> I wear Asolo Fugitive GTX boots

And that's the problem. GTX => prune feet.

Change to breathable (non-membrane) shoes, and no, GTX is NOT breathable no matter what Gore claim. No other membrane is breathable either.

I can recommend Darn Tough Vermont socks, but they won't solve the prune problem.

Cheers

Roger-

I have a pair of Salomon Exit Aeros. Planning on trying them on a couple of hikes with my pack. Well ventilated. Any experience or heard of them being used as backpacking trail shoes? Meet a lot of Thru Hikers on the AT that use Trail sneakers and such.

I am a rec hiker who has done a couple of light backpacking but over the last year or so I have been lightening my pack (thanks to this forum) and am down to 25-28lbs for a 4 day trek. Also doing a lot more trips through thhe NJ/NY AMC. Not that UL but getting there considering my original pack was 50lbs and I still kept backpacking. City kid and just want to get the hell out of it every now and then.

This foot issue is one block I really need to get over. I am going to Campmor to pick up new socks. Darn Tough and Defeet Aireators have been recommended and willing to give them a try. If I use the Salomon Exit Aeros do I really need liners?

Any info would be greatly appreciated and received.

Thanks.

Edited by Sixguns01 on 08/02/2010 16:31:28 MDT.

Hi Mark

I can't comment on the Exit Aeros as they are too narrow for my feet. Well, maybe my feet are too wide - they are 4E. :-) But I am sure others have tried them, and I would gamble on them having been successful. The big thing is to make sure that what you buy is WIDE enough for YOUR feet.

I love the Darn Tough Vermont full Boot socks. My wife and I have given them hell and they took it all. There's a review of them on the site at
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/darn_tough_vermont_boot_sock_review.html

I wear Gobi Wigwam nylon liners under the DTVs. My wife doesn't wear liner socks. Bit of an individual preference I think. For me the liners help keep my sweaty feet from gungeing up my DTVs too quick, and they wash and dry fast. (The DTVs do not dry fast!)

I would suggest experimenting.

Cheers

I have found that I can't wear wool socks in the summer. No matter how much moisture the wool may wick the insulation properties of it cause my feet to overheat and sweat profusely. My solution to this problem is to wear Wigwam Cool-lite Hiker Pro socks. They are 100% synthetic, made out of coolmax polyester. Much cooler (temp-wise) than any wool socks I've ever worn, too. I was turned on to these socks by a guy who said he's completely switched from smartwool over the the wigwams. I wear them with my gore-tex shoes and I have yet to have any problems with sweaty feet or even rain-soaked feet.

Just as everyone has said, get rid of the goretex. Unless you're hiking in snow, it's worthless.

Mitchel-

Do you were the Wigwam alone or with liners? Type of shoe as well? I'm going to try Salomon Exit Aero's instead of Full boots.

Running to Campmor to buy a couple of different socks.
Have two weeks to figure something out.

Thanks

I have something similar (or maybe even the same) to what you described. If you get bored and want to read about it I posted on in detail here: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=25921&skip_to_post=212917#212917.

I have not been able to get total relief from it, but I have been able to reduce it a good bit by switching to non-Gore Tex trail runners and thinner socks. On my most recent trip something really interesting happened. Normally once I get the burning it sticks around for the remainder of the trip, but this time I "overcame" it. I did a section (9 days) of the AT in VT, and my feet were wet the majority of the trip. I started off by getting the burning the third day in where my feet had stayed dry up till that point. Then after that they were wet almost the rest of the time. I got the thick leathery skin, and once that developed the burning subsided.

I wear the Wigwam socks without liners. The shoes I am using are Salomon Wings Sky GTX trailrunning boots. I haven't worn liners in years. I will add, though, that my next pair of shoes when my Salomons die are going to be non-goretex. I just think that gore-tex is overrated for its waterproof qualities in footwear. I'll save the gore-tex for when I know I'm going to be post-holing through snow...

Salomon XA 3 Pro (GTX) or Aero Exit with a single pair of Wrightsocks and foot powder. I would never buy another pair of GTX but these I bought before I learned better.

Even with the GTX I have hiked 48 miles in a day with very happy feet. I am a huge believer in the Wrightsocks. Many runners wear them and running is much harder on your feet the hiking (at least mine) My feet used to sweat when I wore liner/mid weight hiking socks. The Wright Socks eliminated that. Also, the double layer moves relative to each other with reduces friction on your feet.

Greg-

What type of powder do you use? I was told to use Sportslick or Bodyglide (anti skin chaff and iritation). Not to sure about that though, they are gels. I have used Sportslick on the nether regions but not on my feet.

I use generic foot powder. I have tried glide and other "goopy" stuff but it makes a mess on your socks and attracts dust. I will use medicated foot powder on longer trips, the brand is much less important.

As to the questions posed regarding fabric softener - it's job is to make things soft. It does this by adding stuff to the fabric - hence the smell, etc. If you use dryer sheets have you noticed your fingers feel a bit oily after handling them? That's what, in much smaller amounts, is being deposited on the fabric. They kill wicking on pretty much any technical fabric IMO.

I have seen demonstrations where membranes like eVent 'breathe' better than no-see-um mesh, but of course this relates little to foot health. Problem with 'breathable' membranes is that they might let moisture vapor and heat escape, but they do not let any fresh air in. This is why non-waterproof shoes dry quicker than those with 'breathable' fabrics - give and take.

I personally am fond of Smartwool PHD Ultra-Lite running socks when I hike in my X-Wing trail runners. When I go into the mountains I use silk liners and the Smartwool PHD lite hikers when it's warmish, and the same liners with a Wigwam silk/merino blend for the cold. I do in fact use a Goretex lined boot - the La Sportiva Trango Evo - when backpacking with a heavier load. (My climbing rig for example - rope, rack, crampons, etc.)

FWIW - I have very hot, sweaty feet. I wear Keen Arroyo sandals year round here in L.A. and can function in Josh winters in the same. Synthetic liners or socks simply do not work for me, even though the science says they should. The one exception to this is when I run - paired with my Kayano's, a good lightweight synthetic sock works great... for about 5 miles. Longer runs I am back in my Smartwools.

I will close by agreeing with other posters who recommend airing out your feet and changing your socks. Lunchtime? Do it barefoot and put a fresh pair of socks on after your toes dry out. Hang the wet ones on your pack to dry and you have a nice pair of dry socks when you hit camp that night. Liners dry amazingly fast so no real need to bring two pair.

Jeeze I'm long winded!

I hiked the whole AT in trail running shoes with Superfeet Synergizer Green Capsule insoles, and lightweight Smartwool socks. Worked great, even when my pack weight got above 35 lbs. Use hiking poles and you'll be fine.