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RE: [at-l] footwear

> ----------
> From: 	Benjamin
> Sent: 	Wednesday, May 13, 1998 5:06 PM
> Subject: 	[at-l] footwear
> 
> i know i asked this once before, but since i didn't get a response and
> Amazin' Grace seemed so excited by a gear question, i figured, hey,
> why not
> try once more :)
> 
I had waited a bit, hoping you'd get a response from some of our more
experienced listers.  But, since its been over 12 hours without a reply
(at least a publicly posted one), I'd figured that I would give you the
benefit of my somewhat questionable wisdom.  

> For hiking in the summer months how insulated a boot do you want to
> have?
> For everyday wear and hiking i have a pair of Ecco boots.  They come
> above
> teh ankle (not the really high boots though) and they are rugged,
> comfortable, all leather uppers, gortex liners, good support,
> waterproof,
> etc. They seem like they or a similar boot may be good in the winter,
> but
> may just too much boot for the summer.  Is that true?
> 
The three most important things about hiking footwear are fit, fit, and
fit.  Since you didn't express any complaints, I assume these boots fit
you well, and that's a lot to be said in their favor.  If your concern
is that your feet will be too hot in these boots in the summer, from my
experience wearing similar boots, I wouldn't worry about it too much.
What with being tired, sore, hungry, thirsty, dirty, smelly, etc., I
can't recall a time when hot feet ever made it to my top ten list of
hiking complaints.

But, I'm also considering different footwear for my expedition this
summer.  Not because my feet are too hot, but because they're too heavy.
I don't know how light I can go, but for starters I'm planning on taking
a one or two day hike wearing my running shoes, with my boots in my pack
just in case. We'll see how it goes.

For advice on choosing hiking footwear, and just about anything else you
might take on the trail, I'd suggest you check out Charles Lindsey's
Lightweight Backpacker site at www.backpacking.net.  Just one little
thing that confused me for a bit, the button near the top that says
"ENTER" doesn't seem to go anywhere.  There a place further down on the
left that says "MAIN MENU" that will get you in to the good stuff.  

> also, how many pairs of socks do you wnat for a month long section
> hike?
> 
I've usually taken three full sets.  But in the interest of a lighter
and smaller pack, I'll probably cut this back to two.  If it rains long
enough, they will all be wet, and then you're just carrying more wet
socks.

Peter
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