Hiking shoes - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

I was wondering that if you were planning to thru hike,and were going to try and hike it with just one pair of shoes,what would your choice be.

old school

#2

Montrail Vitesse are nice. Of course with shoes you would need to replace them at the half way mark on a thru hike. Then again, they are half the price of boots. Shoes weigh less and breathe better too.

guru

#3

I agree with guru. I used Brooks Trail runners for my 2005 hike and made it thru on two pairs. Most of the hikers I hiked with were also using one brand or another of trail shoes.

Dad’s Grin

#4

I don’t know is there are any single pair of shoes that could make a Thru-Hike, But I do know the there are Hiking boots that can, I put on a total of just over 3,000 mile on a single pair of ASOLO TPS 520 GTXGORE-TEX Hiking Boots, These are the Ultimate Solid Hiking Boot, and more then likly one the most compfortable boot you will ever own. a wonderful investment for $200. Great ankle support, you can not go wrong.

Thermo

#5

New Balance 806

swift

#6

new balance 80-whatever is available that year What are we up to 808?? But that is because they are basically the only trail runners I can find that feel right and they some in wide sizes which is important for me.

tribes

#7

I finished a thru-hike this year in one pair of boots. They were worn out by the end but I had already worn them for 3 years before I began the hike. So, if I put my 2 cents in, I’d go with Zamberlan bootz. You can buy them through REI and one other place in CO. They are well worth the investment ($240). I’m still wearing them today. You’ll need to break them in ahead of time. Blue light, my wife, wore trail runners and went through several pair but liked hiking in them.

Bootz

#8

Heavy leather boots might make it through an entire hike - but they are heavy and the break in time can be long. Plus when leather boots get wet, as they will on the AT, they take forever to dry and may dry in a way that can cause problems. I used to wear Sundowners, which lasted me about 1200 miles each pair, until I started having problems with them drying in such a way that they cut me off at the ankles - very painful. I wore a pair of leather Pivettas on my first AT hike that lasted the whole way - but I had blisters for the first two months, then tendonitis, then when the leather wore out inside the boot because of constant rain, I ended up with new blisters for the last month or so.

Running shoes don’t last as long, but they are lighter and more comfortable than boots, if your pack weight is low and you have strong ankles. I turned my ankle the first day on the PCT and still have problems with it. But I would wear trail runners again. They do need to be replaced every 500-700 miles though as they lose all support after a while, even if they don’t show a lot of bad wear. Actually we bought some Solomons on the PCT that started to fall apart in a week - so YMMV. My husband likes Lowas - which have more support than running shoes but are still pretty lightweight. I wear those in rocky areas (i.e. PA) but running shoes for dayhikes abd desert hiking.

Ginny

#9

For what it’s worth I’ve had good luck with Cabelas goretex boots. Just about 3 lbs. and around $80. They are a nice cross between running shoes and heavy leather boots that I used to use in the 70s. My current pair has about 500 miles on them with very little wear. A lot of my hiking is in Pa. and the Alps so they are great for support also.

ROADRUNNER

#10

Remember that a lot of boot and shoe companies will send you a free pair of footwear if the ones you have break down. “…but I’ve only had them two months…” I walked 1,200 miles on a free pair of Montrail Mesa Ventilators when my old pair broke down.

But if you only want one pair of shoes, boots are definitely the way to go. I’d highly recommend a pair of boots from Wal-Mart. I don’t remember the brand name right now, but a thru-hiker frined of mine bought these things for $20 and they held up great all the way through Vermont. Sounds crazy, I know, but they held together better than any high-end boot I’ve ever seen.

0101

#11

You will probably get many different answers to this question. Boots/Shoes seem to garner more attention than perhaps any other piece of equipment.

What works for me, may not work for you. So Ill give you some info, and let you choose your own boot. Go to a reputable footwear supplier. REI, Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, your local outdoor outfitters, etc…not Payless.

But lets go more in-depth.

You should look at the following before purchasing boots.

  1. Determine the kind of hiking you plan to be doing. Thru-hikers will need different boots than short section hikers. Thru-hikers normally would probably need a boot that is more durable, waterproof, and has a certain amt of insulation like Thinsulate or such, and has good ankle support. Section hikers usually like lighter weight, running type shoes, and normally pass on options like insulation and waterproofing because they wont be on the trail long enough to worry about problems associated with long term durability.

2.Many hikers mistakenly think that the boot size and shape determine whether blisters and other foot problems will arise. While that is a factor, pay close attention to what contacts your foot, vs the boot itself. Cotton socks are the worst culprits for causing blisters. Once a cotton sock gets damp with foot sweat, it turns into a chafing wet cloth that will literally rub your feet raw. Instead use synthetic socks, or better yet wool. Some people are allergic to wool or just dont like its “scratchy” feel, but I still stick to it that a wool sock will keep your feet blister-free when used properly. Avoid socks with lots of seams. Look for thick wool hiking socks such as those made by Timberland, Columbia or Asics.

  1. Keep your feet DRY!!! Dry feet are happy feet. Change your socks regularly, to a fresh clean dry pair each day. If you are having problems keeping your feet dry, use a foot powder to help.

  2. Purchase boots/shoes that are at least 1 size larger than you regularly wear to allow for swelling of the feet.

  3. When trying on a pair of boots,first put on the socks you have chosen, kick a shelf or chair or something in the store fairly hard, and see if your toes bang into the front of the boot. If they do, choose another boot. When going downhill on steep inclines, toe bang will kill your feet.

  4. Sit down, place your foot flat on the ground, and lift the heel up while keeping the ball of your foot on the ground. Your heel should not move up or down in the boot more than 1/2". The boot should follow your foot for the most part. If it doesnt, choose another boot. When hiking your foot will shift around inside the boot. Any movement more than 1/2" will cause a blister…not good.

  5. Shift you foot around in the boot all over. Look for any spots that rub, poke or pinch. It should feel fairly smooth inside the boot.

  6. Leave the boot on, and walk around the store with them on. Does the boot squeeze your instep, is the arch too high, too low?

  7. Once you choose your boot, BREAK IT IN. Wear it everyday for at least a couple of weeks. Walk in it, go for a short hike, run in it.

If you follow these suggestions, you should end up with a boot that will give you really good performance. I do the above with every hiking boot I buy, during all of my hikes, including the ones on the AT, Ive never had ONE SINGLE blister related to hiking…now those darn roller blades and snowboard shoes I had are a different story.

bryan

#12

Oh yeah,

One more thing.
Taking care of your feet. Before you go hiking go get a pedicure. Even you guys. Let the friendly folks at yer wifes nail salon get your feet into shape. Your feet will thank you later.

They can get rid of calluses, ingrown nails, fungus, etc…whatever you might have, and even trim that one nasty nail that keeps slicing through the bottom of your sleeping bag.:eek:

bryan

#13

Anyone given these a try?

http://www.coastlineadventures.com/ca1/adwear/bite.html

Prospector

#14

I saw a lot of hikers - maybe not the majority, but enough - wearing Merrells. Some had trail shoes, others had light-hiker boots (as I have now).

Kineo Kid

#15

I hiked a couple hundred miles in Bite sandles when my foot couldn’t fit in a shoe for a while…they were alright, but had no arch support. I have since logged a couple hundred miles in chacos and think they are MUCH better!

She-ra

#16

blisters, nasty socks, wet feet, heaviness, etc…

funk that. i wear sandals, chacos. that is to answer your question. they have vibram soles and world class support.

people i pass on trails are always very concerned for me, particularly weekenders. they always think that i am putting my toes in grave danger for stubbing. perhaps they have hiked in boots and noticed that they wapped their feet into mad rocks and sticks, and would assume that i would do the same. but i do not because my legs dont get fatigued and graceless lifting two to four pounds of boot over and over.

when i wear boots i fatigue fast. the wieght of the footwear makes a huge difference. someone just said that most section hikers wear running shoes and most thrus wear boots. this is wrong. most thrus wear running shoes and most section hikers wear boots since the section hikers can bear the fatigue for a short period of time where as thru hikers learn how important it is to be economical with wieght and energy. i have worked on the trail two seasons in CT and hands down most thrus wear running shoes or trail runners. very few in leather boots.

milo

#17

I used to wear boots, in fact I still have my pair I got over a year ago and they rock! The brand is Raichle, got them at REI for about $100. They’re awesome on rocks as long as it’s not slick.
Recently, I made the switch to trail runners. I got a pair of Merrells for about $110. Most comfortable shoes I’ve ever had. I’ll definitely use these for my thru in March. You are more prone to twist your ankle, but there are some excellent excersizes to build ankle strength. I fractured my ankle 6 years ago, and it’s never been the same. To strengthen it, stand on one foot and balance. Then fold your arms in, and close your eyes. Hold it for as long as you can. This is harder than it sounds. You’ll be amazed at the better stability, and overall balance it gives you. Five to ten minutes a day on each ankle and mine feel better than ever. This really helps when you start to get tired toward the end of a long hike and your steps become a little lazy.

Josh

#18

Old School - I don’t believe the world makes anything that’ll last a whole thruhike and still have tread on them. Sure you can wear them for 2000+ miles, but they’ll loose their toothy bite and you’ll fall,slip,slide more often.

All of my Lowa Hiking SHOES fell apart early, but they remained tread sticky until 600 miles…so, three pair got me to Katahdin (trailjournals.com/postcard in '04) with few falls (17), realitively speaking. I’d only fallen three times since the Approach Trail to 1700 miles…then I met Mt. Mooselauke in the Whites! What a descent. Make sure you get a shoe that’s the right shape. Most overlook this measurement, only a master shoe/boot fitter will know this. Get to a place that does the Montrail fitting system & or custom Superfeet insoles, even if it means a long drive. After having water, you’ll want to do anything to avoid blisters. I also like the Vasque Breeze low GTX. Whatever the brand, hike with a lighter load, and then use hiking shoes. You’ll be more nimble .

What ev Enjoy the journey -Postcard

postcard