ok, trail runners or boots?

“i have ppl telling me i should buy these big ol boots for backpacking, which seem heavy and stiff and not much fun to walk in. I prefer to pack in trail runners and the most comfterble ive hiked in so far were the hi-tech kind. whats your favorite hiking footwear?”

“running shoes; not even trail running shoes, just plain running shoes.”

“It depends on the terrain, pack weight, weather and the color of my pack. Don’t want any non-color coordinated outfits here.”

“I've got some now that have mucho akle support, but aren't tooo terribly heavy.

If I have a lighter load and I know the trail isn't too hairy, I have these Merrell's that are like 'tennis shoes with some tread'.

So I guess 'it depends'.”

“Heavy leather boots with lots of tread for me. I need lots of ankle support. I tried light boots once(forgot my boots and bought what they had) and felt every rock on the trail. My ankle hurt for a month after.”

“It's very rocky around where I live and go hiking, and I have weak ankles.. so boots are it for me!”

“Medium wt. boots for backpacking trips, especially off trail. I use a comfortable pair of approach/trail shoes for dayhiking on maintained trails.”

“Lessee...the last hike I decided to try the granola thing and go barefoot. Since we were hiking through a creek it was actually quite enjoyable. Freezing cold water then nice warm sand between the toes... After a couple miles though it felt like walking on razor blades though.”

“Last summer my hiking partner discovered, at the trailhead, that he left his boots at home and only had his Tevas. So, I figured if he was going to wear them I'd wear mine. We got through some nasty, rocky trails without much trouble. I was pretty careful, though, not to stub my toes.”

“Yup, hiking boots are overrated”

“Barefoot.




Just kidding. Boots, Vasque Sundowners...finally seem to be broken in!”

“After looking at some of those Eco Challenger's feet I don't think it really matters what you wear if you go far enough. Hamburger Helper, anyone?”

“trail runners for day hiking, Saloman Backcountry 8's for backpacking. I like the ankle support and get less foot slippage with the high tops. Best part is that these boots are as comfy as my trail runners and required almost no breakin.”

“Good thread. I've been thinking about going to trail runners or just plain running shoes because of undiagnosed (read doc can't digure it out) foot pain. Left foot only. My Lowa midweights seem to agravate the problem.”

“My latest pair of boots are a Vasque Clarions. Not waterproof, but fairly light and sturdy. Moccasins for camp shoes.

When we were at Rainbow Lake in the Beartooths, a group of young male and female bacpackers cam through our camp. One girl was wearing thongs/flip-flops. Then they proceeded to cross the creek and go to the other side of the lake.

Ouch!!!!!!!”

“Boots. I've never had any problem with trails running from me, so why should I run after them?”

“I wear a pair of 7-8 year old danner mountain lights for cold weather hiking. Old running shoes (normally a trail runner). No problems to date.”

“The trail from boiling springs up the middle fork of the Payette River crosses the river so many times I just wear sandals. If the feet are toughened up a little its no problem. The hot springs 2 mile in is popular but there are more farther up the river. The feet and the rest can get a nice soak to recover. I do hate the little rocks that get between my foot and the sandal. Sometimes I have to remove the sandal to get them out.”

“i thought about the trail runners but i decided i need the support for when i get tired at the end of the day. im a big boy and if i twist an ankle it would probly be bad. ended up going with the vasque zephyr gtx.”

“someone said i had a good thread? WOHOO! AT LAST!

oh and im used to the barefoot thing, maybe thats why boots bug me so much”

“mid weight.
i may have strong ankles but PA sure has a lot of rocks and i wanna see more then just my boots!”

“Trail runners baby! They dry faster than a heartattack, they feel great, they have great traction, they're cheeper. The more ya use those ankles the stronger they are and the less suport you need. Chris Townsand carries about 60 pounds and wears sandles.”

“trail runners...usually Merrell's. I have these crazy flexible ankles (like I can go up for a rebound, land on some else's foot, roll my ankle, land on it full body weight and be up and walking in a minute), so I sacrifice support for a lot less weight.”

“yay for strong ankles! befor i went away to the college of hills and stairs (humboldt state university) i would twist ankles like mad. Now if i even do twist em they dont hurt and i can get right back moving”

“Hiking boots for the times I feel a need to keep my toe nails, but if I'm in the mood for toe nails that are black and hanging off I go with running shoes.”

“Last year i tried out a trail runner style by adidas (the style started with a P..but i have forgotten..heh, old brain...but they are specific for bping/hiking ) at llamarama because any high boots i tried rubbed on the plate in my L ankle...they are low like running shoes, but my ankles are strong because of the pt i do since breaking that ankle ., so, i dont need extra support... .....
..they have great traction, a very wide sole at the heel for awesome anti rocking stability and the way they lace up and lock made me feel quite sure-footed ( i did not get one blister and i felt much more movement and flexibility over the rocky stuff than with boots....they dri faster ( these are actually waterproof...but of course low cut so water would get in thru the top if the water was deep at all.......i love 'em.
Not good for snow i would imagine ..
.I did find a pair of High tech (high boots) that did not interfere with the plate and are waterproof and feel broken in out of the box...good for if you think you will encounter snow/ice/water traction too, at least..they work for me.”

“My hiking boots are the most comfortable footwear I have. As far as being heavy, well yea they are heavier than shoes, but not much. After a long hike my larger muscles are tired, but what usually hurts are the little stablizer muscles in the feet, ankles and knees. Heavy hiking boots reduce the strain on these muscles. Heavy hiking boots eliminate stone bruises and injuries from jamming your foot under a rock.

If boots are too heavy maybe you need to walk more.”

“Winter time or really tough trails I have a pair of Scarpa SML3. For warmer weather I just bought a pair of Salamon Raidproof. It's a beefed up trail runner. Very light weight but it has an incredibly stiff midsole. I seem to do better wearing the lighter shoes. The Gore Tex in the Salamons works great.”

“Birkenstocks”

“stiff montrail vercors, im getting them broken ib quick suprisingly.”

“Love my Merrell Traverse's!!!!

8)

Go boots!!!!!!”

“"If boots are too heavy maybe you need to walk more."

It's not about weight. It's about comfort and not needing a sledgehammer to kill a fly. I just don't need boots. I've heard plastic shopping bags make camp booties.”

“Nigal, you definitely need to walk more. More walking will cure that rash you complain about too.”

“"Heavy hiking boots reduce the strain on these muscles. Heavy hiking boots eliminate stone bruises and injuries from jamming your foot under a rock."

I have to agree with bacpac here. My boots are heavy (not real heavy, but heavier than most boots), but I'm used to it. If I twist my ankle, the boot is stiff enough it catches me before I do damage to the ankle. The boots are waterproofed, so in the snow, my feet do ok. On the last snowshoe Tekapo asked if my feet were cold. They were not cold. This is the boot that works for "me".”

“I can't wear shoes,I wouldn't be able to enjoy my toe nail polish.When no ones looking, I put on NB803's.”

“Nigal, I found some plans for a homemade ultralight sleeping bag. It is mostly visqueen and shredded trash bags, but it uses a Wal-mart sack for a hood.

Check it out Ultralighter”

“I used New Balance Trail Runners last summer when I hiked the JMT...They worked brilliantly the first 200 miles, but past that the padding started to break down. I think a pair of running shoes is supposed to last around 250 miles...I'm 230+ pounds so I think the process was accelerated a bit...So, if your gonna hike 200 miles or less grab a pair of trail runners.....”

“Man I just don't think that would work for me I like lots of support and a boot gives me that.

Also trail running shoes are not that water resistant!

8)”

“Haha! That was too funny bacpac! I needed a good laugh this morning. 8)”

“Black, high-top, Chuck Taylors

”

“The boot you need depends upon the terrain you travail.

Where do you hike?

(1) Sandy, well-trod trails or
(2) bushwhacking over granite scapple

or any other possible scenario that TT'rs could come up with.

For some, "backpacking" is what many just call "camping". For others, "backpacking" is hiking along a well-defined, visible, well-marked trail thru a state park. Some say that isn't really "backpacking". That group might define "backpacking" as scrambling up & down mountains, etc etc etc.

You get the idea. A hiking boot is very different for someone who routinely tackles the 14'rs in Colorado vs. someone who hikes in the flatlands of Wisconsin.

No disrespect meant to anyone... BUT... you will get very different responses from people having very different perspectives / experiences.”

“Aero I now want to go out and buy a pair!!!

I used to have a pair of green ones but they got WAY too old and I had to get rid of them.

8)”

“For a pack over 15-20kgs I'll use my Garmont Bronco hiking boots.

For weights under this I'll use my Garmont Oteros trail running shoes.

My teva sandles come out after walking all day in my boots.

This is only a rough guide, it depends whether I'm walking off trail or on trail, whether it's rocky or sandy.

Scarpa Trail (nylon/suede) lightweight hiking boots when I'm travelling in India.
(I've now retired them for a pair of Garmont Force Nubuck)

I think you should invest in the best hiking boots you can afford, then get at least something in a light-weight boot, then in time get an all purpose boot.”

“http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8001&catalogId=40000008001&productId=47850492&parent_category_rn=22000374&&
Real bargain, just thought I'd share :o)”