Hey folks,

I'm planning a PCT thru-hike for 2013, so I'm starting to assemble my gear. As a teenager in the 90's, I did several two week section hikes on the AT in CT / MA / VT / NH ... and always carried between 40 and 60 pounds (huge external frame backpack / cans of soup stolen from my mom's cupboard, my dad's old leather boots, heavy stuff like that). But I have some funds to play with this time, so I can start thinking light. So far I picked up a ULA Circuit backpack and Lowa Renegade GTX II Mid boots. I love the feel of the boots, but after clomping around in them a bit, I decided to return them and research hiking shoes (I saw a bunch at REI recently) -- man, things have changed since the 90s! And there are too many choices! Here's my list of stuff to try out:

Monotrail Masochist II outdry
Merrell Moab Ventilator
Scarpa Epic
Salomon Synapse
Vasque Velocity 2.0 GTX
Garmont Zenith Trail Gore-Tex
Danner Sobo Low Hiking Boots
Lowe Renegade II GTX Lo

At this point I like the sound of a non-waterproof (breathable) fast-drying low-cut hiking shoe. I'm expecting to carry less than 35 pounds max (that's the weight limit for the Circuit), and move fairly slowly due to knee injuries -- maybe 15 miles a day on average. Any advise / experience with these shoes in terms of durability / fit / comfort .. or any other unforeseen issues? Any other shoes folks would recommend? Or just general advise? I'm 125 pounds w/small feet (7.5), so my shoes tend to last forever.

Anyway, I'm trying to narrow the list a bit so I don't have to mail 7 pairs of shoes back. Thanks in advance!

Cheers,
Raphael

You say you want non-waterproof breathable hiking shoes, yet out of the ones you list that you are interested in trying almost all of them are goretex. If breathable quick drying is what you are looking for strike all those waterproof goretex shoes off your list!

Next get yourself to a store and start trying shoes on. Try lots and lots of shoes on, and then try on some more. Buy the pair that feels heavenly to wear and buy them now! Then walk in them for a while, take long hikes, and longer hikes, weekend backpacking trips where you push yourself to do long milage in these shoes. Do they still feel heavenly? If they do, then you start worrying about how many pairs you might need on your PCT hike and what sizes to buy.

Thanks for the advise, Katy!

I think I was playing around with the idea of goretex b/c I thought a shoe might still be breathable if it was low cut? That's probably wishful thinking...

I'll definitely be taking lots of weekend trips this fall to prepare. So I guess the way to look at it is: the shoe I'm buying now is just for testing & will likely not see many miles of the PCT when I get there next year.

Also, when you say "sizes," do you mean you'd start with one size & then buy the same shoe in a size up later on? I've heard of people talk about foot swelling..

I'm just getting started w/all this, so excuse the noob!

Cheers,
Raphael

I'd suggest that any PCT thru-hiker wear trail runners. When I thru-hiked, at least 3/4ths of the other thru-hikers I saw were using trail runners (I did, too). The trail is generally smooth and well-graded. Trail runners are perfect for that kind of hiking.

Don't bother with Gore-Tex or any kind of waterproofing. Except for sweat, you will have dry feet for the vast majority of the trail (with the exception of the JMT, and even then trail runners are fine for any snow you'll encounter). A waterproof lining will just keep sweat inside your shoe when you want your feet as dry as possible.

As for brand and model, don't worry about either. Just go to the store(s) and find the most comfortable, best-fitting trail runner you can.

"Don't bother with Gore-Tex or any kind of waterproofing. Except for sweat, you will have dry feet for the vast majority of the trail (with the exception of the JMT, and even then trail runners are fine for any snow you'll encounter). A waterproof lining will just keep sweat inside your shoe when you want your feet as dry as possible."

Agree with the conclusions but my experience was a bit different about having wet feet. I had wet feet pretty consistently from Kennedy meadows north. But '11 was was tough snow year.....

Excellent -- thanks for the push on this!!

I picked up a pair of Patagonia Drifter's this morning from EMS w/a goretex liner -- the sales person was pro-waterproofing & said the insides would dry fast if I stuffed newspaper inside them ... but I'd rather not carry newspaper around with me. I don't like them anyway & my feet are sweating just walking around the house in them, so back to the store they go.

I'll pick a store to try stuffs on where the sales people give me a little more breathing room cuz I make the STUPID mistake sometimes of just buying something to make them happy.

One less decision about gear -- about 100 more to go :)

Cheers,
Raphael

Okay, I've taken the advise here & ordered/tried on heaps of shoes. Here are the notables:

Scarpa Epic: totally weird fit, heavy.
Solomon Synapse: wonderful "pillow" feel, too hot, too narrow, a bit "clompy," laces looked like they would break.
Merrell Ventilator: felt nice but "stuffy," a little sloppy.
Patagonia Drifter: felt a little bizarre in the toe box, too stiff.
Lowa Tempest LO: tongue dug into front of ankle, heavy, hot, loose heal.
New Balance Minimus 10 Trail: too tight where that "strap" comes across under the laces.
New Balance 860v2: felt pretty good, but "overbuilt."
Inov-8 315: Eureka! What is this wonderful shoe? How?!

...so I'm totally loving the feeling of the M7.5 315s -- the only thing is: they're a tinsy bit tight on my left foot. I checked out the Inov-8 website & the 310s and 295 look very similar. I'm hoping one of those models has a wider fit. Does anyone have experience in this regard? I was also looking at the 309s (which are advertised as having a wider fit), but heard a rumor that they were being discontinued.. so wouldn't want to get stuck on a shoe that can't be purchased easily.. if I'm going to be going through multiple pairs of these things.

Again, thanks for your help!

Cheers,
Raphael

As a general rule, for the PCT, I would size up 1.5 sizes over what you normally wear. Part of it is for swelling, spreading, and elongation that your feet will experience on a long trail after hiking a few weeks. But mainly its for the SoCal deserts where the heat within a few inches of the ground is much hotter then the surrounding air temperature. The extra space allows your feet to breath a bit more. The drier you feet, the less blisters in the beginning. Gortex in SoCal is just asking for trouble.

I bought 3 pairs of Inov-8 315's on my '09 PCT hike (I used new balance to start with). I was very happy with the comfort, durability, and traction. They size 1/2 size smaller so get them bigger then other brands. The Rocklite 295's have a softer sole that isn't as durable but gets better traction and allows you to feel the trail more. For my AT hike this year, I'm using Roclite 315's and Flyrock 310's based on whats cheaper when I order.

Edited by Miner on 08/09/2012 18:26:52 MDT.

The Solomon trail runners have worked very well for me.

Just make sure they have the plastic plate in the bottom or your feet will get sore from rocks pointing into them...

Thanks a ton for the advise everyone!

I ordered/tried on the flyroc 310s in a size 8 & there's no comparison (in my mind) w/the 315s -- the 315s are SO much more comfortable! They have that supple moccasin feel, FEEL lighter, & the tread on the bottom seems better suited to a range of terrain. As a side note: the size 7.5 315s are actually bigger than the size 8 flyroc. It's true! ... & the 310s feel like an older shoe design, while the 315s feel magic (for me anyway).

I also ordered the Solomon Synapse in a size 8, but they still feel a little weird -- lumpy towards the inside of my sole.. but they were the 2nd best choice.

I'm going to bet that my feet will swell less dramatically than others' b/c they're a small size 7 to start with. That's logical, right? I've got less meat on my foot than someone w/a size 10 or whatnot, so it wont spread out as much. Also, I'm sobo on the pct, so wont hit the desert for a little while -- by then I'll have a better idea what transformations my feet are capable of.

Thanks again!

Cheers,
Raphael

First of all, let me state that I don't feel as though I am any boot/shoe expert. I just know what works and what doesn't work for me. I was out along one part of the PCT last week, and I noticed what others were wearing for footwear.

I feel that if you can get your total load really light, like 25 pounds or less, then you can get by with a lighter shoe. I have some Inov-8 model 195, but then my feet start feeling the extra flexion after several days. The heavier models would protect your feet more, but they probably won't be as cool (in a temperature sense). If you are carrying 35 pounds, then I think you want something heavier. You also want to think about how much time you spend sloshing through streams.

On a dry year, a well-developed trail like the PCT may have lots of bridges and rocks for stream crossings, and if it doesn't rain much, you don't need boots that drain so rapidly. OTOH, on a wet year, you have those knee-deep streams (or worse), so the rapid draining is a bigger deal.

My Inov-8 shoes are a half size up from my normal size. At first that felt funny and loose, so I started wearing very thick socks. Then after a couple of hard days, my feet swell slightly, so I can shift over to medium thick socks. Thin socks are not comfortable to me. You really have to try out this stuff to find out what works for you.

Of the hikers going southbound, the majority were carrying bulky loads of 35-40 pounds or more, and they did not look like happy campers. Most were wearing what I would call standard footwear. Only as the load was reduced did the lighter footwear show up. Then one guy had about a twenty pound load, and he was wearing minimalist footwear. You would have to get his opinion on how those were working out, but I was not impressed.

--B.G.--