When it comes to hiking, Michael Robbins is all about the experience. "You can see and hear a lot in just one mile of hiking in a mature deciduous forest" he says, "or just one mile of rocky switchbacks up the face of a serious mountain". The way Robbins sees it, someone who is trying to maximise mileage during a day hike is missing the point. Part of enjoying the hiking experience is having the right clothes and equipment. So in THE HIKING COMPANION, Robbins devotes an entire chapter to the essential equipment a hiker needs, even for a day hike. But he really emphasises good shoes and comfortable socks. After all, on the hiking trail your feet are doing all the work. THE HIKING COMPANION is the perfect combination of hardcore, down-to-earth, expert advice, with the exciting stories of the once-in-a-lifetime experiences that await you in the wild.