Hey, team. Alexa here.
While I’ve got you, I thought I would give you a little bit more information about kit and stuff for walking.
Summer Walking Kit
To be honest with you, a lot of my walks over the summer I am doing in running gear. Trail running shoes, socks, sports bra, shorts or leggings, and a T-shirt because they’re all wicking, comfortable clothing that I know work for me in the conditions that I’m running in and also walking in.
Having a light-coloured hat, having a race vest or a Camelbak or something like that, so I can carry a few things and some water. Personally, for walking, I prefer the Camelbak. I just find it a bit easier. I’m not a massive fan of having the water bottles on the front.
But personal preference.
Winter Walking Kit
When you’re more into the winter, I find it just more comfortable to swap into what some people might prefer to call hiking gear. It feels a bit less running related.
I’m definitely in trousers rather than leggings. I’m definitely wearing different layers than I would do when I was running. I start ditching the technical wear in terms of polyester, elastic-based stuff, and coming more through to merino for warmth.
We just don’t generate as much heat when we’re walking as when we’re running, so you do need to make sure you’ve got those layers on when the weather isn’t warm.
Hats, gloves, neck tubes, and an extra layer for when you stop and have a snack because you will get colder. You are eating proper food like sandwiches and stuff when you’re out on a hike, so keep that extra layer in your bag as well.
A rucksack that is comfortable for those longer distances is important. To be honest with you, my winter rucksack is a bit heavier than a running pack because I put more kit in it in case of emergency when I’m out in bad and cold weather.
Also, because it’s quite comfortable, when I’m walking it’s not bouncing around in the same way it would when you were running. So, a different pack that fits different needs and also has a storage system for my walking poles, which I will do a completely separate video on because walking poles for hiking are something that I really, really love to use.
Why Walking Boots Matter
The other thing that’s probably a big difference between hiking and running is that a lot of hiking, particularly when it’s colder, wetter and muddier, is done in boots, not shoes.
One of the factors is that when we’re running, our ankle is going through pretty much its full range of motion in flexion and extension. When we’re walking, it doesn’t. So you can’t really run that easily in boots, but you can walk.
The other key thing, particularly if you’re out on more technical terrain, basically a bit more lumpy, bumpy and rocky, where the surface isn’t flat and has all sorts of different bits and undulations in it, is that walking boots really reduce the risk of you going over on your ankle and spraining it.
If you’re halfway up a hill or a mountain, a couple of hours into your walk, a sprained ankle could become a bit more of a problem. So walking boots are a really, really good call.
Similar to the running shoe advice, go and get them fitted in a shop if you can. Not only will it mean that those shops continue to exist and don’t all disappear, but the fit, how they feel and how comfortable they are is key.
Have a chat to the people in the shop because they will always be very knowledgeable about the types of terrain and walks you’re planning on doing, and they’ll advise you on the best options. But fit, comfort and making sure they don’t give you blisters are definitely the most important things to think about.
Final Thoughts
I think that’s it at a high level. A bit of a whistle-stop tour.
Certainly in this weather, you can head out on a nice hike in your running gear and have a perfectly enjoyable time.
So, happy walking and running.
