Shoe size? Does foot grow on thru?

[Stats 2012]

I've read that one's feet grow/spread out during a thru. I'm off to buy new trail shoes in a couple of days and was curious if I should buy a size larger than normal? Can any thru-hikers attest to this foot growth and if so tell me how you dealt with this issue on your thru? Half sizes aren't an option for me, for I normally wear a size 12. (The next size up is 13 in most shoes.) Thanks in advance!

[ChinMusic]

I'd like to know if this is an age issue as well on thru. It seems to me the younger folks notice more of a size change than older folks. I know my own feet are a larger size than they were in my 20s.

[Panzer1]

I don't know.

Panzer

[The Solemates]

my shoe size never changed. i wear a 13. i hiked the trail in my 20s.

my wife's shoe size never changed. she wears an 8. she hiked the trail in her 20s.

[Colter]

On the AT my feet "grew" significantly. On subsequent long hikes my feet haven't grown during the hike. I don't have trouble with foot swelling, but many people do.

How have your feet fared on other multi-day hikes? You can use that as a guideline. If you are using trail runners or similar you'll be replacing shoes along the way and can adjust accordingly.

[The Solemates]

i think it has a lot to do with how sedentary you were prior to hitting the trail. prior to hitting the trail i weightlifted a lot. i've also played basketball 2-3 days a week my entire life. my feet weren't going to stretch out anymore because they were used to the abuse. likewise, my wife is a runner.

[Jim Adams]

they don't grow so much as flatten and spead out from all of the walking with extra weight.
I wore a size 9 in 1989 before my first thru. 10 1/2 after the thru.
since 2 thrus, 1000 miles of pct and alot of local trails, I now wear a size 11 1/2....yes it is weird! I have the feeling that ultralighters will change less than heavier packs but nothing to prove that....ask MS if his changed.

geek

[peakbagger]

Used to wear a size 13 wide for years. It wasnt until I started section hiking the AT, that I had to go to the same size but 4 E.

[Pokey2006]

I've gone from an 8.5 to a 9.5 over 5 years of hard-core hiking (including 2 thrus). My feet did swell considerably during my hike, but usually only when I was taking a zero day. My advice? Bring expandable camp shoes (like Tevas) and go with your current size, but get a pair of running shoes that can be easily replaced if your feet do grow/swell during your hike. There's no need for heavy-duty boots on the AT, unless you plan to encounter snow.

[Ewker]

I use to wear a 10.5 for as long as I can remember. I went yesterday and got remeasured for some boots...size 12 wide. My feet are flatter than they use to be but not to the point of being totally flat footed

[Jeff]

I agree with the posts above. And just to confirm, my shoe size did NOT go back down after a long distance hike.

[garlic08]

My feet spread out a bit on my first thru, but not since. I also think I found out that a larger shoe size was more comfortable for hiking. I did not "stockpile" shoes before that first hike, so as they wore out every 700 or 800 miles, I bought a larger or wider size. It's easy enough to buy new shoes on the AT if that happens to you.

[Stats 2012]

Thanks for the input, y'all. I've noticed that my foot has spread out in the two years of my training, but I assumed it would be worse on the thru. Perhaps my feet are done growing.

I've been debating boots vs trail shoes for a while, and as much as it pains me I am leaning toward the shoes. Colter, your point of buying new trail runners (larger if necessary) is a good thought.

As much as I hate to think about making my thru-hike without boots, there are many compelling reasons to go with trail runners or ankle-high hiking shoes at least.

[Spokes]

My feet stayed the same. I've been running marathons and ultras for years and consider that a factor.

I always try on hiking boots and shoes late to compensate for the natural tendency of swelling feet.

[House of Payne]

i think it has a lot to do with how sedentary you were prior to hitting the trail. prior to hitting the trail i weightlifted a lot. i've also played basketball 2-3 days a week my entire life. my feet weren't going to stretch out anymore because they were used to the abuse. likewise, my wife is a runner.

I'm alot like you on this, I play hoops 3x a week as well and my feet have changed big time in the last 8-10 years. Through the abuse of playing and hiking my arches finally fell and my size 12 for the last 20 years has now changed to a 13. And depending on which brand of shoe I decide to hike with I have to consider, at the least, swelling not so much growing. With Merrels I have to purchase size 14 shoe for a size 13 foot.

[couscous]

Having extra room in the toe box so you're not jamming your toenails on the downhills can prevent losing some toenails.