[Snick33]

Sherileeaz,

My wife Susan showed up for our first hike with a backpack that had "Tommy Hilfiger" on the back of it. I offered to carry her water and gear if she would leave the pack in the Jeep. Her pack didn't say "Newbie", it screamed it! Or, come to think of it, she may have found a nifty way to get me to carry her stuff . . . . . . . . .

[Newbie hiker]

Sheri:

Just wanted to share with you something that DesertBoots shared with me on our hike a few weeks ago. Cactus spikes can go straight through the soles of your tennis shoes. It sounded like you wanted to do a bit of hiking in White Tanks & South Mountain, so that is something you might want to think about.

-holly

[Daryl]

my $.02 on high top boots. Since a high top boot still allows your ankle enough flexability to sprain/twist it, I agree it does little if not nothing to prevent a minor sprain/twist.

However, on more extreme hikes, the high tops cover that very sensitve ankle bone that sticks out and has no protection other then thin skin from rocks, sticks, brush... even bugs. You also end up with less dirt/sand/rocks in your shoes with high tops. These are the main reasons I wear them.

Furthermore, the high top would offer support if you turned your ankle enough to severly sprain or break it, and may even prevent it from breaking. It may have saved my wifes ankle, she had a very severe sprain and was lucky that it didn't snap. Also, if you do sprain your ankle, tightening up a pair of high tops can give you enough support to walk out on your own power, I've seen it done twice now.
Another thought, I'm sure NBA teams can afford the best doctors and research. If wearing a much lighter and less restricting low top shoe was just as secure, or even nearly as secure, wouldn't they do it for the performance benifits? I've never seen a basketball player in low tops. I imagine they do it for good reason.

Long story short, it depends on what you are comfortable with and what you are hiking. If you are mostly on smooth maintained paths, low tops or sandals will work fine. If you are going through brush, walking on uneven terrain or loose rocks, I'd suggest high tops.

[azhiker96]

I like my Teva sandals for wet trails or longer hiking trails. If I expect some climbing or bushwhacking I switch to my trail runners. I have had cactus spines (cholla) poke through the bottom of the Tevas but they were easy to remove with a pair of pliers. When I buy footwear I look for name brands on sale. I like quality items that won't die on the trail. I picked up a pair of flipflops on the top of cardiac hill on the Bluff springs trail. I'm sure the last owner had quite an adventure negotiating the sharp rocks from there to the trailhead.

[CindyC]

I'd be careful with the Teva knockoffs. It's important to me to have a sticky sole. I find while not all Teva's do either they do have a wider range of styles making it easier to find the perfect fit. I wear mine all the time, not just for hikes but for work and everyday wear. I have had some of mine for years and while not in top form I haven't truly worn a pair out yet.

[hoppy47m]

I live in my Teva's, $9.99 cargo shorts, and tank top all summer, those are my work clothes as well as my hiking clothes. I don't use my hydration pack, I use those fanny packs with the double water bottle holders (popular once again, about 10 bucks) but I don't hike that desert heat either and don't need to carry 20lbs worth of water. I opt for a good pair of New Balance cross trainers if I am going on a longer hike, and I have some low cut hiking shoes with a more agressive sole if I am going to hit an area where water crossings are not a consideration.
You can have the most expensive, highest rated pair of boots in the world and they aren't worth a hoot unless you have some good socks. You MUST have socks which will wick away moisture from your feet. Or you'll end up with something resembling trenchfoot and it is extremely painful, they get all wrinkly looking like you have soaked in a hot tub for 12 hours. Get a boot that breathes a little also.....any air you can get to your feet will make for a much more comfortable hike. Avoid those knockoffs that have the tiny little grommets for air circulation, they will also pick up dirt.

[Newbie hiker]

I'm thoroughly confused on the advice I've been seeing here. I grew up in the swampy regions of Houston, Texas, where 104 degree temps with 90% humidity are common in the summer. Everything I've ever been taught is "you must wear cotton to stay cool". But, all I hear here is, "stay away from cotton".

Aren't the synthetics, esp the socks, just going to make you sweat MORE?

[hoppy47m]

I wear "Thorlo" hiking socks, they seem to have the best wicking power in a moderate price range, usually around 6 bucks a pair or less when on sale. Cotton compresses when wet and retains moisture, and if 100% it tends to shrink, light cotton shirts are nice to wear because of the evaporation qualities, it's kind of like wearing your own swamp cooler......
Thorlo socks:
Fiber contents: 46% THOR-LON® acrylic, 39% wool, 7% insulating hollow-core polyester, 6% stretch nylon, 2% spandex

[mike t]

Everything I've ever been taught is "you must wear cotton to stay cool". But, all I hear here is, "stay away from cotton".

It's a question of cool vs moisture management. If cotton gets wet it stays wet for a long time. In the heat this can be helpful in some circumstances by giving some evaporative effects but moisture also "holds" heat. (like that humid Texas air) In the cold weather, wetness can kill. A wet shirt in the heat can chafe though too and be uncomfortable from that aspect.
On the Thorlo's, I love 'em. They have different styles with different fiber blends so you kind of have to check out each style. They also have different thicknesses and areas of reinforcement.
Great!! 2 more things to experiment with to find your own preference. I'd say, wear what you have be it shoes/boots/sandals or cotton/synthetic or cheap/expensive. Then evaluate what you like and what you don't. It sounds like Sherileeaz's plan which I think is a good one. The main thing is get out there and hike

[Snick33]

When it comes to comfort and style, I ask you, is there anything more thrilling, yet somehow sensually exciting than seeing someone wearing spandex stretched to its limits over the expansiveness of pudgy little bodies? Each hiking step sending ripples through the material, up from their toes, over their thighs, ever skyward until the pent up energy is released at the neck, like seeing a water balloon fly through the air in slow-motion. Spandex is indeed, the miracle fabric of the new millennium for hip hikers who want to be “in with the in crowd” and who aren’t afraid to wear clothing made from cutting edge materials.

In a show of support for the American Spandex industry this June 8th, I for one will be wearing my Spandex hiking clothes, during the Tonto Narrows clean up group hike.

Oh yes . . . . . . . . . . . I’ll be the cool one, both in temperature and in attitude.

[coaster]

Spandex rocks! I wear it under my hiking pants to avoid chafing on my thighs.

Coaster

[joe bartels]

...tevas... I have had some of mine for years and while not in top form I haven't truly worn a pair out yet.

Whoa! I lost count, probably on my fifth pair, of course over 10-15 years

BTW... Snick my friend, you haven't missed a beat, you still got it going on
you truly put a smile on my face

[CindyC]

Joe, my idea of worn out and the opinion of others are probably much different. I hate wearing anything on my feet. When I find something that works I stick with them for a long time. If they can still be kept on my feet they are still in good form to me.

[joe bartels]

Yeah, I think whenever I see them on sale at Popular my others just "wear out"

[Abe]

I love ours in Prescott!

I'll bet we have run into each other in there Abe.....I am on a first name basis with those folks. My Happy Camper card gets a lot of use!!!!

hoppy47m finally caught this. I am not on a first name bases, but Prescott's Popular has excellent customer service.

[pfredricks]

Spandex rocks! I wear it under my hiking pants to avoid chafing on my thighs.

Coaster

Since I just met you Coaster, I am really struggling to decide whether you are kidding or not. Esp. in light of SNICKS comments........................In any case, I am still chuckling.

[coaster]

Since I just met you Coaster, I am really struggling to decide whether you are kidding or not. Esp. in lieu of SNICKS comments........................In any case, I am still chuckling.

I would drape myself in velvet if it was socially acceptable

Seriously though, spandex is good stuff. If you ever get chaffing on your thighs during long hikes, spandex will prevent that.

Coaster

[pfredricks]

stop with the chaffing thighs dude---You are killing me
If you dont, I am going to start calling you
"CRICKET"

[coaster]

Someone told me that if you count the number of chirps a cricket makes in 15 seconds....

... I forgot the rest of the story

[AK]

I sometimes have the chafing problem too. Where can I find a pair of spandex shorts? Preferably in the east vally.


Aaron