Great job Ellie, very informative. My biggest issue with boots have been my wide foot, it's always been difficult to have enough with width but not too much toe room. Barefoot boots have been a revalation for me particularly for trails but the heavy boots are the only job for the mountains thus far.
Im loving these wee 'hiking101' vids. More, more, more please. Im wearing a pair of Danner trail shoes for forest/ established trails and they have been a real game changer for me. Nothing like getting the right footwear for the right trail. Well explained Ellie. Brilliant.
I regularly do field work out in the Connemara mountains: loads of bogs, rocks in the pack on the way home/downhill, and almost no trails. I've been debating switching to trail runners with neoprene booties next to the feet and a pair of wool blend socks over the booties inside the trail runners. With all your experience, does this sound feasible? I'm uneasy buying expensive trail runners only to go out the first day and realise this system doesn't work at all.
So the neoprene booties won’t keep the water out - neoprene works in that it absorbs water and then keeps it at your body temperature, so you don’t get cold. You can get waterproof socks that are a (typically) a 3 layer system of liner layer - waterproof membrane - outer sock layer. I think these kinds of socks are supposed to be very good, the only brand I know of off the top of my head is SealSkinz, but I know there are others too. Depending on the exact style of the waterproof sock, I might think of wearing a wool liner sock on the inside? I personally like trail shoes and think they work well, but it’s quite a personal preference kinda choice. Hope this helps! - ellie
@@ToughSoles Yeah, sorry. I think I confused everything with the additional information - I know how neoprene works. It's for warmth while my shoes are soaked for 6-7 hours on hikes in the trail runners (no waterproof socks will last that long) and the socks on the outside are to help with movement/prevent blisters. I'm a life-long double socker for blister prevention. My question was really about the shoes.
Ah sorry!! In that case … yes, I think what you’re proposing would work - but I think the neoprene would have to fit really well to not rub over that amount of time, I think. Trail runners will certainly be grippy enough for the terrain - if you maybe look at Salomon? They do shoes with aggressive lugs, and also kind of built in ankle booties that might add to what you’re aiming for?
@@ToughSoles You are being so incredibly helpful! Thank you!!! I'll keep that in mind about neoprene socks, and be ready to try out waterproof socks should they be a blister factory. I was indeed worried about the suitability of the shoes for the terrain. You'd even say it should be fine with the added weight of carrying actual rocks in a backpack? (Weird question, I know. The strange life of an earth scientist...)
So I guess it depends on just how much weight? For me personally I know that on non-tarmac/hard terrain, carrying up to 14-ish KG with trail runners is fine. It also depends on the distance you’re carrying them. Trail shoes also vary in cushioning, so I’d probably aim for medium - high cushioning / avoid “minimal” or “barefoot” style trail runners. Sounds like a great, if unusual, life! I’d carry rocks all day if it means being outside 😄
Very interesting. In the US, for Thru-hiking you will be hard pressed to ever see a boot on trail Trail Runners are probably 99.99 of what you'll see. Part of the reason is exactly what you said, they are too heavy. For shorter trails I imagine boots can be fine. Once you start going 1000km or more Trail Runners are definitely the way to go. 1 lb. on your foot = 5 lbs on your back. You also made a great point, never buy by brand. Finding out what works for your feet will always be different from other people. Best of luck! I'm heading over to hike the E8 in a week, and probably going to hike a bunch of places around Ireland. I'm definitely heading to Roscommon at some point, perhaps I'll run into you guys.
This is so helpful! I need to get some new hiking boots soon and there's so many options to choose from, this explainer is great. Would there be much issue with blisters from overheating with leather boots? Or would that be more down to the socks?
Ohhhh good question! I think socks would play a big role in heat situations like that. Again it’s the no cotton rule, and I always go for merino blends - super thin merino can be really nice if it’s a warm situation ☺️ - ellie
I have the scarper ranger boots and you are so right. Heavy and rigid. I use the Lowa Renagades now all the time, nutbuck leather and can be used on all terrains. Far lighter as well.
I love how the "studio" is outside with birdsong in the background 🙌
Great job Ellie, very informative. My biggest issue with boots have been my wide foot, it's always been difficult to have enough with width but not too much toe room. Barefoot boots have been a revalation for me particularly for trails but the heavy boots are the only job for the mountains thus far.
Nice review, very helpful and informative. Boots are extremely important if not most important thing when talking about hiking.
Very nice video, thank you!
Im loving these wee 'hiking101' vids. More, more, more please. Im wearing a pair of Danner trail shoes for forest/ established trails and they have been a real game changer for me. Nothing like getting the right footwear for the right trail. Well explained Ellie. Brilliant.
Hi Ellie!
Love tough soles channel! The Hiking 101 vids are enjoyable and informative 😁 Keep up the good work!!
Thanks so much Michael!
- ellie ☺️
I regularly do field work out in the Connemara mountains: loads of bogs, rocks in the pack on the way home/downhill, and almost no trails. I've been debating switching to trail runners with neoprene booties next to the feet and a pair of wool blend socks over the booties inside the trail runners. With all your experience, does this sound feasible? I'm uneasy buying expensive trail runners only to go out the first day and realise this system doesn't work at all.
So the neoprene booties won’t keep the water out - neoprene works in that it absorbs water and then keeps it at your body temperature, so you don’t get cold. You can get waterproof socks that are a (typically) a 3 layer system of liner layer - waterproof membrane - outer sock layer. I think these kinds of socks are supposed to be very good, the only brand I know of off the top of my head is SealSkinz, but I know there are others too. Depending on the exact style of the waterproof sock, I might think of wearing a wool liner sock on the inside?
I personally like trail shoes and think they work well, but it’s quite a personal preference kinda choice. Hope this helps!
- ellie
@@ToughSoles Yeah, sorry. I think I confused everything with the additional information - I know how neoprene works. It's for warmth while my shoes are soaked for 6-7 hours on hikes in the trail runners (no waterproof socks will last that long) and the socks on the outside are to help with movement/prevent blisters. I'm a life-long double socker for blister prevention. My question was really about the shoes.
Ah sorry!! In that case … yes, I think what you’re proposing would work - but I think the neoprene would have to fit really well to not rub over that amount of time, I think. Trail runners will certainly be grippy enough for the terrain - if you maybe look at Salomon? They do shoes with aggressive lugs, and also kind of built in ankle booties that might add to what you’re aiming for?
@@ToughSoles You are being so incredibly helpful! Thank you!!! I'll keep that in mind about neoprene socks, and be ready to try out waterproof socks should they be a blister factory. I was indeed worried about the suitability of the shoes for the terrain. You'd even say it should be fine with the added weight of carrying actual rocks in a backpack? (Weird question, I know. The strange life of an earth scientist...)
So I guess it depends on just how much weight? For me personally I know that on non-tarmac/hard terrain, carrying up to 14-ish KG with trail runners is fine. It also depends on the distance you’re carrying them. Trail shoes also vary in cushioning, so I’d probably aim for medium - high cushioning / avoid “minimal” or “barefoot” style trail runners. Sounds like a great, if unusual, life! I’d carry rocks all day if it means being outside 😄
Very interesting. In the US, for Thru-hiking you will be hard pressed to ever see a boot on trail Trail Runners are probably 99.99 of what you'll see. Part of the reason is exactly what you said, they are too heavy. For shorter trails I imagine boots can be fine. Once you start going 1000km or more Trail Runners are definitely the way to go. 1 lb. on your foot = 5 lbs on your back. You also made a great point, never buy by brand. Finding out what works for your feet will always be different from other people. Best of luck! I'm heading over to hike the E8 in a week, and probably going to hike a bunch of places around Ireland. I'm definitely heading to Roscommon at some point, perhaps I'll run into you guys.
This is so helpful! I need to get some new hiking boots soon and there's so many options to choose from, this explainer is great. Would there be much issue with blisters from overheating with leather boots? Or would that be more down to the socks?
Ohhhh good question! I think socks would play a big role in heat situations like that. Again it’s the no cotton rule, and I always go for merino blends - super thin merino can be really nice if it’s a warm situation ☺️
- ellie
I have the scarper ranger boots and you are so right. Heavy and rigid. I use the Lowa Renagades now all the time, nutbuck leather and can be used on all terrains. Far lighter as well.