I wore boots my entire hike and it worked well for me. I stepped around water, was mindful of when I hiked in the rain, and used flip flops for river crossings. What I liked most was the support for my feet and ankles and how warm and waterproof they were. In my experience with wearing boots I didn’t ever sprain my ankle like many do without boots. I’ve worn many type of shoes from chacós to trail runners and I have had success with all of them, but mostly boots and trail runners. I wore 1 pair of boots for my hike which cost me $109. Where as hikers go through around 4 pairs of trail runners on the A.T. which can cost between $300-$400 for a thru-hike.
Did you hike the AT with boots? I am interested because I really like my low Iowa Renegade GTX, but it takes 3 days to dry when they get wet. How did you manage hiking in rain?
Trail shoes make my feet sore - particularly hiking in New Hampshire’s White Mountains on muddy trails and a lot of granite boulders and slick wet roots/branches. I wear boots - often a lighter hiking boot - but I need a firm sole and better support than I can get with a trail shoe. That’s what works for me.
I have been using heavy leather boots on all my outdoor endeavors for over 20 years. Hiking, camping, working, bush crafting, scouting, winter survival... They offer superior protecting, longevity and comfort. I also never had any problems with overheating. I find the current trend of putting weight first in every aspect of the outdoor gear industry very disturbing. Many good mountain guides will not take you up a mountain if you aren't wearing proper boots. That being said I absolutely think that footwear is an individual choice and everybody shall use what he likes most. I just don't think that the extreme popularity of trailrunners over boots (that I believe is caused by the industry) is beneficial to the majority of hikers.
The boots I had for the last 20 years were about double the weight of my new ones - and the new ones are better in many ways. Most thru-hikers are pretty close to ultralite so their packs are 10-20lbs at most, trail runners may work for most of them. Most weekend hikers are going to have 25-40lb packs which is where boots are probably a better option. I use hiking shoes for day hikes, they are great with a 6lb pack but boots for backpacking. No matter what, your sock system is critical to not getting blisters - I haven't had one in over 20 years using a liner sock inner and a thick wool sock outer.
I think if your sticking to trails trying to go 20 miles a day, then trail runners are great. If you spend any amount of time off trail bushwhacking and exploring rougher terrains then you really should wear boots.
@@danpedersen3311 I've tried liner socks and what I noticed is that there is some "slippage" or movement between the inner and outer socks. Especially while going downhill. My toes don't touch the front of the toe box but what ends up happening is that the inner sock causes my foot/toes to slip forward to where the outer sock stops the forward movement. It feels like my toes are hitting the toe box, but they aren't. Have you come across this issue and if so, what did you do to correct the problem?
I met quite a few newbies on the trails in the last 2 yrs. Many of them were using trail runners and trekking poles because that's what youtubers told them to do. Another thing, companies should start making hiking boots without GTX again. It is almost impossible to find boots without GTX or other waterproof liner. WTF?!!
When I started hiking (a long long time ago) I chose boots because I was always rolling my ankles and figured I needed the extra protection….even w the rigid boots I ended up severely rolling an ankle and headed to a sports Dr. He gave me advice that changed my life. Instead of using the heavy boots which caused a huge amt of foot, ankle, and leg fatigue which then led to falls and strains, he told me to try trail runners, increase my hiking time very gradually and build up the natural physical support and strength I lacked in my ankles. Since that epiphany, I have only rolled an ankle once in 10 yrs (when I slipped on wet rocks.) The ONLY time I put on heavy boots now is to do mountain summits where temp is an issue. BTW….everything you said in this video was SPOT ON! All you beginning hikers….pay attention and listen!
or..... you could have built up gradually STILL WEARING BOOTS and ended up with stronger muscles AND protection of boots to prevent rolling. As you HAVE an inherent issue you shoul be taking MAXIMUM care. So says someone who didn't and had to ice their feet and ankles for over 20 yrs after accumulated injury and stress led to crippling pain - issue, weak ankles, ie, foot rolling over
A LONG time ago when I still backpacked it was almost "required" that you needed heavy 5 lb boots or you'd break an ankle. One year I'd crashed my bike a week before a backpacking trip and had sever road rash on my shin going down to near the top of my foot. Needless to say I couldn't wear the boots. I got a pair of low cut hiking shoes and they worked so well I never went back to boots.
The more ankle support there is the higher the probability of a break because it reduces flexibility and gives the bone something to break against. Like breaking a long stick is far easier against your knee than by holding the two ends and using muscle 💪
Based on your excellent advice, my wife (Grammy) switched to trail runners. She has never looked back. She is more willing to go hiking since. Thanks Ms. Dixie!!
Dixie, great video. I started with boots. You are so right about boot being durable. But when they get wet from sweat or rain they suck. They will not dry out to be on the trail the next day. I switched to Altra lone peak and last year the Olympus. Love them. They dry easy. And they are comfortable and perform well. I switched to them partly because of bunions. I have not done a thru hike yet. Howev, I have done plenty of ten to 15 milers. And a couple 50+ milers. Performed great. Also, right again. Don't be cheap on socks.
In mountaineering classes, we discussed footwear, because if your feet don't move well you don't move well. Prior to a long outing, go hiking in inclement weather (rain, snow, wind) to learn what gear performs best, and learn how your body responds to different conditions.
I bought some B2 boots for the Scottish winter and have only wore them once since i bought them in April. It's like wearing ice skates on regular ground but need to break them in some what. 😅
Odd thing is there are some hybrid trail runner/low cut hiker or high top runners that people use. If my brother could run and not have a rather bad Asthma for life, due to his big body size and foot shape he would use Merrill Moab Low cut hikers first designed for the Moab 240 running race originally with the more leather version before trail runners were able to have mesh hold up better in regular trail shoes. My brother using the wide but the more mesh lite/light versions of still made more for hiking since he uses the High Top version Merril Moab Hiker II for everyday use and has a low top/II as a standard shoe he wears less. Depending on the terrain and season I would use either some old trail runner shoes all Brooks Cascadia models no longer good for running but for other less high impact for hiking due to the rock plate or my Timberland model of shoes but only if winter due to the upper being all leather so the cold can't get in yet have both my chain, Ice Chains from Yak Track and no brand higher quality spiked slip on traction. Xero Shoes has some super minimal that the least durable trail models including trail running shoes and sport shoes will last enough to go from LA California to DC and some can go LA California to DC and back to LA in distance due to the type of rubber used with no midsole at all just a sock-liner that can be replaced/removed.
The top piece of advice I heard only once - and it took a really honest and patient salesman to admit it - is; the only way to find the right shoe or boot is to try everything in the store. That's what I've been doing ever since. Takes a while, but I haven't had any problems since.
I hurt both my Achilles tendons with zero drop shoes. Took about 6 months to develop but had to switch back to trail shoes to get the heel stack back. Was hoping they'd work but... oh well. Words to the wise, break in to zero drop slowly .
The reason your boots didn't work was because your heel and Achilles tendon were rubbing against the back of the boot which leads to tendonitis. The boots need to be laced up and/or tied differently. The heel needs to be snug in the back of the boot. ---I learned hiking/backpacking in the '60's when all we had were those big Frankenstein boots. Had to learn how to make them work. That said I prefer my low-top boots- not really trail runners- because they are snug and protect my feet better that the minimalist Trail runners. Just my thing. Tried trail runners and returned them to REI. Everybody is different.
If I didn't hike with trekking poles, I'd probably need hiking boots because I tend to be incredibly clumsy hiking on rocky terrain and I've had a lot of close calls when I haven't brought at least one pole along.
@Nooneinparticular987 The way those Vapor Gloves contour around your foot as you move seems to me like it would make a big difference. I've never used anything like those myself, I have Hoka Speedgoats though and I really prefer the high layer of padding at the bottom of them when I'm walking.
Used leather hiking boots for years with a goretex liner as a construction/hiker boot. After trying trail runner lonepeak 3.5 I was hooked.., well , until I purchased the lonepeak 6.0 … Something in the shoe has dramatically changed. My ankles and the tops of my feet hurt some where b4 my feet were happy and raring to go hiking. I Dono, I still have my old lonepeak 3.5s that I use for loafing around the house or driving, but the new ones just aren’t the same……..
One thing I notice is the disappearance of the “fell boot”, once very popular in Europe. A really good reason for high top styles like this is protecting your ankle bones,a miserable injury amongst the rocks.
@@not-a-raccoonnot to mention bugs going into low top shoes. After watching this video it's solidified my opinion that boots are the best footwear for all occasions 😁
It's a bit of a fallacy to think that footwear material above the ankle is for ankle support. In some cases that's part of it, but many of us do not need or desire ankle support. How we backpack, meaning that we go beyond just the nice groomed trail, makes ankle PROTECTION very important. Additionally I go for footwear that keeps the dirt and crud out. That's the stuff that would destroy my feet, not a little sweat. Anyone who has seen the feet of those who prefer the flimsy ninja slippers type shoes knows what I'm referring to; no thanks for me.
@Nooneinparticular987 Having to be rescued when they have preventable accidents on snowy mountains. Yes there are athletes who chose to use scenic trails to get their satisfaction instead of real competitive races. That's fine. Good for them, but others not at those levels of fitness ignorantly try to mimic what they see glamorized and then they get themselves hurt in the process. Thankfully, the trend seems to be shifting so that more people can return to hiking their own hikes by rejecting the hype of recent trends which have passed their high water mark.
@@paulrevere2379 Like the pressure to lower base weight. Is a lighter pack better? Yes, as long as you have everything you need. But so many people make the lowest possible base weight their goal, not the hike.
@@philsmith2444 Those who go out to the wilderness prepared only for ideal conditions are not prepared for the wilderness at all. If a person drives their car 50,000 miles/80,000 km without ever wearing their seatbelt and never having an accident does that mean that seatbelts are just for ignorant nubes? That's has basically been the message. It's based on entitlement thinking and making it all about miles, hence the weight, is largely an ego thing. Mountains don't care and more and more hikers don't care either about those silly trends from actual nubes demonstrating the Kruger Dunning effect to the extreme.
@@philsmith2444 btw if and when I even refer to the weight I carry, to me it's my kit weight, the amount of weight above my body weight that I have to tote. That's what matters because unless something really bad happens I will always have food and water. Occasionally I may use the term basic weight which is a rough average of my kit weight closer to the recently resupplied end than to the soon to be resupplied end. My basic weight varies but I like to keep it around 65 pounds which brings my total weight on the ground close to 50% of my lean body weight if I have an excess of body fat. A better weight shedding idea then becomes that of shedding body weight, sometimes.
I've been going to trail runners just for the weight. I remember an old rule that "every pound on your foot is worth 5 pounds in your pack". I used to have those heavy Goretex boots and after dealing with blisters and other issues, it's trail runners for me. I've been a fan of Altra and on my second pair. Merino wool socks are awesome for reducing blisters and keeping my feet cool. I've had good luck with Smartwool.
I used to hike in boots but I switched to trail runners about five years ago. What a difference it made I felt so much lighter. As for socks I used to wear smart wool but I tried darn tough and Farm to feet. I'm with you Dixie about Farm to Feet socks. I really like them. One thing you did not mention was "Waterproof socks". Pacifier was hiking the trail this year. She tried the Randy Sun Waterproof socks and they worked well keeping her feet dry and warm. The socks were cheaper than the named brands. I know one thing is not to hang them by the fire to dry. Darwin on the trail melted his when he hiked the PCT.
Love my hybrids. I used Merrell Vents on my '15 thru and I only needed 2 pairs. I then took one of those pairs that still had some miles left and went to the Camino and put another 500+ miles. I have over 2000 miles on a single pair of those vents.
@@drasticbread249 Keeping it real? About 2000 miles on the one pair and about 1300 on the other. I mean, sure I could have had them replaced earlier, but I wouldn't have worn them otherwise. The pair that has the most miles was new when going through ME / NH, so that helped. The tread was the reason I finally retired them. I had to replace the original soul before the tread wore out.
@@drasticbread249 I will also say that I've had a couple pair in the last 3 years and they didn't last nearly as long, so maybe they've changed the quality
@@drasticbread249 By the time they had 1500 miles, I was on the Camino in Spain. Lots of road walking, and gravel paths where you don't really need new tread. Good pair of inserts and they were good to go.
I always thought I needed hiking boots and that's what I used for a long time. It wasn't until seeing you talking about trail runners that I realized I didn't HAVE to wear big old boots. My trail runners are the best hiking purchase I've ever made!
Great content! I used to wear a low cut walking shoe/trail runner but discovered that after about 10 miles of walking that I develop blisters in the Achilles tendon area and switched over to mid height shoe/boot which seems to have solved that problem. So, as you suggest, go with what works for you. Everyone is different and there is no one solution. I've been using the Superfeet insoles for many years now, but will be trying the Dr. Scholl's and see how they compare. Yes to the Crocs for camp shoes!! As for socks, I've tried many different manufacturers for wool socks and only recently started wearing Silverlight socks. For me, these socks have been the best invention since the shoe. They are pricey, but for me and my feet, they are worth every penny. They are made for right and left feet so one has to pay attention to the toe box when putting them on to make sure the right sock is going on the right foot. ;-) I'd be curious to know if you or any of your subscribers have tried these socks and if so, what was their experience.
great video...being someone who intends to do alot more hiking, maybe even on the these tips are welcomed. I always thought boots were the only way to go..but I will give some of these trail shoes a shot...and the socks...womeding what tents you use ?
I think that rule about "one lb on your feet is 5 lbs on your back" is an internet myth. 5 lbs on your stomach is 1 lb on your knees. Army men all wear boots, not trail runners when they do their 12 mile hikes.
Yes we would do well to dispell that myth. btw for kit weight purposes I only count the weight of one of my hiker foot things (pretty much a boot, but not quite). One of them is always supported by the ground at all times after all. Anyway, to be fair and honest, and to show I'm not closed minded, there actually are now some modified military boots approved for some duties. These have barefoot style, zero drop soles, but they are still higher on the leg than the popular flimsy hiker things. I think this is a good thing btw. One thing known to some real old-timer military types, but otherwise hardly known at all, is that the worst thing in modern (50 years) footwear is all the cushioning underfoot. The old guys who knew their stuff went for a cushionless boot that had a stiff sole to protect the bottom of your foot and to allow consistency on a wide variety of often very rough terrain, in addition to being able to handle forced marches. Those were all leather boots btw which were much more flexible than most modern footwear made with all kinds of crazy layers of synthetic material stitched together thereby taking away most of the flexibility, breathability, etc. The popular flimsy things brings back breathability and flexibility but they sacrifice foot protection, durability and and they don't keep crud from getting in.
Great Video. I'm making sure my wife and granddaughters see this. I have been backpacking since the 1970's as a Boy Scout. Spent several years in the Army (where they called it something else). In my 60's I'm still hiking and backpacking with my family. I have used Army surplus gear, Army gear, and garage sale gear. THE ONE THING I DON'T SKIMP ON IS FOOTWARE! I prefer thin, white wicking socks next to my feet with wool socks over them. Rarely have an issue with blisters or other problems. I am a "tenderfoot" with weak ankles so I prefer boots. But my wife prefers rugged trail runners. But she also does the 2 pair of socks method.
Speaking from expiriance with rain gear taller boots are better about 8" tall is what I find perfect. You put your rain pants over them and no water gets to your feet. Also merino wool socks are pretty god tier.
Because of you I am trying TOPO shoes because of the vibrant soul. I do love my ultra lone peaks though. My first seven years of the AT I went through 7 pair of boots they tore my feet up it wasn’t until I start using ultras that my feet got better.this is my 13 year 268 mile to go.😁 thanks for great info
Even gaiters can't stop water from wicking into your shoes... if not from the ankles, it'll wick in from the laces or the tongue, but it does slow it down.
Rather in two minds about those altras. The zero drop has, I think, added to inflammations in my shins and achilles tendons. They enforce a different gait, with shorter and more frequent strides required for the same speed, so a higher energy consumption for the same distance. They wore out very quickly, fabric deteriorated noticeably within 200 kms, soles lost thread. But they were lightweight, airy, and (best thing about them) had a nice wide toebox. So, for me a sturdier trail shoe with a normal heel drop and the same wide toebox would be perfect.
Personally for what I hike my leather boots I really like. They give me support and they allow me to comfortably navigate rocky Terrain, muggy or wet terrain. I don't need to do river crossings and while leather isn't the most breathable I have only once had wet feet from rain and that was my mistake because I let my trousers get drenched and didn't keep the wet trousers away from my socks. While the leather can lead to sweaty feet, I wear a breathable lining socks and Merino hiking socks and that mitigates the issue enough for what I Set out to do.
I’ve broken my ankle multiple times and can’t hike in boots, I like the flexibility of free ankles, and the light weight of trail runners. 👍 (-mud and snow, that’s hard going)
Looking for a few more breaks to finally put you in a wheel chair your retirement years. If you can't hike at all in boots, that probably says DON"T HIKE. Switch to smooth walking paths, urban exploration... I've know far too many people MOANING about how in pain they are EVERY time they get up out of a chair due to life times of over exhertion damage injury
Love my Altra's! I've been ultra running in Ultras marathons for long while and even when hiking wear the Altra's. The mids you mentioned are really awesome shoes specially in sandy areas with a gater. You hit on all the points really great video to guide someone in the right direction for shoes.
Adding to your comments on heel drop - I love low stack, zero drop shoes for walking and hiking. When I started running on pavement, I bought similar running shoes. I had a lot of tendon and calf problems. I took a chance on a pair of high drop shoes. Fixed those problems immediately. Point is, just because one shoe profile works for one activity doesn't mean it works for others.
I love how you talk about what works for you but fully acknowledge how all bodies are different. I could never hike in shorts like you do... I sunburn so easily and bug bites get me down. I'm MUCH happier in full length pants. Same with no show socks... too much opportunity for something to get in my shoe, so I go with crew. We all HYOH though and everyone is happy. I am very lucky in that Altras worked SO well for me out of the gate, I didn't struggle with blisters or plantar facsiitis or anything. You can get knock off Lock Laces from Ali Express for about a buck a pair. I have STOCKED UP although I have recently learned about lock lacing with that extra hole on the runner and it's a game changer for normal laces.
You are so right for me after multiple broken toes an ankle and a foot for me boots are the only thing I will wear hiking but that is me, each person is different only you knows what you're feet need.
For the JMT, I wore boots --Asolos, which I loved. I never felt the rocks, I had a nice solid base for walking. I had had years suffering from plantar fasciatis, and I am rather heavy, so the firm sole worked great for me. I have worn trail runners on day hikes, but the sole was just too flexible for me to feel good. Now that my feet have lengthened a bit, and I developed a bunion (wearing Birkenstocks to stand up in all day at work), I am having real trouble finding some boots and shoes to fit. I am so sad that my Asolos are now too short for me. It is very individual. Thanks for the run down. ps. Wearing boots, I did not kick up very much dirt onto the backs of my legs.
I have bunions and Asolos and recently had my boots stretched out in the forefoot by a leather repair place. It could be option for you! Mine are way more roomy in the forefoot now.
My Oboz were the best thing I've ever worn for really rocky trails because Im 76 now and the pudgy pudge on the bottoms of my feet is gone. The bottoms of my feet now bruise really easily, and my ankles are weaker now too, so the Oboz just covered both those issues really well. I haven't worn 'em since, but can't bear to get rid of them. So comfy! Big toe box. Purchased at the hiking store beside the RR tracks in Black Mountain, NC. Great little store, BTW !! if you're in that neck of the woods.
I was told years ago "No shoe/boot is waterproof as long as they have a hole in the top of them." I used to own a pair or Goretex boots. My feet sweat profusely in them and I got rid of them fairly quickly.
There are now so many choices from nearly barefoot to SAR level survival boots that it's really no longer a simple distinction between ultra-light trail shoes and hiking boots from 80 years ago. Most footwear for hikers with rugged soles and above ankle height are still more like sneakers than any resemblance to the much older true boots from way back.
the irony that so called "light boots" of modern age that just look and weight like boots. they dont do anything what boots intended to do. my experience with boots in wilderness is nothing but positive, but i have proper boots and use gaiters. Week ago i did like 10+ knee deep streams per day on a week long backcountry hike, and it had been raining for 4 days, and they didnt wet out or leak, like didnt at any scenario over 5 years i own them, including easy 16000ft ascents, while a couple of people i had with me threw away their "light and comfortable footwear" away at the bus stop, because it had been tattered by absence of trail. Bringing boots for a thru hike is like using a tank for uber service in the city.
@@mezmerya5130 Your description of one extreme is a good one. Thanks for that. Your reference to the other extreme is appropriate, but I have to make a myth correction which is by no means your fault. The term thru hike has been hijacked, primarily by the ego tourist crowd doing their dumbed down version of serious trail running. Hikes can indeed be categorized into a few distinct classes and any number of arbitrary other types which imo are just best not done so as to encourage ppl to hike their own hike. One possible exception would be overnight or not and long versus short. For PCT permit hikers the arbitrary but established criteria for a long hike permit is 500 continuous miles, just as an example. So where does a thru-hike come in? Well simply put there are out and back hikes, there are loop hikes, like around a lake, and then there are hikes that start at one point and end at some arbitrarily distant point whether that distance is 3 miles, 300 miles or 3000 miles. That kind of hike is a thru hike. Trail conditions is another arbitrary thing that the hijackers, especially the app tourists have falsely connected with thru-hiking. A trail is just a roughly 18 inch wide strip of earth that provides a convenient access way into and often through a forest or wilderness. Trails are wonderful things, but traditionally a trail walk has not been the answer for spoiled kids to attain bogus feelings of great personal achievement and noteriety. The ancient Chinese had a saying that better expresses the better original intent of trails: "It's like a finger pointing away to the moon. Don't concentrate on the finger or you'll miss all that heavenly glory" Indeed, I have personally encountered many tourist type "thru hikers" who were missing out on the real glory which is outside of themselves.
@@mezmerya5130 Now back on the footwear topic and to bring it all together, the real issue is for people to know their purpose and know their terrain. Weather and other things also matter. The thing with many really long hikes is that so many different kinds of terrain are encountered, especially if one is like me and spends a lot of time exploring off trail. These kind of hikes do not fit either extreme, therefore the sensible choice in footwear is something between the extremes. Economics also plays a part as the extremes are anything but economical. One pair of serious wilderness boots may last half a lifetime but that's still a huge investment for someone who only ever does day hikes, a few overnighters and one high milage bucket list multi month hike in their life. The flimsey fly weight hiker shoes are economically even worse having to be replaced every 250 or 300 miles, often with them being unserviceable for many of those miles. Thus many people opt for a compromise, something dependable, affordable, and not too cumbersome for those really unaccustomed to real boots. The one big mistake I do still see there is that people are still too prone to falling for marketing hype not understanding that a proper match for the kind of foot a person has is important. A name brand means nothing if it's a mismatch. Few brands really deviate all that much. They tend to work for a certain foot type like a curved or straight last, a wide toe box or not, etc. Sadly for me, the ideal brand that would probably be best for me, Vasque, is beyond my price means.
Yeah, I agree with this, I mean, it's been a while since "hiking boots" and running shoes including trail runners were reduced to basically the same technology, glueing relatively flexible rubber soles to leather or maybe not so leather uppers. The good ole days of walnut cracking Vibram soles was a while ago. I still have a pair of Danners from way back when. ;^) I remember reading a comment 30 or 40 years ago about how everyone was basically buying really solid Alpine boots (at the time) that weren't appropriate for backpacking so some people had kind of figured it out even then just that it takes a while for more people to become believers. To be fair, i have 20 year old bikes that do just fine, and people point and compliment me on my "classic" bike.
@@paulrevere2379the meaning i attach to thru hiking is infrastructure quality and specifics, like the relatively short, but not daily resupply that allows ultralight lifestyle. USA folks think that it could be done safely worldwide while preaching their stuff, and never experiencing anything else.
Thank You so so so much for sharing your extensive experience with us. 2? years ago i tried Altra and Topos on your recommendation. Nobody else recommendation, all you. I keep the topos for the gym ( a bit overkill) but the Altras!!! hiking heck walking had become difficult with 13 years of Achilles tendonitis. Well, just completed 25 days of walking around 12 miles a day with elevation. The first few days shoulders, thighs ( from the weight of the backpack) everything was hurting except my feet! Dixie, YOU gave me back walking without pain for as long as i want. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! 😘😘😘Altra should sponsor you.
I only do days hikes. But have done Mt Washington 12 times. I also have done Highline Trail, Franconia Ridge and Katahdin. I have done some rugged, difficult day hikes. I use a cheap pair of Wal-Mart trail runners approx. cost 40$ and have never have had any issues with my feet. Maybe I am just lucky.
Once I hit ROCKSILVANIA to KATAHDIN I switch to my old army jungle boots for the ankle support and the awesome tread grip that only those boots can give. Mostly a light cross country running shoe. Flops in campsite.
Many decades and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of miles in boots. Never any problems and as others have said, it was just gospel that is what you did. When I first decided to section the AT, I saw your AT Through Hike video and read up on trail runners. I tried the Altra Lone Peaks the first section. I knew with what you everyone said I was onto something. Unfortunately with the extreme u-shaped wear of the early parts of the trail I rolled my ankles incessantly, although fortunately never badly. So I tried the Altra Lone Peak Mids the next section and have never looked back. That shoe is just fantastic! My wife loses toenails if she hikes anything with any significant altitude loss. I bought her a pair of the Mids and we hiked the climb up to the Harding Ice Fields in Alaska. Coming back down is guaranteed toenail death if you are subject to that. Not even a hint of an issue and she is now hooked as well. So boots for cold weather camping and snake country bushwhacking, but trail runners for serious hiking from now on.
Ya never hear anyone say, remember, you'll be using your feet, ankles etc for another 40 or 50 years, like 2 or 3 x the time most 'sports enthusiasts' have been alive, as that is mostly pre 30's, who haven't had to buckle down and provide for a family, care for family, put work before fun - or loose your job..... So, please comment on that. What is the right choice of footwear if you are looking to avoid joint replacement surgery, stiffening joints leading to crippling incapacity and endless pain, when you're 60, 70.... I believe the answer is BOOTS. So grow up, take responsibility, do what's right for all (your joint replaement, wheelchair etc all going to be paid by public or peoples insurance premiums). Bonus. The extra weight of boots gives you a better workout, keeps you in shape better, that's what it's all about, challange and conditioninig. Sports enthusiasts are'n't just in if for the 'records', the 'goals'. RIGHT !
Extra weight on the feet (Boots) reduces risk of injury. You quoted the Army research for weight vs energy, why is it the Army didn't go to a lighter shoe? Yes, you may walk 30,000 miles and never have an injury, or, you might walk 100 feet and break an ankle. How many sprains have you had walking all those trails? Stop obsessing over weight and time and think health. How are your back, knees, angles, other parts of your body going to be when you are 60, 70, 80....?
You have to recognize that working in the Army and Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail are two completely different things with different risks. In the Army there is higher risk of something heavy falling on your foot or puncturing your foot. Also the personnel is much different. In the army you have only young men with prerequisite fitness requirements so the difference in energy expenditure isn’t as much a concern as it is for many of the people hiking the AT. Wearing trail runners also allows your feet and ankles to strengthen, and many argue boots can cause injuries up and down the chain or chronic issues due to the unnatural movement of the foot and ankles. The Army only needs you to be fit for a few years in your prime. Plenty of Army vets switch to trail runners to thruhike the AT
Approaching 70 years old now. Been using the same pair of Kastinger leather boots since 1976 (46 years). Cost me the astounding amount of $75 back then. Resoled them three times. Maybe lighter is better though.
For me there is no question. I worked for a company that required us to wear boots doing some hard walking, pulling, pushing up to 15 miles a day. I will burn through 3 pairs a year. So after 8 years, I’ve tried many boots. They were all hell. Switched different companies that didn’t require boots and started wearing trail runners and aquatic shoes. Never going back.
Slower and more tiring. Yet the AT is being run as an athletic event in four months when it was supposed to be a year. Yet health wise those mild ankle sprains will lead to problems later Injuries not being given time to heal. Typical infantry injuries are ankles, knees, and hips with 20 additional years of wear and tear. But don't worry. Most cave people live into their forties. * Such a different way of showing affection.
Great video on footwear! But.. Abusing REI return policy is BS some of the footwear I see on the garage sale rack is shameful. Just because you can return it no questions asked doesn’t mean you should. Be a more responsible consumer keep co-op membership low cost
Hiking shoes/boots midsoles can have different stiffness. The height mentioned can have some impact on stiffness (I guess). I have arthritis in my toes and having a stiff midsole really helps. I'm currently using an Oboz Firebrand II Stone Hiking shoe and it really helps. I do not feel all the rocks and roots along the trail.
Awesome! I had realized about a year ago I did not like my boots. Getting older and I was tripping up on them. And my feet would sweat, leading to blisters. I use hiking shoes now, I still like the harder sole. But it’s so great to know I wasn’t alone on this! Hanging up the boots for now 😀
I bet all of you trail runner lovers put on a hiking boot, and expected it to be comfortable right from the get go, just as trail runners are. You'd have to walk in boots for 20-30 km before you can tackle some serious hikes.
Boots are great. Not to ankle support, thats just a myth, you prevent injured ankles with strong ankles and not getting over tired. But boots are durable, stable, protect your feet, comfortable, and warm in bad weathers. Trail runners and lighter, and dry quickly but you will get wet. Use what you want, but a good fitting boot/shoe should be ok to wear day in day out. if you cant do that, its not the right fit.
Boots trip the metal detectors at airports. So stop, take them off, put them in tray, walk through, collect boots, collect other stuff, put other stuff back where it was, move away, put boots back on, lace up.
Dixie, what about using fairest treated with permethrin as a defence against ticks? Is that a reasonable idea, or extra complexity to address an exaggerated problem?
There we go again with your invaluable insights/tested/considerations, to the gear you should consider, yes, and why. All to which you offer bolstering grand advice, Dixie. My change will definitely come with footwear, as a tramper mountaineer from the 60's, boots have always been drummed in! For the last 30-35 yrs, I have used many types of trail hikers. Many should not have been marketed. Rubbish. Lack of willingness to adapt to people's individual differences, and needs. NO, service. That IS bleak. The Pressure for the $ however has a change in attitude! Thanks, DIXIE, you are just wonderful..............
I wear trail runners because I run trails. I have boots for the motorcycle and I wear boots all day at work. I get the most comfortable boots I can find and they still are not really comfortable to me. I would go barefoot everywhere if I didn’t need to protect my feet.
I am a big fan of thin mesh breathable shoes for hikes as well as everyday wear, but after rolling my ankle several times, I almost always use heavier leather mid boots for trails
my keen boots let water in every time through the boot walls, but they are the best to stop bunion pain, and stop you getting bunnions as they dont scrunch you toes and let you toes spread a bit
I wore boots my entire hike and it worked well for me. I stepped around water, was mindful of when I hiked in the rain, and used flip flops for river crossings. What I liked most was the support for my feet and ankles and how warm and waterproof they were. In my experience with wearing boots I didn’t ever sprain my ankle like many do without boots. I’ve worn many type of shoes from chacós to trail runners and I have had success with all of them, but mostly boots and trail runners. I wore 1 pair of boots for my hike which cost me $109. Where as hikers go through around 4 pairs of trail runners on the A.T. which can cost between $300-$400 for a thru-hike.
Did you hike the AT with boots? I am interested because I really like my low Iowa Renegade GTX, but it takes 3 days to dry when they get wet. How did you manage hiking in rain?
Love my Salomon boots. Not much heavier than trail runners and I don’t spend all day dumping pebbles out of my shoes and I just feel more stable.
Too narrow.
Trail shoes make my feet sore - particularly hiking in New Hampshire’s White Mountains on muddy trails and a lot of granite boulders and slick wet roots/branches. I wear boots - often a lighter hiking boot - but I need a firm sole and better support than I can get with a trail shoe. That’s what works for me.
I have been using heavy leather boots on all my outdoor endeavors for over 20 years. Hiking, camping, working, bush crafting, scouting, winter survival... They offer superior protecting, longevity and comfort. I also never had any problems with overheating. I find the current trend of putting weight first in every aspect of the outdoor gear industry very disturbing. Many good mountain guides will not take you up a mountain if you aren't wearing proper boots. That being said I absolutely think that footwear is an individual choice and everybody shall use what he likes most. I just don't think that the extreme popularity of trailrunners over boots (that I believe is caused by the industry) is beneficial to the majority of hikers.
The boots I had for the last 20 years were about double the weight of my new ones - and the new ones are better in many ways. Most thru-hikers are pretty close to ultralite so their packs are 10-20lbs at most, trail runners may work for most of them. Most weekend hikers are going to have 25-40lb packs which is where boots are probably a better option. I use hiking shoes for day hikes, they are great with a 6lb pack but boots for backpacking. No matter what, your sock system is critical to not getting blisters - I haven't had one in over 20 years using a liner sock inner and a thick wool sock outer.
I think if your sticking to trails trying to go 20 miles a day, then trail runners are great. If you spend any amount of time off trail bushwhacking and exploring rougher terrains then you really should wear boots.
Boots (or any Hightop shoes) upset my tendons something mad, but my mom swears by them!
@@danpedersen3311 I've tried liner socks and what I noticed is that there is some "slippage" or movement between the inner and outer socks. Especially while going downhill. My toes don't touch the front of the toe box but what ends up happening is that the inner sock causes my foot/toes to slip forward to where the outer sock stops the forward movement. It feels like my toes are hitting the toe box, but they aren't. Have you come across this issue and if so, what did you do to correct the problem?
@@meltdownman1 just a guess but maybe your wool sock may not be sized properly if you have that much room between the liner and the sock.
This has been a great series, Dixie. Well thought out, comprehensive and well put together.
I met quite a few newbies on the trails in the last 2 yrs. Many of them were using trail runners and trekking poles because that's what youtubers told them to do. Another thing, companies should start making hiking boots without GTX again. It is almost impossible to find boots without GTX or other waterproof liner. WTF?!!
When I started hiking (a long long time ago) I chose boots because I was always rolling my ankles and figured I needed the extra protection….even w the rigid boots I ended up severely rolling an ankle and headed to a sports Dr. He gave me advice that changed my life. Instead of using the heavy boots which caused a huge amt of foot, ankle, and leg fatigue which then led to falls and strains, he told me to try trail runners, increase my hiking time very gradually and build up the natural physical support and strength I lacked in my ankles. Since that epiphany, I have only rolled an ankle once in 10 yrs (when I slipped on wet rocks.) The ONLY time I put on heavy boots now is to do mountain summits where temp is an issue.
BTW….everything you said in this video was SPOT ON! All you beginning hikers….pay attention and listen!
or..... you could have built up gradually STILL WEARING BOOTS and ended up with stronger muscles AND protection of boots to prevent rolling. As you HAVE an inherent issue you shoul be taking MAXIMUM care. So says someone who didn't and had to ice their feet and ankles for over 20 yrs after accumulated injury and stress led to crippling pain - issue, weak ankles, ie, foot rolling over
A LONG time ago when I still backpacked it was almost "required" that you needed heavy 5 lb boots or you'd break an ankle. One year I'd crashed my bike a week before a backpacking trip and had sever road rash on my shin going down to near the top of my foot. Needless to say I couldn't wear the boots. I got a pair of low cut hiking shoes and they worked so well I never went back to boots.
The more ankle support there is the higher the probability of a break because it reduces flexibility and gives the bone something to break against.
Like breaking a long stick is far easier against your knee than by holding the two ends and using muscle 💪
I still have those 5 pound boots! Raichle - built like tanks and just as heavy. On the upside, you can walk rocky trails with impunity.
Thanks Dixie, great info. People should really listen to her I have been a fan every since she pulled off the 60 + miles in 24 hours on the PCT.
Based on your excellent advice, my wife (Grammy) switched to trail runners. She has never looked back. She is more willing to go hiking since. Thanks Ms. Dixie!!
Also, is there any stats on folks who have done the AT barefoot?
Dang, I just stumbled upon this channel and watched this entire video about socks and shoes. Who knew? 🤷🏼♂️ 🤣
Dixie, great video. I started with boots. You are so right about boot being durable. But when they get wet from sweat or rain they suck. They will not dry out to be on the trail the next day. I switched to Altra lone peak and last year the Olympus. Love them. They dry easy. And they are comfortable and perform well. I switched to them partly because of bunions. I have not done a thru hike yet. Howev, I have done plenty of ten to 15 milers. And a couple 50+ milers. Performed great.
Also, right again. Don't be cheap on socks.
In mountaineering classes, we discussed footwear, because if your feet don't move well you don't move well. Prior to a long outing, go hiking in inclement weather (rain, snow, wind) to learn what gear performs best, and learn how your body responds to different conditions.
I bought some B2 boots for the Scottish winter and have only wore them once since i bought them in April. It's like wearing ice skates on regular ground but need to break them in some what. 😅
Odd thing is there are some hybrid trail runner/low cut hiker or high top runners that people use. If my brother could run and not have a rather bad Asthma for life, due to his big body size and foot shape he would use Merrill Moab Low cut hikers first designed for the Moab 240 running race originally with the more leather version before trail runners were able to have mesh hold up better in regular trail shoes. My brother using the wide but the more mesh lite/light versions of still made more for hiking since he uses the High Top version Merril Moab Hiker II for everyday use and has a low top/II as a standard shoe he wears less. Depending on the terrain and season I would use either some old trail runner shoes all Brooks Cascadia models no longer good for running but for other less high impact for hiking due to the rock plate or my Timberland model of shoes but only if winter due to the upper being all leather so the cold can't get in yet have both my chain, Ice Chains from Yak Track and no brand higher quality spiked slip on traction. Xero Shoes has some super minimal that the least durable trail models including trail running shoes and sport shoes will last enough to go from LA California to DC and some can go LA California to DC and back to LA in distance due to the type of rubber used with no midsole at all just a sock-liner that can be replaced/removed.
I just did a weekend on the AT in PA and man, I don't know how people make it through there without boots!
The top piece of advice I heard only once - and it took a really honest and patient salesman to admit it - is; the only way to find the right shoe or boot is to try everything in the store.
That's what I've been doing ever since. Takes a while, but I haven't had any problems since.
If it isn’t freezing I like a shoe that feels as barefoot as possible. I’d go barefoot all the time if I could.
Zero drop shoes were the ONLY shoes that helped with my PF. Love my Altras.
I hurt both my Achilles tendons with zero drop shoes. Took about 6 months to develop but had to switch back to trail shoes to get the heel stack back. Was hoping they'd work but... oh well. Words to the wise, break in to zero drop slowly .
Your wisdom, experience and expertise really shows in a wonderfully light hearted way. Great video and smart smart advice. 👍
The reason your boots didn't work was because your heel and Achilles tendon were rubbing against the back of the boot which leads to tendonitis. The boots need to be laced up and/or tied differently. The heel needs to be snug in the back of the boot. ---I learned hiking/backpacking in the '60's when all we had were those big Frankenstein boots. Had to learn how to make them work. That said I prefer my low-top boots- not really trail runners- because they are snug and protect my feet better that the minimalist Trail runners. Just my thing. Tried trail runners and returned them to REI. Everybody is different.
Good point, they still don't dry quickly though like trail runners do. Especially if you keep walking through wet terrain.
If I didn't hike with trekking poles, I'd probably need hiking boots because I tend to be incredibly clumsy hiking on rocky terrain and I've had a lot of close calls when I haven't brought at least one pole along.
@Nooneinparticular987 The way those Vapor Gloves contour around your foot as you move seems to me like it would make a big difference. I've never used anything like those myself, I have Hoka Speedgoats though and I really prefer the high layer of padding at the bottom of them when I'm walking.
Used leather hiking boots for years with a goretex liner as a construction/hiker boot.
After trying trail runner lonepeak 3.5 I was hooked.., well , until I purchased the lonepeak 6.0 …
Something in the shoe has dramatically changed. My ankles and the tops of my feet hurt some where b4 my feet were happy and raring to go hiking.
I Dono, I still have my old lonepeak 3.5s that I use for loafing around the house or driving, but the new ones just aren’t the same……..
I loved it when you said, "Ask me how I know" lol! All the best lessons are learned the hard way, sadly.
One thing I notice is the disappearance of the “fell boot”, once very popular in Europe. A really good reason for high top styles like this is protecting your ankle bones,a miserable injury amongst the rocks.
Having hiked in Norway, I wouldn't do it in anything but boots unless I was on a well groomed trail. Too many sharp rocks that can injure your feet.
@@not-a-raccoonnot to mention bugs going into low top shoes. After watching this video it's solidified my opinion that boots are the best footwear for all occasions 😁
It's a bit of a fallacy to think that footwear material above the ankle is for ankle support. In some cases that's part of it, but many of us do not need or desire ankle support. How we backpack, meaning that we go beyond just the nice groomed trail, makes ankle PROTECTION very important. Additionally I go for footwear that keeps the dirt and crud out. That's the stuff that would destroy my feet, not a little sweat. Anyone who has seen the feet of those who prefer the flimsy ninja slippers type shoes knows what I'm referring to; no thanks for me.
@Nooneinparticular987 Having to be rescued when they have preventable accidents on snowy mountains.
Yes there are athletes who chose to use scenic trails to get their satisfaction instead of real competitive races. That's fine. Good for them, but others not at those levels of fitness ignorantly try to mimic what they see glamorized and then they get themselves hurt in the process.
Thankfully, the trend seems to be shifting so that more people can return to hiking their own hikes by rejecting the hype of recent trends which have passed their high water mark.
@@paulrevere2379 Like the pressure to lower base weight. Is a lighter pack better? Yes, as long as you have everything you need. But so many people make the lowest possible base weight their goal, not the hike.
@@philsmith2444 Those who go out to the wilderness prepared only for ideal conditions are not prepared for the wilderness at all.
If a person drives their car 50,000 miles/80,000 km without ever wearing their seatbelt and never having an accident does that mean that seatbelts are just for ignorant nubes? That's has basically been the message. It's based on entitlement thinking and making it all about miles, hence the weight, is largely an ego thing. Mountains don't care and more and more hikers don't care either about those silly trends from actual nubes demonstrating the Kruger Dunning effect to the extreme.
@@philsmith2444 btw if and when I even refer to the weight I carry, to me it's my kit weight, the amount of weight above my body weight that I have to tote. That's what matters because unless something really bad happens I will always have food and water. Occasionally I may use the term basic weight which is a rough average of my kit weight closer to the recently resupplied end than to the soon to be resupplied end. My basic weight varies but I like to keep it around 65 pounds which brings my total weight on the ground close to 50% of my lean body weight if I have an excess of body fat. A better weight shedding idea then becomes that of shedding body weight, sometimes.
I've been going to trail runners just for the weight. I remember an old rule that "every pound on your foot is worth 5 pounds in your pack". I used to have those heavy Goretex boots and after dealing with blisters and other issues, it's trail runners for me. I've been a fan of Altra and on my second pair. Merino wool socks are awesome for reducing blisters and keeping my feet cool. I've had good luck with Smartwool.
I used to hike in boots but I switched to trail runners about five years ago. What a difference it made I felt so much lighter. As for socks I used to wear smart wool but I tried darn tough and Farm to feet. I'm with you Dixie about Farm to Feet socks. I really like them. One thing you did not mention was "Waterproof socks". Pacifier was hiking the trail this year. She tried the Randy Sun Waterproof socks and they worked well keeping her feet dry and warm. The socks were cheaper than the named brands. I know one thing is not to hang them by the fire to dry. Darwin on the trail melted his when he hiked the PCT.
Trail runners work if you have a trail. If no trail you need boots.
Love my hybrids. I used Merrell Vents on my '15 thru and I only needed 2 pairs. I then took one of those pairs that still had some miles left and went to the Camino and put another 500+ miles. I have over 2000 miles on a single pair of those vents.
Okay but keep it real, how long until the treads were mostly worn?
@@drasticbread249 Keeping it real? About 2000 miles on the one pair and about 1300 on the other. I mean, sure I could have had them replaced earlier, but I wouldn't have worn them otherwise. The pair that has the most miles was new when going through ME / NH, so that helped. The tread was the reason I finally retired them. I had to replace the original soul before the tread wore out.
@@drasticbread249 I will also say that I've had a couple pair in the last 3 years and they didn't last nearly as long, so maybe they've changed the quality
@@bradcofo Just I can't imagine they had much tread left if any by like 1500 miles, it just doesn't seem physically possible.
@@drasticbread249 By the time they had 1500 miles, I was on the Camino in Spain. Lots of road walking, and gravel paths where you don't really need new tread. Good pair of inserts and they were good to go.
I always thought I needed hiking boots and that's what I used for a long time. It wasn't until seeing you talking about trail runners that I realized I didn't HAVE to wear big old boots. My trail runners are the best hiking purchase I've ever made!
Great content! I used to wear a low cut walking shoe/trail runner but discovered that after about 10 miles of walking that I develop blisters in the Achilles tendon area and switched over to mid height shoe/boot which seems to have solved that problem. So, as you suggest, go with what works for you. Everyone is different and there is no one solution. I've been using the Superfeet insoles for many years now, but will be trying the Dr. Scholl's and see how they compare. Yes to the Crocs for camp shoes!! As for socks, I've tried many different manufacturers for wool socks and only recently started wearing Silverlight socks. For me, these socks have been the best invention since the shoe. They are pricey, but for me and my feet, they are worth every penny. They are made for right and left feet so one has to pay attention to the toe box when putting them on to make sure the right sock is going on the right foot. ;-) I'd be curious to know if you or any of your subscribers have tried these socks and if so, what was their experience.
great video...being someone who intends to do alot more hiking, maybe even on the these tips are welcomed. I always thought boots were the only way to go..but I will give some of these trail shoes a shot...and the socks...womeding what tents you use ?
I think that rule about "one lb on your feet is 5 lbs on your back" is an internet myth. 5 lbs on your stomach is 1 lb on your knees. Army men all wear boots, not trail runners when they do their 12 mile hikes.
Yes we would do well to dispell that myth. btw for kit weight purposes I only count the weight of one of my hiker foot things (pretty much a boot, but not quite). One of them is always supported by the ground at all times after all.
Anyway, to be fair and honest, and to show I'm not closed minded, there actually are now some modified military boots approved for some duties. These have barefoot style, zero drop soles, but they are still higher on the leg than the popular flimsy hiker things.
I think this is a good thing btw. One thing known to some real old-timer military types, but otherwise hardly known at all, is that the worst thing in modern (50 years) footwear is all the cushioning underfoot. The old guys who knew their stuff went for a cushionless boot that had a stiff sole to protect the bottom of your foot and to allow consistency on a wide variety of often very rough terrain, in addition to being able to handle forced marches. Those were all leather boots btw which were much more flexible than most modern footwear made with all kinds of crazy layers of synthetic material stitched together thereby taking away most of the flexibility, breathability, etc.
The popular flimsy things brings back breathability and flexibility but they sacrifice foot protection, durability and and they don't keep crud from getting in.
Great Video. I'm making sure my wife and granddaughters see this. I have been backpacking since the 1970's as a Boy Scout. Spent several years in the Army (where they called it something else). In my 60's I'm still hiking and backpacking with my family. I have used Army surplus gear, Army gear, and garage sale gear. THE ONE THING I DON'T SKIMP ON IS FOOTWARE! I prefer thin, white wicking socks next to my feet with wool socks over them. Rarely have an issue with blisters or other problems. I am a "tenderfoot" with weak ankles so I prefer boots. But my wife prefers rugged trail runners. But she also does the 2 pair of socks method.
Speaking from expiriance with rain gear taller boots are better about 8" tall is what I find perfect. You put your rain pants over them and no water gets to your feet. Also merino wool socks are pretty god tier.
Because of you I am trying TOPO shoes because of the vibrant soul. I do love my ultra lone peaks though. My first seven years of the AT I went through 7 pair of boots they tore my feet up it wasn’t until I start using ultras that my feet got better.this is my 13 year 268 mile to go.😁 thanks for great info
Even gaiters can't stop water from wicking into your shoes... if not from the ankles, it'll wick in from the laces or the tongue, but it does slow it down.
Rather in two minds about those altras. The zero drop has, I think, added to inflammations in my shins and achilles tendons. They enforce a different gait, with shorter and more frequent strides required for the same speed, so a higher energy consumption for the same distance. They wore out very quickly, fabric deteriorated noticeably within 200 kms, soles lost thread. But they were lightweight, airy, and (best thing about them) had a nice wide toebox. So, for me a sturdier trail shoe with a normal heel drop and the same wide toebox would be perfect.
I go with synthetic Darn Tough sox. They're called CoolMax and I think they're actually superior to wool sox.
Personally for what I hike my leather boots I really like. They give me support and they allow me to comfortably navigate rocky Terrain, muggy or wet terrain. I don't need to do river crossings and while leather isn't the most breathable I have only once had wet feet from rain and that was my mistake because I let my trousers get drenched and didn't keep the wet trousers away from my socks. While the leather can lead to sweaty feet, I wear a breathable lining socks and Merino hiking socks and that mitigates the issue enough for what I Set out to do.
I’ve broken my ankle multiple times and can’t hike in boots, I like the flexibility of free ankles, and the light weight of trail runners. 👍 (-mud and snow, that’s hard going)
This is something SO RARELY CONSIDERED outside the roller skating community.
Flexibility is the best way to prevent a break!!
This comment deserves a thousand likes and I hope it gets them.
Looking for a few more breaks to finally put you in a wheel chair your retirement years. If you can't hike at all in boots, that probably says DON"T HIKE. Switch to smooth walking paths, urban exploration... I've know far too many people MOANING about how in pain they are EVERY time they get up out of a chair due to life times of over exhertion damage injury
Merino wool absolutely rocks. Darn Tough is the only sock I use now. I did wear a hole in one pair.
Love my Altra's! I've been ultra running in Ultras marathons for long while and even when hiking wear the Altra's. The mids you mentioned are really awesome shoes specially in sandy areas with a gater.
You hit on all the points really great video to guide someone in the right direction for shoes.
Adding to your comments on heel drop - I love low stack, zero drop shoes for walking and hiking. When I started running on pavement, I bought similar running shoes. I had a lot of tendon and calf problems. I took a chance on a pair of high drop shoes. Fixed those problems immediately. Point is, just because one shoe profile works for one activity doesn't mean it works for others.
I love how you talk about what works for you but fully acknowledge how all bodies are different. I could never hike in shorts like you do... I sunburn so easily and bug bites get me down. I'm MUCH happier in full length pants. Same with no show socks... too much opportunity for something to get in my shoe, so I go with crew. We all HYOH though and everyone is happy. I am very lucky in that Altras worked SO well for me out of the gate, I didn't struggle with blisters or plantar facsiitis or anything. You can get knock off Lock Laces from Ali Express for about a buck a pair. I have STOCKED UP although I have recently learned about lock lacing with that extra hole on the runner and it's a game changer for normal laces.
You are so right for me after multiple broken toes an ankle and a foot for me boots are the only thing I will wear hiking but that is me, each person is different only you knows what you're feet need.
Arch support is a huge deal, I had to have surgery on my foot for plantar fasciitis. Got so bad I could not take a step.
For the JMT, I wore boots --Asolos, which I loved. I never felt the rocks, I had a nice solid base for walking. I had had years suffering from plantar fasciatis, and I am rather heavy, so the firm sole worked great for me. I have worn trail runners on day hikes, but the sole was just too flexible for me to feel good. Now that my feet have lengthened a bit, and I developed a bunion (wearing Birkenstocks to stand up in all day at work), I am having real trouble finding some boots and shoes to fit. I am so sad that my Asolos are now too short for me. It is very individual. Thanks for the run down. ps. Wearing boots, I did not kick up very much dirt onto the backs of my legs.
I have bunions and Asolos and recently had my boots stretched out in the forefoot by a leather repair place. It could be option for you! Mine are way more roomy in the forefoot now.
My Oboz were the best thing I've ever worn for really rocky trails because Im 76 now and the pudgy pudge on the bottoms of my feet is gone. The bottoms of my feet now bruise really easily, and my ankles are weaker now too, so the Oboz just covered both those issues really well. I haven't worn 'em since, but can't bear to get rid of them. So comfy! Big toe box. Purchased at the hiking store beside the RR tracks in Black Mountain, NC. Great little store, BTW !! if you're in that neck of the woods.
I was told years ago "No shoe/boot is waterproof as long as they have a hole in the top of them."
I used to own a pair or Goretex boots. My feet sweat profusely in them and I got rid of them fairly quickly.
There are now so many choices from nearly barefoot to SAR level survival boots that it's really no longer a simple distinction between ultra-light trail shoes and hiking boots from 80 years ago.
Most footwear for hikers with rugged soles and above ankle height are still more like sneakers than any resemblance to the much older true boots from way back.
the irony that so called "light boots" of modern age that just look and weight like boots. they dont do anything what boots intended to do. my experience with boots in wilderness is nothing but positive, but i have proper boots and use gaiters. Week ago i did like 10+ knee deep streams per day on a week long backcountry hike, and it had been raining for 4 days, and they didnt wet out or leak, like didnt at any scenario over 5 years i own them, including easy 16000ft ascents, while a couple of people i had with me threw away their "light and comfortable footwear" away at the bus stop, because it had been tattered by absence of trail. Bringing boots for a thru hike is like using a tank for uber service in the city.
@@mezmerya5130 Your description of one extreme is a good one. Thanks for that.
Your reference to the other extreme is appropriate, but I have to make a myth correction which is by no means your fault.
The term thru hike has been hijacked, primarily by the ego tourist crowd doing their dumbed down version of serious trail running.
Hikes can indeed be categorized into a few distinct classes and any number of arbitrary other types which imo are just best not done so as to encourage ppl to hike their own hike. One possible exception would be overnight or not and long versus short. For PCT permit hikers the arbitrary but established criteria for a long hike permit is 500 continuous miles, just as an example.
So where does a thru-hike come in? Well simply put there are out and back hikes, there are loop hikes, like around a lake, and then there are hikes that start at one point and end at some arbitrarily distant point whether that distance is 3 miles, 300 miles or 3000 miles. That kind of hike is a thru hike.
Trail conditions is another arbitrary thing that the hijackers, especially the app tourists have falsely connected with thru-hiking. A trail is just a roughly 18 inch wide strip of earth that provides a convenient access way into and often through a forest or wilderness. Trails are wonderful things, but traditionally a trail walk has not been the answer for spoiled kids to attain bogus feelings of great personal achievement and noteriety.
The ancient Chinese had a saying that better expresses the better original intent of trails:
"It's like a finger pointing away to the moon. Don't concentrate on the finger or you'll miss all that heavenly glory"
Indeed, I have personally encountered many tourist type "thru hikers" who were missing out on the real glory which is outside of themselves.
@@mezmerya5130 Now back on the footwear topic and to bring it all together, the real issue is for people to know their purpose and know their terrain. Weather and other things also matter.
The thing with many really long hikes is that so many different kinds of terrain are encountered, especially if one is like me and spends a lot of time exploring off trail. These kind of hikes do not fit either extreme, therefore the sensible choice in footwear is something between the extremes.
Economics also plays a part as the extremes are anything but economical. One pair of serious wilderness boots may last half a lifetime but that's still a huge investment for someone who only ever does day hikes, a few overnighters and one high milage bucket list multi month hike in their life.
The flimsey fly weight hiker shoes are economically even worse having to be replaced every 250 or 300 miles, often with them being unserviceable for many of those miles.
Thus many people opt for a compromise, something dependable, affordable, and not too cumbersome for those really unaccustomed to real boots. The one big mistake I do still see there is that people are still too prone to falling for marketing hype not understanding that a proper match for the kind of foot a person has is important. A name brand means nothing if it's a mismatch. Few brands really deviate all that much. They tend to work for a certain foot type like a curved or straight last, a wide toe box or not, etc.
Sadly for me, the ideal brand that would probably be best for me, Vasque, is beyond my price means.
Yeah, I agree with this, I mean, it's been a while since "hiking boots" and running shoes including trail runners were reduced to basically the same technology, glueing relatively flexible rubber soles to leather or maybe not so leather uppers. The good ole days of walnut cracking Vibram soles was a while ago. I still have a pair of Danners from way back when. ;^) I remember reading a comment 30 or 40 years ago about how everyone was basically buying really solid Alpine boots (at the time) that weren't appropriate for backpacking so some people had kind of figured it out even then just that it takes a while for more people to become believers. To be fair, i have 20 year old bikes that do just fine, and people point and compliment me on my "classic" bike.
@@paulrevere2379the meaning i attach to thru hiking is infrastructure quality and specifics, like the relatively short, but not daily resupply that allows ultralight lifestyle. USA folks think that it could be done safely worldwide while preaching their stuff, and never experiencing anything else.
Thank You so so so much for sharing your extensive experience with us. 2? years ago i tried Altra and Topos on your recommendation. Nobody else recommendation, all you. I keep the topos for the gym ( a bit overkill) but the Altras!!! hiking heck walking had become difficult with 13 years of Achilles tendonitis. Well, just completed 25 days of walking around 12 miles a day with elevation. The first few days shoulders, thighs ( from the weight of the backpack) everything was hurting except my feet! Dixie, YOU gave me back walking without pain for as long as i want. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! 😘😘😘Altra should sponsor you.
I only do days hikes. But have done Mt Washington 12 times. I also have done Highline Trail, Franconia Ridge and Katahdin. I have done some rugged, difficult day hikes. I use a cheap pair of Wal-Mart trail runners approx. cost 40$ and have never have had any issues with my feet. Maybe I am just lucky.
Once I hit ROCKSILVANIA to KATAHDIN I switch to my old army jungle boots for the ankle support and the awesome tread grip that only those boots can give. Mostly a light cross country running shoe. Flops in campsite.
Many decades and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of miles in boots. Never any problems and as others have said, it was just gospel that is what you did. When I first decided to section the AT, I saw your AT Through Hike video and read up on trail runners. I tried the Altra Lone Peaks the first section. I knew with what you everyone said I was onto something. Unfortunately with the extreme u-shaped wear of the early parts of the trail I rolled my ankles incessantly, although fortunately never badly. So I tried the Altra Lone Peak Mids the next section and have never looked back. That shoe is just fantastic! My wife loses toenails if she hikes anything with any significant altitude loss. I bought her a pair of the Mids and we hiked the climb up to the Harding Ice Fields in Alaska. Coming back down is guaranteed toenail death if you are subject to that. Not even a hint of an issue and she is now hooked as well. So boots for cold weather camping and snake country bushwhacking, but trail runners for serious hiking from now on.
I am a fan of altra trail runners. Light. Comforter. Quick drying.
Ya never hear anyone say, remember, you'll be using your feet, ankles etc for another 40 or 50 years, like 2 or 3 x the time most 'sports enthusiasts' have been alive, as that is mostly pre 30's, who haven't had to buckle down and provide for a family, care for family, put work before fun - or loose your job..... So, please comment on that. What is the right choice of footwear if you are looking to avoid joint replacement surgery, stiffening joints leading to crippling incapacity and endless pain, when you're 60, 70.... I believe the answer is BOOTS. So grow up, take responsibility, do what's right for all (your joint replaement, wheelchair etc all going to be paid by public or peoples insurance premiums). Bonus. The extra weight of boots gives you a better workout, keeps you in shape better, that's what it's all about, challange and conditioninig. Sports enthusiasts are'n't just in if for the 'records', the 'goals'. RIGHT !
Curious if you've ever worn GRIP6 socks? They intrigue me and I appreciate the feedback.
Extra weight on the feet (Boots) reduces risk of injury. You quoted the Army research for weight vs energy, why is it the Army didn't go to a lighter shoe? Yes, you may walk 30,000 miles and never have an injury, or, you might walk 100 feet and break an ankle. How many sprains have you had walking all those trails? Stop obsessing over weight and time and think health. How are your back, knees, angles, other parts of your body going to be when you are 60, 70, 80....?
You have to recognize that working in the Army and Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail are two completely different things with different risks. In the Army there is higher risk of something heavy falling on your foot or puncturing your foot. Also the personnel is much different. In the army you have only young men with prerequisite fitness requirements so the difference in energy expenditure isn’t as much a concern as it is for many of the people hiking the AT. Wearing trail runners also allows your feet and ankles to strengthen, and many argue boots can cause injuries up and down the chain or chronic issues due to the unnatural movement of the foot and ankles. The Army only needs you to be fit for a few years in your prime. Plenty of Army vets switch to trail runners to thruhike the AT
Approaching 70 years old now. Been using the same pair of Kastinger leather boots since 1976 (46 years). Cost me the astounding amount of $75 back then. Resoled them three times. Maybe lighter is better though.
I only wear zero shoes. There all super light shoes/boots. They basically weigh nothing. And there super comfortable
If you're a skinny 20 year old skipping down the trail then trail runners, but if you're a large dim-witted bohemoth like me...
For me there is no question. I worked for a company that required us to wear boots doing some hard walking, pulling, pushing up to 15 miles a day. I will burn through 3 pairs a year. So after 8 years, I’ve tried many boots. They were all hell. Switched different companies that didn’t require boots and started wearing trail runners and aquatic shoes. Never going back.
Slower and more tiring. Yet the AT is being run as an athletic event in four months when it was supposed to be a year. Yet health wise those mild ankle sprains will lead to problems later Injuries not being given time to heal. Typical infantry injuries are ankles, knees, and hips with 20 additional years of wear and tear. But don't worry. Most cave people live into their forties.
* Such a different way of showing affection.
What’s with the on again/off again southern accent. Sounds contrived.
Great video on footwear! But.. Abusing REI return policy is BS some of the footwear I see on the garage sale rack is shameful. Just because you can return it no questions asked doesn’t mean you should. Be a more responsible consumer keep co-op membership low cost
We switched to trail runners about 2 decades ago and haven't looked back. 💪
Hiking shoes/boots midsoles can have different stiffness. The height mentioned can have some impact on stiffness (I guess). I have arthritis in my toes and having a stiff midsole really helps. I'm currently using an Oboz Firebrand II Stone Hiking shoe and it really helps. I do not feel all the rocks and roots along the trail.
I got with mocs and crocs. I am usually barefoot or wearing moccasins unless carrying loads over 60lbs.
I used my german "Meindel" boots, full leather and really heavy. They lasted the whole 2200 miles of the AT and I never changed them.
Lose a toenail and then decide !!! lol
My advice would be wear what you have/can afford.
RUclipsrs have a lot of people over thinking
I like hiking in running shoes. But I bought boots for hunting and love them for off trail and snow/cold. I’m using them for my winter boots
Awesome! I had realized about a year ago I did not like my boots. Getting older and I was tripping up on them. And my feet would sweat, leading to blisters. I use hiking shoes now, I still like the harder sole. But it’s so great to know I wasn’t alone on this! Hanging up the boots for now 😀
I bet all of you trail runner lovers put on a hiking boot, and expected it to be comfortable right from the get go, just as trail runners are. You'd have to walk in boots for 20-30 km before you can tackle some serious hikes.
Boots are great. Not to ankle support, thats just a myth, you prevent injured ankles with strong ankles and not getting over tired. But boots are durable, stable, protect your feet, comfortable, and warm in bad weathers. Trail runners and lighter, and dry quickly but you will get wet. Use what you want, but a good fitting boot/shoe should be ok to wear day in day out. if you cant do that, its not the right fit.
No boots, trail runners if you're young, strong, and athletic. I need the stability and support of a hiking boot.
Boots trip the metal detectors at airports. So stop, take them off, put them in tray, walk through, collect boots, collect other stuff, put other stuff back where it was, move away, put boots back on, lace up.
I like my boots, the sense of protection. Currently testing out the hoka speedgoat a lower profile boot..
I learned that having a pair of swim shoes is good for around camp while the hiking shoes are being... cooked dry?
How did you survive not getting stabbed in Georgia? Most hikers that end up on a true crime documentary all get attacked in Georgia.
Dixie, what about using fairest treated with permethrin as a defence against ticks? Is that a reasonable idea, or extra complexity to address an exaggerated problem?
Have worn thongs (the Aussie footwear type) for 40 years.
There we go again with your invaluable insights/tested/considerations, to the gear you should consider, yes, and why. All to which you offer bolstering grand advice, Dixie. My change will definitely come with footwear, as a tramper mountaineer from the 60's, boots have always been drummed in! For the last 30-35 yrs, I have used many types of trail hikers. Many should not have been marketed. Rubbish. Lack of willingness to adapt to people's individual differences, and needs. NO, service. That IS bleak. The Pressure for the $ however has a change in attitude! Thanks, DIXIE, you are just wonderful..............
I'm in prescription fiberglass orthotics, so this is going to get complicated.
Hoka Mid with gore tex is nice in wet conditions. hoka runners otherwise. Speedgoats
I wear trail runners because I run trails. I have boots for the motorcycle and I wear boots all day at work. I get the most comfortable boots I can find and they still are not really comfortable to me. I would go barefoot everywhere if I didn’t need to protect my feet.
Zero drop with a wide toebox for me. I wear five finger Vibrams full time here in the city.
Any non wool sock suggestions? Highly allergic to wool.
I normally carry a pair of low gaiters in my day pack or backpack to keep seeds from getting into my socks and poking my ankles.
My pain at going to REI while needing a size 15 at least 😥
I am a big fan of thin mesh breathable shoes for hikes as well as everyday wear, but after rolling my ankle several times, I almost always use heavier leather mid boots for trails
my keen boots let water in every time through the boot walls, but they are the best to stop bunion pain, and stop you getting bunnions as they dont scrunch you toes and let you toes spread a bit
Are the trails clearly marked or is it easy for beginners to get lost
I wear snake boots . In Rocky areas or tall grass is where they stay .
The right shocks are important also.
I love boots more because it's look good.. Lol
i use roller skates but i get blisters after 50 miles
in cold weather use boots for your safety