For some years now I have had an interesting email correspondence with Swedish lightweight backpacker Jörgen Johansson, author of Lättare packning. Recently Jörgen interviewed me about footwear for his website Fjäderlätt. The questions covered weight, ankle support and my current favourite footwear. The interview is now online and can be found here. It’s in English!Photo info: Hiking in sandals on the Arizona Trail. Ricoh RDC-5000, 1/125@F13, JPEG processed in DxO Optics Pro.
Very interesting article, bet you get a few raised eyebrows on the ankle info... No arguments here though. That is a great image, BTW. Nice DofF!!
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Tony
http://www.pbase.com/flying_fox_tony
Chris, sorry to bother you for a personal response. In Scotland I've always worn heavy boots, but when we did an across-Europe walk a few years ago I wore very light (and cheap!) hi-tec boots - they were superb and I never got any foot problems at all (went through 5 pairs though, and got lots of funny looks in the Pyrenees). Unfortunately the newer designs from hi-tec haven't been half as good.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the reason I've not worn them on Scottish hill walks is because I've wanted not to get my feet wet. I see that you wear the Innov8's in Scotland, so do you walk with wet feet, and does that bother you?
Paul, I've worn Inov8 Terrocs on the last 3 TGO Challenges and on many other walks in the Highlands. Sometimes my feet are wet but I don't find that a problem. The Terrocs dry very quickly - far quicker than boots. Even when I wore boots I often had wet feet and the boots could take days to dry out.
ReplyDeleteThankyou. The feet have been suffering a bit lately and I'm going to give something like the Terrocs a go. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteCan I add for Paul, when I walked a few Dartmoor walks in the summer months a few years ago I used non water proof trail shoes (after using heavy boots) and they performed very well in the wet boggy conditions, the water would leave as quickly as it entered. After that I was a trail shoe convert. You get used to the sight at the end of the day when you take your socks off and see the prune like feet! Once they are wet, you are "free".
ReplyDeleteAmazing. Miss that.
I will pass on what I would have done in the winter on Dartmoor - Sealskinz perhaps LOL ;-)
Tony
I finally went completely light with footwear recently. Last year I used Asolo Flame GTX boots for a 2 week backpack as lighter boots than my existing B1 3/4 season boots I thought I was moving in the right direction. I have always had problems with turning ankles. This did not stop with these boots. Also I used ,ulti activity shoes through summer in the past when dry. I found these meant I didn't tire on a walk and I found I was more agile preventing turned ankles. This year I got a pair of Inov8 roclite 315 (315g!!!) and haven't looked back. From an orienteering background wet feet have never been a problem for me. You get wet, you get dry, you get wet again. If you have good socks not a problem. I also use sealskins in colder and wetter conditions. Since getting the inov8s I have done a few hostelling / bunkhouse trips and an overnight with a full backpack. My revelation was that the shoes were as stable and more comfrotable backpacking with a 15kg load than any boots I've had. I have also discovered that when I go over in the shoes I either stop it sooner or place my other foot down quick enough to prevent pain. If I do turn the ankle I am walking normally again after 3 paces. WIth boots the high ankle (even low and light asolos) actually force me over even more. They seem to stretch the ankle joint cauusing me more serious pain and damage. Last summer I nearly had to cancel after my first day because of this effect. Light shoes actually prevent damage to ankles in my opinion. I fully intend to never wear boots except in full winter snow and ice.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice. Wore the terrocs for the first time yesterday on a longish hillwalk over Sguman Coinnitch and Faochaig. Feet felt like I'd been wearing slippers at the end, and the shoes dried very fast each time they got wet (not sure this would happen in wetter weather).
ReplyDeleteNow I just need to get something to stop me pronating in them, as my right foot especially was pronating badly.
Thanks again - never worn anything so comfy before.
Paul, that's good to hear. I wear Superfeet footbeds in the Terrocs to keep my feet stable. Conform'able footbeds are an alternative - I don't find them as comfortable as Superfeet but some people prefer them.
ReplyDelete