[pct-l] how fast do feet change

[Steel-Eye]

Good morning, All,

I totally agree with Geezer.  I also wear 10.5 D in a street shoe, but for
the trail I wear 12 or 12.5 4E.  That didn't change while I was hiking, but
I had booked quite a few training miles so the early-trip foot spread was in
the past.  I usually keep the laces quite loose, and rarely untie them for
removal.  On long downhill trails I sometimes tighten the laces to prevent
jamming my toes foreword, but with a wide toe-box the laces can be tighter
and still not squeeze my forefoot.

Just as Geezer describes, I started using a stop-knot about half way up the
lace pattern back in the days when I worked for the USFS.  I was wearing the
typical lace-to-the-toe boots, which are touted to be great because the toe
lacing could be left loose while the ankle and top lacing were snug.  That
works great .... for approximately 10 steps .... after which the lace
tension equalizes and the toe becomes too tight while the ankle becomes too
loose.  I put a stop-knot in the middle to prevent such silliness. The only
thing I did differently was to us something like a surgeon's knot, except I
did a double turn on the second half of the knot as well as the first half.
That knot holds well, and is much more easily untied when necessary.

Steel-Eye

^^^^^^^^^^  Join other hikers at:  http://www.aldhawest.org/  ^^^^^^^^^^


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <bharve at dslextreme.com>
To: <bharve at dslextreme.com>
Cc: "PCT-L" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2008 6:19 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] how fast do feet change


>
>
>>> Monty wrote:
>>>
>>> <You ask:
>>> Should I start the trail with should 1/2 size bigger,
>>> or wait until I'm busting out of my current runners?
>>> My answer is   No.
>>>
>>> Bigger shoes is right.................. but even
>>> bigger.
>>> I wear shoes 2 sizes bigger and big enough they ring
>>> like a bell when I shake them.>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> Scott Herriott wrote
>>>
>>> I completely agree.  In fact, I wear size 13 on-trail,
>>> 10.5 in civilian life.  Before I did this I was very
>>> prone to blistering, afterwards, hardly any.  Make
>>> sure
>>> to tie your shoe in what's referred to, I think, a
>>> "marathoner's knot".  Hard to describe...anyone wanna
>>> help out with that?
>>>
>>>
> Not familiar with the term 'marathoner's knot'.  However, to provide as
> much toe box room as a particular shoe affords and still avoid heel
> rubbing against heel counter, a knot in the lace can be used: Thread the
> lace ends loosely up through the first few crossings (typically two) and
> loosely through the holes above that crossing, then tie a firm square
> knot.  Above the square knot, lace remainder snugly and tie normally
> at top.  The square knot prevents lower part of lace from being tensioned,
> thus preventing  the toe box and toes from being compressed.  For extended
> descents, cinching lace ends very firmly above the square knot can cinch
> top of the shoe down against the foot bridge and keep foot from sliding
> forward and pressing toes against front of shoe.
> This approach isn't applicable on a an unmodified Salomon shoe because of
> it's slick lace points and slick single tug lace with cord lock.
>
> My street shoe size is also 10.5, D width.  I wore size 12, 4E width shoes
> through Section D and had no blisters.  Next pair size 12 D worn to
> Tuolumne, many toe blisters.  Next pair size 13 D worn to Castle Crags
> with fewer toe blisters.  Next pair size 13 D worn to White Pass,
> continuing toe blisters.  Final pair Montrail Hardrock 13 'wide' worn to
> Manning Park.  Wish I'd found Montrail Hardrocks sooner!  Would have
> gotten 4E instead of 'wide', if that had been an option.  It seems my feet
> are more prone to blistering on toes than elsewhere and that excess width
> is as important as oversize for me.
>
> geezer
>
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