Trailrunners for the JMT, Rockplate necessary?

I always use Superfeet insoles in my trailrunners. The hard plastic heel sufficiently smooths out granite edges.

btw, Montrail's quality took a nosedive when they were bought out by Columbia a few years back. The Vitesse used to be my shoe of choice, but they must have lowered the manufacturing and material standards as the same models post buyout do not last nearly as long.

Thanks Eric, I forgot that superfeet would provide a pretty decent rockplate (at least for the heel area). I might go that route if they don't take up too much volume.

Definitely heard about the down fall of montrails after columbia's acquisition. That said, I've been reading some pretty good press about them recently. Looks like they learned their lesson after everyone complained about the 08-09 hardrocks. Lot's of good reports from trail runners regarding their mountain masochist.

They make amazing trail shoes.

I think you answered your own question when you said

"Note: My feet are not hardened as I don't get much trail time these days."

I don't see the need for a "rock plate".

I hike the Sierra in a variety of shoes he most recent and perhaps favorite being the nb 573 and I am fine. And believe me most of the access trails lead g up to the pct or jmt are much rockier. I have much more pain from straining my ankle all day than I do from the soles of my feet.

To those expressing concerns about Montrails quality issues, I just wanted to weigh in with my two cents. I have been wearing Montrails for the past 8 years. They fit my feet great. I started off wearing Leona Divides (still my favorite trail shoe to date) as well as the Vitesse and wore through several, several pairs of each. In 2006 I thru-hiked the AT in Hardrocks (a couple pairs on my thru) pre-Columbia buy out and they were great. Shortly there after to my horror, Montrails turned into complete garbage. I had a pair of Continental Divides that I literally blew out of in two weeks. The replacement pair lasted three. I was done with new Montrails and began searching ebay for older models. I work at an outfitter who had carried and then dropped montrail after the Columbia buy-out and last year we brought in Montrail again because we had heard of such a vast improvment of quality, like the old days, I was skeptical but to my enjoyment their shoes are right on parr (quality and fit wise) as the days of the Leona and Vitesse. I love my Mtn. Masochists for backpacking/fastpacking and their new Rogue Racer is the best trail runner i've ever had on my feet. (I only run in the RR though). So I guess my point is don't be afraid to give Montrails a shot if they fit your feet well.

La Sportiva makes awesome shoes too! No doubt about it.

-Zach_V aka Casino

+ 1 on the mnt masochists. Awesome trail shoe. The rock plate is minimal but enough to keep even sharp rocks from hurting your feet. If you are not confident in your feet for a long hike like that, I'd go with those.
NB 101's are a little more minimal but have a really solid rockplate too. I havent tried Innov's outside, but my experience with merrell trail gloves is that it forces you to pay much more attention to foot placement. If you are stepping sloppily with those you could easily bruise your feet on rocky terrain and make yourself miserable on a long hike. I know innovs are not trail gloves but the sole is pretty minimal with those too.
Whatever you get, test them, so you can trust them before you hit the trail.

Don't know where you hike in New England, but from what I remember of Maine, its a lot knarlier on feet then the sierras.

Cheers.