Work Experience

I have just finished a week of work experience at Hi-Tec in the marketing department.  I was given the opportunity to undertake various projects in which have not only tested my ability and taught me about what it takes to be the best, but also about sports I had little knowledge of.

Researching the competition relating to Outdoor Footwear in the UK allowed me to understand price points in comparison to Hi-Tec (which not only appeared to be the most reasonable, but varied) was intriguing and useful. However, I particularly enjoyed researching the relatively new phenomenon, Trail Running, which is becoming increasingly popular and mainstream. 

Trail Running differs immensely from road or track running, since it occurs on hiking trails and diverse terrain. Mud, gravel, steep inclines and declines are expected on rough or soft surfaces in areas such as mountains, deserts and forests. Therefore, specialist equipment is compulsory in order to eradicate potential injuries which may ensue in these conditions, and to help ensure you have the best run possible reaching optimum speed with paramount stability.

Hi-Tec’s s/s 2011 collection for Trail Running, V-Lite Infinity, delivers on Function, Comfort, Lightweight, and Innovation, collaborating all the essential needs of a Trail Runner.  Stability is key when running and V-Lite Infinity guarantees that the shape is more biomechanically functional and comfortable, with a more efficient gait cycle in order to help reduce pronation and injury. The ion-mask keeps your footwear dryer, lighter and cleaner along with providing breathability to ensure a comfortable run and longevity of the product.

Running on varied terrains means that it is essential for the sole to grip well and be durable, which is exactly what the Vibram Sole provides. They do not seem to clog up with mud therefore ensuring longevity, and the central rubber is a sticky Vibram for improved wet surface traction.

Along with the technical functions, V-Lite Infinity is aesthetically pleasing and shoes come in an assortment of colours.  The comprehensive and extensive research I have compiled allows me to suggest that the V-Lite Infinity range contains the perfect Trail Running shoe, for all trail runners.

But, unfortunately you will have to wait until early next year to grab a pair for yourself! However, I can assure you that they will be well worth the wait.


Amy Foster-Taylor

Walking to Work for Body, Mind and the Environment

Everyone is being encouraged to do it. Walking to work is free, easy to get into and for most able-bodied people, not a particularly difficult challenge. So the question that needs asking is - why are so many people still so averse to doing it more regularly?

Clearly, accusations of laziness might be the first approach to those that can't take their hands of their steering wheel and the keys out of the ignition. However, fairness is always important in such arguments and many people may actually want to start walking to work but find that other reasons prevent walking to walk being their first choice.

For these 'driving pedestrians', walking to work is clearly not just a choice based on how far their homes are to their place of work. Feeling safe in areas that need to be walked through, street cleanliness and ironically, the ability to avoid traffic and cross roads easily all contribute to the decision on whether walking to work is a good idea. In big cities, noise and pollution is also a concern - ‘'driver pedestrians' can either create pollution whilst being protected from it in their air conditioned vehicles, or, prevent contributing to the pollution whilst having to breathe it in.

For those pedestrians wanting to get into walking to work, there is a support charity called Living Streets which campaigns for pedestrian rights, as well as encouraging people to walk to work through their campaign Walking Works. Living Streets gives advice for those walking to work on how to complain about excessive littering, poor pavements and areas where traffic and pedestrians compete for rights of way.

The Walking Works campaign is specifically targeted at office workers and held a very successful Walk to Work Week intended to highlight its benefits to health, body and mind and generate publicity. And of course, let's not forget the environmental impact of walking to walk - there isn't one. Walking to walk is healthy, green and sometimes, just sometimes, an enjoyable experience that more people should try.

Hiking Weather: What's Happened To The UK Summer?

As a brand that's passionate about hiking, each year we anticipate a warm and pleasant summer in the UK and quite often we are left feeling rather disappointed. The hiking weather reports sound optimistic for the months leading up to summer and we often start to feel positive that this summer could be good for the UK.  However, with the 2010 summer nearing to a close already, we find ourselves questioning when we will actually have some decent hiking weather here in the UK.

The optimum hiking weather is not about beating hot sun scorching your skin; it's quite simply a pleasant, warm and dry day. Hiking in hot weather is not a good idea as people can become dehydrated and the heat means our bodies have to work harder to be able to climb that hill or mountain. All the UK really wants is a month or two of great sunny weather that's perfect for hikers, but it seems 2010 is a wash-out already.

June started off well - there were some glorious sunny days during this month and then by the time July and August came, we did wonder where the pleasant weather had gone. For hikers, good hiking weather is essential and unless the rest of August holds some sunshine surprises, it's looking like we are on track for another wet few weeks leading us into autumn.

We can't predict the weather and for hikers it's even harder. Hikers plan their expeditions a good few weeks in advance and it really comes down to just 'hoping' that there won't be any bad weather that they have to contend with. Kitting yourself out with the right clothing helps, but most people would agree that a few weeks of really good hiking weather is just what the UK needs this year.  Still, we can't count on it and more hikers are feeling like they should abandon their hiking trips this year because of the poor weather we have had so far. Our advice is to stay positive and head on out in your ion-mask boots; then you'll be prepared for any sort of hiking weather!

Green Hikers Campaign - Advice for Himalayan Hikers

It's an increasingly carbon sensitive world out there and any methods that hikers can employ to help reduce their carbon footprint is helpful to the environment and also to hikers with a conscience.

The Green Hiking Campaign may seem like a strange concept, given that most hiking enthusiasts tend not to emit carbon dioxide in lorry-loads when practicing their favoured activity. But one question does need answering - how do hikers get to the areas in which they want to go hiking in the first place?

Some ultra dedicated green hiking professionals will of course walk there - in fact, there is no beginning or end for these people - hiking is a way of life and they'll walk everywhere. But not all hiking fanatics are quite so dedicated - and it's understandable why.

Travel, along with littering and general disrespect for the environment is one reason why the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has launched its Green Hikers Campaign to help raise awareness about environmental issues in the Himalayan region. In association with the Indian Government's Tourism Ministry, the Green Hikers Campaign has been set up to ensure that dangerously fragile ecosystems in the Himalayas are protected by encouraging tour operators and their passengers to decrease their impact on the local environment.

With the slogan "nature leaves a mark on you, don't leave one behind", the campaign features a Green Hiker Animation Film which was released at the launch again reinforcing the aims of protecting the Himalayan environment.

To find out more or to follow the campaign, hikers can sign up for updates at the WWF Website, or read some of the comments that green hikers have already left about the benefits to the campaign. Whilst the Green Hiker Campaign is focussed on the Himalayas and tourism operating in India and the regions, many of the basic principles of green hiking can be translated to any hiker in any location across the world.

Hiking In The Lake District In Your Flipflops

A recent report published in the Westmorland Gazette has highlighted the bizarre and sometimes downright dangerous choices that some walkers hiking in the Lake District have been making when choosing which footwear to use. A spokesperson from The North West Air Ambulance reported incidents of inexperienced walkers wearing luxurious soft sheepskin lined leisure footwear, flipflops and other shoes deemed highly 'inappropriate' for these most challenging of fells.

This year, mountain rescue teams have already attended up to 38 incidents, 12% of the total, in which hikers were found to be wearing poor footwear.

The importance of choosing the correct boots for hiking in the Lake District is without doubt something that shouldn't be treated lightly. There is plenty of advice available for ensuring adequate protection for your feet, ankles, knee and leg muscles and there really is little excuse for being ill-prepared.

Some of the most common injuries seen by walkers hiking in the Lake District are also seen in other areas of the country, where bad footwear decisions have meant a lot of pain for the wearers, and sometimes for some considerable time after the initial problem began. Here are some of the most common problems walkers can face, even with the best hiking boots:

Straining the thigh and knee - This sort of injury can occur when hiking up or down hillsides where greater strain and pressure is placed on these areas. There are however hiking techniques which can be used to limit this sort of damage.

Painful, unexpected ankle sprains - This is perhaps one of the most common walking injuries, especially when hiking in the Lake District - tough climbs and scree slopes formed from loose fragmented rock can cause the ankle to roll outwards and cause the injury. Ankle sprains can be avoided by ensuring good quality hiking boots are worn with adequate ankle protection - it's fairly obvious that flipflops really won't prevent ankle sprains.

Dreaded blisters - All walkers will at some point get blisters. They occur for various reasons, most notably because of repeated pressure on an area of skin where moisture is unable to escape. The most preventable measure to avoid getting blisters is to ensure your hiking boots fit snugly and that appropriate socks are worn with them. Always carry First Aid items that can help with blisters, such as plasters and specialist blister creams.

Of course, hiking in the Lake District in flipflops is never going to do anybody any favours, and not only can this sort of behaviour put the wearers health and sometimes lives at risk, it also puts greater pressure on the mountain rescue services and air ambulance teams that are called out to hikers who've been caught out by bad and irresponsible decisions.

Always get advice about the best kind of hiking boots to wear, make sure you have a fitting session from an expert or specialist supplier and if you’re intending to go hiking in the Lake District, make sure you share this advice with anyone you see with a map of Helvellyn in one hand and a pair of flipflops in the other.