Super Feet - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

H Does anyone know how long it takes for super feet to feel normal to your feet? I have worn them for three days now and they still feel odd. Not hurt but feel odd.

Brown Bear

#2

I have read several post on this forum from hikers who have had problems with Super Feet. Most people seem to have good things to say but a few were not happy. I have never used them so know very little about them. Are these off the rack products or do you have to get them custom made to your feet?

Big B

#3

Superfeet are off the shelf products. They seem to work for most people fine, but others have had real trouble with them (i.e. they caused more pain then they helped). Custom orthos are obviously the best route since it is made for your foot. But I would prefer to buy something off the shelf for convienence and price if the product would work for me.

I use a shoe sized up a full size due to my feet swelling/expanding while backpacking. The green superfeet insoles seem to work well for me. They do feel a little wierd when they are brand new, but after 30 miles, either I get use to them or they break in and feel fine.

If you feel some slight discomfort for the first day or 2, that is one thing. If you felt strong pain or the discomfort continued, I’d stop using them as they obviously aren’t helping your foot. Now they do have other products that might work better for one person over another; but then again, they might not work at all. You can only try them and see how they work for you.

Miner

#4

Superfeet “out of the box” may help, but if they are sized and shaped through a heat process by a knowledgeable backpacking outfitter they are definitely worth the $$$.

In my experience, and listening to the experiences of others, it takes a week or more of steady hiking to get used to Superfeet. Until then, they may seem to aggravate a problem. But give it time–chances are they will eventually prove to be a positive.

The worst thing you can do is switch to a Superfeet insole and then go out and immediately do big miles. Break them in gently. Your feet will thank you.

Skyline

#5

Don’t know anything about Superfeet; but if they are not working for you and you are having problems, you could try Cush’nStep; available over the net from the UK. I had such bad problems that I couldn’t even walk in the house let alone go hiking until I found these. I still have to think a lot about my feet but now I am back hiking and have done one 600 mile hike.

Kea

#6

superfeet didn’t work for me (even after the recommended 10 day trial period)…in fact, i found that personally my own “dogs” seemed to be strengthened and far more comfortable using a regular running shoe with no added support or cushioning…i tried all that “insole and arch stuff” in our thru in '03 and ended up with a type of tumor in my right foot…last year i took a little closer to “natural” approach and experienced zero problems…i’ve often wanted to ask BAREFOOT hikers how they fared on long hikes…anyone care to respond?

maw-ee

#7

maw-ee, I often hike barefoot. I actually spend a great deal of time barefoot from early spring to late fall so there is not a lot of “break-in” time before hitting the trail. It’s not difficult to walk barefoot over even some of the harshest terrain but it requires a certain attention to the ground around you for every single step which can be more taxing on the mind than the soles of ones feet! Once the feet are free to do the job they were designed for, their muscles strengthen and the sole toughens. It may be more accurate to say that the sole becomes “more resilient.” One becomes more adept at using sensory input from the feet to guide every step, feeling for sharp rocks or twigs and altering the foot’s landing with every step.

One thing you will surely notice is that your gait will change. It will HAVE to. When we walk in shoes, we often do so with little regard to the terrain. We plod along heel-to-toe. When barefoot though, you should actually land on the front, or balls, of the foot just a split second before the heel lands. This gives you the ability to quickly shift your weight to the heel or side of the foot should it first land on something sharp. Try changing your step in a hurry when your heel lands on something painful - OUCH!

In the same way that gear must be maintained, you need to take care of your feet. That should go without saying and is true if wearing shoes or not. Hiking barefoot tends to bring with it a different set of issues. Cuts and bruises can be common but I’ve never had any significant damage along those lines. Again, it comes back to being careful. The most common malady would have to be heel cracks. Everyone seems to have their own fix but I tend to file or sand the heels when they are dry and put lotion on them before bed. Don’t pick at them!!!

The last time I did any significant barefoot hiking was the Maryland portion of the AT between Harpers Ferry and Greenbrier State Park. Even with a 50 pound pack the trail was fairly easy to do. The worst part of the experience was a seemingly endless string of trail with 3" rocks. They are unavoidable and absolutely aggravating to step on. At times like that even I dropped back to wearing Tevas.

Hope that helps.

Shiraz-mataz