[pct-l] Does foot size increase on long hike...and how much?

[Scott Williams]

I was a size 9.5 to 10 for 40 years and then started thru hiking.  By the
middle of the PCT, my first long trail, I was a size 12.  that was over 4
years ago and it is a permanent increase.  Some folks feet don't get any
larger than the temporary swelling that occurs anytime you hike a big day,
but for most of us there is also this permanent swelling.  One of the
things that did go away was the temporary foot swelling from a long day.
After the PCT, CDT and a number of long sections, when I hiked the AT this
summer, my feet were so used to walking that they never we

On Sat, Jan 3, 2015 at 8:15 AM, Brian Watt <bwatt at 1fifoto.com> wrote:

> Michael,
> I typically wear size 8.5 mens off trail, and for my thru-hike this year I
> found size 9.5 mens to be more comfortable. I used Brooks Cascadia v8 & v9
> trail runners. I found the 8.5 ones caused my toe nails to rub
> uncomfortably on the top front of the shoe. I wanted them loose in the
> toe-box  to reduce blisters. I also wore Injinji toe socks to reduce
> between-toe blisters. [I tried regular socks only once on trail and that
> day got a blister between my big toe and first toe, so I developed a
> superstitious ritual to always wear toe socks. YMMV] However, I did get
> blisters regardless sometimes on the outside of my left & right heel. The
> first time I got a blister I was heading into Big Bear City (mile 266) and
> the next was outside of Belden (mile 1289). These typically were small,
> lasted two weeks, didn't bother me that much, that is, they didn't slow me
> down (Note: I was already a slow hiker - ha!), so in general I was blister
> free.
> Sincerely,
> Brian "Tartan" Watt
> P.S. Note: I don't especially recommend the Brooks Cascadia v9 trail
> runners. I found that they wore out (got holes in the top of the toe box)
> from the repeated flexing that come with hiking 20 miles per day. See:
> http://www.1fifoto.com/hiking/?p=847 for a picture.
>
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