[pct-l] Shoes vs insoles

[Jeffrey Olson]

I started in the 60s with VAsque Whitneys - big, heavy boots, and had 
blisters non-stop.  I used lighter leather boots with vibram soles for a 
decade,.  In the mid-nineties I went to lighter fabric boots, and then 
the New Balance 800 series and never looked back.

I put in Ed Visturs (sp?) insoles and take out the nb insoles.  You heat 
these insoles up in the oven, put them in the shoe and stand in them a 
bit til they cool down and mold to your foot.   I haven't had a blister 
in 15 years.

I also wear very tight, thin socks and dirty girl gaitors.  If I'm 
sweating a lot I'll wear two pair of socks a day, rinsing one for manana...

Running shoes make hiking a whole different experience.

My guess is that if my base weight wasn't 13 pounds or so, and didn't 
wear running shoes, I wouldn't be hiking.

Jeff..

On 8/20/2011 5:19 PM, Charles Doersch wrote:
> I agree with Ed. I've been practicing this summer for the 2012 PCT thru hike
> season -- and I'm wearing running shoes that are extra sized (12 instead of
> 11) and extra wide (my feet actually move a bit left and right. That with a
> soft insole from the local drug store ... and lo! what a surprise my feet
> don't blister and hold up. I've had finicky feet for 30 years on trails, and
> have had to adjust constantly. But I took my cue from Yogi in her book and
> have been trying her way. Thin socks that are high enough not to catch
> pebbles in them ... Wow, what a pleasure.
>
> ~Charles&  the gang.
>
> On Sat, Aug 20, 2011 at 3:00 PM, Ed Jarrett<edjarrett at msn.com>  wrote:
>
>> Unless you are carrying a heavy load, just get a pair of running shoes that
>> fit well and use them.  Your feet will thank you.
>>
>> Ed Jarrett
>>
>>> From: don_paolozzi at hotmail.com
>>> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
>>> Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2011 11:29:28 -0700
>>> Subject: [pct-l] Shoes vs insoles
>>>
>>>
>>>   I've been trying on buying and returning shoes for the last two weeks
>> with no luck. I woke up this morning nearly hobbled after a day of wearing
>> the Patagonia Drifter A/C's and can't wait to take them back. I've tried the
>> North Face Hedgehog 3 both shoe and boot, and the Ultra 106, the Merrell
>> Chameleon's were comfortable but I nearly did the splits when walking on
>> slick surfaces and there was so much ankle roll I was afraid my leg would
>> snap then there was the Patagonia. My old North Face boots have a little
>> tread still on them but the insoles are so compacted it's like walking bare
>> foot on concrete I've tried the sure feet insoles and those also killed my
>> feet so I'm wondering if anybody has any good advice.  I leave for my hike
>> on Monday so I don't have time to break anything in so I'm wondering if I
>> should just go buy some Dr. Sholes insoles for my boots or a new pair of
>> nikes or asics with lots of heel support?
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Pct-L mailing list
>>> Pct-L at backcountry.net
>>> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
>>> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>>>
>>> List Archives:
>>> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
>> _______________________________________________
>> Pct-L mailing list
>> Pct-L at backcountry.net
>> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
>> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>>
>> List Archives:
>> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/