I am in a facebook group for AT hikers, Im sure many of you are too.
A member has posted inquiring on both "how cheaply you can skimp by", claiming bull that it takes $1000 + to hike the trail.
My reply to that is that I and most would call skimping under 1K to be borderline hoboing up the trail
His second comment in the post is more of what I want feedback (reassurance on from here), and that is that he thinks he is going to walk from Georgia to Maine, on 1 pair of Merrell trail running type of shoe.
My response to him in a non antagonizing way was that he'se gunna need 3-5 pairs of those shoes depending on how rough he is on shoes.
My thinking is at least a pair every 500 miles, and possible 2 pair for New England.
Many could question at what point to replace a shoe? Lets set the standard at when they are no longer comfortable to wear, the sole is flopping off, the fabric is worn away, holes in them...Cause in the end I guess they could be a tatters and no be replaced