How many shoes for your thru ?

[johnnybgood]

To follow up on a poll question awhile back concerning the number of miles logged on a pair of hiking shoes worn by thru hikers and the best shoe and so on . I have read here where some say they used as many as 4 pair of shoes/ boots for their thru while others have claimed to have worn a pair and toted a pair . My question is this : How many hiking shoes did you go through ? If you went through more than 2 pair did you "bounce" shoes up the trail where you figured you might need a new pair by that time or did you simply buy new shoes in AT towns with reputable outfitter stores , :( Damascus ) ? If the later is the case then did you order shoes in advance of your hike and have the stores hold them for you until you arrived , maybe giving them the money up front to ensure that the shoe that you desired would be waiting your arrival .? Just wondering :-?

[johnnybgood]

Ignore the :o

[Chaco Taco]

Went through 5 pair.

Found that the Keen Voyagher were my favorite, still have em actually. Merrells were great also, did 700 miles in em. Just whatever works best for you. I had mine sent to me from home and then I had some that I ordered shipped to me at hostels or Outfitters

[johnnybgood]

Ignore the :(, but not the :o

[Serial 07]

went thru two pairs of keens on my thru...

[Gaiter]

how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?
the answer is different for everyone and every shoe....

[Nest]

I get around 1k miles on my trailrunners. Started with Salamons until they dropped their quality. Then I went to some discontinued $40 New Balance trail runners. Hiked the last 700 miles of the trail in them, and they still have plenty left. Will probably get me to Erwin or Damascus. I have one extra pair that I will have sent to me, then buy on the trail like I did with my last pair on my thru last year.

[garlic08]

I bought four pair of NB811 on sale last winter, had them shipped up the trail to the 600, 1200, and 1800 mile marks and finished with still-usable shoes. I knew from experience that NBs last 600 miles for me.

[Blissful]

I used 4 pair of trail runners from HF to the end (when I switched to runners). But I am realy finicky about my feet, which can sometimes make or break a hike.

[Johnny Swank]

I went through 2 pairs of Chacos.

[Ender]

I used a single pair of Vasque Sundowners from Damascus to Maine. I had a pair from Springer to Damascus, but they blew out, and I replaced them with new boots in Damascus. They went the whole way, and a few hundred miles of post-AT hiking as well.

[fiddlehead]

Montrail Vitesses seem to last me longer than any other trail runner.
I usually get a thru-hike out of 2 pair with no problem. Although i imagine rich people would say they were worn out before i would.
i agree with someone who said: different results from different people and different shoes and different trails and fit, and weather, and well.............maybe nobody really said all that. but it's true.

[The Solemates]

3 pairs for me
3 pairs for my wife

[CrumbSnatcher]

2 pair of chaco z1 sandels

[Grampie]

I used the same pair of Montrail AT Hikers for my whole hike. Had them resoled at the half way point. Totaly shot at the end.:)

[cathy]

I have been fitted by all the self proclaimed shoe experts along the trail. I started out in Vasque , a pair of solomons, then a pair of lowas, next came merrells, severval other types of trails shoes, plain old cross trainers, and still looking for the perfect shoe. I have foot trouble everytime I go out, but so far like the merrels best. They seem to last me around 400 miles.

[Kanati]

NOBO08. I am a boot guy. Always have been whether I'm hunting, cutting wood, on a construction site or hiking. I broke in 2 pair of Vasque, Wasatch, gtx. Each had about 200 miles on them when I started from Springer on 03/01. The first pair broke down in southern VA. The soles cracked across. The tops and tread were still good. I continued to wear them until I reached Daleville, VA where I exchanged them for the second pair. These held up well until the Whites. The soles were worn thru almost and the tops were destroyed by the rocks and wet conditions, (remember how it rained almost every day for 3 weeks in late July and early Aug between VT and ME?). Big holes came in the sides. Vasque replaced the first pair free and gave me a half size larger at my request. I am now breaking them in for my return and finish.

Happy hiking! :welcome

[leeki pole]

I'm not a thru, just a section hiker but a long time runner. In my experience, anytime you push a shoe past 500 miles you're asking for trouble. I've been through ITBS, achilles tendonitis and plantar fascia problems for keeping shoes too long (I'm cheap). The midsole and support breaks down, and make sure the last fits your foot, most importantly. I don't scrimp on shoes anymore, it took me two years to get over the achilles problem. Good luck and take some old shoes to a knowledgeable fitter at a shop, they'll help you.

[TrippinBTM]

Went through 2 and a half. First pair was just some running shoes I foolishly thought would suffice as hiking shoes. Didn't want to buy new shoes for the hike, so I just used shoes I already had. They were dead by the second day in the Smokies (melted by the fire, besides being generally uncomfortable/blister machines).

Hobbled my way to Standing Bear Farm where I found a pair of Merrel Chameleons in the hiker box, already pretty abused. But they lasted me till Kent, CT, when I bought another pair of the same thing. Those got me through to the end, and they're still in hike-able condition.

Not bad, eh? Only bought one pair of shoes for the whole trail!

[tom_alan]

A lot of hikers are talking about "Trail Runners" here. I have been handed the unfortunate gift of weak ankles. This was most likely through abuse when I was younger. Because of this, when hiking long distances on uneven ground I wear boots with high ankle support (Yea, my son’s father wears army boots) to save my ankles.

I currently wear LaCrosse Hyper-Dry 800gm boots. I originally bought a pair to work in and a week later I went back and bought two more pair because they were so comfortable. At the time I was a Receiving Manager and spent half of my work hours outside. All of my hours were on concrete or asphalt.

The first pair lasted me more than a year and I wore them every day of the week. Does anyone have experience with this type of footwear and how many did you go through? I really think mine would have lasted the entire distance; however, with my second pair the bottom blew out after about 11 months.

[Peaks]

The other big variable is type of hiking shoe. Heavy leather boots, especially Limers will last a lot longer than lighter shoes.

Our local outfitter says that you will spend the same amount on footwear, either one pair of high quality hiking boots, or several pairs of trail runners.

[Blissful]

A lot of hikers are talking about "Trail Runners" here. I have been handed the unfortunate gift of weak ankles. This was most likely through abuse when I was younger. Because of this, when hiking long distances on uneven ground I wear boots with high ankle support .

I can tell you I had a severe ankle injury for 2 years and with careful therapy, stretches, strengthening exercises, I wore trail runners for half my hike, even in PA and the Whites (poles also are helpful in stability). The key is exercising to strengthen them, not the misnomer that you need ankle support in boots. Invest in a wobble board, check online for other exercsies, and do calf stretches.

[earthbound]

I used three pair of Vasque Blur trail runners.

[johnnybgood]

I used 4 pair of trail runners from HF to the end (when I switched to runners). But I am realy finicky about my feet, which can sometimes make or break a hike.
How did you switch out trail shoes so many times ... ie; friends connecting with you along the trail , hostels/outfitters etc, sorry if this is a no brainer question....sometimes I have to know things & well..............................Thanks.:sun

[tom_alan]

I can tell you I had a severe ankle injury for 2 years and with careful therapy, stretches, strengthening exercises, I wore trail runners for half my hike, even in PA and the Whites (poles also are helpful in stability). The key is exercising to strengthen them, not the misnomer that you need ankle support in boots. Invest in a wobble board, check online for other exercsies, and do calf stretches.

Bliss ~ When I was 42 I had a doctor tell me that by the time I was 50 I would have to have both my ankles fused. Well I’m 50 and nowhere near that stage.

In 1980 I tore all the ligaments out on the left side of my left ankle after hitting a wet spot on a corner of the track during a full out sprint. I went to the medical services at Indiana State University and they wrapped it and told me I would be fine in the morning. Well I couldn’t walk. After taping it I was able to walk on it.

Three days later they did a stress x-ray on it. Man did that hurt. The ankle jumped completely out of the socket. When I walked into the specialist’s office he asked me “How are you even walking on it?” I told him, “With Pain”. Back than they did what they called the “Watson/Jones Procedure” by cutting one or your tendons and weaving it in and out of your bone structure to hold your ankle in place. The specialist told me that I would most likely need to have my left ankle rebuilt when I was 40 to 45 years old. He was wrong!

I have done a lot of bicycling since than and even dabbled in ultra-marathon bicycling (Events over 150 miles long and usually more than 200 miles). During that time my ankles really got stronger.

Your advice is all well and good; however, my ankle will roll over at a drop of a hat and the last thing I want to do when I head out on a trail is to blow an ankle in the first mile. I do wear shoes that don’t give me the high ankle support when at work and I’m on my feet the entire time so that does help. :sun:sun:sun

[TrippinBTM]

True, weak ankles need support like a weak arm needs a sling (same goes for arch support). Support only weakens them more as the muscles atrophy. Gotta exercise them, just like you'd pump iron to get stronger arms.