Interview with a Physio Therapist: A Biophysical Perspective on Backpacking Footwear

The backstory –

“My reasoning on my footwear is pretty simple, I have nerve damage and without a full support boot I lose the ability to hike long distances due to nerve pain.”

I was born with a club foot and corrective surgery played havoc with my foot anatomy. “Normal” footwear doesn’t work for me either. I would guess there are lots of folks whose feet aren’t anatomically optimal and that require something other than ultra light footwear.

Refreshing to see sensible and balanced advice on footwear. Far too many people seem to become partisan on one side or the other of the lightweight/full-support debate.

It clearly depends on you (your injuries, weight, level of transitioning, financial priorities etc), and on the project (the terrain, temperature and distance). In the end it’s a personal choice.

If you have the opportunity, please do a follow-up and ask Liz for her advice on ankle stability training and foot-strength training. These are fast developing fields and it would be interesting to hear her informed views.

Thanks all, after years of personal experiments I thought it was time to do some research and get better answers than one size fits all shoe 😉.

According to my mom, I was born “knock-kneed and bow legged,” required hip-to-toe casts as an infant, developed flat feet in grade school, chondromalacia patella in my 20s, plantar fascitis in my 30s, and still walk/waddle like a duck. I’ve worn various kinds of orthotics since childhood and hiked in everything from zoris to monstrous leather waffle-stompers.

Now my feet and legs are the least of my problems for hiking up to 25 mile days while carrying a pack weighing up to 35 pounds.

Basic advice: keep trying different footwear, socks, supports, trekking poles, exercises, hiking techniques — and “experts” — until you find a combination that works for you. Don’t give up and accept pain, blisters, or other limits.

And expect your feet to change.

— Rex