Foot Ware in the Canyon

[KwaiChang]

I am going to do my virgin hike in the Grand Canyon - I already posted about my hike plans and I thank all of you who responded - this is an excellent forum for novice and pro alike.

My question is this - for a 6 day hike - Down SK, PR for 1 nite - up NK - stay there for 3 nites with a bunch of hikes down and back while there and then down NK and up BA - what kind of footware would you recommend? My hike is in Mid May and I want to get my shoes now and break those bad boys in. Right now I have regular ole hiking "sneaks" if you will. The brand doesn't come to me off the top of my head but they were pricey and dang nice when I hiked about in Sedona. Will they be enough or will I want to get something with more ankle support? My hiking partner wants to wear hiking sandals - THAT is outa the question for me.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[PaleoRob]

Did Liz's Boucher trip in Chaco Redrock Mesh lowtops. Great shoes - 4 days on the trail w/no hot spots, to say nothing of actual blisters!

[Sredfield]

I just stop in Flag on the way up and grab whatever's on sale at Wallyworld. ;) ;) ;)

[KwaiChang]

Sredfield - yer kidding right?????

[joebartels]

Interview with Harvey Butchart - Grand Canyon Icon

Quinn: Was there a favorite type of shoes that you hiked in?

Butchart: I hiked in ordinary working man's shoes (from Sears or K Mart) without Vibram soles and so on. I probably [didn't] get along as well as if I had real good shoes. I've seen companions with expensive shoes have blisters just as much as I got. Of course in hot weather you sometimes don't realize how much more likely you are to form blisters and I would use tape as soon as I felt a hot spot.

Personally I've hiked nearly everywhere in Arizona in Teva Sandals. The conditioning of your feet will far outlast any shoe.
My current luxury preference is Salomon XT Wings. They keep you standing even when you are really tired

Shoes typically last 300-500 miles
Tevas typically 2000-4000 for myself, I've been to lazy to track 'em

[PLC92084]

On my GC trip in Oct., one of our more experienced trail mates had a pair of Montrail Sabinos... I had a pair of the Mountain Masochists but only wore them in camp and on the way to/from Elves Chasm. The boots I had were comfortable but heavy; didn't breathe as much as I'd have liked, either... Next trip, I'm bringing my new Sabinos and leaving the boots in the car.

[azbackpackr]

I like my boots. I hike in Tevas when necessary, though, such as a recent trip to Aravaipa. I don't like trail shoes as much, but probably because, since I can't find any with a good fit, my feet tend to roll around sideways in them.

My son hikes only in Teva sandals also, just the regular ones, not the most expensive ones.

[BobP]

Salomon XT Wings

Those are favs...for trail running,hiking,backpacking,.... $70 on sale. I have keens(with the closed toe) I like for water and rock hopping hikes.

[writelots]

I'm swearing by Oboz these days. And, as we've discussed many times on this site - I think that the lighter weight, low top hiking shoes are better for your feet, legs and knees than the heavy boots, especially if you don't typically wear 1lb shoes walking around. It just changes your gait, causing problems nearly unrelated to what you're actually doing.

Of course, I admire those who go out in sandals. Personally, my feet would look like I'd run them through the cheese grater. That's how the front/toe of my shoes look after a hundred miles or so, and I'd MUCH rather it was my shoes than my piddies!

[azbackpackr]

I've seen this debate a lot, and really it does come down to personal preference, plus various physical issues. I have regular hiking boots, Lowa Renegade GTX, but they're not super heavy. They fit me, that is the main thing. I like the ankle support. They feel super light to me, even though they are leather.

I did recently try on some Salomons at Summit Hut that seemed like a good fit--they seemed narrow enough to keep my foot from sliding around inside. Might try those out someday. Usually, though, shoes off the rack do not fit my feet. Also, I can't stand thin soles. It really hurts if I can feel the rocks through the soles.

[hikeaz]

Rather than 'reinvent the wheel'...

viewtopic.php?f=30&t=3950&p=36811

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=4929&p=51100

Moldy oldie.....viewtopic.php?f=30&t=2615&p=22105

I have found it prudent to change out a couple pairs of socks throughout the day, drying out the damp pair on my pack while I am hiking and change out at rest breaks. Remember to turn them inside-out & shake out sand as it tends to collect in the longer fibers.
All or most of the trails that you are hiking are pretty (or very) smooth by Grand Canyon standards.

[imike]

Pete Cowgill, of Tucson fame, always hiked in Converse All Stars... at least all the years I saw him or hiked with him...

[autumnstars]

No doubt, it's mostly personal preference.
You should also factor in the weight of pack you will be carrying.
When you're carrying more weight, it's easier to turn an ankle, which is where some want more ankle support.

[Al_HikesAZ]

It ain't the boots, it's the fit and the system. I have had expensive boots that made me cry and cheap boots that were a dream. I wear a sock system - a wicking liner and a light weight wool sock. Try on the boots at the end of the day when your feet are swollen and tired. And use the socks you will be hiking in. Make sure the sales associate fitting you knows what they are doing. I upgrade the insole. I'm currently using Sole Insoles. I might move to custom orthotics as I get older. There should be a "hill" device at a good boot store. See how much you float in the boot. You do want a little extra room in the front of the toebox because you will slide forward on the way down SK and NK. Bruised toenails are a crippler. I know that I need ankle support so I use a midheight boot. I know that I need a little extra width in the toebox. Sometimes I don't realize how tight the toebox is until I've hiked 5 miles and my feet are killing me and I have 5 miles to get back to the TrailHead. Many people can get by in trailrunners even with a 35lb pack. My friend Will spent too much time with jungle rot in Nam so he hikes in Teva sandals and will never wear boots again. It's all about comfort, support and fit.

[azbackpackr]

Oh, yeah! I use Spenco insoles. Very cushiony! But those liner sox just make my feet slide around more, so I don't use them. I use one thick pair of Thorlo hiking sox.

[KwaiChang]

OK - I am now mustering up the insanity to wear sandals Next question is - Socks or No Socks?

[te_wa]

to wear sandals

some brands like Keen have a toe rand. i might even get a pair. (whatchoutJoe!)

Socks or No Socks?

if you wear socks with sandals, they have to be knee-high rainbow toe socks. give 'em something to really talk about.

my pack is pretty light so i wear saloman xa pro ultra. sometimes a montrail model, dont rmbr which

[KwaiChang]

to wear sandals

some brands like Keen have a toe rand. i might even get a pair. (whatchoutJoe!)

Socks or No Socks?

if you wear socks with sandals, they have to be knee-high rainbow toe socks. give 'em something to really talk about.

my pack is pretty light so i wear saloman xa pro ultra. sometimes a montrail model, dont rmbr which

The rainbow socks TOTALLY work for me!!!

I envy all of you who get to "play" in the Canyon as much as you do.......long hike from Rochester NY.

[azbackpackr]

I wear socks, regular hiking socks, with Tevas. Otherwise dirt and stuff rubs the areas where the straps touch my feet.

The problem with keens and other shoes like that is that it is harder to get dirt and rocks out of them. Tevas, you just shake your foot and they fall out.

Also, you would be surprised at how little you hit your feet or toes when hiking in sandals.

[joebartels]

te-wa is pretty short, all socks are knee high on him... where did that drumroll smilie go?

I wear low cut wigwam socks most of the time. On Tevas the socks help keep pebbles out, though it's rarely an issue. Nor do your feet or toes get torn up as presumed. Tevas are half a inch past your foot on all sides so it's like a bumper car where the passenger is safe at hiking speeds. I don't find socks "necessary" to reduce friction until after about 10-15 miles. Never tried Keens but I see a fair amount out and about. While Rob swears by Chacos I tried the Z something version and would rather go barefoot on broken glass. They hurt like heck, the design pretty much tells all too... it's a brick with straps whereas others form to your feet.

You can pretty much tell what works by hiking Piestewa on a busy Saturday morning. With the thousands of people you'll notice the majority of sandaled hikers are Tevas, Keens are a close second but they seem to go slower. I've only seen one guy repeatedly wear Chacos and I bow to him each time as I pass him. The Vibram Five Fingers actually out number sandaled hikers by a good three fold. Christmas was friggen HUGE for VFF! That said I average about three laps on Piestewa to the VFF Club. It's really bad terrain for those so it's not a fair comparison. Also the people wearing them are more seasonal or holiday hikers then year round. Several die hards here have proven them so I look forward to trying them someday.

All said I wouldn't recommend wearing any sandal on a backpack until you are sure your feet have conditioned into them Any advice from anyone on footwear will only go so far too, you have find out what works for you. Once you find out what works it's pretty awesome.