so slightly over done, i apologize BUT:
i destroyed my feet in trailrunners last year. by 450 they had broken down everywhere and healed, only to begin breaking down again beneath my should’ve-been-awesome calluses. i had an incredible time and more than coped but what about sandals??? will the air flow make everything better? i’ve read lovely things about hiking in sandals but not much about sandals for people with obscenely sensitive feet. anybody? eh?
goozer
hey goozer -
I’ve thru-hiked the pct twice in sandals. I never had a blister on either trip. Sandals are great & can even be used in snow with neoprene socks. In very cold conditions i’ve used wetsuit booties that had a velcro strap to sinch the top tight (found them in the Kennedy Meadows hiker box!)
The one issue that you will have to deal with is too much ventilation. If you hike barefoot in the sandals all the time, you might experience some severe cracking especially in your heels after a few hundred miles. I avoid this problem by using socks unless the conditions are damp. I also carry a bit of Bag Balm which is the best protection that i’ve ever used for dry skin issues.
One tip about sandals - i’ve found that wearing the straps very loose works best for me. You might want to experiment with the strap tension to see what works for you.
In terms of brands, I’ve been using cheap (and light) Teva “Hurricane” sandals. You can get them online @ Campmor.com for as low as $19.99! I’ve averaged around 750 miles per pair on a number of thru-hikes. Other sandal hikers rave about Chaco’s, but they are much heavier and more expensive than the Teva’s
Happy Trails!
freebird
also check out keen sandals to hike in. i found them to be more comfortable than chacos after long days and i really liked the protection for the front of your toes!
pigpen
When wearing sandals without socks or going barefoot for that matter the feet dry out. Ussually, running sneakers are 30% lighter and dry out very quickly (my prefered hiking shoe). They protect the toes better and I find them more comfortable to walk in. However if you are a sandal lover at heart wearing a thin pair of nylon socks will help prevent your feet from drying out.
Good Luck
stealthblew
hey freebird!
thanks folks. i’m excited to try. no harm in experimentation for sure and i’m a sandal fan as it is. it might be nice not to have to worry about shoe size and swelling as much, too.
xoxo
goozer