[pct-l] Debating about boots...How many?

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

Crystal,

The Boot vs. Trailrunner debate comes up often with each side extolling the 
virtues of their design.

I will tell you how my boots have treated me for the last 47 years and how 
many pair I have gone through.

I used one pair to hike the PCT, re-soling them near Cascade Locks, Or..
I used one pair to hike half the CDT and didn't need to re-sole because I 
got injured and had to quit. That pair I continued to use for the next 20 
years with one re-sole job.
Our Wilderness School has chosen several boot companies over the past 29 
years to test their products (Vasque, Asolo, Limmer) and all have performed 
great, in the desert and on snow for thousands of miles. We like the Limmer 
Boot best.

As far as how many you should expect to go through...one boot, two soles.

Your challenge will be to find one that fits. Big issue! The Limmer owner, 
Karl Limmer, personally fits your foot and decides, based on his three 
generations of family boot-building experience, which size and model will 
best fit your feet via tracings and measurements that you will send him. We 
tested his boot last Spring in the snowy Sierra during thru hiker season 
(May, June, and July) when the area was a mess with snow, water, high 
creeks, and mud--some dry trail--for two months. Never a sprained ankle 
(though my foot tried to do it a few times!), nor a blister (even though the 
three of us, with different sized feet and one who never broke in his boots 
prior to the trip), cold or hot feet, or feet that stayed wet after changing 
socks after wading through creeks then walking on snow the rest of the day!

These have been our experiences. Now you have to decide. You can see the 
boots in action on the trail in May at 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po7gWQzrrGw



"Just remember, Be Careful out there!"

Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
1106A Ski Run Blvd
South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
    P: 888-996-8333
    F: 530-541-1456
    C: 530-721-1551
    http://www.mountaineducation.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Crystal Mcdowall" <crystal_mcdowall at yahoo.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 1:56 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Debating about boots...How many?


> Hey guys!  For those of you that have thru hiked before, I'm still 
> debating
> about footwear and wondering how many pairs of boots I'm likely ruin on 
> this
> trail?  I am definitely gonna go with some-type of boots instead of 
> runners as I
> am someone clumsy and prone to rolling my ankles.  The one pair of "nice" 
> boots
> that I own (Goretex Asolo something-or-others) never fail to leave me with
> horrible blisters.  I've had them for about 3 years and have tried really 
> hard
> to break them in, and really have wanted them to work for me...which has 
> proven
> to be to no avail, and I usually end up switching them up for my chaco 
> sandals
> once my feet get too bad.  I think part of the problem is my feet sweat 
> too much
> and the goretex doesn't allow them to breathe...maybe the toe area is too
> small?  I have cheap leather boots that I wear alot also, but they have 
> the
> nylon type sides and aren't waterproof...so in wet climates it's a debate
> between soggy or blistery feet =)...no good either way.
>
>
> Anyways I'm on a tight budget so my dilemma is this:  Should I buy three 
> or four
> pairs of cheap like big 5 leather boots to tear up on the trail and have 
> my
> sister mail new ones as the old ones wear out, or would it be more cost
> effective to spend the money on maybe two nicer pairs that will last 
> longer?  I
> know this depends on personal preference, but I think my major deciding 
> factor
> at this point will be how long I can actually expect them to hold up on 
> the
> trail.  Are vibram soles really that much more dependable than cheapos? 
> Any
> advice or opinions are much appreciated.  Sorry if I stir up a huge debate 
> =).
> Thanks everyone!
>
> Crystal
>
>
>
>
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