The Wide World of Walking Equipment

Well what sort of walking equipment do really need to take a walk? The overall benefits of any walking equipment list is to keep you as comfortable, safe and injury free. However. a lot will depend on what type of walking you are engaged in, where you live and what time of year it is. If you occasionally walking to the store or around the block, you really don’t need anything special at all. But if your walking is part of an fitness routine or are simply enjoying a 2 or 3 mile hike, you really need to think a bit about pulling some “stuff” together to ensure that your treks are pleasant and/or productive. Since I’m writing this in early fall, we won’t concern ourselves with hot or cold weather conditions. Save that for another post.

With that in mind, the following is a list of walking gear that you may want to incorporate into your walking program:

Walking Clothing: Again assuming that you have relatively warm weather conditions, you’ll need to consider the four basic clothing items; top, shorts, socks and shoes. We needn’t be too fussy about the first two. Something lose fitting of cotton should be fine. Depending on the length and bulk of your final equipment list , you may want to consider shorts with some extra and/or extra large pockets. Shoes and socks are another matter. It’s critically important that these two items fit properly and are design appropriate to the task at hand. Socks first. The should be fitted. No tube socks. They should be made of moisture absorbing material. There are some synthetic fibers available but to me good old wool seems to work best. They should have extra padding at the heal and ball and there should be no seams at potential pressure points like the toe, ball or heal. Next shoes. Reams have been written about how to get properly fitted for walking sneakers or boots. The smartest thing to do…visit you local athletic shoe store and try some on. Stick with shoes specifically designed for walking. When you visit be sure to bring along a pair of walking socks to insure proper fitting. Find a pair that is snug but not tight. Walk around a bit. They can be expensive so be certain they feel right. Pay careful attention to the width. Many manufactures make only three widths and actual sizes can vary between manufacture and shoe model. In addition to a good fit they should be light weight and well cushioned at the heel and ball of your foot. If you can’t find anything that fits right, don’t compromise or fall for a salesman’s pitch. Move on to another store, The key here is to take your time. Additional clothing items to consider are a hat and bandana. My personal preference is a full brimmed hat that protects the ears and back of neck from the sun. I’m one of those people who perspire at the drop of a hat, so I wear a bandana for extra moisture absorption.

Fitness Monitoring Devises: Two items to consider here a pedometer and a heart rate monitor. A pedometer is a devise that measures the distance you travel during you walk. A heart rate monitor, usually in a watch configuration, does just that, monitors your heart rate. A pedometer is useful when you’ve set specific goals (ie walk 20 miles a week) and you need to monitor your performance against those goals. A heart rate monitor is useful if you are interested in measuring and maintaining the intensity of your walk.

Safety and Security Devises: This lists includes light reflective armbands. A cell phone, a pen light, whistle, a bit of money ($5 should do) and perhaps a container of pepper spray ( to ward off stray dogs of all types).

Comfort Items: A water bottle, a light-weight plastic sheet rain poncho, some sun block, sun glasses, a couple of band aids or blister treatment pack, and finally a MP3 player or I pod to help pass the time and miles. I would also include a fanny pack as part of this assortment. Preferably one with a water bottle holder. Not only does it keep you hands free when walking but also keeps all your walking gear together in one place.

As you evaluate this list you need to match it with your specific walking goals and conditions. Not all items will be necessary in all cases. Keep in mind that when assembling your assortment that weight and size is always an issue. So think light and small when making your final selection.

As I mentioned above the objective of this list is to keep you safe, comfortable and injury free and most important of all, to keep you on the road.

 Additional info on starting a weight loss exercise program

• Walking For Weight Loss And Fitness – Other walking accessories you might like are a pedometer to keep track of the distance you have walked or a calorie burn counter to measure just how effective your walking for weight loss program is. …