for great hiking terrain…because of the latter, specific hiking gear and equipment is essential for a day hike there.

Whenever on a desert hike, be sure to have the following equipment or items:
g Boots – You’ll want footgear with ankle support, that breathes, and that has a soft, flexible sole to ensure traction. To that end, wear lightweight, breathable hiking boots. Sandals will expose your skin to sunburn, thorns and sharp rocks while running shoes lack the ankle support needed for crossing rocky terrain.
g Sun hat – A brim provides the extra protection needed to shade your face, not just to avoid sunburn but to prevent being blinded by the sun. Consider getting a sun hat that includes a flap to keep the sunlight off your neck.
g Lighter colored clothing – White and other light colors will better reflect the sunlight than black and dark clothing, which absorb it, resulting in more heat upon the body.
g Sunscreen – An SPF 50 is essential as the sand reflects sunlight back onto the body, resulting in a burn. Sweat will wash away sunscreen, so you likely will need to reapply it during rest breaks.
g Lip balm – The lips also can be burned or chapped by sunlight as well a wind. An SPF 30 balm will protect them. Reapply the balm after drinking water.
g Extra water – Any arid environment requires that you take in more water than usual. Consider carrying it in collapsible canteens to lessen the weight or in a hydration pack, which kids are more likely to regularly use as they can more easily sip water as walking.
g Insect repellent – Usually dry areas are low on bug count, but don’t be surprised to run into sand flies and midges or when near a wet area into mosquitoes.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

Winter clothing essentials for day hiking kids

Now that autumn is here, you’re probably dressing your day hiking children in jeans, jackets and other warm clothes. But more clothes alone won’t be enough once winter arrives. To ensure your children stay comfortable and safe from the elements, winter hiking requires some additional steps that summer (and even autumn!) often don’t require:
g Socks and boots should be weatherproof – Put kids in wool socks that will better wick moisture from their feet and ensure their boots are waterproof so snow and moisture can’t get inside them.
g Don’t forget accessories – Stocking caps, mittens and scarves all are needed, even on sunny days, as winter air largely is dry and holds warmth poorly.
g Dress in layers – The layer of cloth next to the skin ideally should be made of polypropylene, the middle layer of bulky fleece, and the outside layer of waterproof material; this will ensure children stay warm and dry. Getting wet can lower their body temperature, raising the risk of hypothermia.
g Stay preventative – Put on clothes before kids start shivering; on warmer days or in southern climes, put on rain gear before the drizzle starts. Once cold and wet, no amount of clothing can reverse that condition.
g Keep change of clothes in vehicles – Kids are kids, and some will find a way on a hike to get wet despite your best efforts. Dry clothes they can change into in a warm vehicle after the hike can make the drive home comfortable.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

Prevent, treat children's blisters on hikes

A blister is a small, painful pocket of fluid that builds in the upper layers of the skin.

You can avoid blisters by wearing good-fitting, broken-in boots and socks that provide cushion and wick moisture from the skin. If certain parts of a foot are prone to blistering, pretreat the area by placing mole skin or an adhesive bandage over it. Long and sharp toenails can lead to rubbing against a shoe and boot and thus blisters on the toes. Always remove tiny stones and twig pieces from a shoe. As soon as your foot or that of your kids’ feels any pain, check the foot for a “hot spot,” an area of inflammation that is on the verge of becoming a blister.

Always treat a hot spot as soon as you feel it by placing an adhesive bandage over the affected area. While you generally shouldn’t pop a blister, do so if hiking. Then clean the blister with antiseptic and dry it to help relieve pressure and to prevent the blister from spreading, which will occur if your keep walking. Place a piece of mole skin over it, secured by an adhesive bandage, so it does not continue to rub against the boot.

As a side note, place a little foot or baby powder in your boot before hiking. While this won’t prevent blisters, it’ll help reduce moisture on the foot, making the walk more comfortable.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.