trail runners
I will be starting thru hike mid march. I am not a fan of hiking boots. Can someone suggest a good trail runner that will be right for a spring start. Thanks!!
The best shoe is the shoe that fits you best.
Yeah, I know. That's not the answer you wanted. But your feet are different than mine. And different from the next guy. So, you're going to have to invest some time/effort in determining which shoe fits you best.
You know the reputable brands. Try them on for size. There are differences in the last, support, width, blah, blah, blah.
Knowing my preference won't help you very much. But, hey, everyone else will be shouting-out brands, so: New Balance!
Roland
One more thought....
Do you pronate? Supinate?
What the heck is that, right? Most hikers aren't experts in bio-mechanics. So find a knowledgeable salesperson to help you get the right shoe.
The better manufacturers offer shoes built on a variety of lasts to provide proper foot support for pronation, neutral, and supination. If you over-pronate and buy a shoe designed to correct supination....well, let's just say you will be uncomfortable.
Last edited by Roland; 01-06-2011 at 07:05. Reason: Added neutral
Roland
Cool...I wear new balance running shoes as my everyday shoe now...I love them...I am new to long distance hiking and apperciate any info...thanks all!!
if you have wide feet i would suggest keens, very comfortable shoes. if you have a more narrow foot, suggest vasque. both these shoes will hold up well.
I am a huge fan of Salomon Trail Runners.
If you have wide feet I would suggest Merrell's. They were the only trail runners I found in a wide width and I love mine. Plenty of room in the toe box.Originally Posted by ekeverette
Pain is a by-product of a good time.
thanks fellows...I will be looking into all above options
I suffered way too long until I found out that New Balance (and some others) have shoes available in multiple widths. When I found out that I needed an EE width, I went with NB and have never tried anything else. Ditto above about Vasque--if you have a narrow foot, it looks like a great shoe.
"Throw a loaf of bread and a pound of tea in an old sack and jump over the back fence." John Muir on expedition planning
question about width
I've only ever bought off the bargain rack, so I've never experienced wide sizes first hand.
I'm a fan of Montrail Hardrocks, which are out of print. I loved the heel fit but the toe box is a bit tight.
Does the heel width also increase with the wider sizes. I would think so and this makes a wider size less desirable to me.
My ideal trail runner would be the same heel sizing with a wider toe box.
Novabob, sorry for the thread hijack. It is related to your subject though. and width is such a big thing in hiking shoe sizing. Everybody (??? arguably) experiences foot widening when they start hiking long distance.
Grinder
AT hiker : It's the journey, not the destination
You should get properly fittd by a professional for your foot type. Some pronate, have neutral arch or high arch etc and this can make a huge difference with the kind fo shoe you should buy. But once you are fitted right the first time, you look for the same kind on line. You will need several pairs for a thru hike. Good insoles are important also.
Try the NW 876s
Merrell Moab Ventilators. Mine have about 700 miles on them, and still in one piece. A PCT thru hiker told me that her's lasted for 1,000.
Jamie
www.DownTheTrail.com
Wear what you already wear.
I have come to the conclusion, after thousands of miles hiking, that you can hike in nearly anything that fits well. It's not that complicated of an activity. I finished the PCT wearing street running shoes and did not have any issues with them at all. They fit well, had decent traction and worked just fine for walking all day on a trail.
Some knew me as Piper, others as just Diane.
I hiked the PCT: Mexico to Mt. Shasta, 2008. Santa Barbara to Canada, 2009.
These are what I use. Great shoe. Your socks will get dirty, the material lets a lot of trail dust. Great comfort, very breathable, dry quick, and have good traction.
Good luck on your search!
2013 AT NOBO - 03/13/13 to 08/14/13
inov 8 295's
New Balance 876
I'd go with the kind you wear w/snowshoes...
If you have a good running store go there and they will watch you walk and run. From there they can tell you which type of shoe will work best for you.
Golite's work well for me; these are the only shoe I've thus far found I can walk long distances in without little-toe side bunions getting sore. Of the current models, I like the "Blaze Lite" best. Of last year's models I used a combination of Versa Force, Force, and one or two left over pairs form a prior year, Sun Dragon II's I think.
I wish these guys were a little less aggressive about replacing their entire product line every year ...
Gadget
PCT: 2008 NOBO, AT: 2010 NOBO, CDT: 2011 SOBO, PNT: 2014+2016
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