Trail runners or boots for the Sierras?

Hi Ron

> after a few miles running it was killing my shins- shin splints-

Been there, done that (light leather XC ski boots to Scarpa plastic T3s) – never again! Sheer agony!

Cheers

braces or tape on 02/11/2010 00:05:12 MST Reply Report Post Print View

> White paper medical research has shown in one study
> that lace-up braces with low-top shoes had the lowest
> number of ankle sprains…

I am not that fit and have glass ankles. I have always had a problem with rolling my ankles. After multiple sprains in trail runners, I went to ankle braces and they worked great, but were hot, uncomfortable and heavy.

I eventually changed to light mid-height trail shoes and found that, although I still do roll my ankles and fall on my face regularly, the addition support keeps me from spraining my ankles and I can get right back up and walk without much pain.

I'm hoping that if I continue this way, my ankles will eventually be strong enough that I can go back to low tops.

I don't recommend mid-height shoes for most people, but if your like me, give em a try.

"I'd bet that the manufacture would prefer they wore the low top versions of their shoes. But they don't. Wonder why…"

'Cause Michael didn't.

""I'd bet that the manufacture would prefer they wore the low top versions of their shoes. But they don't. Wonder why…"

'Cause Michael didn't."

Lots of athletes want to wear what everybody else is wearing. I'd also guess that selling high tops is advantageous for manufacturers: higher price, plus more real estate on the shoes for logos for branding purposes. There have been some pretty good players who wore low tops in the past, and Kobe is now wearing a low-ish top shoe.

Having played a lot of basketball when I was younger, my experience is that high tops helped prevent some mild twists and sprains, at the cost of increasing the likelihood of moving an injury up the leg to become a very debilitating high ankle sprain. High tops do almost nothing to protect against rolling an ankle from coming down on someone's foot, which is pretty similar to coming down on a rock that slips or off-center on a root. To really protect against sprains you'd likely have to have something like an 8" or more boot top to stabilize the ankle.

…. always; no hardcore winter climbing, but trail runners for everything else… they are so comfortable and light, I use them with crampons, and with waterproof socks they are just great in cold snowy winter. I have had a weak ankle but using trail runners has build up my strength. Just get using them. Innov8's are very good indeed.

Peter, Where are you in that photo?

….. taking it! Behind my friend on higher ground, about to retrace our footsteps back; both in tail shoes.

I think that a bottle of wine has dullened my senses – we were in the north of Scotland, on the mountains north of Loch Mullardoch!

Oops, sorry to be thick!

"I think that a bottle of wine has dullened my senses…"

Today, or then?

ah, alas now. the photo was taken on a three day trip and we only had room for whisky….

but all on trail and mild offtrail routes in the sierras after july are likely fine in trail runners. I usually just wear my running shoes.

When peak bagging or shoulder seasoning i often wear my leather boots.

Although I thru-hiked the JMT in low cuts, I asked verterans of the High Sierra Route if they had switched to mid heights fro ankle protection from scree or talus scrapes. They replies were in favor od low cuts. It was pointed out that most shoes tend to wear out right at the sides of the balls of the feet. At that point it is best to have leather rather than mesh. I have worn a Montrail Vitesse and Merrels which fit me well, but both have worn holes in the mesh right at that area.
The Inov-8, Terroc 330, has reinforcement there, and they have good traction on rock. Some Keen models do, too.