[pct-l] Foot Expansion

[b j]

I was wondering similar things as Mark on foot expansion!  I also wanted to draw on the wonderful wisdom of the crowd about the mystery of feet swelling.  

This will be my first through high and first desert hike so I don’t have experience with feet swelling.  How long does it take?  Hours? Days? Weeks?  I ask because I wonder if I should start out with my normal shoes or with my bigger shoes – I’ve got a great pair of normal sized shoes that would be great for the desert – white, mesh, ventilated, comfy.

I’m also wondering what actually goes on when the feet swell – is it flattening, fluid, callus, muscle?  I’m also contemplating which superfeet to have ready for when my feet are bigger – for the swelling, do the feet swell in length between your arch and your heel?  I don’t imagine they do since that area is more bones and less soft tissue than the rest of the foot.

Also, do your feet get smaller again going North after the desert or do they maintain the same size throughout the hike?  And after the hike, do they go back down to where they were before or are they now bigger and you can’t squeeze into your city shoes?

I may be thinking this to death, but we all obsess about something or other before a big trip.  Right now, for me, it’s feet – a vital ingredient for the trip!  :-)

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences,

-Rhiannon

P.S. I wanted to thank everyone who checked out my used gear for sale.  I love the idea of giving my equipment another life!  There’s still some stuff (Anhu lightweight hiking boots, NF down vest, goretex jacket, etc.) left if you’re tempted to check it out at: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=72763  

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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:12:16 -0800
From: Mark Halverstadt <markhalverstadt at gmail.com>
Subject: [pct-l] Foot Expansion
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
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Afternoon PCT-L,
I have recently started to research hiking shoe options for my
thru-hike this spring and have come across reports of past hikers
having their feet expand during their hike. I am wondering if any past
thru-hikers could expand on this. Some reports I have read say that
their feet flatten out or they grow up to 1.5 in size! Does age or
gender matter at all (I am a 28 year old Male btw)? What is the rate
of expansion? Should I plan to buy, in advance, a 1 size higher in my
shoes for the latter part of the hike? Please let me know what you
have heard or your experience with this subject. Thanks!