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Backpacking Light

Pack less. Be more.

Trail running shoes vs waterproof breathable.

Home › Forums › General Forums › Speed Hiking and Fastpacking › Trail running shoes vs waterproof breathable.

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  • Sep 4, 2015 at 4:13 pm #1332318
    Jeffrey Wong
    BPL Member

    @kayak4water

    Locale: Pacific NW

    For my section hiking, I may revise my foot wear due to severe cold feet that plagued me walking past wet brush that had grown over the trail. I may switch from non waterproof trail shoes to waterproof breathable with rain chaps (or gaiters) and a rain skirt. Comments? Thank you!

    Sep 5, 2015 at 12:41 pm #2225129
    Mike M
    BPL Member

    @mtwarden

    Locale: Montana

    if it's really cold (below 20 or so) or wet snow, I like "waterproof" ("waterproof" shoes aren't breathable, they are warmer however) trail runners, barring that- breathable trail runners are better in my experience if your feet are cold in warmer temps, try thicker (and taller) wool socks or even gore-tex socks (over a thin sock) gaiters should be worn regardless of what shoe

    Sep 5, 2015 at 7:57 pm #2225165
    Justin Baker
    BPL Member

    @justin_baker

    Locale: Santa Rosa, CA

    How cold was it when walking through the brush? What kind of socks were you wearing? I find the key is thick wool socks. I mean really thick, thick enough you might need to go up half a size in shoes. I have a pair of rocky goretex socks and I think they are way more reliable than waterproof shoes. You can take them off and cross streams instead of carrying crossing shoes. Waterproof gaiters are pretty much mandatory.

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