[pct-l] Top thru hike shoes

[Todd Evans]

Altra also makes a shoe called the Olympus which has tons of cushion and is still flat. The insole does provide a minor amount of arch support but without it it's flat and comfortable. Right now the old version is on clearance at REI. So far it's been a very durable for me, I have over 200 miles on mine and they are not showing any wear. 

Team Evans

-----Original Message-----
From: Pct-L [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Scott Williams
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2015 7:48 AM
To: Isabella
Cc: <Pct-l at backcountry.net>; Brian Gill
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Top thru hike shoes

Hey Mademoiselle,

I've got the same issue.  I can't hike with arch support or I end up with PF and how I solve that with the Lone Peaks, Altra Instincts and my old Montrail Sabinos is to pull out the insole.  That gives me a flat platform in all of these shoes.  Since I don't have the old insoles, I can't tell you how much of an arch they had with the insole in, but without it, they're flat and very comfortable.

As for cush, the Instincts are the softest of these three that I hike in.
The Lone Peaks have what they used to call a Rock Guard, which gave more stiffness, but there are lots of shoes out there with a more stiff sole.  I wouldn't call the Lone Peaks, cushy, but the Instincts definitely are.  One way Ken Powers adds a little cush when he needs it, as he's hiking in very minimalist shoes last I heard, is to carry a Dr. Scholls foam insert to drop in when he's on pavement or nasty rocks for a bit.  I've used them too on a long road walk, and that's all I need.

Have a wonderful Hike!

Shroomer

On Wed, Apr 15, 2015 at 7:34 AM, <isabella at bendnet.com> wrote:

> Do Altra Lone Peaks have arch support?  I have a weird issue and need 
> a shoe with NO arch support.  Hard to find.
> Also, are the Altras cushy at all?  Stiff sole?
> Thx, Mademoiselle
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pct-L [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Scott 
> Williams
> Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2015 3:12 PM
> To: Brian Gill
> Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Top thru hike shoes
>
> 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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