Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Trailrunners

OK guys, what do you think? I had great hiking boots that I loved uphill. Downhill was a nightmare, even walking 2 miles in my socks down San Jacinto. Changed them twice and still have the black and blue toes. So, I am going to use trailrunners to San Gorgonio next week and Whitney at the end of the month. Please, please give me some positive input about this.

5 out of the 7 of us that are planning to day
hike Whitney at the end of the month are using
trail runners. They worked well on San Jacinto
and San Gorgonio last week, so I think they will
be fine for Mt Whitney.

I did the mountain in trail runners last year. The stream crossings were a little tricky (bring extra socks) and with a pack, the extra weight on sharp rock gets a little tiresome.

I hiked the mountain in some lightweight boots this year, and didn't have to worry about sore soles or wet feet. It took me a good three weeks to break 'em in, though.

My advice to you is to go with trail runners, unless you've got a heavy pack. You don't want to change things too much from your training hikes anyway...

camikema, your great boots were the wrong size! I've worn many boots over thousands of miles of trail walking, and I've suffered your nightmare experience with smashed toes and lost toe nails...because the boots were too tight for my feet. Another half-inch or one-inch longer on the boot size could make all the difference, plus the right sock combination. I wear a very thin wicking sock underneath, and a heavier wool-synthetic combination sock over that. The thin under-sock takes care of a lot of the friction that could blister you. With the right boot size and sock combination, I never get smashed toes or blisters. Life is good when you have that combo! Your prep hikes are a whole lot better than finding out the hard way on Mt. Whitney. Best wishes on your preparations.

I hike exclusively in Trail Runners. Make sure that you're not carrying a heavy load. My baseweight is in the 10-12 lbs range and a full pack for a week is 18-20 lbs. depending on what I am doing. Trail runners will make your feet feel great at the end of the day, less stress too. Just watch out on what you are stepping on.

Great info so far. Yes, I have been wearing the trail runners all day (even to work) just to break them in. I have never worn liners, but will try that today. What was strange is that I did go up 1/2 size and then another 1/2 size and the same thing happened with my toes wearing the hiking boots. Trailrunners it is.

"...a full pack for a week is 18-20 lbs."

I'm interested in knowing what you eat with a pack that light. I'd probably have more than 15 pounds of food for a week trip.

I've also switched to running shoes. The only time the boots come out is when I know I'll be spending a lot of time in the snow.

Richard I agree with boots and snow. Kicking steps is not alot of fun in trail runners. With a baseweight of 12 lbs. I can get away with 1 1/2 lbs of food per day. I pick and choose my food very carefully and always check the amount of calories that I am taking in for the day. I am 6'1 210 lbs and I need to ear alot so food is important also. That is how I can reach a total weight of 18-20 lbs for my pack.

I just switched entirely to trailrunners and won't go back to boots unless they drastically change the way they make boots. They're so much heavier and bulky than necessary. I've always preferred hiking in runners, but was a little reluctant to do it with weight on my back. Now, there are some great trailrunners that are pretty solid and completely waterproof but much lighter and more breathable than boots. A few weeks ago, I did 100+ mile trip with 50# or so on my back. Over the trip I got 1 blister that turned into a callous the next day (and that blister was probably due to my falling into the creek at a crossing). My feet were in perfect condition compared to everyone else. We even ran into some snow quite a few times, but cutting in wasn't any worse than with low-rise boots. When we hit the boulders and gravel, you could feel the rocks a little more through the shoes, but I think that was a good thing. I felt less clunky and more able to judge my balance.

Honestly, I think different people's feet are made differently. I've even gotten away with backpacking in Choco's for portions of trips and know a few who like to hike barefoot, but I know that would absolutely destroy some people's feet.

I am an avid believer to only using trail runners as well. Backpacking, Day hiking, doesn't matter. I've hiked with 50lb packs and I won't wear boots unless absolutely necessary (Heavy Snow).

I've done a lot of hiking in the Grand Canyon as well, known for it's unforgiving downhills. Nothing but trail runners there as well.

I recently did the 45 miles from Horseshoe Meadows to Mt Whitney with side trips to Langley and Muir as well, the 3 of us wore trail runners.

Now you've got me intrigued. Can anyone recommend a good-quality trailrunner shoe? I'm sure there is much more to it than just price. I'm doing Whitney in a month and am not happy with my boots but know it's probably too late to break in a new pair. Trailrunners should break in more easily. Thanks.

I agree with many of the posters, that trailrunners are a good option. A few issues: They are good if you are on a trail, and if you are not carrying a lot of weight. Change either of those issues, and they may not be so good, because of lack of ankle support, or padding.

I'd strongly consider an aftermarket insole....the ones that come in boots are pathetic (even $300 boots!). I'd certainly look at what is in the runner. Poor padding can make a shoe or boot a torture device.

If you weight is >200#, your margins are less, and you may have to go the way of a lightweight boot, which have more robust construction. I've been happy with such boots by Merril.

By the way, I agree that your boots were the wrong size. The toe thing can happen if they are too small OR too large. You may want to consider going to a place where they actually have skill in fitting. Best in LA for boots, I find, is Adventure 16.

My favorite is the New Balance 470's or 471's. They have always treated me well straight out of the box. My friend bought a pair of them the day before our Whitney Hike. His first time even wearing them was breaking them in on the trail. No problems whatsoever.

They usually go on sale every month or so for $40 as well, when they do I usually buy 2 pairs.

I've had some luck with Montrails, Vasque, and Soloman shoes as well.

Have You consisdered a high end footbed for your boots.I had a pair custom made and use them in every shoe boot even my ski boots and thety have made a world of difference for me

Have not used boots in probably 15 years unless as mentioned above I plan on being in the snow. I do more mountaineering now and as such have found the Five Ten Access to be a good all around shoe. Great sticky sole for climbing and cross country scrambling. They even make a Gore Tex version. Hike up to the East Face, climb the East Buttress and hike down the trail all in the same pair of shoes. The Access is being discontinued and I was able to get a pair recently for $26 from Five Ten direct. They are not the most well made but for that price I can live with it.

Camikema, you may need a different brand of boots. If your boots have too much volume over the arch and in the toe box, your feet may be sliding forward going downhill no matter how much room you have between your toes and the insides of the boots going uphill.

I can't wear Vasque boots for just that reason. They feel like Ronald McDonald's shoes on my feet with my toes flopping around inside. I have a pair of Salomon Adventure 9s that I've been wearing for several years of occasional backpacking and climbing, and also a pair of Hi-Tec brand that I inherited from my son when he outgrew them after our trip to Whitney in '01. I wore that pair for 10 days and 60+ miles at Philmont last summer and managed the trip with only one small blister the last day when we were in a hurry to get back to basecamp.

I also have a problem with a repaired Achilles' tendon. The scar is bulky and I have to watch how tightly I lace the ankle of my right boot. I've taken to wearing three pairs of socks: An inner lightweight polypro liner, a lightweight wool liner and a pair of heavy wool/synthetic blend. Gives me one more sliding surface that is NOT my skin and seems to further help with blisters.

I suggest you find a shop that has really knowledgable boot fitters and talk to them about the differences in boot brands, heel/toe fit, volume, arch height, etc. It'll make all the difference in the world.

One more thing...have the boot fitters show you how to adjust the toe lacing versus ankle lacing. My son always had problems with blisters on his heels until the guy who fitted him with his pair of Salomons taught him a couple of lacing tricks to snug up the ankle without crimping his toes. He has to adjust the lacing for a long uphill (like Whitney!) versus the return downhill trip but now avoids blisters.

It sounds like your boots do not fit or are not laced correctly.

I now use trailrunners, Nike Air Wallowas.

I hiked up Whitney in early June and even used crampons with them. Boots would have been better to use with the crampons. I believe the weight savings of the trail runners made the trip easier.

Unless I am carrying a full pack I use trail runners. I like Montrail which is the brand that many of us ultrarunners use,the model I currently
use is the Leona Divide but unfortunately it is being discontinued. I am about 210 lbs and have no issues with blisters or painful joints despite being 48 years old.

When hiking with a full pack(30 plus pounds) most recently while doing the Tour Of Mt Blanc.I used Merill ventilator light weight boots which worked great and my feet didn't sweat too much which is an issue with most boots for me. RR

Montrail's Hard Rock...rocks! I run trails such as Duck Pass in them, and have used them on weekend backpacks.
According to the staff at Wilson's in Bishop, they're the most popular PCT thru-hiker shoe this year.

So many shoes, twice the number of feet!! The Vasque trailrunner has been great for me (Alan and I can never share shores) and we did San Gorgonio last Saturday on them after two weeks of break in. We did the 20 miler (Vivian Creek up and South Fork down) and had only some slight soreness at the end, not pain. This is great information for so many people. My feet feel ready for Whitney at the end of August.