[pct-l] Footwear

[Jackie McDonnell]

Leslie -

My experience was that my feet grew 1.5 sizes on my first thru-hike, and
they've stayed the same since then.  So if you're an active person already,
you might not see the growth.

I like to wear Men's shoes when I hike, because the toe box is bigger,
which allows my toes room to breathe.  Imagine strumming your fingers on a
table.  I like to be able to do a similar motion with my toes in my hiking
shoes.  Having that much space prevents blisters.

Also, there is fine, fine sand all along the PCT.  This gets into your
shoes, inside your socks, and between your toes.  If your toes are squished
together, then the friction of your toes and the sand will cause blisters
between your toes.

Not everyone has the same experience, though.  Try out a couple different
styles/sizes of shoes on your training hikes.  You'll find what works for
you.

Yogi
www.yogisbooks.com

On Wed, Jan 28, 2015 at 4:07 PM, Leslie LaRocca <larocca690 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hi everyone, I am planning for my attempted thru hike this coming spring
> and I have a question about footwear.
> So I have read all the guides and whatnot and it is highly suggested that I
> should purchase and wear shoes that are a size too large. I can see how
> this totally makes sense as my feet are going to swell, but are they really
> going to swell THAT much?? I have super narrow feet, so I am wondering if I
> really need to do this. It also makes me nervous to wear shoes too big
> because isn't ill fitting footwear a cause of blisters? Also, in hiking the
> PCT, I am going to be putting more stress on my feet than I ever have in my
> entire life and it seems odd to do this in incorrect fitting shoes. I'm
> confused about what to do on this one...would love to hear of others
> personal experiences!! Thanks!
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