Hiking in Barefoot Shoes

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/search.html?q=minimalist+footwear&x=0&y=0

Definitely read the threads Ken posted up. There's been a lot of talk on this topic in the past year. If it were me, I'd start with dayhikes in the minimalist shoes and carry my usual trail runners to switch into if my feet got unhappy.

Thanks guys! Couldn't find these when I searched for the MT10's specifically.

My experience is that there is no break-in period for minimalist shoes — if they fit. I buy mine a little large so toe spay is not constricted by the shoe. Consider your terrain and you might one with a rock plate. I don't like rock plates. Run a lot barefooted or in minimalist shoes so your tendons stretch. My thoughts can be found here:

http://popupbackpacker.com/the-minimalist-shoe-craze/

"So I've owned a pair of Inov-8 Bare-X 180's forever"
"Am I ready to slap a pair of NB MT10's on my feet for long-distance hiking?"

Not sure if you've tried the NB's yet, but they are substantially more shoe than the Bare-X. I think you'd be fine. I might add that you should check out the F-Light 195. It's more flexible than the MT10 and the grip is substantially better. It's the shoe I use for backpacking.

The MT10 is super comfortable though. Bought myself a pair of the leather ones to wear around town (my orange ones aren't particularly well suited to around town wear)

I agree with Nick that there really is no break in period if they fit. And if they don't fit correctly, then you shouldn't be wearing them! :D

Regarding under-foot protection, i.e. rock plate. Here's where I think you'd need to be most careful. Some people can take the miles of abuse, some cant. I love hiking in my Vibram Fivefingers (no rock plate) but if there's going to be extra rocky terrain or I'll be doing more than 25 miles total, I've learned that my feet are much happier with a shoe with a rock plate.

I definitely want a rock plate.

And sorry, I was unclear. By "break-in" I meant the adjustment my FEET go through while using them.

I've owned a pair of the New Balance Minimus Winter Run shoes, and I know there's more to them. the MT10's look to be the "hiking boots" of the minimalist shoes, and that's the appeal to me. Strong, protective, but lightweight and comfortable. I just don't want to end up with microfractures because I didn't adjust enough. My walking in the Inov-8's has been occasionally long-distance (10+ miles in a day) but mostly just around town. But I've used them almost exclusively.

However, I have never ran in them or hiked in them. So Idk how much I've actually done to strengthen and condition my feet.

"I definitely want a rock plate."

You'll want to skip over the MT10 and check out the MT110 then. And ignore my earlier recommendation for the F-Light 195.

Your feet will be fine in the 110's. As will your lower legs. I'm sure both are well conditioned at this point after living in zero drop shoes for quite some time. The 110 and Minimums are 4mm drop and share the same shoe last.

I've been through every spectrum of footwear, from traditional to minimal to barefoot. Not barefoot as in a "barefoot" shoe, but running with no shoes.

When I hear statements like:
"I just don't want to end up with microfractures because I didn't adjust enough."
I wonder if you need to check your premise.

What do you feel you'll get out of minimal shoes?

Why wear shoes that will make your feet hurt (even if you'll eventually get used to it)?

What do you think you'll gain that you can't already do by "adjusting enough" hopefully without injury, to minimal shoes?

What are your current shoes not doing for you that you think a pair of minimal shoes will?

I came to minimal footwear through injury from running marathons, i.e., traditional "motion control" running shoes were causing problems that minimal shoes solved.

"…the MT10's look to be the "hiking boots" of the minimalist shoes, and that's the appeal to me. Strong, protective, but lightweight and comfortable."

After having owned and loved two pairs of MT10s with 350+ miles on each pair, both running and backpacking, I don't agree. Lightweight and comfortable, yes. Strong and protective, no. Relative to bare feet, sure. But the lack of rock plate and continuous rubber outsole will leave you pretty vulnerable to sharp rocks, thorns, and bruising. If you're not mindful and hit a rock accidentally (which is bound to happen), you're going to hurt.

"I definitely want a rock plate."

NB MT10s don't have one.

"My walking in the Inov-8's has been occasionally long-distance (10+ miles in a day) but mostly just around town. But I've used them almost exclusively."

In the grand scheme of things, 10+ miles isn't that much distance, and doing it around town is much different than on rocky trail and downhill pounding with or without a pack.

Finally, perhaps the best advice I've ever heard concerning shoes (especially applicable to all the people entering the "minimal" market):

Don't wear shoes that make your feet hurt.

Well, let me be a little honest. It should be apparent that I don't know a lot.

My experience with the MT10's versus the Inov8's that I currently have make me feel like they're stiff enough to serve as a rock guard, but I don't know from experience. The Vibram outsole is stronger than the Vivobarefoot trailrunners I tried for a week, and it's stronger than the other iterations of NB shoes that I've tried. It feels stiff, and prevents torquing. Not as well as a boot, not as well as a rock plate, but it does somewhat.

What do I want out of minimalist shoes? I have to be abnormally specific here.

First off, one of my feet is "textbook perfect" according to a podiatrist. My right foot, however, has a cavernous veinous malformation. In short, instead of forming veins, my vascular system formed a spongy mass. When this fills with blood, my foot hurts. When it doesn't, my foot doesn't.

This makes choosing shoes a nightmare. My left foot is an awesome Size 12 with no pronation, nothing wrong with it, regular heel, nice arch, etc. My right is an 11.5, has slightly curved tarsals, and it's wide. it doesn't look that gross, but it's wide enough to not fit a lot of shoes. I can literally never wear regular nike's.

So, I need to promote good circulation to avoid pain. I have several pairs of compression socks that I use on that foot to prevent it from swelling. I also wear shoes that are flexible and allow my foot to do the work. If i'm landing in a midfoot strike and then using my toes and forefoot a lot, my feet get tired much faster but overall I have less pain.

I am tied. Option 1 is to wear really protective hiking boots and keep impact from hitting my foot at all. Then it just kind of hangs out. Option 2 is to wear minimalist shoes, keep my feet muscles working, and keep the pain down through the associated blood flow. And the natural wide footbox of a lot of minimalist shoes fits both feet without having to buy two different sizes.

So I am looking for a shoe that mostly allows that forefoot bend (read: bouncing on the balls of your feet with your heels off the ground), especially on climbs. I think that would be a good road for me, but I am worried that if I under-condition my feet, I'll end up with a fracture or a hurt muscle or something else.

Your situation is so subjective it sounds to me like you just need to find a shoe store or company with a really forgiving return policy, buy a bunch of shoes, and start testing.

I've yet to try a pair, but it sounds like the Altra Lone Peak or Superior might be up your alley.

Zappos.com. I am their best customer. And yeah, I am super subjective. I can tell you that the NB110's are not wide enough. the MT10's are. Vivobarefoot's entire line fits me but Merrels do not.

If I do something like get microfractures, will I notice before I've done serious damage?

This whole thread is about avoiding a situation where I have to stop hiking because of foot pain.

Altra!!!! I've hiked 1000 miles of the AT in a pair of Inov8's, logged countless running miles in the merell trail and road glove. And DESTROYED a pair of new balance minimus and mt101's. So far for hiking, the best shoe i've come across is the altra superior. I've never found a wider forefoot for optimal toe splay, as well as support for rocky terrain yet nimble and minimal feel. I am hiking the PCT in the spring and plan to use altra superior exclusively! I suggest sizing up 1/2 a size. I'm normally a 12 and I purchased a 12 1/2 and they are perfect. Also order from running warehouse and use the coupon code runblog10 for 10% off with free returns and free 2 day shipping!

Max,

I run and hike in minimal shoes and I think it's the way to go. I've been running barefoot intermittently and wearing minimal shoes since 2 summers ago. I sprained my right foot bouldering about 10 weeks before a 300 mile hike on the camino de santiago this last summer. My foot was still a little weak before the trip and the trip kicked my ass but coming out of it, my feet were the strongest they've ever been. I think careful building up of high mileage in minimal shoes is the way to go. I've heard that altra's have an awesome toe box. I couldn't be happier with my merrell trail gloves and NB minimus.

I hike in vivobarefoot shoes. I ONLY hike in minimalist shoes, I am just uncomfortable in anything else. Vivobarefoot shoes are very minimal. I have felt some other barefoot shoes and they are much stiffer. Vivobarefoot shoes are similar to walking in traditional moccasins. They do require conditioning. You will beat the hell out of your feet in shoes like this, but your feet will get used to them fast enough. I recommend lots of day hikes. If I go a long time without a hike, it does hurt a bit at first.

I find that concrete and really hard ground are the worst for minimalist shoes. Where they really shine is in off trail hiking. For hiking off trail up steep, lose slopes they win over boots. Sometimes you need to delicately jam your toes into a relatively stable patch of dirt and lift yourself up without ever bringing your heel down. With boot or stiff shoes, you will just stomp the dirt and slide everything down. You can basically tippy-toe your way up lose dirt while minimizing your impact on the soil and preventing small slides that bring you to your knees.
They are also great for scrambling and climbing over rocks. They allow your feet to conform to every surface.