Boots vs. Trail Runners

[wcgornto]

I am planning to hike the AT this year with trail runners. However, I am wondering if there are sections of trail or times of the year where boots might be beneficial. In particular, I am wondering about muddy, boggy sections where boots might be preferable to trail runners.

I am planning a SOBO hike beginning on June 15. I expect my pack to be under 30 pounds at all times. I have well broken in Asolo Powermatic 200 boots that I like very much. Is there a section of trail where it is worth the weight penalty to wear boots rather than trail runners?

[Tinker]

Boots or runners, get them muddy, find a stream, rinse them off. I'm hiking in my runners on ice and snow this weekend. I have crampons with straps that will work with them. I'm using Sealskinz to keep my feet relatively warm and dry. It will get into the teens, the coldest for me so far using lightweight footwear in the snow, we'll see how I do.

Maybe worth the extra ankle protection (from scrapes, not twisting) in southern Maine and through the Whites.
Some folks say you need more stiffness in the sole doing the rocks of Pa. I haven't been there yet, but I climbed Katahdin in sandals and did the Hundred Mile Wilderness using both low top breathable hikers (not runners) and sandals.

[Plodderman]

Low cut trail runners are my favorite for all kinds of weather except snow.

[Scrub]

I think this is more of an individual preference thing. I prefer boots, but others do not. But the others that do not frequently do not weigh in over 310 with their pack on as I do.

[garlic08]

If you get accustomed to trail runners, you'll probably never want to see your boots again. I don't even know where mine are.

[Red Hat]

I know where mine are, in the bottom of my gear trunk with all the stuff I bought and don't use any more. But I have at least three pair of NB800+ series in my closet...

[darkage]

Maybe its growing up in pennsylvania and knowing only rock hoping for a good part of it ... I also prefer boots ... a nice light pair like my merrell cham evo's ... I've been an ankle or two and without the heel support i'm pretty sure i wouldn't of been walking out the other end of the trail ... I can totally see trail runner's on a decent sections of trail were its a path, not a boulder hop ...

[Mags]

The only time I use boots now is when I do trailwork. Mainly because they are required by most trail orgs. :)

[CrumbSnatcher]

i wore boots in 98,99 then i switched to chaco sandels. will never go back to boots.

[hootyhoo]

I finally got some Keen Taghee II. They are aww - ight. Hardrocks are my normal wear. I would have to go with the boots over the runners myself. Rainy days and wet feet for days on end are okay for a 5 days or less, but not for weeks on end -- that would bring me down.

[Ozzieninja]

I hiked sobo with 2 pair of sticky cat Garmonts. Got slack from NOBOs cause I never took my shoes off at stream crossing and heard things like "your shoes won't dry out till monson!" I love how people try and tell you how your gear works...anyways these trail runners dried out fast (within 3 hours) We had near 5 weeks of solid rain from ME-NH so there was no use trying to keep your feet dry anyways. The good thing about trail runners is that once waters inside..unless they are gortex the water will escape..at the end of the day my friend with heavy hiking boots would turn his boot over and pour out water.

I also enjoyed the flexability in PA with all the rocks..sure at times my ankle would twist but thats why you have treking poles to catch yourself. Also theres generally no break in time as with boots, same buddy with boots had bruised heels for 2 weeks before they fit right. Course the same pair won't hold up the whole trail so your gonna have to break in a pair of boots at least once...my garmonts I slipped on and did 20+ hiking into the night cause they felt so great.

Recomendations: Garmont or Salamon ...don't buy gortex and I hate merrells with a passion

[bigcranky]

I know where my old boots are, and I regret paying $300 for them. Ugh. Nice boots, but I think they weigh about 6 pounds. (Anybody want a pair of Scarpa Manta, size 45, excellent condition? Make me an offer....)

Since I switch to trail runners nine years ago, I have yet to find a situation where I wished I had worn boots instead. Rain, snow, rocks, whatever. I am over 200 lbs, and my pack is pretty average in weight.

[Blissful]

The only time I kinda wished I had boots was the scree areas of the Presidentials. The rocks were so that the trail runners got chewed pretty bad.

But I would use runners in mud in a heart beat. They don't get stuck so bad and coated with mud that you feel like you are carrying another five lbs on your feet. And if wet they dry quick.

[Wise Old Owl]

I am a big fan of waterproof Solomon Sneekers, they are awesome, everytime I cross a deep stream I just plow through! the water just pours out and the tech socks are dry in about ten - twenty minutes. 2nd runner up is Keen Sandals.

Pennsylvania Rocks require boots.

[wcgornto]

Well, I guess the boots will stay in the obsolete gear locker.

Thanks for all the replies.

"I hate merrells with a passion"

Why?

[Wags]

i've been hiking on PA rocks all my life - the majority of the time in nikes or whatever shoes i was wearing as a kid (adidas superstars or chuck taylors :D). boots are not necessary for PA. i don't understand why people keep saying that

[darkage]

Nope, Not necessary at all ... but if you've ever rolled an ankle or twisted a leg, you'd know on these rocks .... boots have their use .... To each their own and their own luck on what works for um... People will always have differences in what they enjoy over others ... Then when someone comes along and asks, it can sometimes get ugly lmao ... Point is, everyone needs to figure out whats right for them ... i've taking plenty of advice from whiteblaze ... and often, it makes me see things differently but it still remains some advice ... was from there own perspective's, and what doesn't work for them ... has for me.

I wouldn't hike in a pair of vans ... or flipflops ... but anything else is fine, i just prefer ankle support.

P.S i do sometimes hike in my rugged crocs.

[GA Hatman]

I'm a runner first and a hiker second. After trying boots for three years, I started just hiking in whatever pair of running shoes I was wearing at the time for my yearly 150-250 mile section hike. The ASICS Nimbus got me through Northern VA, NJ/NY, VT, and last summer PA without a twisted ankle and only a couple of falls. With about 1000 miles left in various places, I plan to stay with running shoes or trail runners for the rest of my hike.

[Plodderman]

I think I swiitched to trail runners becasue I got tired of breaking in boots.

[Blue Jay]

Boots are great if you want to move up to a ton of weight per mile. 1 pound multiplyed by 5280 steps (approx.)

[windex]

I have what I like to call a "hybrid" boot-runner. I wear Merrell Chameleons and LOVE them. I am on my fourth pair and went through two on my thru hike. They dry quickly and have support, but aren't as heavy as boots.

[johnnybgood]

Does anyone here use insoles for cushioning and stability for those rocky crags on certain sections of the trail ? For me personally , I love my Keen Targhee II

[garlic08]

Does anyone here use insoles for cushioning and stability for those rocky crags on certain sections of the trail ?

I used blue (low volume) Superfeet last summer on the AT. I used them for support and comfort, not for cushioning, and I think they helped a little. I guess they helped with stability, too. One pair lasted the whole trail, and then some, no problems. They definitely didn't do any harm. I was leary about them and I know they don't work for everybody, in fact I'd heard they hurt some people.

[Jorel]

Has anyone used the ultra light weight New Balance 790's? It has been so cold here, I have been forced to walk with my pack on the treadmill. I bought the NB's as my camp shoes, since they are so light weight, and I thought (unlike Croc's) could serve as a back up if, God forbid, I lost a shoe, or one just blew out....anyway, I am getting on treadmill with the NB 790's (30 pound backpack) tomorrow, and will report how my feet feel after. It would be great if they gave enough support, because man, they would dry fast.

[hnryclay]

I use trail runners 95% of the time. However I do not use them in deep snow, or spring melt. Its a personal preference. I do not like neoprene socks, and I don't like Gore tex foot wear of any kind. So in the snow, or melt I wear a pair of Asolo 535s. With a one piece leather upper, waterproofed with nikwax. They don't leak, I can deal with sweat a lot easier then I can ice cold snow melting on my feet.

[Trailbender]

I hike in steel toed work boots, never had a problem with them. Haven't done the AT yet, going this summer, but I hike all the time, generally up to 15-20 miles a day or so.

[darkage]

I hike in steel toed work boots, never had a problem with them. Haven't done the AT yet, going this summer, but I hike all the time, generally up to 15-20 miles a day or so.

Sure, i'd hate to have a tree fall on my foot ....

[NCYankee]

For me I prefer boots because at least in the trail runners I have tried a day of stepping on stones, roots, and stumps just kills my feet. I like the fact that I feel nothing in my boots, even if I am hauling pounds of pigskin up and down the mountains. My feet hurt less at the end of the day… YMMV

[Transient Being]

Is there a poll for trail runners vs. boots? I would like to know what the results would be.