need some advice on footwear

There is advice here ad nauseum on shoes. For a stiffer shoe with great protection I recommend the Patagonia Drifter. Not the goretex model but the regular model. And they come in wide if you need it.

Zamberlan has a "Speed Hiker" line that is more robust than most trail runners. 129 SH Crosser is a low cut, non gore-tex shoe. Dries reasonably fast. Medium toe box with good rear foot support. Not a lot of opportunity to try them on without ordering through Zamberlan's site though. Haven't seen them mentioned on this site. I like mine a lot. M

I also have feet the like a stiffer sole than most trail runners.

So I was hiking Garmont Zenith mid non-gortex. This is a nice light weight boot.

But then I had a knee issue… especially pounding down hills. So I was looking for something softer under foot. Tried the Hoka One One Stinson trail runners… wow wow wow… super soft under foot and lots of protection from rocks… they're about an inch think! and fairly stiff fore/aft flex. They're so soft they take a bit of getting used to… but man are they comfy… first foot wear that when I get to camp my feet are still comfy and I had no desire to get out of them into camp shoes… took camp sandals a week ago and never wore them, the Hokas were sooooo comfy…

Hoka makes some that are rated for road running, others for trails… get the trail version as they have tougher rubber…

But I would not recommend the Hokas for off-trial over talus… just too soft for precision friction and edging…

Billy

Kurt –

a) where did you break your foot? and
b) in what way does wearing trail runners hurt?

Free PT advice on the way if you answer these two introductory questions!

I broke my Metatarsal bone on the outside of my foot pinky toe side. It hurt when i step on uneven ground like rocks. the pain is not horrible but is uncomfortable over the course of a hike. Normal everyday walking does not effect it at all, just seems to hurt on hikes now.

My prev gen inov8 terroc 330s have a plastic flex plate in the sole

I have a similar issue where a certain part of my foot aches after a long day, and if i step on a rock on that particular point its painful

The plastic plate seems to help …. Some other shoes may have this feature as well

;)

Well, I'd say look for shoes with wide toeboxes…LaSportiva, Brooks and the like…the Cascadia and Vertical K lines…

Otherwise, check out FGL boots like Pivettas and Meindls (the OG, Germal kind). For pain, look into "Pro-tec" Metatarsal Pads for relief; they have a design that allows that the 3rd/4th metatarsals to do what they want without binding one's toes inside the shoe.

The idea is to let your toes strengthen themselves and do what they want. These insoles let that happen.