[pct-l] shoe size - to change or not to change

[Scott Williams]

Great plan for dealing with the expansion most of us experience.  Good
stuff.

Shroomer

On Mon, Jan 5, 2015 at 10:32 AM, Mike Smith <mike.sm64 at gmail.com> wrote:

> My experience is that my feet definitely expanded on the trail. They grew a
> full size and then shrunk back only one-half size after several months off
> the trail. They have remained permanently larger.
>
> Fortunately, I planned for this due to some good advise.
>    1)  I did some serious preparation hiking prior to the trip to toughen
> my feet (among other parts).
>    2)  I started the trip with shoes that were almost a size too large, but
> wearing three pairs of socks:
>       a) thin poly propylene liner socks,
>       b) thin wool liner socks (Smartwool), and
>       c) regular hiking socks which were then Light Hiker socks by
> Smartwool.
>    3) As my feet swelled, I removed socks. At one point in southern
> California, I was down to just wearing the polypropylene pair for a few
> days.
>    4) After a month or so, I was settled in at just two pair: the
> polypropylene and regular, and my shoes fit very well.
>
>    Now that I have a permanent expansion, I do not find the need to do the
> extra-socks thing. I have modernized to a single pair of fairly thin socks,
> but with shoes sized to handle some on-the-trail swelling.
>
>    Everyone's feet are different and my experience may be somewhat unique
> (the PCT was my first long trail), but there needs to be some awareness. I
> remember watching hikers limp into Warner Springs.No one complained about
> their shoes being too big!
>
> Happy trails, --Lightfoot
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