[pct-l] Trail Running Shoes

[montypct]

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

Hi Ned

To keep it simple?
I'm pretty sure it's the weight of the body over a long hiking day that 
spreads the feet out.

That would be some heavy advise otherwise if it could change the shape of 
feet..

I take it you aren't going to give trail runners a try.  :)
A lot of us have tried both.

monty


Lightweight Backpacking
The fun goes up when the weight goes down
-Warner Springs Monty

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>
To: "Ikem Freeman" <ikem.freeman at gmail.com>; <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 8:52 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail Running Shoes


> 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.
>
>
> 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
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>  Pct-l mailing list
>>> Pct-l at backcountry.net
>>> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>>>
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