Altra Lone Peaks in wet Washington

If you really think you need goretex, just get some goretex socks.

I live north of Seattle, and I can assure you, my feet haven't rotted off yet ;-P

I either wear sandals or Altra Superiors. I have used heavy goretex boots for mountaineering, but prefer a nice light airy piece of footwear when I don't need to kick steps.

If the creek is big enough that you can't "rock hop" chances are it will run over the top of goretex boots anyway, at least in my experience. In dry weather you can usually just "hike them dry", and you can speed this up by removing your socks and the insoles before crossing if you are worried about it. In wet weather, they will likely be wet either way, so why worry about it? :)

I feel like the only difference between wet goretex and wet mesh is the goretex seems warmer. If you have experience wet GTX boots, you know they won't dry out without some significant sun and time. Most mesh runners will dry out within the day if it's dry.

Best part for me is one less thing to worry about.

At some point, you're going to need to take the leap. They aren't Nike's, but I'll still say "Just do it" :)

I prefer a stout trail *shoe* and found the Patagonia Drifter AC series very comfortable. Trail runners just didn't cut it for me on rough rocky trails, both in terms of stone bruising and traction. Yeah, trail runners are nice of you're 20, but I like a little more protection— and good stout shoes aren't anything like the old leather "waffle stompers" I grew up on for weight. The shoes will last longer too. FYI, the Driter series has both waterproof and the non-waterproof "AC" shoes. They have a very aggressive tread.

As to your socks drying, you may be able to wear lighter (thinner) socks with the trail runners and they should dry faster. I'm still wishing for SUL wading shoes.

Waterproof vs non-waterproof shoes? When the PNW trails are like little creeks with Spring runoff, I think waterproof shoes are great. In the height of summer when we get less rain and the snow has melted back, then I prefer more breathable shoes. My wet/winter shoes are Keen Tarhgee II mids.

Lake Snoqualmie Trail, early June, doubling as a small waterfall :)

I live in Olympia, and most of my hiking is in the Olympics. I used to wear waterproof shoes, but I found that any water that did get in was worse than with more breathable shoes. Plus 1 leak in the goretex boot, and it's the worst of both worlds, and my pointy bonedfeet always seemed to put those leaks in them.

A couple of years ago I switched to Merrel Moab's (non water-proof) and couldn't be happier. I wear a good, thin sock, maybe bringing 1 more pair then the UL crowd usually brings, and just deal with wetness. They dry quickly in anything but rain. In rain, I have wet feet, but wool helps, and keeping the rest of my body warm helps more.

I don't like trailrunners, I really want more arch support, and I generally pick shoes, and this was the case with the Merrel's, not so much based on features as what fits my feet best. Shoes are the one item I ALWAYS buy in person.

All that said, I have been curious about Asolo Piumas:

http://www.rei.com/product/845710/asolo-piuma-hiking-boots-mens#reviewsTab

Anyone seen these in person? Experience?

Mexico to Canada – wore then everywhere except for the Sierra's.

Used GTX socks and waterproof gaiters with expedition weight socks!

I use thin mesh w/o WPB shoes and whatever socks. In the summer thin merino, in the winter thick merino. If its absolutely nasty out (thick mud) I'll wear boots.

On hot trails, having the wind cut through the mesh is one of my favorite things.

EDIT: …and I live in the PNW

I live in Seattle and I don't use goretex boots or shoes for hiking and I have lived to tell the tale.

I wore my Altra Lone Peaks while hiking the northern Washington coast this week-end. I really liked hiking in them, and was surprised at how dry they felt quickly, even in wet, humid conditions. They weren't dry by the end of the day, but instead of being squishy wet they were just damp. I did dry the insoles out in front of the fire that we had on the beach (I know, I know, I was really careful).

The only problem that I experienced was on the second day hiking, I thought I had sand in my shoes and socks under the ball of my foot. Turned out it was just wet skin getting abraded. Didn't end up with a blister, but when I got back to the car, applying some ointment stopped the pain. It seemed like the very beginning of maceration. The mileage was not so high that my feet shouldn't have been up to it, as it was less than most of the day hikes I usually take, so I can only assume it was due to the wetness, as that was the only other factor that was different.

I would definitely take Hydropel on my next hike and apply it to my feet at night, or maybe in the morning before taking off. That won't last forever, with Hydropel being off the market. I do moisturize the soles of my feet, but not on a regular daily basis. Maybe I should do that to help the skin be more elastic and resist the effect of wetness. I mostly use Burt's Bees Foot Crème, which isn't a cream but rather more of an ointment consistency. I haven't wanted to take it in the woods to use, because of the coconut and mint odors–forget the bears, I don't want to wake up to a mouse nibbling my toes because they smell like food! Does anyone have a foot care product they think helps prevent maceration?

Edit–I was pleasantly surprised by how grippy the soles were. I was walking over wet rocks and logs, and felt really secure. The soles of the Lone Peaks don't look like much, compared to the Inov-8 Roclites, but they did the job.

Just FYI.

-Todd

^^^^
"Re: Altra Lone Peak Neoshell in Goretex now available."

From the Altra site –
"The new Lone Peak Neoshell® is made of a revolutionary new fabric that's waterproof on the outside yet breathable from the inside."

I believe NeoShell is a Polartec fabric.

Greg's right – I was expecting goretex from an earlier announcement and didn't read the full description. Thanks for catching!

I live near Seattle, and have done long distance trips too, have hiked the Wonderland trail … but …

I think that the feedback you'll get from Western WA residents won't be that different from what you'll get in general for such a question. We each talk from our own experience and preferences. I personally only wear non-goretex quick-drying trail runners. Others want Goretex. Depending on specific conditions, one or the other of us will be more "right" for a particular trail and day, but we'll likely both emerge still convinced that our own choice is the correct one.

One consideration, I guess is how brushy the trail is. My recollection is that the Wonderland trail doesn't tend to be a brushy trail. So if it's not actively raining, better chance you can keep your feet dry-ish.
I leave it up to you whether this tilts you towards or away from gtx ! Brushy trails can get any footwear wet from the top down, and can keep re-wetting footwear long after the rain has stopped.

Diane, you should get yourself a pair of rocky goretex socks. I have a pair and I've been really impressed. Goretex socks + short waterproof gaiters is the most reliable set up for keeping your feet dry, more reliable than tall waterproof boots. The great thing about this system is you can let your feet get wet and if your feet start getting tender or cold, you can always change into dry socks and goretex socks. You get the best of everything really.

Also with low cut non waterproof shoes, when the insides get wet and dirt/dust gets in the shoes, the dust likes to stick and work its way into your socks. You can't bang all of the dust out of your shoes when they are wet like you can when they are dry. Most of the blisters I have gotten with wet feet were for this reason. Gaiters help a lot.
Also wash your socks and change into clean ones around mid-day. It's ok if they are wet, just make sure you change into ones that you washed in a stream.

I've been wearing the Lone peaks for a year now, and at least this season, it's been so dry, no worries! I have been eyeballing the new Lone Peaks with the waterproof material, and I might consider picking up a pair for the fall, but I don't miss them in the summer.

I need a new pair, though. Has anyone tried the 2.5's? Did they change the toe box much? I didn't like the reviews I saw for the 2.0's, it sounded like they were a bad design change from the 1.5's.

good advice from above. I go on the Olympics in fall to winter too. My favorite is 6mm zeroshoes through puddles, but my feet are always hot and used to zeroshoes from daily use. It helps to have injiju toe socks if your feet get tender or cold.
If i plan to do 10 miles or more a day I bring and enjoyed ascends by merrell. Amazing traction and wide toe spread plus amazing fit and rock plate. I only wear goretex shoes when I know It is going to be a trudge through snow.

The sooner you quit paying attention to having constantly damp socks the sooner you will enjoy being among the rainforests.

always put a beeswax based lotion on your feet, it is a great weather and friction prevention top dressing.

In Washington on the PCT I wore trail runners, not Altras since they didn't exist yet, and my feet were always wet. It was annoying but not life-threatening. I was there in the month of August.

I would think if you like minimalist shoes, Washington would be a better place to wear them than Southern California. I've been wearing my Altra Superiors consistently and I tend to burn the bottoms of my feet on trails here in Southern California. I may have to start using their thicker soled shoes.

"and I tend to burn the bottoms of my feet on trails here in Southern California."

Because your forefoot is sliding laterally inside the shoe?

Or … ?

> Because your forefoot is sliding laterally inside the shoe?

> Or … ?

Because the dirt on the trail is really f-ing hot. I use the rockplate insole and a very thin foam insole because the thicker insole they come with takes up too much space. This doesn't leave enough insulation from the heat.

Diane: " need a new pair, though. Has anyone tried the 2.5's? Did they change the toe box much? I didn't like the reviews I saw for the 2.0's, it sounded like they were a bad design change from the 1.5's."
UPS brought me a pair of Altra Lone Peak 2.5s 35 minutes ago. My first impression is that the toe box is pretty wide and it fits me better than Altras did several years ago when I tried them on last. Bits of info from Altra make it sound like the toe box is slightly wider than the Lone Peak 2.0.

sbhikes, perhaps you know Altra makes 3 trail running shoes:
Superior 2.0 has 21 has stack height;
Lone Peak 2.5 has a sole that's slightly thicker, 25mm;
Olympus 1.5's sole is even thicker, 36mm.
Perhaps you should try the Olympus; from the reviews, fit may be different model to model and year to year.

I'll post a mini review of zero drop shoes with wide toe boxes after I've tried them for a while. The other shoes I like so far are SOM: http://www.som-footwear.com/

Nobody in Boston or Central Mass/NH seems to carry Altra anymore, only mail order is available.

I pay more attention to fit than anything else. I'd rather have a shoe/boot that fit me right and suffer with other downsides than a "perfect" shoe that rubs me raw.

But I'm in the boat of wearing non-waterproof footwear and I just carry extra wool socks. I use thick ragg wool socks….old school. It doesn't really bother me to hike in wet wool socks all day. The water is pushed out of the shoe/socks because they don't hold water. I can just thrash my way through any stream without an issue.

They won't dry in wet weather unless you wear them or stick them in your pants (impresses the ladies). I put wet wool socks back on my feet in the morning if I know that I'm just thrashing through wet weather again. Keep some dry socks for camp. The only time this is a no-go is winter. Your socks turn to ice as soon as you take them off and nobody likes to put on stiff iced-up socks. If I did a lot of winter travel I'd change my gear/technique.

> Perhaps you should try the Olympus; from the reviews, fit may be different model to model and year to year.

That's what I was thinking. I really did not expect to keep burning the bottoms of my feet like this. I was thinking of making a reflectix insole because these superiors otherwise fit nicely.

I'd be interested in hearing from people that have the 2.5 lone peak, as well. I have my eye on them.