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Saturday, July 31, 2010
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Besides a backpack, the other major purchase I need to make before undertaking the hike is footwear. I'd love to get input on the merits of bona fide light-weight hiking shoes/boots vs. regular running shoes vs. ergonomic sandals. Any thoughts? |
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I took more of a hybrid boot/running shoe on the hike. I might go lighter next time. I had no problem with support from my shoes. My only problem was blisters. Some things I plan to different next time:
1. log more trail miles on my shoes at home. I am hoping to put 75-100 miles on my next pair before I hit the trail
2. super feet inserts to help cusion my foot.
3. smartwool adrenline crew socks (maybe three pair)
4. I will also put more lubrication on my feet during the hike in attempt to prevent blisters.
Make sure you try on shoes with the socks you plan to wear on thie hike and try them on at the end of a long day (feet tend to swell as the day wears on)
I know Shay enjoyed sandals. Obviously they would provide great air flow. He is likely better suited for the pros and cons on sandals. |
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No sandals please. They support...nothing. One little mishap and "Ciao" to the trail. Running shoes: leave them at home. No support either. There are numerous very strenuous slopes on the trail (30-40%). I'm not an expert on American brands so I'll pass on that one. No need for Gortex it's too warm here even in winter. Socks: Not cotton socks. Buy the synthetic that take the moisture away from your feet. I had no blisters at all with good shoes and socks.
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The shoes you wear depend on a couple of factors, though. If you have strong ankles and an ultralight load, then you can do just fine in sandals, at least in the north. I hiked over 200 km of the trail in sandals, and support wasn't a problem. I did have trouble going up and down Mt. Tabor only because I didn't have enough traction and my feet wanted to slide down the hill. And in Wadi Amud, the thorns kept poking my feet.
Lots of ultralight hikers use running shoes because they're not carrying too much weight. Maoz Inon talks about how he prefers running shoes on the INT. And if I'm not mistaken, don't some Israelis hike the trail using Shoresh sandals? I'm not sure how good those are, but my Tevas worked all right.
But if you're carrying a normal load, or especially if you've never hiked much in anything other than boots, I would recommend lightweight hiking boots, or a boot/shoe hybrid that gives good ankle support and has good traction. Traditional hiking boots can be very heavy. Montrail and Merrell make good light boots that are ideal for desert hiking.
Finally -- Yankale is right about Gore-Tex. My Gore-Tex boots were the reason I switched to Teva sandals. You don't need Gore-Tex waterproofing in the desert, and I don't care how breathable they supposedly are. If they keep water out, they keep air in -- so by the end of the day, your feet are killer hot. And they stink, too. |
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I picked up a pair of Merrell Moab Ventilators and I'm very happy with them from my practice hikes so far. They have light soles, but they're sturdy and "sticky" since they're Vibram. As the name implies, they also let in plenty of air, which I can feel distinctly on feet at this time of year. I expect that will be nice in the Negev. Like most trail shoes, they have a toe box which my unscathed toes are extremely thankful for already. I also can't help enjoying the fact that I'll be peering at the mountains of Moab for days straight wearing the shoes inspired by them. :)
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Inspired also, perhaps, by Moab, Utah. |
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That is a more likely explanation, indeed. But it will still feel fitting. :) |
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I'm sure it will. But hopefully not so tightly as to cause blisters. |
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I know there's been some negative comments about hiking sandals, but I'm contemplating buying some ZX2 Chaco sandals for the trail. I know a friend who hiked the section from Dan to Jerusalem last summer wearing Chaco, and he had a lot of good things to say about them. Anyone else know about the brand? |
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I've never owned a pair of Chacos, but it seems like everyone who wears them loves them. Personally, I prefer Teva sandals because they're lighter and cheaper, and they're plenty tough. I opted not to get Chacos because they're pretty heavy -- the sole feels like a solid block of rubber. But they're durable, and I believe they have a lifetime guarantee, which is pretty great.
Take a look at the different types of traction available on Chacos. Most of them are designed for use on slickrock and in rivers. If you're thinking of using them for the INT in the north, you should get something with rugged traction that can dig into slopes. The main problem I had with the Tevas was that they had a smoother traction that gripped rocks really well, but in the forest, where there was a lot of dirt and leaves, I tended to slip a lot when climbing or descending hills. I'm not sure if they offer something with lugs that can dig into the dirt, but if they do, that's the direction you should consider.
You might also look at Keen sandals -- you've probably seen them; they're kind of a sandal-shoe hybrid. I don't really like the way they look (that huge rubber toe kind of puts me off) but I've always thought they looked like they'd get the job done well. I know they offer sandals with knobby treads that would be almost ideal for the INT. They would probably do a better job of keeping your feet from getting poked by thorns.
That's my $0.02. Let us know what you end up doing, and how it works on the trail! |
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I've used Teva sandals hiking near the San Rafael Swell, UT and also in Palo Duro Canyon, TX (which are similar to Moab/Canyonlands, etc., and presumably the Negev) and I was pretty happy. Traction-wise they did really well on gravel and rock and were fine on steep slopes. The soles are plenty sturdy to step on pointy objects. One nuisance is of course pebbles between the toes, but you just have to shake you feet as you walk. On the other hand, I don' like using the Tevas to hike in Oklahoma/Arkansas (which are more like northern Israel??) because of stickers, thorns, and itchy foliage, etc. |
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| Seth wrote
. On the other hand, I don' like using the Tevas to hike in Oklahoma/Arkansas (which are more like northern Israel??) because of stickers, thorns, and itchy foliage, etc.
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Good point... ;-) |
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I ended up buying some Z/2 model chaco sandals with a unaweep bottom, and so far I they've worked out great! I've worn them for walking, backpacking and even rockclimbing, and I don't have any complaints. There is an option to get them with the type of sole that you were concerned about, Shay, but the unaweep has a good type of tread has some decent lugs which work well in pretty much all environments.
The one thing that I have found with them, however, is that they take a bit to break in. In fact, my feet still currently have some spots where the straps have rubbed away the skin, but I'm still wearing them and I can't really see myself using anything else (unless of course I'm hiking in a really coud environment, in which case I'd switch to boots). |
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Rats. I was trying to get this picture of the sole I was talking about into my previous post, but I can't figure it out. It's in the media gallery with the picture of the alcohol stove. |
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Dude, I'd love to hear how the Chacos work out. This past week I was amazed to see people hiking the Negev in Shoresh sandals (similar to Tevas/Chacos). And these weren't people on Day 1, just leaving from Eilat -- these were guys who'd already traversed a week's worth of somewhat rugged terrain. May not be advisable for newbies, but if you can make it work, let us know how. |
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Hi Shay,
Welcome back.
You know my opinion about sandals...
Those people with Shoresh sandals start to have problems after 10 days or two weeks, just when they get to Mizpe Ramon... I could not convince my niece (22), who starts the trail on Dan on Wednesday, to buy good hiking shoes, she starts with Teva. I'll let you know about her experience. |
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I bet she'll do fine as long as she's in the north. And who knows -- maybe after hiking the bulk of the trail in sandals, her feet will be so hardened and callous, she'll be able to hike through the Negev barefoot!
Seriously, though, it'd be great to hear how that works out for her. You should get her to post here. |
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I walked the pilgrimtrail to santiago with a good hard walkingshoe like the moab but from haglöfs 2008, the feets was well but all the rain gave me a lot of blisters, so on the pilgrimtrail to Rome this year i took my really mountainboos and that was perfect even those days it was good sunny weather, they are of Mindle, Island Pro, so Im thinking to walk your trail in may/june next year and wonder if they maybe are good to have then? / |
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Your shoes are OK, the Meindl Island Pro.
May and June are quite hot on the INT particularly the desert. |
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