Springtime is an ideal time to be going for long hikes. The birds will be singing, flowers will be blooming, and trees will be starting to recover their former greenness. What’s more, barring a few April showers, the heavy rains we saw in winter will be gone, allowing us to enjoy the countryside all the more.

If you’re thinking of getting into the wonderful world of walking, then there’s never been a better time. Walking is an activity that demands little expenditure to get into, and which will improve your health immeasurably if done regularly. If you’ve got a dog, then you should already be going for regular walks – so why not take them somewhere a little more picturesque.

Let’s run through a few items that’ll make country walking all the more easy.

Boots

A set of decent walking boots is an indispensable piece of equipment. Without them, your feet will be quickly reduced to blister-covered bundles of agony. What’s more, all of the sharp rocks, branches and moisture that your cheap trainers encounter will likely cause the latter to be torn to ribbons within just a few weeks.

You can avoid this pain by investing in a decent set of hiking boots. With their substantial rubber soles, these will make short work of any mud-puddles, branches and pebbles you encounter. They’ll support your feet, helping to prevent injury. And they’ll do so without falling to pieces, too.

When buying a boot like this, getting the right size is crucial. For this reason, you might consider going into a real shoe-shop rather than buying online. If you simply must buy online, be sure to find out what the returns policy of the place you’re buying from is.

Socks

Of course, it would be very silly indeed to invest in a pair of substantial boots and then pair them with a set of frilly, insubstantial socks. A good pair of socks will keep your feet warm. They’ll also form a cushion between your foot and the inside of the boot, helping to ensure that the former is fully supported. Finally, they’ll last for a while, too – the last thing you want, after all, is a draw full of cheap, thin socks that are festooned with holes from all that rubbing inside your boot.

Boot protector

Walking in the countryside will, by its very nature, cause dirt to become attached to your boots. This can present a problem when you return to your vehicle. Getting all of that mud out of your cushions can prove an expensive and time-consuming business.

Fortunately, there are ways of ensuring that your car boot is protected against your walking boots. Get a boot liner. If you want the best possible protection, get a boot liner that’s tailored to fit your model of boot. This will ensure a fit that’s as snug as possible, ensuring that dirt has no chance to penetrate. Hatchbag car boot protectors are all of this tailored, substantial variety. Whether you’re looking for a Mercedes, Volvo or BMW boot liner, they’ll have something to fit the bill.

If you’re going to take your dog out for a walk in the country, then a boot liner will be all the more useful. Dogs – and particularly hunting dogs like terriers – are fond of exploring the outside world by rummaging through it with their noses. With the help of a boot protector, you’ll be able to safeguard your car against the damage your dog might inadvertently inflict.

Heart-rate monitor

We live in an age where we’re inundated with data. This glut of ones and zeroes now even extends to the contents of our bodies, in the form of devices like the Fitbit. This nondescript wrist-strap will attach itself to your wrist, and from there monitor your heartrate, and stream that information to your mobile device.

This allows you to monitor just how strenuously you should be exercising, which in turn allows you to make your exercise more effective. Moreover, it’ll provide you with the impetus to progress, as you’ll be able to see the impact your exercise is having on your heart-rate over time.

Hiking poles

Finally, it’s worth touching on one of the more advanced pieces of equipment. If you’re looking to take things up a level, and hike for days on end over enormous distances, then you’ll be placing a great deal of stress upon your knees. With the help of hiking poles, you’ll be able to reduce this stress, and thereby extend the lifespan of your legs.