Looking for lighter footwear options for 20-25 pound load

These do require fairly strong ankles, but have the advantage of increased breathability. Never had a blister or a blackened toenail with these.

Drum roll please.

Nike Santiam 4 Men's Sandals

Should handle 20-25 lbs. I wear them with socks (fashion faux paux) to keep sticks and pebbles from poking through. If you try them you'll love them.

Here's a few threads via search that may be helpful:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/12350/index.html?skip_to_post=90627#90627

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/13908/index.html?skip_to_post=102883#102883

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/14936/index.html?skip_to_post=111126#111126

Thanks for your help thus far, but I have another question; which one should I go to to be fitted in trailrunner type shoes? A local running store (mostly road running), REI (2 hour drive) or my local outfitter (teenage kids, bad return policy)

The running store sells
Sacony(sp)
Nike
Adidas
Ascis
Brooks
New Balance

REI sells
Saloman
Montrail
La Sportiva
Lowa
North Face
Vasque
inov8

Local Outfitter Sells
Saloman
The North Face
Lowa
Vasque
Montrail

I also hate to buy products made in China but it looks like in this market category, I have little choice. Does anyone know of any of these type of shoes made in either the USA (NB doesn't seem to make any of there trailrunners here), or Europe?

What is the diffrence between a trail running shoe like the Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra and a more low hiker like the Merrell Moab Ventilator Plus

I recently transitioned from one-piece leathers to the Inov8 Flyroc 310. I missed being able to submerge my whole foot without worry of wet feet along stream crossings; but it's very empowering when submerging my entire shoe is not a big deal.

I haven't tried other trailrunners, but I wouldn't necessarily consider the Flyrocs "quick-drying." The good news is that the Flyrocs "feel" dry along your feet very quickly if wearing adequate socks.

As for trying out a wide variety of trailrunning footwear, I highly recommend http://www.runningwarehouse.com. I purchased my Flyrocs from them — they offer free 2-day shipping, free return shipping, and they were the cheapest place I could find that offered my selection.

Good luck in finding your choice of trailrunners — you'll enjoy the change!

I really enjoy my salomon shoes. They have been very robust and the special laces are very effective

I also had a good experience with runningwarehouse.com. It is so nice to be able to order multiple sizes to see which size fits best (usually a big disadvantage with ordering shoes online).

Zappos.com is another option for online purchasing with free shipping both ways.

Mostly it makes a lot more sense to buy shoes for you, while you're carrying your pack. To make a good recommendation on this, it would work better to know your weight as well.

It will make more diffenence if you're 150lb, or 250lb, than in your pack is 20lb or 30lb.

Rod

I am currently 6'-0" 162lbs

Okay at 160lb, plus 25lb pack, you're well within the capability of any trail runner you've listed. Choose the shoe that fits best, with a good sole plate to protect from roots and rocks.

I'd go to your local outfitter, and try them on for size and comfort. Explain to the manager that you're happy to spend your dollars there, but only if you can exchange/return shoes that have been worn inside. If s/he won't deal on this, thank him for his time, and explain that you'll have to order online.

I'd look at the Salomon XA Comp 2 or 3, for a narrower foot.
They also have a pretty beefy sole plate , and I like the sole pattern in the mud better than the XA Pro. I've found the Kevlar laces to be great, but there are a few reports online of them breaking.

I find the Asics a little under cooked for underfoot protection, but the gel is good on the road.

Thank you for your input, I will go check them out.

It's funny that Rod mentions Salomon shoes fit narrow feet best. Mine are on the wider side (especialy acrross my toes) and I get a superb fit from the Salomon last. I've seen this mentioned in posts before; they seem to fit many different types of feet well.

For narrower feet, I'd also look at Vasque and Montrail. It's been my experience that both of those brands are a bit on the narrow side for me, so might fit you well. Montrail Hardrocks seem to be very popular amongst the crowd here.

I have always found Solomans to be narrow on my somewhat wide foot and Montrails to be perfect. I have Hurrican Ridges (that have two holes forming in them now) and a pair of Montrail Hardrocks wide that I'm working in to replace them – they're very comfortable – also introducing a set of Superfeet into those….

Which Salomons do you guys have?

Actually Russell, that's perfectly true. I hadn't thought about it, but the Salomons are pretty wide accross the toes. I like that to allow for swelling during a 24hr race.

I think the lacing system must allow them to accomodate a wide variety of foot widths. They lace a bit further down along the foot, like a climbing shoe, than my Asics do.

Rod

Sorry, can't recall my two attempts – returned them.

Brad,

I have used a few models, but over the past 2 years I've been wearing Salomon XA Pro 3D's, non-Goretex version. They've updated that model with the XA Pro 3D Ultra and I've checked that one out in the stores. Looks exactly the same, minus a little detailing difference and (of course) about a $15 price bump. Supposedly has better padding but I can't see a difference. I can't tell any difference in padding from handling them and I don't know if 'better padding' means the midsole, tongue, or what. I'll buy a pair soon as my current XA Pro's are pretty ragged out.

They do make a wider version now but the Salomon website says the wider 'M' version contains PU coated leather, which I don't see as an improvement. The previous materials used in the uppers don't have any wear issues, as far as I am concerned. Not sure if the regular width has undergone a similar change; the website doesn't state this. I specifically chose the XA's because of all-synthetic content, which I feel is essential for quick drying times. Who knows, maybe the shoes I've been wearing have had the coated leather all along…dunno, its difficult to tell.

RE: width. Now that it's brought up, I do notice the shoes are a tad tight across the top of my foot but this seems to go away after wearing them for a few days. They do have some 'give' to them.

My one grip about the shoes is the lug design and materials. The lugs are not very aggressive. They do a fine job when they are new but after 400 miles or so, they can wear out almost flat. It feel like there is still some life left in the midsole when this happens so this seems like a waste. If they would increase the depth of the lugs a tad, I'd be very pleased.

I guess I should mention that I hike mostly on pretty similar trails to what you most likely see, Brad. I'm an east-coaster as well, so I'm usually on mixed dirt-and rock, AT type terrain. I have used them on granite in the Sierra's and on the southwest desert sandstone as well. They will really let sand/grit/dust in due to the breathable nature of the mesh but they really do quite well on most terrain…at least until the soles start to show significant wear.

I'm about 190, 6 feet and I replace the insoles with Superfeet green. Not that Superfeet are particularly cushy but I find the control benefits they add to be helpful. The XA stock insoles are junk seem to go lifeless by about the time I get out of the shoe store.

Russell, for a more aggressive sole, you might like to check out the XA Comp. This shoe is basically the original XA Pro, with a little more detailing. It has the original Contragrip sole, which I find good for everything except really wet rocks.

Plus they're about $35 cheaper than the Pros, so even if they only last 2/3 as long, you're paying the same price. Me, I can't kill mine.

Rod

Rod, I have looked at (and tried n) the XA Comp 3's. I liked the fit, but there was one real difference in the construction of the shoes vs. the XA Pros. The XA Pros have a much wider heel-to-ground contact area than the Comps. The sole is also a lower profile which positions your heel closer to the ground. For me it has meant very low incidence of rolled ankles and I do feel more stable in the XA Pros than other trail runners I've tried. But still, 35 bucks is 35 bucks so maybe I'll try a pair of the Comps.

I’ve always used Salomon XA Pro 3D XCR shoes, and they’re great, but I recently made the switch to Vibram’s FiveFinger shoes, and I’m loving them.

Some photos/videos here.

Dunstan, those are very interesting shoes you have there. I'm curious as to how they held up to the terrain of the Sierras. I see they are quite flexible, so it makes me wonder how much protection you had from rocks on the bottom and where a toebox would be. You mentioned that they aren't the greatest shoes for snow, so I take it they didn't provide much protection from the cold ground?

Though I don't think I would personally use those shoes, I could see them working out well in the spring and fall where I backpack (in the Smokies).

Craig, you’re right that they don’t provide much protection from sharp rocks (I got a few pointy ones in the arch of my foot and they did hurt) but since my pack is ~25lbs, and my shoes are so light, it’s very easy to place my feet in a considered manner.

In our whole 36-mile hike I only stubbed my toe twice, and stood on a pointy stone maybe four times. None of which was enough to cause me more than a fleeting discomfort (much like standing on a stone when you’re walking barefoot – the pain lasts for only a moment).

As for the snow, it was actually refreshing to stand on because of the hot air temps, but if I had to walk on snow for an hour or so I expect my feet would have got chilled. The main problem was the lack of grip, but frankly we all suffered from that, so I don’t think it was a fault of just my shoes.

The big problem with the fivefingers is that your feet take some time to get strong enough to use them – they offer no arch support, so it’s down to the muscles in your foot to provide support.

I will say that I was the only one in our party not to have a blister, and up until the last hour of our trek I never once felt the need to get off my feet, even when carrying two packs.

You can see lots more photos of me and the fivefingers in these search results (they include all my friends’ relevant photos from the trip too).

I swear by my Salomon XA Pro 3D's. I have both the Goretex and non-Goretex versions. I only wear the Goretex ones on snow – such as snowshoeing. For everything else it's the non-Goretex version. They dry well, they are very durable, and they don't have too much cushion – just enough cushion to be comfortable while still allowing me to feel the trail.

I will probably get around to trying an Inov8 shoe like the Flyrock 310's someday.