[at-l] Cold Toes?

[icw@xxxxxxxxxxx (Clark Wright)]

Hey Jan - first of all, feet stuff is always the subject of a lot of
varying opinions . . . with that caveat, I would definitely consider
some heavier boots for the first 4-6 weeks, if you plan to start in
March.  I wore my trusty, heavy duty hiking boots from Springer to Hot
Springs, and was very glad that I did.  I also think having good boots
for the first month or two can lessen the need for strap-on crampons,
etc. as they tend to give you better traction/stability such that,
combined with a good set of hiking poles, you can probably do without
any strap-on traction devices.  Again, there is no "right" way, but a
good pair of boots is a trusty friend that you can keep and use for
years - even decades - and so buying a good pair does not have to be
seen as just for 6 weeks of use in the early days of a NOBO thruhike on
the AT.

Good luck!

thru-thinker

Jan Leitschuh wrote:

>
> Okay, can we talk today about keeping one's feet warm?
>
> There was a considerable amount of cold for piedmont NC today, so I
> went walking in the new snow to do a little gear-testing. I was
> curious as to how my cold feet would react to hiking in trailrunners.
>
> Well, they were cold! Also, snow got down on my socks.
> So I came back changed socks, put on a vapor barrier sock (from
> Campmor), and put on a pair of silnylon short gaiters (from Moonbow).
>
> The gaiters stopped the snow infill, and so did the VB socks for that
> matter. But the toes on one foot got pretty cold within 20 minutes or
> so. That has me a little worried.
>
> I know I wasn't backpacking, which generates a bit more heat. But the
> temp was only about 20 degrees, and I'll be walking in colder weather
> than that. There was plenty of room in the toe box, so it wasn't a
> cramped air space.
>
> It's a little late for me to be breaking in a pair of boots, and these
> are funny feet to fit anyway. I've got my trail runners ready to go.
>
> Anyone have any tips? Barring that, spare toes?
>
> --
> ========================================
>     	AT Journal:
> 	http://www.trailjournals.com/Liteshoe/
> 	Jan Leitschuh Sporthorses Ltd.
> 	http://www.mindspring.com/~janl2/index.html
>
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