Re: Three things you should never skimp on

Caveat <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...

Well, since we still seem to be having a civil discussion of this
arcane (to most people) issue, I will respond to your responses ;-)
  
> And I am addressing MOST people's needs, not those of elite athletes.
> If the average JMT backpacker, carrying the average weight pack, tried
> to do the JMT's 200+ miles through rivers, snowfields and mud bogs, in
> bargain running shoes, they WOULD most likely end up in a hospital
> (after SAR people like me had to go in to haul their asses out.). 

I did the JMT about 4 years ago in Big Five bargain table running
shoes with holes cut in them where they rubbed. My pack was about 35
lbs the first day, down to about 13 or so when I got to resupply
points.  There were lots of other people doing the JMT in running
shoes and light packs.  None of us ended up in the hospital.

I lead hikes for the Sierra Club, where I deal with a real mix of
novices and expert hikers.  In my experience, the exclusive source of
foot problems on these hikes is novice hikers with fancy (Vasque, etc)
hiking boots.  I have met very few, if any, hard-core long distance
hikers who wear regular hiking boots.  Most wear running shoes.  I
have never seen someone wearing running shoes have a foot problem.  I
have seen people with boots with massive blisters, even some bloody
feet on occasion.  Novice hikers don't have the experience and
patience to size boots properly and then break them in.  The teenage
clerks at the outdoors stores don't help the situation.  For these
reasons I would *especially* recommend running shoes for novice
hikers.

I never had any trouble with the rivers and snowfields on the JMT. 
That's another advantage of running shoes: they dry out quick if you
get them wet.  I actually prefer them for hiking in the snow, as long
as I have some gaiters and its not too cold out. A friend of mine
climbed Wheeler Peak (the highest peak in New Mexico) in running shoes
through snowpack the entire way.  Another friend of mine climbed Mt.
Whitney in Teva sandels.

> >Back when I wore traditional hiking boots I used to suffer from
> >occasional bad twisted ankles that left me in pain for days/weeks. 
>  
> Then they obviously didn't fit, or give proper ankle support. With
> heavy mountaineering boots, it's virtually impossible to sprain an
> ankle if they fit properly. 

Well, maybe it is true that it is impossible to twist your ankle in
heavy mountaineering boots, but is it worth the added weight?  I own a
pair of expensive Vasque boots (the Sundowner or something like that?)
that it was perfectly possible to twist your ankle in.  Every normal
boot I have ever seen your ankle will twist if you come down on your
foot wrong.
 
> >During the 6 or 7 years that I have been hiking/backpacking in
> >discount running shoes and sandals I have not had one twisted ankle
> >that hurt more than 5 minutes. 
> 
> Then you are lucky. And being young helps, too. Obviously, if you can
> sprain your ankle in boots, then you can sprain an ankle in shoes or
> sandals which offer  NO ankle support. 

I have had my ankle turn many times in running shoes or sandals since
I abandoned hiking boots, but I have never suffered an injury from it
(i.e. felt it the next day).  This is in contrast to my boot wearing
days when I had a number of twisted ankles that were tender for weeks.
My total mileage in running shoes and sandals has been probably at
least 6 times my mileage in boots, and I was much younger when I wore
boots, so I am pretty sure my experience is not a matter of luck or
youth.  I can't prove how or why, but my own experience has convinced
me that ankle support is not necessary or desireable in avoiding ankle
injury.

Andy