[pct-l] Fwd: boots?

[Tuula]

Thank you ever so much Steel-Eye for your response. I feel the fog of confusion and uncertainly slowly lifting....

With best regards
Tuula

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

> From: CHUCK CHELIN <steeleye at wildblue.net>
> Date: 15 January 2013 20:30:53 GMT
> To: PCT listserve <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] boots?
> 
> Good afternoon, Tuula,
> 
> Since I have, and do wear, a wide variety of shoes and boots I believe I
> can discuss this topic with a minimum of bias.  Shoe retailers will not
> agree, but the difference between typical running shoes, trail running
> shoes, and trail hiking shoes is minor.  They are largely distinctions
> without much difference.  Among all those variants I buy whatever is
> comfortable, and preferably what is on sale at the moment.  Currently I’m
> wearing a mix of styles by a wide variety of the big shoe names.  At:
> http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=263804 can be seen that I was
> wearing pavement running shoes, and they worked great.
> 
> So, why so many choices?  Modern marketers like to provide a choice for
> every niche – they say.  What they mean is they want you to buy 15
> different types of sneaker to cover your 15 favorite activities. From their
> standpoint, it certainly beats selling you one style of shoe to do
> everything.
> 
> In general, running shoes for pavement may have more foam cushioning in the
> soles; something I even appreciate on the trail.
> 
> Sometimes trail shoes have a bit more protection at the end of the toe so
> we klutzes can stub occasionally with less cursing.
> 
> The outsole tread of pavement shoes is likely to be in a somewhat larger,
> and more blocky, pattern for better wear life, while trail shoes often have
> a more jagged and “frilly” pattern for better traction at the expense of
> poorer wear life.  In that regard, I like to use the blocky pavement-shoe
> pattern over snow because it is much easier to install shoe-screws in those
> blocks for traction – traction that far exceeds what I would have with
> frilly trail shoes.
> 
> Trail shoe peddlers often like to make their tops of more solid material
> and/or waterproof or water resistant material.  All that is great at
> keeping the water in after the absolutely inevitable dunking and wading.  I
> want mesh tops to breathe in hot country, and aspirate out the water from
> wading.  Breathability is important: I believe it’s Yogi who says something
> to the effect that she likes to feel the breeze on her toes.  I agree.
> 
> Enjoy your planning,
> 
> Steel-Eye
> 
> -Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965
> 
> http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
> 
> http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09/
> On Sun, Jan 13, 2013 at 10:45 PM, Tuula <tuula.packington at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Hi everybody
>> I have been following the discussion shoes vs boots with interest. I have
>> always worn boots when hiking but would like to try shoes instead.
>> Currently I am trying to decide between hiking shoes or trail running shoes
>> and don't really know what the significant differences, pros&cons would be,
>> particularly if I will be carrying a pack. Any views on this?
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