Hey everyone. First post here. I've been looking for some material comparing hiking boots to trail runners. Could someone suggest at least a few articles? Thanks.

bump

I have not read any articles on the subject anywhere. But I will offer my own experience for what it's worth.
I had always dayhiked in running shoes, and backpacked in boots, until about 6 or 7 years ago, when I decided to try backpacking in running shoes. I had tried running shoes on the trail before, but I do a fair amount of my hiking off the trail, and I was unsure how running shoes would be for that. As it turned out, I have been completely happy with using running shoes for backpacking, on and off trail. I'm about 160 lbs, and usually carry less than 30 lbs. I always use trail running shoes, which have soles better suited to the trail than other running shoes. I prefer a mesh upper for maximum breathability, even when I know I will encounter snow on the trail. I find that even if I get a little wet at a stream crossing or puddle, I end up with drier feet in a mesh shoe than in a waterproof shoe, and my feet stay cooler. I have gore-tex light hiking boots that I wear for work (construction) and those are way hotter than my mesh shoes are.
I don't think I have particularly strong ankles, but I have always found that to really supply any "ankle support" a boot has to be much heavier and stiffer than I would want to hike in.
On the other hand, I find that after 40 years of hiking my feet have become smarter - that's the best way I can think to put it - I guess what is really going on is that becuase I'v spent a lot of time on uneven surfaces, my body is accustomed to the idea that it will have to adjust to whatever happens when I put my foot down. Clambering around jobsites when I'm not on the trail probably helps to reinforce this. So you may have different results if you try running shoes, but there's no reason not to. At the worst, you'll have some great shoes for dayhiking and such, and at the best, you'll feek like I did the first time I went backpacking in running shoes - I felt like I was cheating, with so little on my feet.

sweet then I will stick with my NBs for my first trip <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> thanks.

Not so fast, grasshopper. The debate over boots v. trailrunners is long and indecisive. The real answer is "it depends." Lightweight boots and trailrunners are fine for most people in most situations, but not ideal for everyone, everywhere.

What it depends on is you, your feet, your ankles, your pack weight, and where you are going. When I lived in New Zealand, I wore full leather boots unless I was walking through a local park and was glad I had bought them. I still have those boots. They look pretty beat up, but survived where a light boot with lots of mesh on it would most likely have been shredded.

On one trip I had a new pair of New Balance low cut "boots" which started coming apart after a few miles of stream crossings and rough terrain. Learned my lesson with those things.

Now, boot and shoe technology is far better than it was back in the 80's, but I am pretty sure the mechanics of your feet and ankles haven't evolved that much in 20 years.

Consider this-if something happens and you can't walk because of a sprained ankle or worse, how exactly are you going to get back to where you started?

I use both. I picked up a pair of Montrail hardrocks last year, and have taken a liking to them. On mainy "on trail" trips in the rockies I prefer the trail runners. they're lighter and dry quickly when I wade across stuff in them. As nasty as I'd wanna get in them is probably west coast trail, which
I did in June in the montrails and that was kind of a toss up - not sure if I would have preferred my
boots for that one, but the runners did fine.

With big swamp, or snow, or lots of scree and crud or really rough terrain, I still prefer boots....

So again, as said before. It depends on you and the hiking you do.

There’s an article by Mark Verber http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/clothing.html#Footwear

It is a very good STARTER on what to think about.

May everyone find their foot zen.

-Barry

Hiking with very light loads, in warm, dry weather and easy terrain wearing trail runners is OK, but, when a sudden summer snowstorm hits, you must cross a rocky stream or carry a big load, they are not a sound choice, IMHO.

I prefer solid hiking boots and pitched my various runners and "approach shoes" several years ago, after a few incidents. I hike in pretty harsh terrain, it often pours rain and gets cold, so, boots suit me best.

I really like my Solomon trail runners. I have had them for three years now and they have proved to be the best hiking footwear I have had to date. I used to use nothing but boots. They all leaked and fell apart in short order. However, you do get what you pay for. I used to buy cheap boots, whereas Solomons are on the higher price of the scale. If I were to hike during the winter I would go back to boots, but for what I do right now, trail runners are great.

Howie

Formerly I took some fairly ambitious hikes in running shoes, sneakers, which are lighter than low-cut hiking shoes I generally now use.

With the sneakers, it seemed the soles of my feet suffered, toe-stubbing was a problem, and at times, I experienced puffiness of de feet, which is probably undesirable. Sneakers seemed to work better for me as a very young person, or on relatively short hikes.

For off-trail, I prefer boots.

We have to be sure we are comparing like to like products. Ordinary runners just wont cut it in my estimation. Proper trail runners are built for the purpose in mind. They have reenforced soles, heels and toes. My Solomons have withstood lots of abuse from rocks, sticks, water and whatever else the trail threw at me. Boots do offer more ankle support. That is the only aspect I miss.

Howie