Shoe replacement?

imported
#1

  1. Are trail runners good enough for the Colorado Trail? I’m planning a total backpack weight of about 25 lbs… 12 lbs without food or water.

  2. I’ve never been on a 500 mile hike before but I see positive reviews of some trail runners that say “These shoes lasted me 300 miles or more!”. Can you make it through the CT on one pair of shoes? I was planning to take my year old shoes that probably already have 150 miles on them… they seem alright.

Do people usually need to replace shoes mid-hike? Sounds expensive and painful…

ben franklin

#2

With 150 miles already on them, it’ll probably be close. I use New Balance and I can always get 600, but 700 is pushing it. If you can afford it, start with a new pair and save the ones you have now for after the hike.

By the way, mine usually fail first by loosing all their “spring”–they go flat. That happens sometime in the first 3 or 400 miles. Then the uppers start failing (around 500), and finally the tread. In my experience, you can’t tell the life of a trail runner by looking at the bottom.

Trail runners should be excellent for a strong hiker with a 12 pound base load, especially if you’ve started training in them. You didn’t mention the time of your hike. Trail runners aren’t the greatest for kicking steps in snowfields before sun-hit.

Garlic

#3

Polyurethane (PU) midsole has been strongly recommended to me (for CT) by sales people in outdoor shoes. Better than EVA, supposedly, because it lasts longer and one pair with PU midsoles might handle an entire CT thru hike. Though not as bouncy as EVA when just purchased, denser PU may should retain support and cushion longer. But … you can’t tell EVA vs. PU by looking, you need info from the manufacturer or sales person. I believe you can get running and hiking shoes with PU midsoles and they’d be worth it.

On Track

#4

you can make trail runners last hundreds of miles longer by replacing the insoles with new gel versions… I have used em up to 1,000 miles this way, but no mo fo sho!

gingerbreadman

#5

I found Asics Gel Kahana 3 to be much more comfortable than Asics G.K. 2… & of course both are better than any New Balance, but you should break them in for a week or 2 in the city, even if they are coming in your drift/bounce box… here’s what you do… try on several different trail runners one on each foot to see which is the most comfortable for you & feels lightest… I am sure you will choose Asics over New Balance as I did, even if it costs a bit more. Jardine was the 1st to point out the superiority of Asics, but I didn’t believe it for a decade!

gingerbreadman

#6

I found Asics Gel Kahana 3 to be much more comfortable than Asics G.K. 2… & of course both are better than any New Balance, but you should break them in for a week or 2 in the city, even if they are coming in your drift/bounce box… here’s what you do… try on several different trail runners one on each foot to see which is the most comfortable for you & feels lightest… I am sure you will choose Asics over New Balance as I did, even if it costs a bit more. Jardine was the 1st to point out the superiority of Asics, but I didn’t believe it for a decade!

gingerbreadman

#7

Veteran ‘Lakewood’ (AT, CT, and currently doing the PCT) recommends (under favorite pieces of gear): “Close second: Brooks Cascadia 5 shoes. Great shoes. No blisters or foot pain and with almost 300 miles on them they still look new.”

tbrucia

#8

Montrail, Montrail, Montrail. The Wildwood Trail shoe is a great choice if you have a flat foot like me. Also, the Montrail inserts are oh so comfortable. Have put about 250 miles on the Wildwoods, and I particularly like the support. No turned ankles - yet. Will take them to Alaska this summer for a real shakedown. FWIW.

TrailGuy

#9

Trail runners are perfect for the CT! And to ditto Garlic’s dead-on comments, I just got about 600 quality miles out of my last pair of Salomon’s on the CDT. If need be, I certainly could have squeeked out another 100-200 miles. Throwing shoes away because they’re beat and throwing shoes away because they are non-functional are two totally different standards.

In a perfect world, I’d also buy a new pair for your thru and save the old ones for next summer. In a less than perfect world, use what you got. The shoes may be a bit haggard by the last 100 miles of your journey. But by then, you will be too. Just push on through and enjoy them as a well-earned badge of honor!

Matt

#10

How many miles a day do you plan on? If you are cruising at 25+ miles a day (barrelling through rocks and roots to set land records) the shoes will become brutalised. All trail runners (salamon, merrel, vasque, keen, montrail, golite) that I’ve used in the past fall apart (soles rip off) after 250 miles. Taking it slow, I imagine, would probably extend the life of the shoe.

Break in two pairs prior to starting.

hoof

#11

i got some gel insoles here here dont cost that much eithier they worked really well for me when i go on hikes or long walks/runs

james hiker

#12

wups that link didnt work here it is again

http://nuovahealth.co.uk/shop/massaging-gel-insoles/?

james hiker

#13

http://nuovahealth.co.uk/shop/massaging-gel-insoles/

i dont know actually what format on these forums to post the insoles link as maybe this or that…

or this

james hiker