[pct-l] Boots vs shoes

[Christy Georg]

Doug

I thru-hiked this year using somewhat rare "hiking shoes".  My  
Patagonia Drifter a/c women's hiking shoes lasted about 1200 miles  
per pair, which begins to make the pricetag reasonable.  My feet  
prefer a non-flexible stiff sole to prevent chronic pain, I also use  
new inserts (anything- Superfeet, Montrail, anything is better than  
nothing)

I did switch to gore-tex "lightweight" Vasque Breeze boots for the  
section from Trail Pass/Lone Pine to Red's Meadow.  If it wasn't the  
snow-insantity of 2011, I would NOT do this.  I worried about having  
constantly cold and wet feet from water crossings and snow getting in  
my shoes.  I did love the combo of slick rain pants (for glissading)  
with tall OR snow gaiters and the boots- I felt indestructible on the  
highest passes.  However, my feet got a lot bigger during this  
section and my feet felt oppressed by the boots.  I believe gore-tex  
boots are good for warmth.  Keep in mind that snow is not very wet,  
rain is wet.  I think they'd be useless in Northern Cascades wetness-  
it's unavoidable.  Goretex footwear takes for-freaking-ever to dry  
and weighs a ton wet.  Bummer.

I can tell you boots that you must take off for wet creek crossings  
were a BAD idea past Red's Meadow this year.  There were over a dozen  
every day, and just walking right thru in my shoes was great.  For  
the section I wore the boots there wasn't that many per day, but the  
annoying time loss to change into other shoes (I wore a foam/ 
polyester mary-jane style from Wal-mart) will bum you out, and your  
hiking buddies.

Why do hikers wear boots?  You say "stability" and "protection",  
right?  IMO boots limit mobility of your ankles, causing your knees  
to compensate in strange ways.  Especially in men.  I saw lots of  
male hikers (esp of the Old Skool persuasion) in boots and knee  
braces.  You can get a shoe with a good vibram sole for stability.   
Protection is an issue.  Thru-hikers beat their footwear, and kicking  
rocks hurts.  Another reason to consider a hiking shoe over a trail  
runner.

Choose your footwear based on how many miles you're doing on a trip.   
Wear very thin socks, maybe 2 pairs.  Read reviews of the shoes, and  
see what other who hike like you hike wear.  Take Dirty Girl gaiters  
in the dry places.

cheers,
Wandering Dot