UL Trail Shoe options

Im partial to Inov-8 for the light weight and flexible footbeds, but I recommend one of the goretex models to keep your feet dry in shallow water. The 318s for example. My 330s are nice, but I have to tolerate wet feet.

When I was young I was taught "if you feet get wet they will get blisters". A few years ago I discovered that the real rule is that "if you feet are wet, then it's easier to irritate them… BUT if your system is working well your feet can be continuously wet without problems so long as they get to dry out at night.

I made my discovery wearing a pair of Inov-8 Flyroc 310 a few years ago. Early into a trip I soaked my feet when I had to walk through a marshy valley. After something like 16 miles with soaking feet I didn't have blisters?!

Since then I have give up on feeting my feet dry. Besides realizing that wet by itself wasn't a problem I finally realized that my waterproof shoes were actually keeping my feet pretty damp cause my feet sweat a lot. I found that having a very breathable shoe (or sandals) combined with a thin quick drying sock (typically made with coolmax) was the best option for me on three seasons trips.

When the temps are below freezing I find that I need more to keep my feet warm… and dry becomes more important. I haven't found a systems that I would highly recommend. Most trips I am still using my flyrocs with skinskinz or with vapor barrier socks.

My feet tend to sweat alot as well, and I always end up with heel blisters with boots. has always happened to me and I figure it always will with boots. I like the thought of sandals, but I tend to hike at places with alot of river crossings and muddy damp trails and I would probably soak a pair of socks quickly. I like the thought of trail shoes just worried about wet feet. Honestly my feet are wet most trips anyway even with waterproof gortex boots..lol

Tommy

I'd personally go for the Inov8 GTX BOOTS as opposed to mere shoes.

Backpacking takes one in places that virtually require ankle protection. The few grams extra for the GTX bootie and the ankle protection are worth it in preventing foot and joint misery. Sometimes, with something as important as your "foundation", as Colin Fletcher would say, one must take precautions. The entire trip literally rests on your footwear.

Eric

I think a lot of people would disagree with you there, Eric. My experience has been that at UL weights, I really don't need extra ankle support. That being said, I have relatively strong ankles and no previous injuries. For me, it's all about a good heel cup in whatever shoe I get.

I used New Balance 810s and 873s on the PCT this summer and they were both great paired with thin socks. I don't care about wet feet, as long as it's not cold… You're hiking! That will keep your feet warm. Have a spare pair for once you're in bed.

Hi Eric

> Backpacking takes one in places that virtually require ankle protection.
Well, not every one is going to agree with you here. I wear Dunlop KT26s when doing some of our most extreme walking in Australia, and they have got to be some of the lightest and lowest cut of all. Excellent grip though!

Cheers

I also strongly disagree with the suggestion that backpacking requires boots.

I almost always use Inov8 Flyrocs. I have used Terrocs and Teva X-1 (and tried several other trail running shoes). The Flyrocs have a great tread. When I'm hiking in wet conditions, I just plow ahead. If the water is getting sufficiently cold, I will wear neoprene socks. I use one pair of very thin socks (about 1oz per pair). I take an clean pair for each night.

Goretex keeps my foot wet. The Flyroc allows the moisture to be pushed out of the shoe as I hike. Quite some time ago I posted on this site tests of various shoes for loosing water weight when hiking under controlled condtions.

Hiking in December through February or in Winter conditions, I don't use the above solution unless I expect rather dry conditions. I do use Goretex trail running shoes in the winter, when I'm snowshoeing.

The Teva X-1 is great if you are in constant water and it isn't too rocky. For example, in the Paria they are great. For the Zion Narrows (rockey), the Flyroc is better. I don't like the thin soles of the X-1 in rocky streambeds.

I have the innov8 roclite 315s. By far the best trail shoes I have used, and they dry fast. I highly reccomend innov8s and it seems about everyone else does.

I do mountain running, cross country and trail running up to half marathon distances and I do most of my training on rough tracks and trails (50-60k per week), I have lots of runners that are not suitable for running but still ok for walking. For the type of walking that I do I have always been a boot person but after reading the many articles on advantages of trail runners on BPL I decided to try runners, a pair of New Balance 857’s.

I decided to try the 857’s on a day walk on one of Australia’s classic walks the Castle, what started out as a nice track soon became a rough very uneven and very steep turning into some rock climbing to get to the top and down again, it was about 7 hours of walking/climbing in nice weather. I found the runner’s light, griped well and at the end of the day my feet were still very comfortable and I really noticed the light weight feeling of the runners compared to my heavy boots that at the end of a days walking day all I want is to get the boots off.

Because of the running I consider that I have strong ankles but next day I could hardly walk my ankles were very sore and stayed sore for nearly a week. I have walked this area before with overnight pack with my boots and even though most of the tracks are fairly rough in the area, I have never had problems with my ankles.

All I can say is that for the walking that I do I am still undecided about boots vs runners but I have decided to give runners another try on a not so rough trail.

Tony

My 330s in size 11 fit normally, which is to say 1/2 size too big to accomodate 2 socks.
But my 318s in 11 are too tight and short in the toe region.
Can any 390 owners tell me if they run 'true to size', small, or large? I will probably have to buy over the internet without the luxury of trying them on.
Thanks!

Hi Tony

> Because of the running I consider that I have strong ankles but next day I could hardly walk my ankles were very sore and stayed sore for nearly a week. I have walked this area before with overnight pack with my boots and even though most of the tracks are fairly rough in the area, I have never had problems with my ankles.

Give them another few trips on rough ground, and the ligaments around your ankles will strengthen up. They have gone soft from being inside boots.

Seriously. No, I am NOT being silly here. I went through the same transition. It didn't take long. Most bushwalking clubs in Sydney would have KTs and Volleys as standard footwear.
(For Americans: Dunlop Volleys are even lighter than KT-26s. Think canvas tennis shoe from the 60s.)

Cheers

Well…I guess I should have stated up front that I'm a lightweight backpacker, not a UL backpacker. For me 30 lbs. (1st day load W/ 1.5 L. of H2O) for 7 days is the norm. Plus, I've badly sprained my right ankle twice (at home!). Just another reason for me to choose boots, however light.

I suppose if one is carrying only 20 lbs. TOTAL on their back then low cut shoes are adequate. Much more weight than that would seem to me to be pushing your luck.

What the heck, if you don't see low shoes as a risk and if they feel good then keep on truckin'.

Eric