Bohican
02-15-2007, 09:04
I've been doing an extensive bit of researching (lurking) since I've found this site, and the 2 main gear obstacles I keep coming too are boots vs. trail runners and which sleeping bag to get. I've come to the realization that the sleeping bag question is one that I'll have to figure out for my own (what's good for the goose may not be good for the gander), and although I realize ones choice in footwear is equally personal, I figured I'd post a question and see what the peanut gallery has to say.
I'm not necessarily looking for specific brand recommendations as much as I'm trying to dip into the pool of experience here at whiteblaze. I keep reading here and at other sites that trailrunners are the way to go, but I'm having some reservations and here is why. Most of my outdoor experience is related to wilderness search and rescue where bombproof materials and equipment are the norm (It is better to have and not need, than to need and not have). I can understand and appreciate the physiological advantages of having lighter footwear, but I'm trying to determine if the benefits outweigh the disadvantages in my specific case (not that I think I'm unique, but different :)). Here's some background and why I'm having trouble making up my mind on which direction to proceed.
I've been wearing boots of one form or another since the early '90's, the only "low top" shoes I currently own are (1) military dress shoes issued in '95 and (2) a pair of Nike Air running shoes purchased in '98. The boots I wear on a daily basis (http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1774621&cp=1762199.1780841&clickid=mainnav_browse_txt&parentPage=family), and have worn almost daily for the past three years
weigh about 2 lbs., and have never hurt my feet ((although the calluses would make a pedicurist cry about being under paid (don't ask me how I know)) despite working outdoors and spending long hours on the aforementioned boots. If I do wear trailrunners, I'll be wearing 2oz gaiters and the only good goretex does me in footwear is tell me which ones not to buy (my feet sweat like a yeti in east texas).
Oh, as far as the foot specifics are concerned, I wear a 14 in Nikes, 13 in most everything else, 12R according to the boot sizer at FT Leonard Wood. I can pick up an egg with my toes, and the "Men Only" thread almost made me cry when it mentioned feet and waxing in the same paragraph (Picture a hobbit with prenatal vitamins/ growth hormones)
What I'm curious to find out is if anyone with similar boot wearing experience noticed a positive change switch to lighter footwear prior to a through hike. Here are the pro's and con's as I've been able to gather them:
Pro's(for boots)
*I'm used to wearing heavy footwear, so downgrading to a non-steel toed boot will be and improvement
*My ankles are used to the extra 4 inches of support, so they'd be weaker with shorter footwear
* Boots last longer, so the won't need to be replaced as often
Boots offer better protection against rocks than shoes
Con's (Against Boots)
*Less weight = less fatigue = equals more/easier miles\
*You can feel the terrain so you're less likely to put your feet in compromising situations
*Shoes are cheaper than boots, you'll cover more miles, so the replacement costs are nill
*Shoes dry quicker, and dry feet are happy feet.
So, although I'm partial to having my feet fully enclosed by dead cow and rubber, are trailrunners worth the expense of trying out?
I'm not necessarily looking for specific brand recommendations as much as I'm trying to dip into the pool of experience here at whiteblaze. I keep reading here and at other sites that trailrunners are the way to go, but I'm having some reservations and here is why. Most of my outdoor experience is related to wilderness search and rescue where bombproof materials and equipment are the norm (It is better to have and not need, than to need and not have). I can understand and appreciate the physiological advantages of having lighter footwear, but I'm trying to determine if the benefits outweigh the disadvantages in my specific case (not that I think I'm unique, but different :)). Here's some background and why I'm having trouble making up my mind on which direction to proceed.
I've been wearing boots of one form or another since the early '90's, the only "low top" shoes I currently own are (1) military dress shoes issued in '95 and (2) a pair of Nike Air running shoes purchased in '98. The boots I wear on a daily basis (http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1774621&cp=1762199.1780841&clickid=mainnav_browse_txt&parentPage=family), and have worn almost daily for the past three years
weigh about 2 lbs., and have never hurt my feet ((although the calluses would make a pedicurist cry about being under paid (don't ask me how I know)) despite working outdoors and spending long hours on the aforementioned boots. If I do wear trailrunners, I'll be wearing 2oz gaiters and the only good goretex does me in footwear is tell me which ones not to buy (my feet sweat like a yeti in east texas).
Oh, as far as the foot specifics are concerned, I wear a 14 in Nikes, 13 in most everything else, 12R according to the boot sizer at FT Leonard Wood. I can pick up an egg with my toes, and the "Men Only" thread almost made me cry when it mentioned feet and waxing in the same paragraph (Picture a hobbit with prenatal vitamins/ growth hormones)
What I'm curious to find out is if anyone with similar boot wearing experience noticed a positive change switch to lighter footwear prior to a through hike. Here are the pro's and con's as I've been able to gather them:
Pro's(for boots)
*I'm used to wearing heavy footwear, so downgrading to a non-steel toed boot will be and improvement
*My ankles are used to the extra 4 inches of support, so they'd be weaker with shorter footwear
* Boots last longer, so the won't need to be replaced as often
Boots offer better protection against rocks than shoes
Con's (Against Boots)
*Less weight = less fatigue = equals more/easier miles\
*You can feel the terrain so you're less likely to put your feet in compromising situations
*Shoes are cheaper than boots, you'll cover more miles, so the replacement costs are nill
*Shoes dry quicker, and dry feet are happy feet.
So, although I'm partial to having my feet fully enclosed by dead cow and rubber, are trailrunners worth the expense of trying out?