Is it possible to use ONE pair of shoes for all seasons and situations? (alpine, snow, rain, heat, river, desert, rocks, etc)

What type of shoe would do the job?


(I'm assuming you'd be using things like wool socks, liners, etc. in addition to the shoes.)

Edited by plantedbystreams on 01/27/2012 15:16:29 MST.

IMO? No. I have a couple pairs that fit well for certain times of the year. I only wear one pair socks in all my shoes - Injini toe socks.

For example: I wear W/P boots in winter when in snow/mud/rain but not in summer unless I am on snow for extended travel. For times in water I want a shoe that dries.

At least for me, no. :)

In my outdoor collection of shoes I have tele ski boots, Nordic (XC) ski boots, trail runners and climbing shoes. Throw in the leather boots I wear for trail work on occasion and the occasional camping trip.

Though going to work in XC ski boots would be quite the fashion statement. :D

Edited by PaulMags on 01/27/2012 15:30:08 MST.

I get by with one model year-round. I haven't been in desert conditions with them but have been in pretty much everything else.

A pair of lightweight, breathable trail runners with decent lugs, like an Inov8 Roclite 295, La Sportiva Croslite, etc. would probably have you covered. If you can get them slightly large, you can pair them with a thin neoprene sock (like NRS hydroskins) and a thinner liner sock + gaiters, snowshoes, microspikes, or crampons and be fine in *most* winter conditions (don't know where you live). The only issue here is sizing them right- big enough to fit liners in the winter, not too big to walk in otherwise. You might get away with wearing the same size by removing the insole when wearing a neoprene sock/liner.

Obviously you're making certain compromises in having a single shoe, but it's totally doable for backpacking/hiking.

All of my backpacking/hiking in all seasons has typically been in a single pair of shoes so far. I wore nothing but New Balance MT101s and MT100s backpacking and hiking (and most of my running) for at least 3 years. Now I like the Roclite for backpacking but more minimal shoes for running.

Obviously skiing, climbing, and seriously cold weather are different...

Edited by xnomanx on 01/27/2012 15:47:21 MST.

Trail runners work for me for all the conditions you mentioned, except alpine which I've done very little.

The only time my boots come out are for trail maintenance projects for safety reasons.

I have several pairs I use, but I could get by with 2 pair.

Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra Trail Running Shoes (Size 11.5) for 3 season.

Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra Trail Running Shoes (Size 13) to accommodate liner sock, thicker wool sock and Rocky GoreTex sock - only used for cold, snowy trips.

Sure, as long as different shoes are allowed for different purposes. I'd sure hate to be restricted to wearing trail running shoes for riding my motorcycle.

As far as trail shoes goes, it's pretty easy to make one pair at a time work if you hike enough. ;)

Is called "Snowshoeing" and I try to avoid it as much as possible. :)

Maybe if I duct taped my skis to the trailrunners. WWMD? (What Would MacGyver Do?)

Being serious, if you live in an area with lots of snow in the high country (northern New England, the Rockies, the Sierra just for some quick examples), it is going to be hard to have one shoe that does it all. At least for me.

Throw in other backcountry pursuits besides hiking/backpacking (that often involve hiking or backpacking like alpine climbing or overnight ski trips) and the shoe list grows.

And if you give back via trail work (and you really should if you can), trail runners are not ideal for trail work.

So yeah..different tools for different jobs.

For winter I like a warm pair of boots. But otherwise trail runners work good for most purposes. Even climbing short non exposed easy class 5 sections can be done in a well fitting shoe.

You mention alpine and snow-- if you plan on wearing crampons and kicking steps then the answer is no. You will need at least two pairs.

A light shoe will not have a stiff enough shank to securely and safely kick steps in steep, hard snow/ice. There is no way that I would take a light-hiker up Denali in the summer or even Crestone Peak in the winter.

If all you plan on doing is snowshoeing and low angled terrain then one pair of shoes is very do-able.

Be very wary-- it is a very rare that one item can work for all uses-- many people have multiples of every item for different situations.

Chacos. I have a pair of New Balance shoes I wear for wedding and funerals otherwise it is Chacos with wool socks, waterproof socks, dress socks, no socks and microspikes for everything including work and fun. Good from 102F to -10F

Edited by bpeugh on 01/27/2012 19:36:36 MST.

I'd have real trouble I think - some walks end up as long (20+ miles) with a lot of made track/roads in, and others up, and especially, down steep, muddy slopes.

Of course I could just wear something grippy enough for the second sort of walk all the time, but the sort of sole units that cope with that well would get utterly destroyed on the road.
(It can need quite extreme grip when it gets muddy - last time out I went over a few times in peregrines, although conditions were a bit silly!.).