Shoes for CT

[kyled1]

Trying to figure out which shoes to wear for my thru hike this summer. I'm thinking something in a running shoe. What shoes do you all use?


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[San Juan Ron]

That is a very personal preference and you will get a many very different opinions (search the Internet for thru-hike shoe reviews). I have over the past 20 years moved from boots to low cut hiking shoes (Vasque Mantra today) and from waterproof to non waterproof (my feet need to breath and they dry quickly with non waterproof shoes). But everyone is different and shoes that work for me or someone else may not work for you. The main thing is to put hundreds of miles on the shoes prior to the hike to ensure they will work for you. Nothing worse than getting 100M into the hike with blistered feet looking for different shoes. I would add that drying your feet out and switching socks regularly (several times a day) helps a lot keeping blisters away. Also, replace the insoles on whatever shoe you go with. Superfeet works for me. Ron

[Coffee]

Brooks Cascadia 8s worked well for me last year. One pair lasted for the entire trail.

[Hole-In-The-Hat]

Trail runners work well for me. Years ago I thought only boots would work as my ankles seemed weak - turns out the opposite was true. In shoes I find I adapt readily to the surface, vs. stomping along - and I'm less likely to turn an ankle than with boots. It is an individual thing, though...

[nickoli]

I hiked in my asics gel kahana 5's for like two seasons before i lost them. this year for my thru hike i'll probably just go with the best deal i can find on sierratradingpost for trail runners. i'm not too picky though.

[Jedeye]

When I hiked it in '11 my feet were wet the majority of the time due to snow melt and rain. Was glad I had a trail runner and not a heavy boot. I ended up going with a pair of La Sportivas. Have fun on the CT - it was an amazing experience!

[LuckyMan]

Last summer on the CT I wore Merrill Moab Ventilators, had good results, have used the same pair on several hundred additional miles. I just wore them on the rainy Foothills Trail and never skidded once; a couple of hikers I met there who wore little trail runners slid and fell. I will probably wear this same old pair in a few weeks on a 320-plus-mile loop hike on the BMT, AT and Bartram Trail.

[StubbleJumper]

I would definitely say trail runners for the CT are my preferred footwear. The trail is generally well graded and not very steep, so you don't often need a rugged footplate or Vibram soles (in New England or in the 'dacks, Vibram soles are very helpful). There are a couple of sections totalling perhaps 20 or 30 miles south of Salida that are rockier and rougher due partially to shared usage with motor bikes, but even those rockier areas aren't too bad with trail runners.

For both of my thru-hikes, I discarded my trail runners in Durango and bought new shoes. A fresh pair of trail runners lasts me about 500 miles, and the CT is almost exactly 500 miles...

Have fun!

[kyled1]

Thanks for the input. I really like my Brooks running shoes but think I may need more grip. I may try the Brooks Cascadia trail runners.

I've read about thru hikers wearing a size or so larger due to foot swelling. Do you all really do that?


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[Hole-In-The-Hat]

Many people say to upsize, starting with Jardine... I didn't find this to be necessary or desirable for me. I guess my feet don't swell that much...

[K6VOI]

I wore Hoka Trail Runners - really helped cushion my knees

[San Juan Ron]

Thanks for the input. I really like my Brooks running shoes but think I may need more grip. I may try the Brooks Cascadia trail runners.

I've read about thru hikers wearing a size or so larger due to foot swelling. Do you all really do that?
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I never found it necessary -- but I do soak my feet in cold streams several times during the day (maybe 3-4 minutes) to reduce swelling and cool off my feet. I found that helpful. Ron

[colorado_rob]

I've read about thru hikers wearing a size or so larger due to foot swelling. Do you all really do that?

Since I got into long distance hiking a few years ago, my feet have "grown" a full size, arguably 1.5 sizes (used to wear 9.5-10, now always 11's). But in my case I think it's not a temporary swelling, meaning when off the trail, they don't shrink back to the old size.

[handlebar]

Since I got into long distance hiking a few years ago, my feet have "grown" a full size, arguably 1.5 sizes (used to wear 9.5-10, now always 11's). But in my case I think it's not a temporary swelling, meaning when off the trail, they don't shrink back to the old size.

+1. My feet went from 10-1/2/11 to 12/12-1/2 and haven't shrunk back. Of course I haven't stopped. Hiking.

[bearcreek]

Since I got into long distance hiking a few years ago, my feet have "grown" a full size, arguably 1.5 sizes (used to wear 9.5-10, now always 11's). But in my case I think it's not a temporary swelling, meaning when off the trail, they don't shrink back to the old size.

Same Here. Started the CDT as a 8 and now I am a 9-1/2. That was 2012, and they are still a 9-1/2.

[Drybones]

Thanks for the input. I really like my Brooks running shoes but think I may need more grip. I may try the Brooks Cascadia trail runners.

I've read about thru hikers wearing a size or so larger due to foot swelling. Do you all really do that?



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You want err on them being too large, never too small, so you get to keep your toe nails. If you can make your toes hit the end of the shoe at all, even just touch it, they're too small.

[Birdogsid]

I just bought a pair of New Balance Leadville MT 1210. I have used heavy hiking boots in the past, but I am going the trail runner route this year as I got my BPW down to 15lbs and I don't want to bring camp shoes.