Touring Afoot

by Claude P. Fordyce

Nature intended man to walk with bare feet but following the dictates of necessity as his environment demanded foot protection and later of an all too dominant dictate of fashion he took to wearing foot covering. Since the feet do an immense amount of work Nature has so constructed them that they will adapt themselves to many conditions. It is our duty to adjust the foot covering to assist Nature in protecting the foot.

Commonly the fitting of shoes is influenced by a consideration of fashion and style and not comfort, with a resulting condition which most people cheerfully accept, thinking that by so doing their feet will appear small and neat but really causing a cramping and narrowing of the ball and toes, with possible chafing, blistering, callus or corns—conditions incompatible with walking efficiency.

The physical effects of ill fitting shoes are unfortunately evident with most people today. In addition if one is not properly outfitted on a walking trip the psychological effect is also bad, resulting in discomfort, reduction of buoyancy of spirit, mental irritability and diminished traveling capacity. He becomes an object of pity, his enjoyment is turned to grief and his value as a pedestrian is in a certain measure destroyed.

An entire reversion of shoe fitting ideas should be made and the shoes made to fit the feet instead of the feet to fit the shoes. The feet are not to be carelessly jammed into any sort of a container. A good shoe cover must protect the foot, it must give security and be comfortable and durable without changing the foot shape in any way. To secure these things the fitting should have precedence over all other conditions. Properly fitted the shoe allows the foot to take practically the shape it would if it were not encased in a shoe. The last should be straight and from the outset do not regard the sole as too broad. There should be sufficient width at the end to allow the toes to lay on the inner sole of the shoe in a normal position, for when the weight of the body is placed on the foot the toes spread apart a little. Nature thus demands toe room. With the full weight of the body on the foot the toes should be able to wriggle about freely in a shoe. Walking causes the feet to lengthen one-half inch and broaden at the toe one-half inch. Provide for this swelling caused by the flattening of the arch and congestion of blood in the exercised region. The shoe should be long enough to extend well forward of the toes—two-thirds of an inch longer than the longest measurement of the naked foot; the inner sole border should be straight, broad across the ball and for average work on the roads need not be heavy but above all things it should conform to the foot. Have the heel fit snugly but across the ball or front of the foot arch no compression at all.

The tendency is to overdo foot covering, getting the shoes too heavy. There is no need of lugging around extra weight. Aim for the minimum in leg weariness. Thick soles interfere with the leverage action of the big toe. The tramper covers territory and must look for ease, flexibility and lightness if at a sacrifice of the durability of the heavier goods.

The proper shoe should conform to the following specifications:—it should have a soft upper, making the total shoe height five inches, there should be no lining or box toe cap, the heels should be broad and welted and only three lifts high, the sole of one thickness. The shoe should be loose enough for free wriggling of the toes within and permit of the insertion of a cork innersole which serves as a kind of cushion for the tread and can be removed at night to dry out.

The shoe is the product of civilization and properly chosen is preferable for pedestrianism in the city and on country roads. Also in mountain work where wear is excessive and one must use calks or hob nails for security the heavy soled light uppered ankle-high shoe is advisable. Hobs of the small coneheaded Hungarian variety are good on rough rocky country or where there is smooth short grass and add immensely to ease and comfort and safety in walking over mountain trails. Use these hobs sparingly. They give better foot hold and greatly save the sole and heel from wear. They should not extend through the sole.

For wilderness tramping in general the adoption of an entirely different sort of footwear is advisable. The real hikers—the men who make it a business of going on long trips with back packs do not use shoes. They wear the lightest, easiest wearing and most flexible foot covering they can get—the moccasin. The moosehide moccasin is the footwear of the Northwestern Indian who is the most tireless pedestrian in the world. Next to him is the Canadian voyageur with his oil tan shoe packs. Were the heavy soled shoe or boot the more satisfactory they would use it in preference.