A word from Podiatrist Georgia:
For me, the Summer and Autumn seasons are a great time of year to get outdoors! As New Zealanders, we are so lucky to have an abundance of nature walks, day hikes and multi day hikes to explore around New Zealand.
So far in 2017 I have explored Rangitoto Island, hunted for deer on the tops of the Ruahine Ranges and completed the Tongariro crossing.
Georgia’s foot care tips for hiking:
What shoes did I wear? When I climbed Rangitoto Island, I opted for my Asics Trebuco trail shoes.
These were a a great choice as they have extra grip with a strong sole unit, ensuring I didn’t slip over on the sandy track. Given it was a hot day I wore my lightweight injinji finger socks. This allowed my feet to swell a little in the humid weather (without squashing my toes) and drew away moisture from the skin to prevent blisters and fungal infections between my toes.
For the harder hikes I chose an Ahnu Sugarpine boot by Teva. This is a great lightweight boot for day hikes, fastening up the ankle offering improved support. If I was carrying more than 20kgs in my pack on a multi day hike (including river crossings) then I would have gone for a water proof LOWA hiking boot.
In my boots I wore an Injinji mid crew to line a thicker merino hiking sock. The beauty of the toe socks- they never twist or roll like other sock liners.
Before both hikes, I had the wonderful Treena look after and care for my feet. With her magic touch, I managed to avoid ingrown toenails and painful corns. Thanks boss!
Tongario Alpine Crossing