[pct-l] Trail Running Shoes

Fri Feb 20 22:52:54 CST 2009

Sofar,

Now there's another concept that doesn't fit with my experiences along the 
Crest and Divide and 45 years of carrying a heavy pack,
my feet haven't changed a half-size in all those years! But, then, I chose 
not to hike in 'runners.

So is it the advise that leads to the purchase of runners too big which 
allows the feet to spread both ways?

Mtnned
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ikem Freeman" <ikem.freeman at gmail.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 8:28 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail Running Shoes

> Great re-cap, Brian.
>
> One more very important point ... plan on the size of your foot to get 
> wider
> and longer as you go.
>
> Before I started my 08 hike, I wore size 10.5 USA. My first pair of
> Montrails were size 11.5, and my second were size 13 ( I got them at the
> 1,000 mile mark, near Bridgeport, CA.) and they fit really good.
> O. Ikem Sofar
> On Fri, Feb 20, 2009 at 8:20 PM, Brian Lewis <brianle8 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> As a side note, all of this stuff gets talked about again and again,
>> here, and on various forums, such as http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum,
>> or http://www.backcountryforum.com/ or
>> http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/  ...
>> As another side note, the only way to decide what's right for you is
>> to try out most likely solutions; I don't propose what works for me
>> personally as the one, true and universal solution, and suggest that
>> you be skeptical of anyone that does.
>>
>> The issue of goretex shoes is one that like so many things is a matter
>> of personal preference (and opinion ...).  The anti-goretex camp says
>> that they take longer to dry out, and in stream crossings, wet snow,
>> or continuous rain, they *will* get wet.   I'm in this camp, and per
>> previous, use goretex socks if I want the benefits of goretex.   I had
>> a pair of goretex shoes once that fairly quickly developed holes,
>> which IMO made them a bit like having a screen door on a submarine ...
>> water gets in, but has a harder time getting back out.    Of course
>> not everyone agrees with this viewpoint.
>>
>> Ken Powers already gave IMO a great response to the long list 'o
>> things-that-are-to-feared about trail runners.  My take:
>>
>> Slip and Falls - no
>>
>> Frostbite - not even close. Trail runners worked better in snow than I
>> had expected, you get used to it
>>
>> too many rocks in the shoes - depends on the shoe (or boot), and
>> whether you use gaiters, and whether your shoes develop holes ...
>> bottom line, not a big issue for me, and my shoes develop holes faster
>> than most.
>>
>> Plantar Fasciitis - I did have a mild case of this before starting on
>> the trail, but got custom orthodics.  Yes, a shoe with a firmer sole
>> might help here (?), but didn't turn out to be a problem for me.
>>
>> Achilles Tendonitis - no
>>
>> ripped or torn uppers- somewhat, but so what?  I used the infamous
>> Golite shoes, and they developed holes along the way, but I still got
>> 500+ miles per pair.
>>
>> sole separations/delaminations - Never had this, but I don't try to
>> get thousands of miles on a single pair (as some people do try to)
>>
>> Sprained/Strained Ankles/Tendons - no.  Some people feel that boots
>> are important to support the ankle, some (Jardine) feel that boots
>> enable a person to keep hiking despite weak ankles. Dunno, I guess my
>> ankles are fairly strong, never an issue for me.  As Ken said, keep
>> your base weight within reason, plus you will indeed really strengthen
>> all the associated muscles, etc over time.
>>
>> jammed toes from soft uppers - no.  Note that thru-hikers tend to get
>> shoes one or more sizes too big; with so much leeway, it's not likely
>> a problem, unless you're fearing something falling on top of the toe
>> area (?).  I never had a problem with that either.
>>
>> numerous blisters from too roomy a shoe - No.  Like many people (boots
>> or shoes), I had some blisters early on, and as someone else pointed
>> out, your feet toughen up as you walk.  At some point it feels like
>> you have hooves rather than feet, nothing seems to bother them.
>> I'm of the opinion that non-waterproof shoes, ones that breathe very
>> well (quick to get wet, but quick also to dry out) are ideal, less
>> prone to blisters than boots that create a closed-in moist
>> environment.  Of course, sandal advocates likely look at my shoes in
>> the same way that I look at boots!  :-)
>>
>> Bottom line is --- try it.   Find some local snow if you can, bring
>> spare socks, find some reasonably challenging terrain. Decide for
>> yourself if the lower weight and/or better ventilation make shoes the
>> right approach for you.
>>
>>
>> Brian Lewis / Gadget '08
>> http://postholer.com/brianle
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