[pct-l] Re: The Weight of Boots

[chelin at teleport.com (Sharon & Chuck Chelin)]

Good evening,

I believe the reference sited by Ralph is a good one, and all I have to
contribute is qualitative.  I no longer wear hiking boots, but on some
occasions I must wear heavy waterproof and/or insulted boots, and the
difference compared to sneakers is phenomenal.  I understand the latest
military footwear is far better than in the old days but they must plan for
problems that a trail hiker does not.  The military has to consider the
ankle support and protection necessary for any type of terrain, while we are
fortunate to walk a relatively good and maintained tread most of the time.

Steel-Eye




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "backpack45scb" <rbalcorn@gmail.com>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 3:58 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Re: The Weight of Boots


I think the Ergonomics article below is the usual source. There is also a
1969 Army study that I can't locate.

From

January 2001 issue of *Northwest Runner

*"It is noteworthy that adding weight to your torso does not have the same
effect as adding the same weight to your feet; loads placed toward the ends
of the limbs hurt your economy more (i.e., increase your oxygen consumption
more) because, with each stride, they must be accelerated and decelerated
back and forth (Myers & Steudel, Journal of Experimental Biology 116:
363-73, 1985; Martin, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 17:
427-33, 1985). Thus, although an extra 200 grams around your trunk (in the
form of, say, a shirt) will have a negligible affect on economy and
performance, adding 200 grams to your feet (by wearing training shoes
instead of racing flats) can increase oxygen consumption by 1-2% (Burkett et
al., Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 17: 158-63, 1985; Jones et
al., *Ergonomics 29: 439-43, 1986*; Hamill et al., Medicine and Science in
Sports and Exercise 20: 515-21, 1988). However, in selecting a shoe to use
in ompetition, cushioning must also be considered; a light shoe with no
cushioning is not necessarily superior to a heavy but supportive shoe."

-- 
Ralph Alcorn
http://www.backpack45.com/camino2.html
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