Adidas Trainers – The Ultimate Hiking Shoe
Packing for a 2 day trek in the Jungle is always going to be a tricky experience, what to wear? What to pack? What to leave behind? Having never been on a trek before it made these choices even harder.
Therefore, using no research or logic whatsoever I decide to take the following: 1 small bottle of water, 1 can of Redbull, a rain coat, swimming trunks, and a 4 pack of Oreo biscuits (with the cream filling). For my jungle attire I decide upon a Ben Sherman T-shirt (purple), a pair of standard shorts (green), and my black Adidas shoes (black). That is everything I took with me.
When I got picked up by the tour bus in the morning I knew straight away I had a made a terrible mistake. Every other trekker had large backpacks which after serious questioning I found out contained items such as: sleeping bags, blow up pillows (French puffs), wash bags, spare changes of clothes, large amounts of water, pen knives, torches, and towels. At least I knew that if anyone ran out of Oreo’s I would become the saviour of the expedition.
As for clothing the general look of the jungle adventurers were combat trousers, long sleeve tops, and proper hiking boots. I started to sweat and perhaps I trumped a couple of times due to nervousness.
For the hike through (or more like ‘up’) the jungle to the mountain tribe only myself, a young French couple, and our Thai guide were partaking. Having French companions only brought out my English pride (and traditional disliking of the Frogs). The immense desire to prove that despite my horrendous packing and clothing choices I would show why we as a nation managed to explore (and conquer) half the world to become the largest empire in history. This trek was for England and it’s heroes such as Churchill, Nelson, Walter-Raleigh, Montgomery, and Wellington and our proud nation of explorers!
I once read a biography about a guy who became an SAS soldier, one of the entrance tests was a long hike through the jungle. The SAS soldier in question was one of the best, and managed to be hiking at all times at arms length from their indigenous guide, only stopping when he stopped, and only drinking when he drank. This is what I accomplished for the whole of the trek. It wasn’t about fun or enjoying myself, it was about beating the French all the way to the top.
My lack of items in my Nike satchel became a blessing, while the French couple were busy sweating, swapping bags, giving items to the guide to carry, I was marching on regardless not really breaking a sweat. I even offered to carry the French girls bag for her to rub my triumph in even further. In part I was being gentlemanly, but it was mainly because she was pretty hot.
Towards the end when I started to get a little bit tired I’d put on my ipod and pump the 1812 overture through the headphones (the 1812 is actually about the withdrawal of Napoleons French army from Russia, but it’s close enough). With cannons blasting and horns blowing all weariness left me, and I proudly marched on (eventually listening to it about 20 times).
We eventually reached the jungle tribe village up in the mountains (which was amazing), and enjoyed a meal with one of the family’s of the tribe. It was here that I discovered that the French have no sense of humour or sarcasm. The French girl asked the family if all the huts in the village contained similar kitchens (small fires on top of a sand surface, used to heat up kettles and woks). I replied (in jest) that I thought I saw one hut with an ikea kitchen down the path. This was met with a dumbfounded look and an awful minute of silence where only if you listened hard enough you could actually hear part of me dying inside.
After a night of monsoon like rain, and having to sleep under a borrowed rug from a tribesman we trekked back down the mountain to the white water rafting area (the river). This was one of the coolest things I’ve done ever, and one of the most knackering. Rowing alongside an Italian (who joined us just for the rafting) at the front of our boat (which I christened (in my head) ‘HMS History’), the French sitting behind (which seemed appropriate), and our Thai captain (Ping Pong) with his first mate (Wing Wang) at the rear we scrambled hopelessly down the river.
The experience was amazing, as well as quite scary in places. At one point the HMS History was getting pulled under by a huge waterfall rapid and we had to manically paddle (for our lives) for what seemed like minutes until we managed to get out of the swell. After this struggle with nature the French guy actually admitted that he pissed himself – typical.
Throughout the whole trip my black Adidas trainers had performed far and above expectations. They kept me stable down the slippery muddy (75 degree) slopes of the jungle tracks, enabled me to be as agile as a cat while leaping from rock to rock over fast flowing (killer) rivers, and helped me climb up (almost vertical in places) mountain trails and river banks. They did there job without even given me a blister and are now sitting proudly in my room as good as new after a well deserved rinse under the shower.
This goes to show that the people who go hiking and spend large amounts of money on walking boots, backpacks, hiking equipment only really need a nice pair of Adidas shoes (black) and a box of Oreo’s.
Tags: Adidas, hiking shoe, Nike Satchel, Thailand, Travel
