Footwear - I usually wear trail shoes rather than boots. I don't run into a whole lot of uneven terrain, the more common obstacle is water on the trail - either in crossings or just standing water from the rain. I carry water shoes, but usually where there is one big puddle in the middle of the trail - there tend to be many more to follow. I am better off hiking in quick drying trail shoes that heavier boots or less comfotable water shoes. I use New Balance 800 series trail shoes with a pair of Montrial Stabilizing Insoles to give my feet a little more support and comoft over long, flat strecthes of trail.
Socks - I hike with one pair of Wigwam Comfort Hiker Merino Wool socks no matter what time of year it might be. I have found that even if they giet wet they still provide a comfortable layer between my feet and my shoes. When they are dry they are like walking in a cloud. I tend to take three pair. Two for hiking, alternating days so that one has a chance to dry out. The third is a different color that I use at night or around camp if it is chilly.
Water Shoes / Camp Shoes - I do bring a pair of Waldies as my water and camp shoes. If I know the trail is mostly dry with a few water crossings then I will change into these. They are made of rubber and stay on my feet really well. The size 13's only weight 9 oz. They are great for camp shoes as they slip on and off easily and work well with a pair of my wool hiking socks on underneath when camp is colder. Although many lightweight backpackers eschew camp shoes as unecessary weight, keep in mind that your hiking shoes are probably very wet and, if you are only out for a weekend and spending a decent amount of time around camp, you are your primary form of transportation - your feet - will be much more comfortable.
Hiking Stick - I am a little mixed on hiking sticks and hiking poles in Florida. Since there are no big hills I don't need the support my knees and leg muscles and there are no downhills where balance is needed. However; there are other little challenges where a hiking stick comes in handy. Getting big spider webs out of my way, stepping over logs, testing water on the trail for holes and critters and balance for treacherous water crossings. I have just started to test hiking without my trusty walking stick with decent results. I'll keep you posted.
Water Walking - At some point in your Florida hiking adventures you're going to run into some water on the trail. Don't be afraid of snakes, gators, and other dark water creepy crawlies. Just keep on walking. And don't worry about getting your boots or shoes wet. There's gonna be more and more water so don't try to hike all day in your water shoes. You're better off hiking in wet shoes and giving your feet a no shoes / no socks breather every once in a while. You should carry a hiking stick or trekking pole to poke the water in front of you to make sure that you are not going to step into a big hole or onto a gator's back. If you have never walked standing water on the trail before then I would encourage you to try it with a hiking buddy first as it does add an element of danger that doesn't exist on a flat, dry trail. If the water starts to get above my knees then I start to get a little anxious about getting to shallower water. If it does start getting deep and you are not in an actual waterway (or not in Big Cypress) then you should check to make sure you are on the established trail and then consider if you want to trudge through this deep stuff for a long while, or if you should find another route or change your plans. If you are alone and hiking in progressivelly deeper water, be ver careful. There are gators and snakes out there. Just don't be too concerned about water below your knees. |
