[pct-l] Trail runners vs hiking boots

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

My feet were ruined in Piper's Flight because I bought Montrail  
Hardrocks which apparently have a very molded bottom insole. My toes  
were forced into this pointed up position and I was walking right on  
the bones at the base of my toes. I can't even watch people walk in  
those things it makes me hurt just to watch. I don't think they make  
them anymore.

I came back to finish the trail the next year with squishier, more  
flexible shoes and did fine.

Some people really like those stiff, moldable insoles. Some like the  
superfeet. I liked the squishy foam ones.  Roadwalks are a killer and  
the soft squishy makes it more bearable.

Not only can you put microspikes on crocs, you can also put your  
superfeet in them and hike in them just fine. Who was it, Ameoba? She  
hiked in crocs the whole AT plus the So Cal section of the PCT.

Totally whatever works. Try it all. Try it on the trail. You can even  
find lots of shoes in hiker boxes. I still regret not taking a pair  
from the hiker box in Elk Lake. They were perfect.

Shoe mods, too! And crazy ways to tie them. I met a guy last year who  
cut the tongues out of his shoes for more room.

Lately I have some Keen hiking shoes. They feel like huge clunky  
boots to me. Also New Balance Minimus. Feels like not enough support  
against the rocky trail, but I feel way more nimble. I hike in Chaco  
sandals a lot and even in homemade sandals.

On Feb 1, 2013, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> From: Scott Williams <baidarker at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail runners vs hiking boots
>
> Just to give another opinion, the trail runners I like best are the  
> ones
> with the most miles on them, i.e. the thinest sole, that is before the
> uppers give up and fall apart.  My feet became used to the feeling  
> of the
> rocks and contours of the trail and the firmer sole of a new pair  
> of shoes
> was not comfortable.  With a thin sole I feel my toes grabbing and  
> my feet
> work more like hands.  For me, the firmer the sole, the more prone  
> to foot
> pain and discomfort.  I've used trail runners on the PCT and CDT.   
> On the
> PCT I used inserts, arch supports, cushions and anything to cut the  
> pain of
> plantar fasciitis toward the end of the hike.  For the CDT, I  
> removed all
> inserts and cushions and trained with as thin and flat and soft a  
> sole as
> possible and eventually finished the trail with absolutely pain  
> free feet.
>
> I have often carried 35lbs total and trail runners were fine.  Your  
> feet
> get strong on trail.  Everyone's feet are different and my advice  
> to anyone
> in February planning on a spring start is to get training in  
> whatever shoes
> you think are right, and that may be full on boots.  Hike with a  
> pack and
> see how your feet fare before finding it out on trail.  Much of  
> what will
> feel good may change as your feet toughen up over time and miles,  
> but if
> your chosen shoes give you pain or blisters, better to find out early.
>
> Shroomer