[pct-l] Top thru hike shoes

isabella at bendnet.com isabella at bendnet.com
Wed Apr 22 11:07:52 CDT 2015


Hey all you Altra wearers!  Did you find that because of the naturally wide
toebox on the Altras that you didn't have to get your shoes quite as
oversized as you would with different brands with narrow toe boxes?  
Thx, Mademoiselle

-----Original Message-----
From: Pct-L [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Tortoise
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2015 8:49 PM
To: PCT-list
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Top thru hike shoes

Once again I'll sing the praises of Spenco I solo -- the plain flat ones.
Firmer than Dr. Scholls but all I need. Spencos last for years compared to
weeks for the latter. 

And repeat myself -- the plain flat ones with NO arch support. I buy the
largest size and trim to fit my feet and shoes. 

Tortoise

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Dictated / Typoed on my iPad.

> On Apr 15, 2015, at 07:48, Scott Williams <baidarker at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Hey Mademoiselle,
> 
> I've got the same issue.  I can't hike with arch support or I end up 
> with PF and how I solve that with the Lone Peaks, Altra Instincts and 
> my old Montrail Sabinos is to pull out the insole.  That gives me a 
> flat platform in all of these shoes.  Since I don't have the old 
> insoles, I can't tell you how much of an arch they had with the insole 
> in, but without it, they're flat and very comfortable.
> 
> As for cush, the Instincts are the softest of these three that I hike in.
> The Lone Peaks have what they used to call a Rock Guard, which gave 
> more stiffness, but there are lots of shoes out there with a more 
> stiff sole.  I wouldn't call the Lone Peaks, cushy, but the Instincts 
> definitely are.  One way Ken Powers adds a little cush when he needs 
> it, as he's hiking in very minimalist shoes last I heard, is to carry 
> a Dr. Scholls foam insert to drop in when he's on pavement or nasty 
> rocks for a bit.  I've used them too on a long road walk, and that's all I
need.
> 
> Have a wonderful Hike!
> 
> Shroomer
> 
>> On Wed, Apr 15, 2015 at 7:34 AM, <isabella at bendnet.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Do Altra Lone Peaks have arch support?  I have a weird issue and need 
>> a shoe with NO arch support.  Hard to find.
>> Also, are the Altras cushy at all?  Stiff sole?
>> Thx, Mademoiselle
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Pct-L [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Scott 
>> Williams
>> Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2015 3:12 PM
>> To: Brian Gill
>> Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
>> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Top thru hike shoes
>> 
>> Hey Brian,
>> 
>> The most popular and commonly seen shoes on some of the greatest 
>> hikers I know are the Altra Lone Peaks.  With their zero drop heal 
>> and wide toe box, they're some of the most comfortable out there.  At 
>> last years ALDHA West Gathering, the largest group of Triple Crowners 
>> in one place ever, we took pictures of everyone with their shoes 
>> stuck in the shot as a big rosette of Altra shoes.  Just to name 
>> names of those who hike in Lone Peaks, the list includes, Lint, 
>> Snorkel, Freefall, Allgood, Dirt Monger, Swami, Why Not, and it goes 
>> on and on.
>> 
>> There are other great shoes out there as well, however, and shoes are 
>> soooo personal.  If they feel great and you don't get blisters, go for
anything
>> else.   I train in Altras, Knocked out 14 miles and 4,500 vertical in
them
>> yesterday, but I still use my old Montrail Sabinos, when I'm thru hiking.
>> The Sabinos were the widest toe box I could find back in 1009 and 
>> when they did me so well on the PCT in 2010, I bought a big stack of 
>> them at $40 a pop when Montrail changed the pattern later that year 
>> and had them on remainder.
>> So, I'm just too damn cheap not to use them although I take out the 
>> insoles to approximate the feel of the Altras.  $40 or $110 per pair 
>> over a thru hike saves me a bit of cash.  I had one pair last me from 
>> Georgia to New Hampshire on the AT last year.  I only traded 'em out 
>> because I needed a bit of tread to hit the Whites. But I sent them 
>> home and am still waking around in them. The Lone Peak is not that 
>> robust, just the most comfortable shoe out there.  But the Montrails 
>> still do me well. Once I use 'em all up however, I'll be using 
>> whatever Altras I can find in the bargain stores.
>> Last year, when the Lone Peak was upgraded, I was able to find the 
>> original Lone Peaks at Sports Basement at $40 a pair.  I called the 
>> people I knew who used them and bought up whatever sizes fit.
>> 
>> Altra is by no means the only great shoe out there, but many of the 
>> greatest thru hikers in America are using them this season  and have 
>> been for the past 2 or 3 years.
>> 
>> Have a wonderful Hike,
>> 
>> Shroomer
>> 
>>> On Tue, Mar 31, 2015 at 8:27 AM, Brian Gill <pctpanama at aol.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> What's  the top three shoes for a thru hike now days?  Panama
>>> 
>>> "Sent from my iPhone"
>>> 
>>>       Brian
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