[pct-l] Question regarding boots and feet.

[m_factor at hotmail.com (Mara Factor)]

Hi Shane,

I think you answered your own question.  Everyone's feet are different so 
averages won't matter if your feet aren't average.  The pounding 
long-distance hikers put on their feet in a few months is similar to the 
wear and tear most people put on their feet over many years.  As you age, 
the connective tissue in your feet loosens and your feet tend to get wider 
and longer.  Depending on your physiology, this can happen in a relatively 
short period of time on the trail.  Your weight, and foot length to start 
with can also be indicators of what to expect.  Heavier people and longer 
footed people can expect greater change.

Now, I'm sure you'll get a lot of anecdotal responses from the list but that 
still won't help on the trail.

A friend on mine who had done multiple thruhikes without a change in foot 
size did a long hike this past year and had his feet change significantly 
for the first time while hiking.

Myself?  I was diagnosed with what doctors and physical therapists call 
"loose muscles" when I was in high school.  My feet have changed over two 
full sizes, primarily during the course of an AT thruhike.  They tightened 
up a bit after my AT hike but spread again, and further, while on a large 
section hike of the PCT and haven't gone back at all since.

If you're wearing trail shoes on the PCT, the shoes themselves are often 
flexible enough to conform to your feet and stretch quite a bit while you 
wear them.  Once the shoes wear out, hikers are often surprised to find the 
same size shoe that they are throwing away that was perfectly comfortable no 
longer fits when they get a new pair.  Once again, it probably depends on 
what type of shoes or boots you are wearing.  If you are wearing heavy 
rugged boots, they are less likely to conform to your feet as your feet grow 
and, if your feet spread significantly, you may need to replace them before 
the boot wears out.

If you're trying to figure out how to plan your shoe replacements on the 
trail, consider going into town from the Saufley's in Agua Dulce so you can 
actually get fitted at an outfitter.  Do this even if your first pair of 
shoes is still working for you.  This will give you some idea how your feet 
have already changed (or not) and will help take the guesswork out of shoe 
selection when you get further up the trail.  If your feet haven't changed a 
bit by then, perhaps they are less likely to start changing dramatically on 
the trail.  If your feet have already changed quite a bit by then, they may 
either continue to change, or be done changing already.

Even if you don't need them yet, this could be a good time to buy shoes to 
mail to yourself up the trail.

As for how many pairs you'll need on the trail, people who wear trail shoes 
need more than people who wear heavy boots.  Most people on the PCT pack 
light and go with trail shoes.  Unlike a boot, trail shoes need very little 
break in time, if at all.  Heavier people, longer footed people, and people 
who tend to "kick rocks" may need more frequent replacements than others.

Happy Hiking,
Mara

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Visit my Travels and Trails web site at:

http://friends.backcountry.net/m_factor
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>From: shane wohlken <darkbodhi@yahoo.com>
>Reply-To: darkbodhi@yahoo.com
>To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
>Subject: [pct-l] Question regarding boots and feet.
>Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2005 05:28:27 -0800 (PST)
>
>Hi all,
>
>I'm curious as to how soon into the trail during
>a thru-hike to expect my boots to become too
>tight and require an exchange for larger boots.
>In other words, can I expect to replace my boots
>near the half-way point, 500 miles in, 200 miles
>in?  I realize that this is a hard question to
>answer since everyone's feet are different, but I
>was wondering if there was an average distance
>where the boot exchange occurs (assuming it
>occurs at all)?  And in a related (and just as
>difficult to answer) question, what is the
>average size difference a thru-hiker can expect
>in their feet?  Do you tend to go up 1/2, 1, or 2
>boot sizes when it's all said and done?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Shane
>
>