why is hiking being presented as this rich person sport aesthetic activity now? It's all I see on my social media (because I interact with hiking content and this matches the theme). I hike too but my gear is second hand or from just decathlon I'm sorry but hiking influencers???? And they present 5 separate pairs of hiking shoes all for the same terrain. Excuse me😩 why?? Why?? No you do NOT need solomons and patagonia and cotopaxi and the north face and osprey and columbia and arcteryx to enjoy the outdoors. Stop!!!! Let me deinfluence you.
most people, most hikers are not!!! dressed in thousands of euros when going outside. Believe me. Sure, a good pair of hiking boots/shoes is important. But if you go on one terrain most of the time, you absolutely do not need five pairs for one terrain. I have one pair of hiking boots from forclaz, and it's an investment. The pair is waterproof, has good grip and amazing foot support. It was 97 euros, but I bought it from the store straight up, because I wanted it to be fit for my own foot and not somebody else's, because shoes tend to pick up one's foot shape in use. My hiking backpack has no brand (???), I got it for 12 euros on vinted. It's beautiful and perfect and comfortable. I don't have hiking pants, I just wear the ones I have already and it's comfortable. I just wear a cap I had for a long time now from a car convention from when I was sixteen. Sunglasses are not necessary and you do not need the oakley sunglasses. Any comfortable pair will do, if you insist on wearing sunglasses. You do you, but a regular pair will do the job. I also find cotton and breathable natural fabrics to be the best wear for when I hike. I have my grandma's (!!!) old sleeping bag from when she was a teenager. Nothing wrong with it, does the job. Also don't let these videos stop you from going out, because the Dolomites are not the only destination. Get on a bus or a train and find a trail near you. I promise it will be just as much fun and if you're moving your body out in nature, I promise it won't complain if you move on a local trail and not in the Dolomites. It's beautiful, yes, but a hobby can't be invalid because you don't do it high-profile. It's unnecessary, and let's stop normalising it. Hike for yourself, for your health, for your enjoyment, for your love for nature. But not for validation, or because it's starting to look like everyone's doing it, or because you just want to be part of the elite. Trust me, you're part of something much more important than the elite if you hike for yourself and for your love for nature.
please please please consider what you buy and why!!! So much crap already exists and overcrowds this planet, if you love it so much that you hike, please look out for it too.