A short defence of the wrong shoes

Somewhere along the way the outdoors acquired an entry fee. Boots at three hundred, a shell at four, and a base layer discourse that could fill a small library.

Most of the walking most people do is on a marked trail within twenty minutes of a road. For that, the shoes you already own are the correct shoes. The barrier to a walk should be putting on a coat, not auditing your equipment.

• Take water if you will be out over an hour
• Tell someone the route if you will be out over three
• Everything after that is preference dressed as safety

The forest does not check.