This article is based on what I presented in the Beginner Backpack Workshop held by Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter, April 22, 2006. What are socks for? For your feet – socks provide cushion and warmth, and help wick moisture out. For your boots – socks block sweat and dead cells from getting into the boots which destruct the internal structure of the boots. 這篇文章是根據我在四月二十二日，由Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter 舉辦的Backpacking 入門講座的講稿寫成的。 穿襪子做啥？ 保護雙腳 – 襪子具有保暖性、提供緩衝，並且協助腳上濕氣蒸散。 保護登山鞋 – 避免汗水以及死細胞組織侵入登山鞋，造成破壞。 Read More…

This article is based on what I presented in the Beginner Backpack Workshop held by Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter, April 22, 2006. Boots are important. A good pair of boots helps you carry on through various terrains and conditions. Incompatible boots tire your feet and legs more easily, and they are more likely to cause blisters which turn your trip miserable. I like to say that finding a good pair of boots is like finding your life partner. It might sound overly dramatic, but if you’ve ever traveled with someone you hate, you would know that I am not exaggerating. Boots are something you shouldn’t buy on-line or through mail order. You need to try them on and fit them perfectly. It’s too risky to buy them without a test drive. A size chart is for reference ONLY. Vendor A’s size 8 might not be the same as Vendor B’s size 8. Especially nowadays, manufactures outsource their production, so even Vendor A’s size 8 sometimes might not match Vendor A’s size 8 made in another country. 這篇文章是根據我在四月二十二日，由Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter 舉辦的Backpacking 入門講座的講稿寫成的。 登山鞋相當重要。好的登山鞋幫助你走過不同形勢的山道，度過多變的天氣變化。穿著一雙不合適的登山鞋，不但雙腳雙足容易疲累，且也大大助長水泡生成的機會。 我常常說，找一雙好的登山鞋好比找人生伴侶。聽起來似乎很戲劇化，不過，如果你有和合不來的同伴，一同旅行的經驗，那難受的經驗，還真是差相彷彿。 極端不建議在網路上購買或是郵購登山鞋。你需要試穿，直到滿意為止。沒試穿就買鞋，太冒險了。更何況，鞋子的尺寸列表，真的只是參考用的，不能太認真相信。甲廠商的八號鞋，和乙廠商的八號鞋不一定一樣大。更何況現在眾家廠商，將鞋子的製作過程推向世界各地，以降低成本，搞不好甲廠商的八號鞋之間也不一定就一樣大。 Read More…