Long Distance Hiking Shoes

I'm researching shoes.

Not just any shoes, but shoes for long distance trekking, with a caveat. Not thru-hiking. Not trail hiking. Not ultrarunning.

Shoes for a 600 mile trek through the Arctic. Unsupported. With no resupply opportunities. No bailouts. No trails, roads, paths. River crossings where you swim rapids in freezing water, not wade. Tundra that could range from frozen to mud to snow to sponge. Tussocks. Did I mention the tussocks? They can be two feet tall (the medium sized ones) and lean worse than La Torre de Pisa. And mountains. Shale, scree, steep grass, talus, boulders.

Sounds like a place for boots.

Here's the problem. Boots are heavy. Worse, they limit foot mobility, eliminating any prospect for moving 40 or more miles a day. Or running. After all, there are mean grizzlies in the Arctic. Ahem.

Adventure racers know shoes. But those shoes have never seen 600 miles of trekking in a single event. Thru-hikers know shoes well enough - for trail hiking. But they resupply their shoes at will, and their shoes seldom see the rough and variable conditions found off-trail at sustained distances. Ultrarunners know shoes alright. Oh - wait - no pack.

The ideal shoe for this kind of long distance hike?

Do you have an opinion? Post it here, or over in the Backpacking Light forums:

Shoes for Long Distance Hiking

My criteria:

• Trail running stability last
• Light
• Absorbs minimal water
• Drains - and dries - fast
• Sticky rubber
• Durable enough to last 600 miles

That last one's the real kicker, isn't it?

Comments

[Richard Levenberg]

Feet, bare

- Millions of years of design in the last
- The absolute lightest
- Totally waterproof
- No drainage needed, dries fast
- Grippy'nes s with sophisticated feedback system to increase or decrease
- Lasts a lifetime

[Bryan Hansel]

I'd look at the footwear of the Inuit like some sort of summer weight mukluk with some sort of extra protection from sharp rocks ect...

[john the crazy alaskan runner]

As for shoes in the arctic I have a few opinions having spent my life running and hiking here. Stick with trail runners. Most can handle 500 miles or more easily although they will lose cushioning around 400 to 500 miles. My favorite pair of trail running shoes were the Adidas Marathon Trainers. While these were originally designed for road training they in fact have become the ideal mountain racing shoe here in Alaska. They are no longer made (that I know of) but every now and then they turn up on a website or in some shoe store bin around the country. I have had 6 pairs in my life and now only have one pair left which I break out for mountain races only. The components I would look for in a trail shoe would be:
1)Board last instead of slip lasted (they have more motion control)
2)Not gore tex or any other water proof design. All shoes get wet inside and goretex lined (or other similar materials) do not let the shoe dry out fast enough)
3)Aggressive traction with a flared heel if possible
4)Mesh upper if possible to assist drying
5)1/2 to 1 size too big since feet swell over long distances event with moderate weights in packs
6)No tongue or a very long tongue
7)I would sew on some high tops to them. Never buy high top shoes since they are very heavy. I have gone to a second hand store bought high top canvas sneakers cut off the high tops and attached them to my running shoes. they are very light and allow me the ability to support my ankles in the event of sprains/strains which have happened at various times on my long hikes. The high tops themselves have come in hady a couple of times on long hikes when I had extra material to repair my shoes with.
8) You might also consider drilling holes inot the bottom of your shoes for improved drainage. Of course this can become a problem on various tundra with small sticks digging up into the holes. However in very wet terrain this allows much faster dry times for shoes while walking in them. If you drill holes in them I also then heat up a piece of metal to melt the rubber in the hole to reduce fraying of the rubber which will happen over a long hike.

[Brett Tucker]

Sounds like a place for the familiar shoes of your choice, plus (ghasp) a pair of ultralight sandals for backup, worn whenever possible. And if that's maybe 1/3 of the time, then it's full life expectancy all around. Except for the GRIZ factor, of course.

[Paul Fieber]

Ryan

I have a few articles I found on Glucomamine. It is mostly for Osteoarthritis, which you surely will develop, but there is some good evidence on cartilage repair as well. I will attempt to send the articles to your blog. Do you have another email that I can send you information? I also have a very good article on Silica, which I feel would be much better for the ankle. I would need to mail it to you due to the length.

Is there any where in the USA to buy the Brasher Supalite Boots?

Paul

[robert]

I like this content. I'm also interested to have branded shoes in my cupboard. I would like to buy new Jordans pair on coming Christmas. http://www.sbkicks.com/ is my favorite online store but now I'm searching for another exiting online option to make shopping more easier. So please suggest.

[J L W]

Walsh Raid (trail all other walshes are rubber spiked for fell) boots (ultralight trail running boots look like a cross between early nike's and converse) resoled with 5.10 stalth rubber ala Andy Hyslop's record cullin traverse. I have a pair of raids (trainers) and if properly taken care of after the first 20-30 miles with shoe goo for any imperfections and reinforcement they are rediculously tough for their minimal weight due to a tough stiff last and uppers designed for mud and grit stone. They have hardly any cushioning and a very snug fitting lacing system so stability orthotics would have to be purpose made by a good orthotics specialist (which seeing as factory set orthotics tend to make podiatrist's and chiropadists burst out in laughter is probably a good thing)available as i understand it in tear resistant nylon or leather. Made in Bolton England (by hand for £50!). You wont get them through internet search unless lucky, Pete bland sports (Uk fell runner supplier)best port of call + they will know more than me.