[pct-l] feet

[linsey]

Getting dirt in your shoe is a good thing as it toughens up your feet.  Ray Jardine embraces it and calls it "Dura Dirt".  Gaiters restrict ventilation so I prefer breathable shoes with mens nylon dress socks.
Goretex just makes my feet sweaty and too hot, as do wool socks (unless it's super cold and wet).
The PNW is also where I live and I find my feet can be wet all day with no problem if they can be warm, dry, and cozy all night.  For this I use opposum down socks for sleeping socks.



dennis Phelan <dennis.phelan at gmail.com> wrote:

>Being a NW hiker, my section hikes have lead me to use a slightly different >shoe choice than have been suggested.  I totally agree about the size.  one >half to one full size bigger will stop blisters (at least it did for me - I >also use a two layer sock).  I use a low cut trail running shoe (I like >Vasque, but that is my preference after having tried several others)  I do >use a Goretex waterproof shoe and desert gaiters (low cut gaiters)  I added >the gaiters because when hiking on dusty trails you get tons of dirt in you >shoe and socks.  The gaiters stop (minimize) that.  I first tried the >gaiters with a pair of shoes that were "breathable" and the first night >when I took my shoes off I broke out laughing; my heels and ankles were >lily white, but my toes and central part of my foot were black with dirt. >Breathable shoes breath dirt too.  I switched to a Goretex shoe and now I >have cleaner feet.  I agree that the Goretex shoes don't breath as
 well, >but up here in the NW that has not been a problem and in fact it is a plus >because many times the foliage is wet enough you would have seriously wet >feet without them.   For stream crossings I use my camp Crog type shoes. >>Dennis