Get out into nature! Whether alone or with the family, in the high mountains or in the lowlands - it's not only healthy, it also clears your head. Provided you have the right equipment. What to consider when it comes to hiking boots, how to pack your touring backpack correctly and what you can do to prevent blisters on your feet - inexpensive, useful, good? has the professional tips. ► More information about the show on our homepage: http://www.swr.de/marktcheck ► and on our Facebook page / marktcheck ► You can subscribe to our channel here: https://bit.ly/34ebysh ► You can find out more about our eco-checkers on Instagram: / oekochecker ► Comments are welcome - but please observe netiquette: http://www.swr.de/netiquette The be-all and end-all: the right shoe for the terrain High shaft and thick lining even in summer or barefoot shoes all year round: when it comes to footwear, every hiker has their own preferences. Nevertheless, there is a rule of thumb to always have a sure footing: the higher the mountain, the higher the shoe should be. The sole of mountain boots for high mountains is particularly stiff, and the shoe itself is heavy. Trekking boots are lighter. The stable, high shaft provides good support even when you are carrying a heavy backpack. Classic hiking boots, on the other hand, only have an ankle-high shaft that still protects against twisting your ankle. The lightest are multifunctional shoes - they are not too warm and offer optimal mobility on flat land. Is cheap the same as good? Hiking boots in the test Every type of shoe is available in a wide range of price categories - from cheap online bargains to high-priced branded boots from specialist retailers. Are the price differences justified? We're doing the test - with three multifunctional shoes. The competitors are: a more expensive shoe with a branded membrane from the manufacturer Lowa for 149.95 euros, a mid-range model with a membrane developed by the manufacturer itself from Jack Wolfskin for 94.95 euros - and a no-name model from the Internet for 43.88 euros. According to the manufacturer, every shoe is waterproof. The respective membrane is supposed to ensure this. In the more expensive versions, this is incorporated into the shoe like a half-sock. The principle behind it is always similar: the pores of the membrane are so small that water droplets cannot penetrate through. Only partially waterproof How well this works varies from model to model. The testing and research institute in Pirmasens only considers shoes to be waterproof if they do not let any water through even after three hours in damp conditions. The laboratory shows that only the expensive Lowa shoe can meet these strict requirements. In the other two, water penetrates through the membrane after a while. We show the shoes to a shoemaker. He notices further differences between the models: The cheap no-name shoe has a relatively soft sole structure. The two more expensive shoes, on the other hand, have different levels of reinforcement in the sole. For the shoe professional, this is a real sign of quality. Conclusion: If you are willing to pay a little more, you will also get more quality from our hiking shoes. Here's to a long shoe life! Care tips for hiking shoes After the hike, it's time to clean them - this extends their lifespan. Synthetic shoes are relatively easy to care for: simply brush the outside and then waterproof them with a spray. For shoes with a membrane, you should make sure that the spray is suitable for the material. Leather shoes are sealed with shoe wax, not leather grease, because otherwise the pores will become clogged. To dry, the insole should be removed and the shoe should be stuffed with newspaper. Important: Never dry hiking shoes on the heater! Leather shoes in particular quickly become brittle there. Well packed - the perfect hiking backpack and how to adjust it A hiking backpack is included on every tour for a change of clothes, provisions and a hiking map. Those who want to hike are spoiled for choice when it comes to the design: if you are planning a very long expedition, you can go for a trekking backpack, which has a volume of more than 70 liters. Touring backpacks are suitable for weekend trips, they have a volume of 40 to 50 liters. For a day trip, the classic hiking backpack with 25 to 30 liters is the right companion. If you prefer something even smaller, go for a daypack. Authors: Sebastian Schiller and Jochen Klöck Editors: Christine Kämper and Isabel Bublitz Image source: Colourbox #Hiking #Hikingshoes #Hikingbackpack