[pct-l] feet!

[Eric Lee]

Jeffrey Olson wrote:
>
Read Ray Jardine's opinion on shoes.  He shaves off the edges of his cheap
running shoes because you're more likely to roll your ankle when the sole is
wider than your foot.
>

I strongly disagree with that, at least for my own body, but everyone's feet
are different so I won't try to change anyone else's mind about it.  :-)

To Israh, it's important to remember that feet are just about the most
personal and individual thing for a hiker.  What works for one person might
be terrible for another person.  That's just the way it is.  As a broad rule
of thumb, most PCT thru-hikers use trail-runners of various kinds (Brooks
Cascadias are one example) and most avoid Goretex.  Neither is true for
everyone, though, so don't be afraid to experiment to find what works best
for you.  Yes, that sometimes gets expensive.  :-)

I agree with Jeffrey that you want to err on the side of getting your shoes
a little too big - too small is death.  Most people find that a snug fit in
the store gives them a feeling of confidence for some reason, but for most
people that's a sure recipe for blisters.  Conventional wisdom says that
blisters come from sliding around in your shoes but in my long-distance
hiking experience it usually seems to be exactly the opposite.  If you
haven't done much long-distance hiking yet you'll probably find that your
feet will spread out a bit as you start training in earnest, maybe as much
as a full size, so be prepared for that, too.

Eric