This article will be focused on footwear for fast and light backpacking, which is the core activity of our magazine. We fundamentally subscribe to the philosophy that when you carry a light pack, you don't need traditional (heavy) boots to insulate your feet from the trail. Lightweight trail running shoes are just fine and are our preference. They provide plenty of support and protection from the rocks, and they literally take the load off your feet. According to U.S. Army research, taking one pound off your feet is equivalent to taking 6.4 pounds off your back.
In fact, low-cut trail running shoes are now the "in" thing. The current market trend is toward lightweight mid- and low-cut trail runners and light hikers, rather than the two-pound clunkers of yesteryear. Some manufacturers and many retailers still adhere to the notion that a taller, stiffer boot is necessary for ankle support and foot protection while backpacking. Granted, taller boots do provide more stability, especially for traversing, but a good fitting and supportive heel cup also gives a lot of stability in a low-cut trail runner. Taller boots may actually cause atrophy of the foot muscles and tendons, while trail runners actually strengthen them. However, if you do have a problem with weak ankles, you should follow the advice of your podiatrist.
So, what specific types of shoes are we talking about? It depends a lot on individual preferences and specific footwear needs. Many hikers have special needs because of wide or narrow feet, under- or over-pronation, and low or high arches. A good description of specific footwear to address those needs is found in the September 2008 issue of Runner's World, along with their fall 2008 shoe guide. However, fast and light backpacking is different from running on relatively smooth trails, and pronation and other issues may be moot when hiking on rough trails or off-trail, where your ankles are bent at forty-five-degree angles.
When searching for shoes suitable for fast and light backpacking, the choices become mind-boggling. Every manufacturer has a zillion models with similar descriptions, and it's hard to choose a model that's right for you. Add to that the fact that shoes are becoming ever more specialized: trail running, cross-training, off-trail, adventure racing, fell (hill) running, approach shoes, etc. No one seems to slice and dice them the same either, so we have a lot of overlapping categories.
In footwear for fast and light backpacking, some hikers really like the ultra lightweight neutral trail runners such as the Inov-8 shoes, which are the lightest to be found, provide good traction, and give a good feel of the terrain. These shoes require some adaptation to get accustomed to the softer soles and reduced rock protection. Other hikers (me included) prefer a more supportive trail runner with moderate stiffness, torsional stability, and an aggressive tread. These shoes are a few ounces heavier per shoe, but they provide a lot more support and reduce foot fatigue at the end of the day, especially on trails.
Things you should look for in a trail runner or light hiker for fast and light backpacking are good torsional stability (grab the shoe and twist it, there should be good resistance to the twisting), heel support (pinch the heel cup area, it should feel stiff, and the heel cup should fit your heel like a glove), flex (bend the shoe longitudinally, it should have a medium flex to it - not too stiff and not too soft - and the flex point should line up with where your foot flexes), and outsole grip (that's the tread; it should be grippy and sticky so you don't easily slip). Many shoes nowadays have a fairly shallow tread; the outsole adds a lot of weight, so manufacturers make them thinner to save weight. They also save weight in the tread design and materials. That's not a problem because modern outsole materials are grippy, sticky, and durable and often outlast the upper.
ARTICLE OUTLINE
- Considerations for Choosing Footwear for Fast and Light Backpacking
- Backpacking Light Staff Footwear Preferences
- New Lightweight Footwear Standouts
- Footwear Trends
- New Footwear Technologies
# WORDS: 5270
# PHOTOS: 38
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Companion forum thread to:
2008 Lightweight Footwear Roundup (Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2008)
Thank you Carol!
I have been using a pair of SpikeTails this summer and love them. They do wear faster than my last pair(s) of shoes but they have been the most comfortable pair of shoes I have had for backpacking in the last 15 years.
I became worried that GoLite was giving up on the shoes because it has been difficult to find my next pair (Storm Dragons). I usually wear gaiters to keep crud out of the shoes so these fill the bill (so far).
I just hope the new company, New England Footwear, has a better distribution than before (GoLites are impossible to find in southern california).
thank you again Carol for the update, I thought that was going to have to go into "hoard mode". My favorite shoe of all-time was the Nike LavaDomes so now I know there will be a supply of GoLites for a while!
Randy
This post adds nothing of substance, but I want to tell you, it made my heart glad to read those words, Nike Lava Domes. A bit of reliving the loss when they were taken off the market, but… Until being pushed into going lightweight, I considered myself a gearaholic in recovery- choosing and amassing ultralight gear was a brief and perhaps justifiable relapse, and now I am trying to once again just say No to new gear. But your mentioning Lava Domes pulled me back to those earlier, happier times when I was young and lithe and worked at a gear shop and read catalogs like p*rn and used my wholesale privileges to the max– and hoarded Lava Domes. Maybe my first experience with the truism that well-designed, long-lasting gear is destined to be discontinued.
Ditto Patagonia stand-up shorts. sigh.
Thanks for the memories. Now to research these cool new shoes of which you speak………
the filter thinks that the word 'p*rn' is a profanity. That is seriously Wrong. The rise of the Puritan conspiracy…
> especially for traversing, but a good fitting and supportive heel cup also gives a lot of stability in a low-cut trail runner.
Actually, with really light footwear I find that I don't use my heels all that much on rough terrain. The heel cup is not so important for me. More often I am on the ball of my foot.
My KT-26s have a soft sole compared to some joggers, but I don't mind a little bit of stiffness around the forefoot area. Not 'real stiff' mind you. When the sole is too stiff I can't 'feel' the ground enough, and I can't make my feet conform to the rocks etc when scrambling over rough terrain.
But things are looking up with all these new models. Thanks Will.
Uh, maybe it's just me, but it seems like the most practical application for a waterproof material that does not deteriorate breathability would be a rain jacket.
I'm referring to Hi-Tec / Ion Mask technology. Apply the nano plasma ion process to a breathable wind jacket or wind pant and should be good to go… maybe I'm just missing something here???
I see that the Hardrock wide is being discontinued. What shoes do people with wide feet use?
I wear the trail version of the Nike Pegasus but GoLite and Inov8 have options that work for wider feet. I usually get a 10.5 EEEE but an 11 in the Nike works.
i use Asolo Fugitive GTX. I have a really hard time finding wide boots that are in my size (short feet), and these fit great. They are heavier than the lightest availble boots though. My prior boot was the Nike ACG Air Tallac that was BP editor's choice a few years ago. It was much lighter (2 lbs/pair vs 3 lbs) but fell apart fairly rapidly. Some reviews…
http://www.trailspace.com/gear/asolo/fugitive-gtx/
I've got EEs. Not super wide, but I have difficulty fitting in normal width shoes.
I have been very happy with new balance trail runners sine I got rid of my boots 10 years ago. They come in EE and EEEE. Will always recommends the 87x series, but I find the 90x series works better for me. The 90x seems a little bit more sturdy with longer lasting cushioning at the cost of an extra ounce.
I've also used the hardrock wides and prefer the less stiff new balance.
I wish there were more options in trail runners for us widefoots but I'm not aware of any.
p.s. checking the specs, the NB908 is a fraction lighter than the 874.
Thanks to all of you for an
excellent lightweight footwear roundup!
Impeccable timing for me.
Thanks for the replies. As long as I'm on the topic, does anyone make a wide mountaineering boot?
The shoes that agree best with my wide feet are New Balance, Vasque Velocity (available in wide), and Keen shoes.
Best,
Will
Nice round up. I've got the Inov8 Roclite 370s on test here in the UK, nice boots, very grippy.
I'm looking forward to seeing the new Hardrock Mid from Montrail. The Namche is still a favourite of mine, and the Stratos and Cirrus weren't quite there.
The brand has suffered since it's takeover, I hope that this is part of a resurgence.
I saw the New Balance 908 at the OR Show and was impressed with it. It looks supportive,rugged, and grippy. It goes to the 909 this fall.
Best,
Will
Hi Gdinero. Yes, I agree that Ion Mask could help manufacturers create really light rainwear, and it will be really exciting when it arrives.
But footwear is also a promising application. Look at the test numbers in the Ion Mask information sheet. Ion Mask is equal in waterproofness compared to membranes and is 18 times more breathable.
The key question is how durable is it? The treatment can apparently make a mesh shoe waterproof by greatly increasing its water repellancey, but how long does it last?
Best,
Will
The spec sheet states that the ion-mask technology was first developed for military clothing. so maybe rain gear for the trail isn't far off. :)
Thanks for the overview, Will. I particularly liked the review of the mids. My brand is Montrail because no other brand I have tried fits my feet as well as they do. I would like to see a version of the Hardrock Mid with waterproof/breathable technology for winter and rainy weather use. I am excited by the Ion Mask technology. I trust I will see a test and evaluation of this new technology on BPL soon.
Rain gear, shoes, packs, tents, sleeping bags, bivies, gloves, hats… I guess it doesn't take a rocket scientist to put together a short list of items that we use and could benefit from a technology that adds waterproof without impacting breathability. Durability and realiability are obviously considerations.
Looking forward to learning more about the range of use for the Ion Mask technology.
Imagine wool socks that can't hold water!
I would love a pair of treated socks and shoes where I could just splash through streams and after 100 yards of so late they are 95% dry.
No pack cover.
Ponchos made of .8 Pertex Quantum.
A 6 ounce set of rainwear
The real questions will be "how fast will manufacturers get the fabrics in their hands? Will we see product by next summer?"
let the dreaming begin! Randy
It would be great if one of these manufacturers interested in Ion Mask also runs a quarterly color magazine …
I now have about 40 trail miles on these shoes, all on the AT in Georgia. The comfort & breathability is excellent. They seem stable & supportive in their lightweight backpacking role. However, I'm not happy with their durability. Several of the outsole "trail claws" are de-laminating & losing their rubber outer layer. The majority of this damage occurred on a recent 22 mile hike between Neels Gap & Unicoi Gap over very rocky trail. The uppers seem to be wearing well & the grip on angled rock is excellent. Just be aware of this outsole wear issue. For rocky trail I would strongly recommend a shoe with a Vibram outsole.
I hope New England Footware figures out a way to make the trail claws last on the Sun Dragons. My 13 year old wore completly thru both layers of the claw on his first day hike, up Guadelupe Peak in Texas. Not exactly what I was hoping for.
Any of these come in wide sizes?
I'm still experimenting on switching from Goretex lined leather hiking boots to trail runners. Right now I'm using women's Montrail Hardrocks and they seem to work. I need to experiment more in wet conditions (relatively dry fall so far in Oregon this year) and get out on steep and rugged Columbia Gorge trails with a 25-lb. pack before I feel totally comfortable with the switch. Last summer I found that getting Goretex-lined boots wet (in that case, slipping and falling in a creek while fording in my Crocs) insured that they'd be soggy inside for at least 48 hours (it took that long for them to dry set out in the sun). I know that just plain trail runners dry lots faster than that. I have so far found that the trail runners are supportive enough that it's almost impossible to turn an ankle, which has been one reason I stuck with boots so long. It appears to be the shoe structure, not the height of the boots, that seems to do the job.
Any other suggestions for women's trail runners designed for over-pronaters, with narrow heel, wide forefoot and high toe box (I have bunions and hammertoes) would be most welcome! It would be nice to have shoes that are a little lighter and dry faster than the Hardrocks. Thank you!
Elizabeth, I ran into the same problem of censorship when describing the scooping or burying of dog p**p. As Snoopy would say, good grief!
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