[pct-l] Running Shoes vs. boots

[ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com]

Hey, Diane!

Your sense of humor is wonderful! I'm still trying to envision the bus on 
the trail...

What I was thinking about was more of evasive maneuvers, sudden changes of 
course, the quick turn you have to make when you see a root, boulder, or 
branch in your path. Sometimes just quickly moving around the campsite my 
foot will roll over a twig, cone, or stone on the compacted ground there.

I wonder if the Vibram compound used for the runners is different than what 
they use for the heavy boots to keep weight down and flexibility up?

As far as weights go, my pack and I are not typical of the mainstream. I 
usually gain weight on my longer hikes (anything over three weeks). I 
started the Crest at 155 and finished at 175 while my pack went from 55 to 
65 pounds. As I got stronger I hiked faster and then had more time to enjoy 
my surroundings. I carried an assortment of field guides to plants, animals, 
and peak climbs, a Thoreau or Leopold book, a few sci-fi paperbacks, a 
recorder (musical instrument), at one point a mask and snorkel, and two 
large and heavy Nikkor lenses for animal photography.
I averaged 24 miles per day and when I got to a place I liked I stopped and 
relaxed, read, went for a day-hike or fishing, or would eat one of my 4-man 
meals, hot off the stove!

Mtnned
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com" <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 3:28 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Running Shoes vs. boots


>
> On Feb 27, 2009, at 2:29 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
>> Ok, everybody, help me out with understanding something,
>>
>>> From what I have seen of trail running shoes and lightweight
>>> boots, their
>> heels are virtually non-existent. Since the vertical face of the
>> heel in the
>> instep of a traditional boot is used as a tremendous braking
>> device, I have
>> to assume that these runners and lightweight boots must not work
>> very well
>> in a panic stop and slip on things like pebbles on hard trail.
>>
>> How well do runners work with quick/panic stops on common trail
>> conditions?
>
> Panic stops? Like when you're about to be run over by a bus on the
> trail? I can't think of any time I did anything close to a panic stop
> while walking, and even if I did, I think my trekking poles would
> play a big part in handling the event.
>
>>
>> If their rubber is softer to be "grippy," don't they wear out fast, as
>> compared to dense Vibram boot soles?
>
> Trail runners over all wear out quickly. They are disposable. You
> cannot even repair or resole them. But I have always found Vibram
> soles to be the slipperiest things I've ever walked on, to the point
> where I feel extremely unstable unless I'm walking on perfectly dry
> ground. I avoid Vibram whenever possible. I don't know who came up
> with the marketing BS that they are no-slip because they are the
> exact opposite.
>>
>> If they wear out fast and you have to leave the trail a few times on a
>> 5-month trip to find and buy more, won't the total expense of
>> runners begin
>> to equal or at least approach that of a decent hiking boot?
>
> Yes, the total expense will be the same or more than a high-quality
> boot, as long as your boot does not come apart. However, if your
> trail runners do not work out, they are more disposable and also
> easier to modify. For example, the toes pinch or parts are rubbing?
> Cut the shoes up with a knife.
>
>>
>> If the shoes feel great when you have a lightweight pack on, what
>> happens to
>> your feet when your weight goes up with your Sierra extra gear?
>
> I find that running shoes and lightweight hikers are more cushioned
> and therefore much more comfortable than old-fashioned leather hiking
> boots. And if you are anything like me, your weight will only be high
> at the start of the hike and after a few weeks your pack weight will
> equal the body weight you have lost and you'll be even-steven.
>
>>
>> Mtnned
>
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