Last shoe thread,PROMISE! Montrail Jawbone

Does it fit?

Ordered from Zappos today to test them out. I couldn't find any reviews anywhere about this shoe. So I'm trying to get some input before they arrive. Then after I get them I'll add my input

Im buying them too. But I get them for much cheaper.(the perks of a working at a gear shop) everyone thinks Im nuts for getting an unwaterproof boot. fit is a little narrow just as a heads up.

Also for a low cut check out the new Patagonia Tasali and nine trails.

>>> I was going to go from a boot to shoe, but I have concerns of my weak ankles.

Hopefully not to far off topic, but probably. For your a quick , simple and cheap way to strengthen your ankles try a stability disc. I included a link below for display purposes only. I have a very weak ankle due to having only one ligament left holding it together and this worked wonders for me.

http://www.amazon.com/Isokinetics-Exercise-Disc-Balance-Cushion/dp/B000WQ4Z94/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1269468115&sr=8-1

Strengthen your ankles and use a supportive shoe and you should never have any problems on the trail.

"I appreciate any input or experiences."

This looks like a worthy successor to the old Namche. I'd say go for it if this turns out to be true. The Namche was a great shoe.

Rob C when you get yours let us know what you think also. I hope these will be what I've been looking for.

Tom you're giving me PT flashbacks when I had to work on my knee. I had to stand on one foot on one of those as they threw a weighted ball at me to catch. It did really strengthen my ankles. Good idea. Ebay or craigslist here I come.

Tom K yeah a lot like the Namche. We'll see

"Supportive" shoes contribute to weak ankles. How can you possibly hope to strengthen something that is using a crutch?

I agree but some decents on the AT section I'm doing this year are pretty steep and strong ankles or not, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

*I'm also working on losing weight, which is playing havoc on my ankles. I'm 225 @ 6'1 and it definitely isnlt muscle weight. However I am working out and trying to get rid of this tire around my waist…ICK. nothing like waking up in the morning and the 3 year old son yelling "FAT DADDY! FAT DADDY!" That's when its time to change up the ol eating habits.
Enough about my weight…I'm embarrassing myself lol

Well, I can speak from personal experience that a boot is not necessary and is often detrimental. When I met my girlfriend she was nursing a rebuilt knee. In addition, she has completely lax ligaments in both ankles to the point that if she isn't watching what she's doing she'll role them. Going to a minimalist trail runner combined with using trekking poles has allowed her ankles to get stronger and she hasn't rolled one in ~2 years. She was wearing boots before and was constantly rolling and tweaking her knee.

I'm 5'8 and was 211 at one point when I first got back in to hiking and backpacking. I'm pretty sure I was around 180 when I switched to trail runners along with going UL. I'm now around 145. Good luck with your weight loss goals!

I second the comments supporting strengthening. I roll my ankles a lot. Especially at the end of the day when I am tired. Now that I do yoga and strength conditioning/plyometrics I have noticed a HUGE improvement.

I think a higher cut trail runner is fine though. My friend just thru-hiked the AT and she developed a really painful bone spur around PA. She was in a lot of pain and for whatever reason when she switched to a higher cut montrail it really helped. Not sure why but it did. Use whatever works.

My buddys gal has the same issues with ankle ligaments and iv'e seen her roll her ankle on flat ground.
Chris you're just trying to have me do more research on shoes and put me in a asylum lol. I do hear what you are saying though.
My mentality of it is to use the exercise above and strenghten my ankle AND use a mid to high support just as backup.

I am going to get the exercise disc Thom B mentions. I do remember doing one legged squats to strengthen my knee/ankle and that helped out tremendously.

Definitely go with what works for you. I've also found that with a low shoe if I do start to roll an ankle the shoe has a tendency to roll off. With a shoe/boot that covers my ankle, I'm much more likely to actually roll my ankle.

My entire life I've had issues with rolling my ankles and things never really improved too much until I switched to backpacking in trail runners. I still roll them once-in-a-while but the frequency and severity is a lot less than when I wore boots.

I'm going to do a pretty rough trail here coming up in early April. I'm going to bring both and do the lows day one and highs day two and make some decisions then.
I really appreciate everyones input

I have heard that rolling your ankles has more to do with sole flexibility than height of shoe: if you have a very stiff sole and you step off balance, the whole foot tips together and that's translated to the ankle, the only available point of flex. More flexible shoes allow the other joints in your foot to work, adapting to uneven terrain.

YMMV but I think this makes a lot of sense.

Uneven terrain is the key. I just have the basketball player mentality of having a hightop for ankle protection. But the low top is better with the mobility of the uneven terrain. I do agree.

the best anti roll shoe ever made was the Montrail Vitesse.
a low cut bomb proof mid weight trail runner.

unfortunately they stopped making it about 3 years ago.

>>> "Supportive" shoes contribute to weak ankles. How can you possibly hope to strengthen something that is using a crutch?>>>

Chris, I understand what you are getting at. I guess I should have used a word like stable instead of supportive. When I switched from boots to trail runners I went with Montrail Hardrocks (pre-buyout). I went from rolling my ankles several times per trip to not having done it in a couple years. The foot bed is more "stable" and adding the strengthening of my ankles, I just don't roll my ankles any more.

Hopefully this makes sense other wise I may have just made it worse.

First Zappos shipping is fast. These fit true to size. I wear a 10 and it fits perfect as a 10. The shoe as mentioned, is narrow. I weighed them on my scale and they are 2lbs 4oz for the pair. My keen targhee II lows are 2lbs .08oz if that gives you an idea how light they are. They are VERY durable on all sides. The tongue and upper part are VERY breathable. I need to put them through a true test, very happy with these!

*definitely need break-in time. A little stiff

Hey There,
now that you have had the Jawbone awhile- do you like it better than the Keens? I am considering the Jawbone too and like you said- there are no reviews out there???
The keens are wider but the Jawbone looks like better ankle support- what have you found having had them both??
Any help appreciated :)
Sandie

" "Supportive" shoes contribute to weak ankles"

That's a pretty bold statement. Proof?

Seems like common sense to me. What happens to a leg in a cast? You can't use it so it goes in to atrophy. Footwear that locks the ankle in and prevents good ROM is a lot like a cast. Unless you have a legitimate reason to prevent ankle movement (like a broken ankle), something that prevents movement will do more bad than good. How can you strengthen joints, ligaments, and muscles if you can't exercise them?

" Footwear that locks the ankle in and prevents good ROM is a lot like a cast."

Mid ankle trail shoes, e.g. Namche, RocLite 370's, etc, are a long way from a cast. All you have ot do is lace them tight enough to limit roll, and your ankles/feet will move quite naturally through their natural ROM. What the mid ankle shoes, properly laced, WILL do is keep your ankles from rolling past normal range of motion into sprain territory, IME. I've tried it both ways and, after a couple of close calls, ended up with the mid ankle shoes for the margin of safety they provide, especially important, IMO, when off trail in remote areas. Just my personal take on the issue. I don't have any proof, either, beyond my own experience and perceptions. That said, it seems like there was another, more lengthy thread on this subject last year with numerous studies referenced that, in the end, proved inconclusive.

I've worn the RocLite 390s and they were fine other than causing soreness at the front of my ankles (likely a fit issue). What I've found is that anything laced above my ankle makes me more likely to roll and sprain. If I start to roll in a low shoe, the shoe has a tendency to roll off my foot. A boot laced above ankle can't come off and tends to take my ankle with it. No hard evidence on that either, just personal experience.