Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#115517 - 05/05/09 08:46 AM Re: I need Shoe/Boot help [Re: ]
kbennett Offline
member

Registered: 10/27/03
Posts: 820
Loc: north carolina
Many, many hikers use running shoes or trail runners while backpacking.

Why I like trail runners over boots:

1. Much, much, much lighter on my feet. I cannot begin to describe how much better this is at the end of the day.

2. No blisters, ever (assuming they fit properly.) My perfectly fitted big heavy stiff boots gave me monster heel blisters every hike for years and years. Long after they were "broken in."

3. Mesh trail runners dry very quickly after they get wet. My big heavy leather boots would take days to dry, and on some trips they never dried.

4. Better for my ankles. The conventional wisdom that one needs boots for ankle protection turns out to be wrong, at least in my case -- I almost never "roll" my ankle any more, vs. several times per trip wearing boots.

5. More control over foot placement, more precision. I think this is mostly due to the light weight (and probably explains #4.)

I made the switch in April, 2000, and will never go back. I've worn trail runners with loads from 15-55 pounds, all four seasons, in all kinds of weather from blistering heat to blizzards. (I do switch to Goretex trail runners in the winter.) Love 'em.
_________________________
--Ken B

Top
#115518 - 05/05/09 09:47 AM Re: I need Shoe/Boot help [Re: ]
Dryer Offline

Moderator

Registered: 12/05/02
Posts: 3591
Loc: Texas
99% of my hiking will be with trail runners. New Balance to be specific, only because they fit best.
I tried hiking in running sandals a couple of years, and decided (after sticks stabbing me, as well as rocks and cactus spines) to only bring sandals as 'spare tires'.
Boots however, have there place. If you ever hike across 'clear cut', you'll wish you had boots. Also in areas with brambles like 'wild rose' and brier. Trail runners simply won't cut it.
So, it all depends on where and what you are hiking. If I'm on trails (not creek beds, clear cut, etc), trail runners are the shoe.
_________________________
paul, texas KD5IVP

Top
#115561 - 05/05/09 10:25 PM Re: I need Shoe/Boot help [Re: ]
Wolfeye Offline
member

Registered: 01/11/07
Posts: 413
Loc: Seattle, WA
I find that trail runners are fine if it's not raining and I'm on a trail that isn't steep. I find that if I'm on trails that are so steep they're unpopular, shoes will apply uncomfortable pressure at the top of the foot when going downhill, and my toes will scruntch up. Boots are much more comfortable in that case.

Tried trail runners for a 4-day offtrail trip once. They died by the end of the trip. (I'd never seen a thumb-sized gouge in a shoesole before.) They were NB, too, which seems to be decently well built in my experience. Even if they had held up, I still wasn't happy because I kept getting twigs in them. I hear some people make up for that by wearing gaitors, but it seems like one more thing to pack.

So, I'll wear trail runners if I think I can get away with it. I've also thought of wearing ones that drain quickly when paddling so I don't have to take two sets of shoes.

Top
#115562 - 05/05/09 10:26 PM Re: I need Shoe/Boot help [Re: ]
tolerant1 Offline
newbie

Registered: 04/28/09
Posts: 12
Loc: Orange County, CA
When i day hike with minimal pack or no pack then I use trail runners but when I have any amount of weight that I am carrying I appreciate the extra support that a midcut, lightweight boot provides.

Top
#115573 - 05/06/09 07:54 AM Re: I need Shoe/Boot help [Re: Wolfeye]
Dryer Offline

Moderator

Registered: 12/05/02
Posts: 3591
Loc: Texas
Quote:
Tried trail runners for a 4-day offtrail trip once. They died by the end of the trip. (I'd never seen a thumb-sized gouge in a shoesole before.)


True...they don't hold up in really harsh conditions. That's why I carry sandals as 'spares'. One place I've hiked is Nugent Mountain in Big Bend National park. I think I counted 3 shoe soles, all from running shoes, in the scree fields on the way down. This means that somebody had to barefoot it down hot, sharp, slick, brick sized rocks, then through the cactus and dagger plants. Yikes! I think it has something to do with the heat melting the glue and softening the soles. I wear leather boots there now, and still haul spares just in case, since most soles are glued on these days.
_________________________
paul, texas KD5IVP

Top
#115575 - 05/06/09 09:08 AM Re: I need Shoe/Boot help [Re: Dryer]
hoz Offline
member

Registered: 10/31/02
Posts: 138
Loc: midwest
Fit footware to the conditions of your hike. On city streets and groomed trails I like low cut "hikers". Move it up a notch to a more "wilderness" location and it's mid cut boots. The suede and cordura type fit in here.

Finally up to wilderness travel with rough trails, rocks, including scree, talus, boulder hopping and snow and it's a full grain leather boot, preferably with a Norwegian welt.


Edited by hoz (05/06/09 09:09 AM)
_________________________
We don't stop hiking because we grow old, we grow old because we stop hiking. Finis Mitchell

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 160 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum