There’s no perfect hiking shoe, only the best compromise.
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- Опубликовано: 28 авг 2024
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It’s fun to picture the triumph of a long hike, atop a mountain, in perfect weather (as if that ever happens), but this image ignores the grueling 60,000 steps it took to get there, and that each step came with the risk of a twisted ankle, a fall, and if a fall from height, even death. And on each of those steps you were wearing shoes. If you fall, no one is going to come rescue you, you will have to make your own way out. No wonder shoes are a bit of an obsession for hikers, they are truly where the rubber meets the road. Anyone who is serious about hiking is serious about shoes.
There are many shoes available to hikers, traditional boots, hybrid shoes, and minimal, moderate and maximal cushioned trail runners. Merrell shoes once dominated the trail, but that position has now been ceded to Altra, whose Lone Peak shoes are now the most popular on the trail. This video takes a look at the stregnths and weaknesses of each type of shoes, and the narrator talks about his transition through all types, finally settling on a maximal cushioned trail runner, although reserving a hybrid hiker for snowy hikes. The choice of shoe is often depenant on the age of the hiker, with younger hikers preferring a lighter shoe that has more road feel, while older hikers tend to prefer a more luxurious, cushioned shoe.
In the end, all hiking shoes are a compromise. And manufacturers keep changing their shoe lines, not to help customers, but in most cases to make more profit. This makes finding a reliable shoe even more difficult. In the end, there is no perfect shoe, only the best compromise available at the time.
Excellent video. As an older hiker this video and the one for old people were very helpful. Thank you for the video and especially for the time and effort you put in to these.
Thank you,. I was so worried about the length of this video, I edited out a bunch of content, and it is still the longest one I have made. Your kind comments make it all worthwhile.
Yes, really good information based on gc's personal experience, not the influence of someone in the shoe industry. Valuable information.
The title says it all. This is my experience as well. There is only the best compromise.
I agree!
Thanks for reviews, learning about issues likely in counted with feet helps understanding that there is no be end all shoe/boot, but merely a cycle. Any commentary on socks for shoe selection!
I would certainly recommend wearing the socks you intend to hike in when fitting the shoes. The problem is if you wear the same shoe in Summer and Winter, the socks might be different. I guess it would take some compromise in fitting, or maybe take both sock selections along. I still wear a combination of a silk sock liner and a wool sock liner in all but the coldest weather, then I wear a thick wool sock. Thank you for your comment.
Greetings from Portugal. Thank you very much for the information. I'm 59 years old and I believe everything you say. God bless you and keep releasing more videos. After many tests, I took the Altra Olympus 4 for the Camino de Santiago between Valença do Minho and Santiago de Compostela and I never had pain in my feet or legs.
What a beautiful country! I wear Olympus 4 lows as my daily walkers and I agree, they are the most comfortable shoes I have found, my only problem is their durability. I just returned my Olympus 5 mid GTX because they could not even hold up for a 37km hike. ruclips.net/video/KFWR4wayU4A/видео.html
My complements for a thorough review. I’m an older (retirement age) Forester who works off trail. My preferred footwear are Lowa, Hanwag and Kenetrek tall hikers which are expensive but offer rock protection, waterproof wear and ankle support. I watched with interest when you laced up your Merrill hikers. You should do a video on how to properly put on a shoe, lace a shoe, lace for descents, etc.
Thanks for the mention of some of the other options. I do not know them, but would love to learn more. I have no skill lacing, I just do what feels right, but I have learned that there is a bit of art involved, and adjustment for the different trail conditions. With your experience, it would be perfect for you to post a lacing video, I would enjoy viewing it!
@@RationalTalkI believe the way you put on your shoe and laced it up was absolutely correct! Some people just step into the shoe, leading to blisters because the heel isn’t firmly in the shoe heel counter. Some hiker/backpacking boots have a locking lace cam which allows for different tensioning of the laces( ie tighter across the instep and looser in the toe box).
The only trick I learned was occasionally putting a "surgeon's knot" to have differential tension on the lower and upper shoe. The Topo mids have the lace cam you mention that I think is incredibly clever and useful. I think the habit of kicking into the heel comes from the low-cut trail runners I wear on daily walks, if I do not do that, they get a little loose. Thank you for your kind comment.
I enjoyed this video. I think folks I overthink the shoe issue. There may be a perfect shoe but all you need is a good shoe that fits well, doesn’t rub blisters and holds up on the trail.
Good point. I think with how much we rely on shoes, it is human nature to seek something better. The maximalist shoes help me with downhills, which is my greatest weakness, and I think that small gain is what keeps me looking for something better.
Good point. I think a lot of the people who endorse a specific shoe are getting paid by them. Thank you for being honest.
I do sometimes wonder about the robust endorsements people provide. I do my best to be honest in all endeavors. Thanks for your comment.
Thanks, your experience was helpful to me. I was going to buy a pair of lone peak's, but now I think I will use the free trial to see how the Olympus works out for me. We older hikers need to stick together and share information!
I am glad the information was helpful. The "free trials" are really a great opportunity to see if the shoe is right for you, especially when they cost so much. If they work out well, please post and let others know. Thank you for your comment.
I have to agree with the title. Good work.
Thanks for the endorsement!
I like ASICS , works best for me,no blisters, no hot spots , fitting my skinny feet 👣 well. I tried merrel , (I’ll have them) in my first rim to River to rim in 2011 no problem.I don’t remember the ref. Still have the shoes but unfortunately the company didn’t produce anymore ( I sent a picture to merrel) . I am like,you . I don’t want to pay over$ $200.00👟 . Thank you for sharing your experience .
Thanks for the recommendation of ASICS. The constant changes in shoe models makes finding a good one even more difficult. I agree that the prices are too high, so as a thrifty person I feel no guilt in using the free trials and making warranty claims if the shoes fail. That eases the initial entry cost a little.
Your videos are great. Keep it up! I am planning a 12-day 350 km hike in the mountains of Norway. I will sleep and eat in huts that I have booked in advance. This idea comes with a bit of a risk downside, since I have to stick to a pre-planned schedule. My plan is to pack as light as possible, but not compromizing on safety in clothing. I did a 3 x 40 km test-hike this week in the Altra Lone Peaks and my feet got really sore from the spiky rocks. If I had to keep going on those feet on day 4, I am not sure I would make it. I did not pay that much attention to the weight of my backpack when testing, so it was quite comparatively heavy (8,2 kg). I wonder if I could be able to do it if my backpack is sub 6 kg. Maybe I have to pay for a pair of Altra Olympus shoes to give my feet a little more protection. I guess I have a bad habit of jumping on to sharp edges and such from having hiked in a pair of great leather boots from Crispi all these years. How hard do you think its ok to go? I am 39 years old with an athletic background and a fair bit of experience hiking in the mountains. If I bring hiking poles, do you think I can finish it no matter what? I know my legs will be beat up by this mileage and the heights I have to climb and descend. I mean, you do get somewhat in shape on the hike itself and the body adapts, right? My biggest problem is probably that I carry a bit too much muscle, 187 cm @ 95 kg.
It sounds like you are all set and ready to go. The Olympus do take a bit of adjustment because of the height. They have no rock plate, but the thickness of the soles offers similar protection. Topos are another option, as well as the more traditional boots. I am like you, the more miles I travel, the more I feel the rocks, which is why I am moving on from the Salomon Ultra's--too much rock intrusion. I think hiking poles are valuable for any age or hike. They add to balance and allow you to transfer a bit of weight off your legs. Ultralight travel is all the rage these days, and I am sure someone else has more expertise in the matter, but if you are staying in huts, it does seem like you might be able to do some more weight reduction. Good luck on your hike!
thank you
You're welcome.
Thank you for your wisdom sir.
Thanks so much for your kind comment!
Excellent video and thank you for sharing. It's very helpful to me. I really appreciate it.
Thanks for watching!
The title says it all.
Exactly!
Very informative video, thanks for sharing it
Thank you.
Nice tips, tgank you.
Thanks for watching!
Great video 😊
Thank you.
Hi. Did you buy the Salomon X Ultra "wide" version ?
Yes, I got them in wide.
😊
Thanks for watching.
Have you tried and i so, what did you think of Oboz? I have been very happy so far. However my feet are flat and spreading.
I have heard of but never tried Oboz. I will give them a fitting next time I get to REI. There are so many brands and there is no way I can mention or try them all, which is why I encourage people to post comments, so we can all learn of the other options. My search for the perfect shoe (and maybe the Holy Grail) continues! Thanks for your suggestion.