As brightly colored leaves dazzle the fall landscape, hikers and hunters nationwide will migrate to mountains, woods and fields, but many, unfortunately, are ill prepared for the beating their feet will take. Hunters and hikers will often navigate the toughest terrain. Hikers, hunters and others who love the outdoors often don’t realize how strenuous it can be to withstand constant, vigorous walking on uneven terrain.

Walking up and down sharp hillsides and roaming through wet, slick fields and wooded areas places tension on the muscles and tendons in the feet and ankles, particularly if you haven’t conditioned decently before arriving at the trail. The best gear for walking up and down in the woods is a high caliber pair of well manufactured hiking boots. This investment in good boots will prevent sprained ankles or strained Achilles tendons.

It is wise for hikers and hunters to make the investment in top-grade hiking boots. Strong, well insulated and moisture-proof boots with steel or graphite shanks provide terrific ankle and foot support that facilitates lessening stress and muscle tiredness to keep down injury risk.

In damp and nippy weather, putting on appropriate socks can help avoid blisters, fungal infections and frostbite. A good synthetic sock for the first layer keeps the feet dry and cuts down blister-causing friction. For the second layer, wool socks provide warmth, take in moisture away from the skin, and help make the hiking boot comfier. Wool allows moisture to evaporate more promptly than cotton, so fewer blisters arise.

How should you act if your feet or ankles start to suffer on a hike or hunt? Pain typically happens because of overuse, being out of shape, or even from simply walking. If you’re not habituated to walking on inclined or broken ground, your legs and feet will get fatigued and cause muscles and tendons to hurt. To avert a critical injury, such as a serious sprain to the ankle or an Achilles tendon rupture, take a breather for for a while if you begin to hurt.

Moderation is also a good method to follow when first starting out in the woods. Compare hiking to skiing in that beginners should take on less difficult trails until they become better conditioned and more confident. Using common sense in starting easy will make your hunt more comfortable and enjoyable.

Footwear has evolved just like everything else since the beginning of time. One can imagine how the cavemen must have developed ways of protecting their bare feet from the elements. Today, the same principle applies to shoes, except that we can pick and choose according to our needs.

These days we have made other advancements that make the need for foot protection less important, but we still need a fair degree of it. Bare feet are still bothered by sun, rain and dirt. Shoes have become both functional and fashionable and for a variety of reasons.

Our more pressing needs for footwear now concern having the right type of shoes for the right occasions. We need shoes for work and formal events, shoes for casual days out like sneakers, flip-flops for summer days and lazing about, and then of course there are shoes for sports. We are more wary of shoe types as they are used in different environments.

Remember to keep two things in mind when buying shoes. Function is number one. Your shoes need to be appropriate for whatever the occasion requires. Style is number two. Always let your shoes compliment an outfit and never stand out on its own or detract from the outfit. You’ll never regret a shoe purchase if you combine these two considerations successfully.

Your footwear needs to be adapted to perform in the surroundings they are placed in. If you’re an outdoor person who loves to go hiking, for example, you’ll definitely need a pair of specialized hiking boots to help you along your way. Nature can be unforgivable at times, so if the technology is there, you should use it.

There are three reasons why you need a quality pair of hiking boots for mountain trips. The first is that hiking boots will prevent sand, stones or anything else from hurting your feet or getting inside your boot. The second is that your body will be better supported by thick soles and extra ankle support. The third is that because hiking boots are usually waterproof, you will be prepared for unexpected rain or mountain streams.

Don’t make the mistake of hiking in old worn out boots because you are putting your body at risk by not having the right equipment. Gore-Tex hiking boots are a good investment to make as they come with state of the art footwear technology. The membrane is both breathable and waterproof and will prepare you for any conditions while keeping your feet dry and healthy.

Frequent travelers or walkers should also take note that hiking boots also make the perfect walking shoes for occasions when you know you’ll be doing a lot on foot. If you plan on going sightseeing in a big city while you’re on vacation, a pair of hiking boots can save your legs, joints and feet a lot of trouble. Take those boots along because, as the saying goes, they were made for walking.