Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Footwear on MR

I'm going up the MR next week. What footwear, full leather hiking boots or low top trail shoes, do people recommend given current conditions?

Depends on whether you are doing a day hike or camping overnight and time of year. I wear trail shoes for a day hike in the summer (once the snow has melted) and light hikers when carrying a pack for overnight. The only disadvantage of low cut shoes is that there are a lot of small loose rocks in the chute above iceberg, so you may need to stop and dump the pebbles.

I have mostly been up the MR, not the regular trail. I find it is hard on my shoes, especially carrying a backpack. I use lightweight full leather waterproof high tops. Sometimes even gaitors, since lots of rocks get in my shoes above Iceberg lake. Last time I was there I stopped three times to dump rocks out of my shoes, even with my hightops (not gaitors).

Once I use some $40 high tech lightweight shoes, which actually split apart above Iceberg lake. Since then I try to use a little stronger shoes. I have friends who have done the whole MR in the summer with high top tennis shoes.