[pct-l] Boots! And thx

[Ron]

On both of my thru hikes i used trail runners first and then switched to a sturdier boot - because my feet were thrashed.
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Eric Lee <saintgimp at hotmail.com> wrote:

>Michele wrote:
>>
>Another question for you all...
>I just visited an REI store doing research. The shoe person contradicted
>Yogi about the type of shoe usually worn on tue PCT. She insisted on a
>sturdy boot to hike and not trailrunners..saying that anything less would
>trash your feet even if going ultralight. From what I recall of Yogi's
>book...most wear trailrunners.
>>
>
>A few of us wear (lightweight) boots for long-distance hiking, mostly due to
>foot or ankle troubles that we need to compensate for, but most people find
>that trailrunners work the best overall.  If you want *good* advice about
>the right gear for thru-hiking, talk to thru-hikers, not salespeople.
>
>Most REI salespeople mean well and honestly believe they're giving good
>advice but if they've never done long-distance hiking then, respectfully,
>they don't know what they're talking about.  There are a lot of ideas in the
>outdoor gear industry that might have been true 30 years ago but were
>obsolete a long time ago.  They're still getting passed around as fact,
>though.
>
>My general advice about shoes:
>
>#1: Remember that everyone's feet are unique and different and what works
>well for one person may be horrible for another.  Frankly, it often takes
>some expensive experimentation to find what works best for you.  That's just
>the way it is.
>
>#2: Replace your shoes *before* they're completely broken down and worn out.
>I see a lot of thru-hikers injuring themselves by trying to get just a
>couple hundred extra miles out of already-trashed shoes and they often pay a
>heavy price for it.  Trail runners are great for most people but generally
>they'll break down faster than boots and have to be replaced more often.  Be
>prepared for that.
>
>Eric
>
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