LPT Request : How to walk to work efficiently

Submitted by erenyeagerhair t3_1217pii in LifeProTips

My walk to work takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes of walking. So altogether that's a little more than 3 hours per day walking. There's practically no sidewalks, so I end up walking in the street and grass mostly. I have a license, but I'm saving up for a used car. Until then, I have to walk or figure something else out. Since I have to walk long distances, what can I do to make myself more comfortable? What kind of shoes do I need, as well as other clothing like shorts and shirts? I need recommendations for what I should have on me, although I don't want much weight on. Let me know your thoughts

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ricardo9505 t1_jdkr8aw wrote

Get a bike. lighter the better like 6061 grade aluminum steel. Buy a used one. Trek, Specialized, Tomasso, Giant, Cannondale, all great reliable brands. I have a road bike but s hybrid would be easy for you. Skinny tires like 30cm x 700 but wider than road bikes. Mountain bikes suck for the road.

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erenyeagerhair OP t1_jdkri58 wrote

Where would you recommend buying/searching for bikes? Online?

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Spare_Passage_2424 t1_jdl7sjv wrote

Facebook marketplace, next door, you can also try asking for a used one on a local Facebook group. If you’re handy, you can even try buying a broken one and fixing it.

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Personal_Flow2994 t1_jdku1u8 wrote

A lightweight backpack with a rain jacket and spare clothes for work, socks, deodorant, etc. Lightweight shorts, t-shirt,, and good hiking boots with insoles are what I wear (I have about an hour of walking and an hour or so bus ride each way). A good pair of headphones for podcasts, audio books, or music. A reflective vest so cars can see me

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erenyeagerhair OP t1_jdkv2zb wrote

I wear boots now but they're not hiking boots. Would you say that hiking boots will be better than running shoes for this distance btw?

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Personal_Flow2994 t1_jdkx962 wrote

Depends if you are running or walking. Hiking boots for walking offer better ankle support where running shoes are lighter and more designed for jogging/running and takes foot impact better

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Em_Adespoton t1_jdkybxm wrote

I used to walk a similar distance to work. Things I always had with me:

good quality walking shoes (not runners or hikers, but real walking shoes) - they’re usually a bit more expensive but worth it. And avoid anything with a mixed sole with a logo on it - you’ll wear through the softer rubber of the logo and then it’ll start sucking up water into the shoe.

A comfortable backpack that can carry everything you need to carry

A brimmed hat (I found a full brimmed hat was usually better than a baseball cap)

A jacket appropriate for the place you live.

A bottle of water

A snack

Something high-vis. Doesn’t have to be a vest; an armband or something on your backpack is good enough.

Sunglasses. Get blue blockers for cloudy weather and polarized glasses for sunny weather. They’ll keep stuff from cars driving by out of your eyes. I found cycling glasses worked well.

And keep a change of clothes at work, just in case.

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Spare_Passage_2424 t1_jdl7w23 wrote

If you’re walking on the street, definitely get something hi vis. It’s very dangerous

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wompical t1_jdkqo99 wrote

Damn that is quite a long walk. I walk 35 mins to work each way and sometimes I feel it is quite long. Don't really have advice for you but I want to commend you for getting it done. Hopefully you will be able to save and get yourself a car soon.

Is there noone at work perhaps you could ride with? There is no public transit? I would try posting on kijiji/craiglist/facebook ect to see if their is someone who drives daily in the same or a similar direction that maybe could cut down your walking commute.

Best of luck. :)

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[deleted] t1_jdks3w7 wrote

Wow 3 hours is a really long walk to work. You are really committed. I would never be able to walk that much. If it helps maybe you can get a cheap bike or electric bike. This will help immensely.

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ben3137 t1_jdkqrnc wrote

Sports clothes/shoes

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Graybie t1_jdl9u2d wrote

I also suggest getting a bike, although you will probably have to scout a bit to find a safe route. If you are spending 100 minutes walking at a fast pace, that means you are probably walking about 5 miles. On a bike that should take only about 20-30 minutes. You might have to go a less direct route to stay off of busy streets, but even then it should be much faster than walking.

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keepthetips t1_jdkqae2 wrote

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Helpful-Astronomer t1_jdmm5bw wrote

Bike with helmet. You’ll get there in probably like 30 minutes. The time savings alone are worth it. Please also get some 20$ bike lights on Amazon if you are going to bike on the road. A rear red blinker ensures people see you

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