| Backpacking boots or any of the traditional hiking | | | | Once I switched to running shoes and lightweight |
| boots may have their place. That place just isn't on | | | | socks years ago, I stopped getting blisters, and I |
| my feet. If you don't have specific problems with | | | | don't mean fewer blisters. I mean no blisters. I |
| your ankles, there isn't snow on the ground, and you | | | | haven't had one blister since I switched, not even |
| don't carry more than thirty pounds on your back, | | | | after a 110-mile 7-day trek in the Rockies, for |
| try running shoes. You'll be so happy that you did. | | | | example. |
| Backpacking or hiking boots are heavy, hot, stinky, | | | | For socks, I have used nothing but thin nylon dress |
| and stay wet forever. Decent running shoes can be | | | | socks for years. They are cheap, and they weigh |
| as light as one pound per pair, while most hiking | | | | less than an ounce per pair. That makes it easy to |
| boots top three pounds. Army research showed that | | | | carry enough fresh socks. They also can be easily |
| a pound on your feet is like five on your back (some | | | | rinsed out and dried quickly. My feet won't tolerate |
| say six), so three-pound boots naturally leave you | | | | hotter socks now, although I do bring a warmer pair |
| more tired at the end of the day. | | | | for sleeping or for cold weather. |
| Backpacking Boots And Ankle Support | | | | Unless you have size 13 feet, you should be able to |
| Some backpackers argue for the necessity of ankle | | | | find good running or hiking shoes that are under two |
| support, but throughout history people managed | | | | pounds per pair. Carry a kitchen scale to the shoe |
| without stiff ankle-supporting boots. Even if you are | | | | store if you have to. Unfortunately, catalogs |
| carrying thirty pounds on your back, consider the | | | | sometimes don't show weights, so you'll have to |
| fact that there are people walking around that weigh | | | | guess which hiking shoes are lighter based on the |
| 60 pounds more than you, and without problems. It is | | | | description and photo. |
| an issue of weak ankles, not a lack of support. To | | | | The higher quality shoes have soles stitched to the |
| solve this problem, try walking a little each week on | | | | uppers. Look under the insoles to check this. A |
| uneven ground (not in the mall). | | | | removable insole is another sign of quality shoes. |
| While some may really need hiking boots, why not be | | | | Usually you can find a good pair of running shoes |
| sure your ankle problems are not just due to a lack | | | | under 28 ounces and under $80, or half of that on |
| of exercise before you settle for backpacking in | | | | closeouts. |
| heavy boots. It is true you may need hiking boots if | | | | Until you try it, you won't know how liberating it is to |
| you carry more than thirty pounds when you | | | | ditch the heavy pack and heavy boots and hit the |
| backpack. The solution to that is to cut the weight | | | | trail in running shoes. Go more miles more |
| down. | | | | comfortably. Run up a hill just to see what's there. I |
| Why Running Shoes? | | | | haven't yet met a person who has tried backpacking |
| Your feet will stay cooler in a good running shoes | | | | in hiking shoes or running shoes - and then returned |
| than in hiking boots, and this means fewer blisters. | | | | to backpacking boots. |