I'm wondering what type of footwear would be best to start my thru hike with. I plan to begin in mid to late March, so I'm sure there will be some snow and plenty of mud to follow. I have a pair of Asolo TPS 520 boots that are very comfortable (I've put over 500 miles on them), but are also very heavy (4 pounds). I eventually want to switch into a lightweight hiking shoe or trail runner, but I'm not sure if I should start out with this type of shoe in semi-winter conditions. What are potential thru hikers planning on starting out with? What did veteran thru hikers start with?