I can still vividly remember my first multi-day hike here in Norway. It was in a gorgeous area in the south of Norway called Setesdal Vesthei. I had slowly gathered some gear together. A few years before my move, I had bought a faded second-hand 55-liter backpack. I still had a pair of hiking shoes that I had received from my mother during high school, and I had a sleeping bag that was slightly too cold. But hey, who cared? I was alone, the weather was fantastic, and I was ecstatic about doing exactly what I had always dreamed of.
After spending the night in a DNT hut, it was time to make the 6-hour hike back. Time can be deceiving when you're in the mountains, so luckily, I had kept track of how much time the journey took me to ensure I would arrive at the bus stop on time to catch the bus that passes through the area only twice a day.
During the descent from 1200 to 200 meters, I suddenly felt mud splashing against my shins with each step. It turned out that my 10-year-old hiking shoe was falling apart. Or, the entire sole was disintegrating. Makeshiftly, I tied the sole of my shoe to the rest of it with a piece of cord and hurriedly descended the mountain. I made it on time to take the bus back to Kristiansand, but only just.
What I became acutely aware of then was how important good shoes are. That has stuck with me ever since. And that's why I want to give you some advice on what makes good shoes and how to distinguish the junk from the quality (because I've made the mistake of buying bad shoes a few times).
First of all, I'm not a fan of synthetic materials. There are certainly good synthetic shoes, but when it comes to maintenance and durability, leather shoes are simply in a different league. After a long search and trying at least 10 different brands and 40 different shoes, I treated myself to a pair of these Hanwag hiking boots I bought here in Norway.
I actually had to save up for them, because they don't come cheap. But considering how many kilometers I've already walked in them, they actually cost about the same as three pairs of synthetic shoes that would have been far gone by now. And on top of that, if you see how they're made you'll understand. They are just extremely sturdy shoes that eventually mold to your own feet. I wear them all year round, even to the office during wintertime to keep dry and warm from all the ice and slush. After which I shift to more appropriate office-proof footwear of course.
It does require good maintenance because moisture and temperature fluctuations demand a lot from leather. That's why I use Norrländsk Läderfett after every walk to keep the leather supple and waterproof. Moreover, it smells as if going below decks on an old wooden sailing boat. Or maybe even like strong Earl Grey tea. Absolutely delicious. But I'm aware opinions might differ on this matter.
Whatever durable hiking shoes you buy for your Norway adventure, make sure you break them in properly before you start roaming the Norwegian wilderness. And by breaking them in, I mean letting the shoes conform to your feet. This will prevent you from spending the rest of your vacation in Norway suffering from blisters. Expect to walk between 10 and 20 km before your shoes become completely comfortable. Just put them on when you go to the grocery shop or during your sunday stroll. You'll be doing yourself a massive favor. Believe me!