Guest Blog: Dry Your Boots! (and out of the way Trails to Try in NY and New England)

Hiking is a great way to exercise, because it promotes both physical and mental health. The beautiful scenery along a trail has the ability to put the mind at ease. It can help you relax after a stressful week at work. It also offers a significant amount of physical benefits including: burning calories, promoting strong bone structure, lowering the risk of diabetes and hypertension.

People that hike regularly are aware of how important it is to wear the proper attire. Hiking can be quite dangerous, if you are not wearing the proper footwear. Those that do not consistently hike may wear sneakers, because that is the most common type of shoe people use when doing a physical activity. The problem with this is the soles of sneakers (exception is trail runners) are not designed for you to walk on hiking surfaces. They were not made to grasp rock, soil and tree debris. These types of soles will increase your chance of injury. You could easily slip and fall, or twist your ankle. Regular hikers usually wear hiking boots, because they give their ankles proper support and contain soles that possess the ability to grip those tough outdoor surfaces. These boots allow them to enjoy their hike and aid in preventing serious injury.

Another issue hikers may experience is wet trails. You can still hike through them; however you must pay extra close attention to your surroundings. Here is a list of hiking trails that are known for getting muddy (but ripe for adventure!) -

·         Debar Mountain Forest: Azure Mountain (NY)

·         Cascade Mountain (NY)

·         Pharaoh Mountain (NY)

·         Speckled Mountain (ME)

·         Blueberry Mountain (ME)

·         Slide Peak (NH)

 Hiking through muddy trails can cause your boots to get wet. It is very important to dry them when you return home, because the water can cause wear and tear. If you choose to not dry your boots, you are putting yourself at risk for getting blisters the next time you go hiking. The moisture inside of the boot will cause your feet to rub against the inside thus causing a painful blister. A blister is a sore caused by the skin rubbing against something, they usually become filled with fluid and eventually the skin breaks. When this occurs you need to put ointment on them and a bandage. This will prevent an infection.

Blisters are agonizing and will slow you down on the trail. Boot dryers are an excellent option for keeping your hiking boots in great condition and will prevent blisters. Hiking boots are expensive; the average cost for a pair is 100 dollars. I am sure you want to get the most for your money. If you care for them, your boots will have a long life span. Boot dryers can dry your hiking boots using an effective temperature. If your boots are exposed to a temperature that is too hot, the glue used to put the materials together could melt. If you are thinking about purchasing a boot dryer, make sure you get one that uses forced warm air, because this type of air works best with your boots. Many hikers enjoy traveling and go hiking while on vacation, therefore they should purchase one that is portable.

If you have not tried hiking, I suggest you try it once! You could get hooked on a hobby that is both beneficial to your physical and mental health. Make sure you wear the proper attire and dry those boots when returning from your adventure.

About the Author:

Williams Direct Dryers provides its customers with quality products. Our customer base includes NASA, the United States military, the Canadian military, fire departments and many businesses. We offer both commercial and residential dryers. Please take a look at our products here.