Winter Gear Vs. Weight

imported
#21

Also watch your layering when it’s hard going and dress down when warm. Most days in the snow we had just t-shirts and windpants with undies on. Warm layer on the legs and even though your hands got a little stiff your sweat evaporated immediately from your shirt. Stop, add a layer, go, peel one. Watch your temp as you can miss running on the edge like this and get chilled our worse. I can tell when i’ve had to much. My fingers quit moving even in gloves and I just can’t stay quite warm under load. By the end of the day you’ve burned all your energy off and need some dinner, lots-o-fat, to stay warm all night…unless you screwed up and have the wrong # bag. Lived and learned.

Bushwhack

#22

Sweeper and Bushwack: Thanks for the advise.
Would you break in a 2nd pair of boots to use when the first pair expires? Do your feet lengthen during such a long hike? If so, would you get a 2nd pair of boots a half size or full size larger than your usual boots to compensate for any lengthening of feet?

Incidently Sweeper, I have a pair of 535s with about 100 miles on them. So, I’m set with boots to get started.

I have a 15 degree bag. Is that sufficient for a mid March start from Springer?

ALBAR

#23

Albar, if it were up to me, I would forego getting a second pair of boots. Although it can be a pain to buy boots or sneakers on the trail, I still think it’s preferable to gambling. Some feet expand others don’t. How should anyone but maybe yourself know how your feet are gonna look after 2000+ miles? I did not know what my feet would look like. They did not grow/collapse at all. So there you have it.

It will take maybe a good zero day in a trail town with an outfitter, a good wad of cash and several hours walking around in the shop, but you’ll find the right size shoe when you need it, and that’s important. I would recommend a running shoe, very little break in time, and easier to get a good pair on the go. Maybe one pair of supplemental sneakers will be all you need if you use your 535s to the max. How do you like em? What I did was bounce some nikwax to treat them every 1-2 weeks. This increased the life I believe. Love your boots, they’ll love you back.

About the sleeping bag, right off, let me state that my quick reaction would be: yes, 15 deg. should suffice for mid-march. But not all bags are created equal, what make and model may I ask? I have a hunch next spring will be killer cold since this winter has been unseasonably warm and these things usually follow in trends. But 1-1.5 monthes of cold should be all you’ll experince. Maybe a silk liner would be a good investment…

Sweeper

#24

Annnd on the other side of the tarnished coin; both my feet and my wifes went up and out a full size, out fitters have nothing in wide sizes-I spent a full day in Hanover going from store to store and finnaly ended up buying boots, my third pair, a size to large just to get the width. If you have a light pack go with Sweeper’s idea. If you have a load over thirty pounds I’d stay with a boot for the support. I like to walk on the rocks which pounds my soles and a sneaker just won’t cut it for me. 535’s nice.

Bushwhack

#25

I owned a pair of 535’s for several years. I was quite happy with them until I slipped on a dusty trail, and injured my knee. After a year of not hiking, I started thinking more and more of lightening my pack and switching to running shoes. I’m sure my heavy pack and my heavy boots contributed to my fall. During my warm up hikes I was still using the boots some, but mainly running shoes. I hiked the whole trail in running shoes and when I returned, one of the first things I did was throw my old boots in the trash, not that they would have fit anyhow. (BTW, if you do have an injury I highly recommend that you talk to a doctor or physical therapist, I delayed that way too long.)

The cost wasn’t too bad, I used 4 pairs of shoes ranging in cost from $30 to $70, probably $210 total. I replaced them after a set distance, to replace the padding that wears out over time. None of the shoes actually fell apart. I was also able to size up, as my feet grew 1 size during the trip. (They have since decreased 1/2 a size after two years.)

If I were hiking in the snow, I would probably take a pair of lightweight fabric boots. The pair I own weigh 40 oz, about a pound heavier than running shoes. Running shoes with wool socks is enough if you don’t start too early.

As Bushwhack mentions, many people like the heavy sole of a hiking boot. Personally, nothing is more comfortable than a running shoe, rocks or not.

Ted (Waterfall 1999)

Ted

#26

Sweeper, Bushwack and Ted, thanks for the input. I like the 535s. They’re a bit heavier than I’d like, but I’d rather have the support for carrying a heavy load and going over rocks. Bouncing the nikwax is a good idea.

My bag is a 15 degree Mountain Hardwear, Tallac Stormlight, a down bag with a water-resistanat braeathable shell to protect the down. It was highly recommended by an AT thruhiker who used one on her thruhike and loved it. I also expect very cold weather to make up for the mild weather we have been having in the east.

ALBAR