Common Feet Conditions in Hiking & Walking

It is important to know if you have any disorders to your feet or to your walking technique. In this way, you can take these disorders into account when Buying Hiking Boots and take the necessary measures to compensate for the condition. In this section, we will quickly look at the most common feet and walking disorders or conditions and how you can spot and possibly compensate for them.

Pronation

Description: Pronation is the tendency to rotate your foot inward too much thereby placing too much stress on your unsupported edge. Pronating is very common and the effect will only be intensified by walking with a heavy backpack.

Symptoms: Check your current Hiking Boots and other footwear. If the inner edge of the sole is worn out more than the rest of your sole then you are pronating.

Treatment/Compensation: You can compensate by inserting prescription footbeds in your shoes. Consult with your doctor for possible corrective therapies.

Supination

Description: This is the exact opposite of Pronation where this time, the tendency is to rotate your foot outward. Likewise, the effect of Supination will be enhanced by walking with a heavy backpack.

Symptoms: Check your current Hiking Boots and other footwear. If the outer edge of the sole is worn out more than the rest of your sole then you are supinating.

Treatment/Compensation: You can compensate by inserting prescription footbeds in your shoes. Consult with your doctor for possible corrective therapies.

Elongation

Description: Elongation is a condition where your foot is too flexible in the arch and will bend under heavier loads, causing the length of your foot to increase too much.

Symptoms: You will feel pain on your toes while hiking with a backpack as your foot is stretched against the front of your boot. To test for elongation, stand up straight on a piece of paper and have someone draw the outline of your feet. Now add a backpack and do the same. If the outline of your feet with backpack exceeds the length of the outline without backpack with more than a quarter of an inch, you suffer from elongation.

Treatment/Compensation: Train your feet barefoot with a backpack and get prescription footbeds. If the problems persist, consult with your doctor for possible corrective therapies.


These are the common Feet Conditions that can affect your Hiking performance. Should you have any of these conditions, prepare and train your feet to ensure that you can compensate for them.

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