[pct-l] Top thru hike shoes

[Scott Williams]

Hey Brian,

The most popular and commonly seen shoes on some of the greatest hikers I
know are the Altra Lone Peaks.  With their zero drop heal and wide toe box,
they're some of the most comfortable out there.  At last years ALDHA West
Gathering, the largest group of Triple Crowners in one place ever, we took
pictures of everyone with their shoes stuck in the shot as a big rosette of
Altra shoes.  Just to name names of those who hike in Lone Peaks, the list
includes, Lint, Snorkel, Freefall, Allgood, Dirt Monger, Swami, Why Not,
and it goes on and on.

There are other great shoes out there as well, however, and shoes are soooo
personal.  If they feel great and you don't get blisters, go for anything
else.   I train in Altras, Knocked out 14 miles and 4,500 vertical in them
yesterday, but I still use my old Montrail Sabinos, when I'm thru hiking.
The Sabinos were the widest toe box I could find back in 1009 and when they
did me so well on the PCT in 2010, I bought a big stack of them at $40 a
pop when Montrail changed the pattern later that year and had them on
remainder.  So, I'm just too damn cheap not to use them although I take out
the insoles to approximate the feel of the Altras.  $40 or $110 per pair
over a thru hike saves me a bit of cash.  I had one pair last me from
Georgia to New Hampshire on the AT last year.  I only traded 'em out
because I needed a bit of tread to hit the Whites. But I sent them home and
am still waking around in them. The Lone Peak is not that robust, just the
most comfortable shoe out there.  But the Montrails still do me well. Once
I use 'em all up however, I'll be using whatever Altras I can find in the
bargain stores.  Last year, when the Lone Peak was upgraded, I was able to
find the original Lone Peaks at Sports Basement at $40 a pair.  I called
the people I knew who used them and bought up whatever sizes fit.

Altra is by no means the only great shoe out there, but many of the
greatest thru hikers in America are using them this season  and have been
for the past 2 or 3 years.

Have a wonderful Hike,

Shroomer

On Tue, Mar 31, 2015 at 8:27 AM, Brian Gill <pctpanama at aol.com> wrote:

> What's  the top three shoes for a thru hike now days?  Panama
>
> "Sent from my iPhone"
>
>        Brian
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