Women's feet - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

ok. haven’t had much time lately to get out and try on a bunch of different trailrunners to find the best one for ME (feet are weird like that) on the AT.

so for all you lady thruhikers out there, what’s your favorite shoe?

to give an idea of “type” of foot i have… favorite running shoes have always been adidas… good fit, wide toe box. i lived in montrail boots for 2 yrs. still like them. currently my dayhikes have been in my wellworn adidas trailrunners w/ some superfeet inside. i definitely am looking for something more durable, gortexy… blah blah blah.

your favorites and opinions?

greenie

#2

Finished up my AT hike in these and have been using them ever since. They have come out with a newer version (Tempest II Lo) which I have not used, but the original is great! Since they’ve come out with another model, you might be able to find a good deal on the original if you search around on the internet. Sierra Trading Post has them for $30 (originally $100), but only in 2 sizes. These shoes have a wide toe-box, which is probably why they work well for me.

Almanac

#3

I tried several types of shoes until I got New Balance sneakers. I loved them and used two pair from Gorham, NH to Springer, GA (Southbound) on my thru-hike. They were lighter than boots and MUCH more comfy. My husband used New balance for his entire thru-hike. The toe box is wide enough. I actually hiked in a men’s shoe at one point because it was easier to find in a wider size in trail towns. Good luck!

Goosebump the snow princess

#4

I am an adidas girl myself too. We used them on our Pct hike and they worked out great. The trail response was awesome. I don’t think they make them anymore though. But,I love the new ones they have as well. I think I am starting with a pair of montrail shoes … but will switch to sneaks after the Smokies…

yappy

#5

do you think the adidas are strong enough to hold up on the AT? i do love them for general stuff but i imagine they would wear out very quickly. i’m wondering what the trail equivalent is. i like the flexibility of the trailrunner… but i loved having gortex on my montrail boots during snow and rain. anybody tried the montrail trailrunners?

greenie

#6

I love my Merrell Chameleon Lows. They are great for hiking and feel wonderful on my feet. They also have a Goretex version.

Danielle

#7

I used to be a loyal New Balance wearer until they started screwing with their good shoes!! This year on the CDT, I wore Saucony Grid Aura TR 5. Very similar to NB of a couple years ago. GREAT tread, the toe piece doesn’t peel back, comfortable, dry fast. And they’re only $45.

Also, I wear a women’s size 10 at home, but I use MEN’S size 10 when I hike. That’s about 1.5 sizes bigger than my “regular” size. I find that the extra room — especially in the toe box — allows my feet to breathe and prevents blisters.

I replace the insoles with Spenco hiker/casual insoles ($19) and wear one pair of Wigwam Ultimax liner socks. I use this system even when hiking in snow. It works. I never get blisters, and my feet are supported well by the running shoes.

You DO have to replace running shoes often. Don’t wait until the bottom tread is worn off. The inside support will decline long before the outer tread shows wear. I try to replace my shoes every 500-600 miles.

Be kind to your feet.

yogi

yogi

#8

After thru-hiking in LL Bean Cresta Hiker leather boots in 02 I made the switch this spring to these shoes. I really love them. They are the most comfortable pair of shoes I can ever remember putting on MY feet. Obviously everyone’s feet are SO different, but I knew within 20 mins in the store these were it. I have backpacked all summer in them, from GA last April to all over the Northeast (VT, NH and ME) this summer and fall. I was told at the store in ME where I bought them an employee had thru-hiked in them in 03, so I knew they would hold up. The best part of them, besides comfort, is how sticky the soles are. I just did a little research on them two nights ago (I am hedging my bets and will probably buy another pair in case they change or discontinue them) and found out why their so good on rock-they’re made with the same sole as many of the 5.10 rock climbing shoes. I can walk straight up and down rocky trail here in Maine and NH and not slip, something I can’t say for any other pair of hiking boots/shoes I’ve ever had. I bought the Gore-Tex version, but probably wouldn’t spend the extra $30 again for that. There were sidelined reviewed in Backpacker earlier this summer in their “lightening up” article.

Bluebearee

#9

My favorite was the Technica vortex low cut for woman. I loved them…I picked them up in Hot Springs and was working on my second pair of them 1200 miles later. I used Superfeet with them and I think that’s why my feet didn’t expand sizes, as with a lot of people. Technica is more of a ski boot company but I think they make a good hiking shoe.

Tell it like it is

#10

I wore New Balance 806’s for 700+ miles of my AT hike this year. They were great, much much better than boots.

Rainbow

#11

I would suggest that you purchase a shoe with the vibram sole for PA and The Whites. As for the rest of the trail, I used Saucony trailrunners. Most of us go through 2 pairs of shoes/boots anyway, so why not buy 1 vibram-soled shoe and 1 trailrunner.

Ladybug

#12

They got little hands
and little eyes
and they walk around
tellin’ great bit lies
They got little noses
and tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
on their nasty little feet…

old&in the way

#13

I have a wide toe box also and I have to agree with Danielle on the Merrell Chameleons. They have a vibram sole and are flexible at the same time. You have to remember that practically no shoe will last you the whole trip (I went through 2 pairs). You can also get the Merrell’s in Gortex, but you will come to find out that on the trail that there is no such thing as waterproof and the Gortex just take longer to dry when they do get wet.

Dave and Miranda

#14

Hi Greenie, the adidas held up real well for me. I tried the NB but they weren’t nearly as comfy . I doubt any running show will hold up for the whole hike… I am with Yogi… got about 5-6oo miles out of them… I like the montrail boots I have too… I hear thier shoes work out well also. The adidas these days have some pretty beefy, sticky treads on them too… see ya out there !

yappy

#15

The North Face XCR Goretex trail shoes were great for me. I had bought Montrail’s at Christmas, expecting to break them in and use them for my AT thru-hike, but I could never get them to “break in.” My first pair of North Face lasted about 1,000 miles and the second pair required no breaking in and got me to Katahdin. We hiked in a lot of snow, and several nights my shoes froze solid, but as long as I could get my foot in them they would thaw. I used Spenco cross-trainer insoles. My regular shoe size was a 7, my first pair of North Face were 8’s, and the second pair were
9 1/2. I’ve been back home almost four months and my foot is back to about a 7 1/2.

Double Nickels