We can’t stress enough how important cool, comfortable footwear is. While we all want something aesthetically pleasing, durable, and not too expensive, nothing will slow down your groove more than sore, blistered feet caused by stiff, uncomfortable shoes.
Fests tend to be dirty and dusty (anyone who attended Lockn’ 2016 knows that story). If you throw some rain into the mix (Lockn’ 2015, anyone?), the mess and fun get real!
While many a Wook or two will go the entire fest duration barefoot, those whose naked feet rarely ever touch the earth will want the protection of wearing shoes. And while some claim that the only way to get in touch with Mother Earth and feel the energy of this planet, we do not advise going barefoot at a music festival.
What to wear then… Many wear Teva and Keen open-toed shoes, especially in the warmer months. Sneaker and Vans are never in short supply. For more support and protection not only when in front of a stage but when at the campsite, bicycling and hiking during festivals, a good lightweight hiking shoe will be more versatile.
Some of the top-rated mens hiking boots include:
- Merrell Men’s Moab Ventilator Hiking Shoe
- Adidas Men’s Outdoor AX 2 Hiking Shoe
- Columbia Men’s North Plains Waterproof Trail Shoe
- KEEN Men’s Targhee II Hiking Shoe
Top-rated women’s hiking boots:
- Merrell Women’s Moab Ventilator Hiking Shoe
- Adidas AX 2 Women’s Hiking Shoes
- KEEN Women’s Targhee II Waterproof Trail Shoe
- Columbia Women’s Redmond Waterproof Trail Shoe
- The North Face Hedgehog Fastpack GTX
- Ahnu Women’s Sugarpine Air Mesh Hiking Shoe
Have new shoes to sport at a fest? Break them in before you go; even the best shoes need to be broken in before you do three to four days and 24-plus hours of dancing in them.
And Think Dry. At night keep them under cover in case it rains, or even in a storage container/box to keep the morning dew off of them. Wet shoes will only attract dirt and breathe less.
When your dogs are happy, it’s easy to let your freak fly.