The Shoes That Saved My Thru Hike | Footwear For A Long Distance Hike | Story Time With Chris
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- In this video I will discuss all the footwear that I used on my Appalachian Trail thru hike. The good, the bad, and the terrible. Trail runners, hiking shoes, hiking boots, socks, and some of my suggestions about picking the right footwear for you.
I also go into depths about a my great shoe debacle when I found out the pair of shoes I started the trail with were no longer made. This resulted in a month of massive discomfort while trying to find the right footwear again. Enjoy!
Saucony Xodus 6.0 - These have been replaced with the Peregrine series you can find here - amzn.to/2IlQwJI
Oboz Sawtooth - amzn.to/2yzQVIE
Keen Targhee II Low bit.ly/2BcFKoo or amzn.to/2KioVhr
Altra Lone Peak 3.0 no longer made - latest version bit.ly/3KshBhw or amzn.to/3U4wxFQ
Socks
Darn Tough ¼ Length - amzn.to/2to7EtC
Darn Tough Hiker - bit.ly/2Bg7HeX or amzn.to/2IkjKIJ
Sockwell Compression Socks - amzn.to/2MQteyW
This video was recorded with:
Panasonic Lumix GH5 bhpho.to/40BSgax or amzn.to/3KpaPsY
Panasonic 12-35 f2.8 bhpho.to/3370k8w or amzn.to/2yFfXWU
K&F Concept ND Filters amzn.to/3ZF1nGa
Rode Video Micro bhpho.to/3zqO1mj or amzn.to/3K6MUx6
Manfrotto BeFree Live bhpho.to/3hHpLl1 or amzn.to/2AufoPr
Full disclosure - The links in this description are more than likely affiliate links. This means if you click on one of these links and make a purchase I make a commission from that sale. As much as I love money, I would highly suggest giving yourself at least 48 hours before any purchase decision and asking yourself “Do I really need this?”. I hope more times than not, you find yourself saying “I Definitely do NOT need this”. If you find yourself still in need, shop around and find the best deal for your money.
Please note that I am not recommending any of the gear seen in any of my videos. The gear I use is what I have found works best for me at the time period I am using it. I have come to these gear choices through vast levels of trial, error, and experimenting with gear out on trail.
Gear, clothing, footwear, etc. are not one style works for all. Do as much research as you can, try out things in person if able, and make the best informed purchase decision for YOU. Do not buy gear just because it worked for, was showcased by, or recommended by someone on UA-cam
Don’t worry. Whatever brand or style you like and is perfect, they will change it. 😐
I know this is an old video but thanks to it I saved myself a lot of hassle and pain. I was looking at buying waterproof shoes/boots because I thought it's what all the good/experienced hikers would do. After watching this video I got the Altra 5.0 shoes and It was the best decision I made. I wore them through creeks and snow the other day and feet got a little wet but no trapped water and they dried out so fast. There were comfortable and I was on some pretty nasty rocky terrain. Who would have though I would have watched a video this long about shoes but I did and so glad I did. Thanks
3 years later and still up to date. Awesome. Thank you!
Lots of great info, been a mountain biker for about 25 years and just took up hiking/trail running as I prepare for my Half Dome hike this June and have been going though a whole new learning process in regards to choosing proper footwear. Wife thinks I'm nuts with the amount of shoes I have bought and returned but I've yet to find that perfect pair. I have a set of Altra Lone Peak 4.0 in the mail so I cannot wait to give them a try, and the sock brands you recommend happen to be ones I've researched and plan to buy. Thanks!
Thank you Chris! I too think the Altra Lone Peak 3.5's are awesome shoes, especially for people with wide feet. The toe box is huge and allows the foot to naturally spread when walking. I did replace the insole with the Superfeet Trailblazer, which added even more comfort and stability. I also bumped the size up by 1 size. I have hiked about 200 miles on them so far and love them, but the true test starts early July when we begin our AT section hike. As always, I appreciate you sharing your experiences.
I think you will find they work Great for you. The AT tends of course to be super rainy and these things drain and dry very quickly. Best of luck on the section!
Speaking of wide feet, and that is me. And for even more room, I skip the first set of eyelets and start on the second. WoW, even better. Works for me !
@@jhonyermo I change out all my shoe laces with shock cord. I go up the sides for the first eyelets, then cross them normal. Once you get the right tightness, you never have to change it. The shock cord stretches enough to take them off and on.
Chris - I like your advice and videos because they appear well thought out and well intentioned. Must admit I laughed about your instant reaction to the Altra shoes because my shoe searches are long process of hunt and test. Right now I am on Brooks Cascadia and like, but do not love them. REI sale today so I got the Lone Peak 4 shoes based on what you said. You were right about instant comfort, I liked them so much I ordered a pair in the waterproof setup also. Thanks, I would not have tried them without your input.
I heard good things about the Brooks Cascadia. They were one of the other brands I was looking out for along with the Altras. One of the guys I hiked with wore them the whole trail. Really hope the Lone Peak 4.0s work out for you!
Long, sure, but engaging :~) As soon as you showed that first pair of shoes -- and I know you had been happy with them -- with the pinkies wearing through, I thought 'Man, you NEED some foot-shaped shoes!' I'm sorry you suffered so on your way to meeting up with some, but glad you found 'em. Everyone's feet are different, yes. But everyone's feet should naturally be widest at the toes. That room to properly spread is such a part of balance.
I started the trail with the Oboz and had no blisters for over 400 miles. Shoes did not fall apart and no glue joint failure. I'm still wearing them at home and on outings.
Hiking boots / shoes in general are pretty well constructed. I mentioned I have a pair of keen targhree ii mid boots I wear in the winter. I wore them on other hikes and sometimes daily during the winter and they still look like new! You won't get that type of durability from trail runners unfortunately. Glad the oboz worked out for you as they certainly did not for me. Just another case of different shoes working great for someone else!
Oh my Chris! What a horror story. For decades I have had no blisters but in my 20's I had a period of suffering so I can relate. You are right on in all your assessments. Waterproof boots will dry in a day if you leave them in direct sunlight on a hot day. I also have the same life saver trail runners.
Ya the suffering is no bueno! I still would only use waterproof boots / shoes in winter personally. The quick drying and draining trail runners are where it’s at!
Wow that was quite the shoe story and experience to have to go thru to get it right. As a "church goer" I would have taken the day off church to get you there if i would have been there if at all possible. Glad to know Damascus outfitters carry the LaSportivas. The Wildcats are the shoe that works perfect for me I think I'm married to them for life as far as hiking goes. As you say all feet are different and what works for one doesn't work for another. Great vlog with some great advise!
Thanks Stan! Would’ve appreciated the lift if you were down that way haha
Great advice and even better stories! Man I love the videos, keep up the great work.
Thanks for watching Larry!
Hi Chris,
I totally enjoyed watching your video and learning about your experience on the trails.
About the Altra trail runners… how well do they hold your heels in as far as the sliding up & down on the heel. This has been a major issue with me since my feet become very hot with the minimum friction… I can not super tie down the shoelaces due to water retention.
All the best to you,
John
I work in Damascus is a bicycle mechanic two of the shops are owned by the same people they are basically sister shops the third Mount Rogers outfitters is independently owned and operated and it’s an amazing shop
Thank you for pronouncing Crozet correctly!!! So many people get it wrong. I have lived in and around Crozet my whole life. Thanks for a great video!
Glad to hear about your experiences. I just ordered the Altra 3.5's. My old Columbia trail runners just gave up the ghost on Moosilauke.
Nice! Hope they work out for you! Thanks for watching Brian!
I have been walking on many of the English National Trails … since, 1976! However, my belief on outdoor equipment produced by ‘famous’ manufacturers is …. “If any of their product are popular and flying off-the-shelf, then - DISCONTINUE THE LINE!”
“Shoot me now!” 🤬
Haha 100% true
Chris... Great Story.....You have the storytelling gift........Have a pair of the Lone Peak 3.5's... use hiking in the Olympics and the Washington coast..........Best shoes ever, but had to Re-glue the toes too.......Great in rain and on wet muddy river trails...so light weight..... Dry out fast..... Dirty Girl gaiters.... on my coastal hikes keep the sand and rocks out. Ingingi toe socks keep the blisters away.......permanently.
thanks Carl! I really like the 3.5s. When they went on close out when the 4.0s arrived I bought 4 pairs haha. I just chop the toe off when it peals away from the front. I dont even know why they try to extend it up so high. Been considering the dirty girl gaiters for a while. Will probably pick some up once my altra ones die out. Thanks for watching!
Great thorough video! Lots of detailed information. Thanks!
I bought Lone Peak 4.5s and developed Planter Fasciitis in both feet. It took me a year to heal the damage they caused. Probably caused by the zero heal. Still looking for a great shoe for me. Using Merrill Moab’s for now.
Chris, thanks for info on your experience with your foot wear. I'm a firm believer in not cheating out on shoes.. We are also lucky to live so close to the Darn Tough factory, they have a annual sale on the second weekend in November on their seconds. You can get some great deals on all f their socks. Might be worth the time for a road trip ? I personally wear only Darn Tough now, they are just a great sock for every day use.
Thats good to know about the sale! I actually found some of their seconds for sale at Marshalls down by where I live and also at the LL Bean outlet in Concord NH. The ones I bought though I got through Eastern Mountain Sports. I always waited until they did the buy 3 get one free sale. Would combine that with something else I needed and a $25 off $100 coupon for the best bang for the buck I could find. I too ended up replacing my other socks. Have about 6 pairs of darn tough, two smart wool, one patagonia, two thick EMS wool socks, and that suits me great. Its nice to have nice socks haha
put a bread bag in tight shoes, fill them with water and throw them in the freezer.... If is only tight in the front, only have the water in the front, visa versa with the rear, and stuff the front with paper then proceed with water in the middle for tight middles..
Not a bad idea. May have to try it in the future!
Foam soles just feels like moosh after 3-4 hours. I prefer the stable platform from the harder rubber soles found on boots. But I also prefer more survival then trekking
Hey Chris! I've been watching your videos for a while now and have been toying with the idea of grabbing a pair of Lone Peaks. Just scored a pair (3.5's) at today's REI garage sale for $40, lightly used. I'm super pumped to test them in the whites next summer!
Hope they work out well for you Rachel! The 3.0s and 3.5s have both treated me extremely well. See you out on the trails!
The problem with Altra’s is long-term durability. If you got them past 400 miles, then you did better than most. Current versions also aren’t as good as older version.
Ya durability is rough for sure. I have heard the 4.0s were especially bad but the 4.5s were slightly better. I wore through a brand new pair of 3.5s (stocked up with like 4 pairs when they released the 4.0s) on my Colorado Trail thru hike and they literally fell apart the day before I ended the trail.
Once it comes time to test new shoes again I am looking at the Topo Terraventures or similar. I've heard similar wide toe box like the Altras but significantly better durability. Though I do not believe the topo are zero drop
Thank you for this very informative video. Although still a year out in planning to do the Camino de Santiago, insights like yours about footwear definitely helps.
Thanks for watching Petrika. Enjoy the Camino!
Wow longest shoe story I've ever heard...lol. However, you are right on. I bought Salomon Speed Cross 4's on line for a really good price. I bought my normal size which is 10.5. They fit and are not bad but they ARE narrow. After reading so many good reviews of the Altra Lone Peak 3.5 I bought a pair at REI when they were 25% off. I had to get a size larger for proper fit (11.5). They are absolutely the most comfortable shoe I have ever put on my feet and that was from day one! Thanks for the review.
I got a little carried away with them story telling but I thought it was a good one anyways. I looked at the timer on screen and it said 45 minutes I was like well it is what it is haha. Glad you found a good pair. I think some shoe makes make shoes with smaller perhaps more athletic thin shaped everywhere people in mind. The altras seemed to be made toward the more hobbit footed so to speak. Enjoy the luxurious trail runners!
Good story... I purchased the Altra 4.0 a few weeks ago. Best shoes ever. Going to order another pair soon, it's like these shoes are custom made for me.
Glad they are working for you. I just stocked up on the 3.5s that they are trying to clear out so I should be good for a while myself haha
Thanks for sharing your story! I heard about most of this from your AT thru hike but always nice to know the full story. I've been in the Altra LP 3.5's this whole year so far and love them. All except for an insole issue when the shoe gets wet it tends to shift on me, so I shoe glued them down.
Thanks man! Seems a bunch of people talking about having to glue down their insoles but luckily only had one very slight issue with the ones I owned. The first 3.0s I had one of the insoles slid a little but I slid it back and then loosened and retightened the laces and didnt have an issue after that. Will keep that in mind if the 3.5 ones kept sliding. The 3.5s were released I think a week after I picked up my 3.0s. I was tempted to test em out on the AT but figured NO! stick with what you know works haha. 3.5s have been going great for me as well!
Super advice on footwear, Chris! New sub here and glad to have found this video as I was on the fence about buying the Altra Lone's and a pair of their gaiters. I have four pairs of hiking shoes/boots and they are all comfortable but my favorites are the Merrell Moab 2 and they have tested well on the trail. You mentioned Darn Tough socks...yes, I feel that proper sock wear is a huge key to comfort. I wear Wigwam Coolmax liners inside my Darn Tough socks and I have not experienced any blisters for the past three years. I keep moleskin and leuko tape in my first aid kit but usually end up letting my friends use it for their blisters. My shoes are a half to full size larger than my 10.5 2E saving my toes on the downhill stretches. Unfortunately the nearest REI doesn't have Altra Lone's in my size so I will order them from Amazon along with the gaiters. Darwin on the Trail also recommended these shoes. Thanks, Chris! Congratulations on completing the AT through hike!
Thanks Alexander! Just an FYI the Lone Peak 4.0s are about to drop around August so the 3.5s are currently on sale at a few places. REI being one of them. They have em for $90 and I think they still have the spend $100 get a $20 gift card promo going on so maybe worth checking that out. Either way I hope they work out for ya!
Speaking of wide feet, and that is me. And for even more toe room, I skip the first set of eyelets and start on the second. WoW, even better. Works for me !
Thats another thing a lot of people look over, different lacing techniques. I did essentially similar when I had those Adidas shoes. Kept them as loose as possible down that area but on my feet still. Gotta get that extra room!
I tried the altras brand shoes the other day at REI, really comfortable and tried on the North Face Vectiv at Dicks. Unfortunately I have flat feet and heel pain issues. So I’m in between these two. I’m going on a road trip to visit some national parks to hike on in a few weeks so I’m nervous what shoes to pick! I did purchase the North Face ones cause I like that the way it’s constructed the heel part is pretty smooth. It’s hard to really test it out since they won’t take them back after use, which sucks! I wish they had some fee to cover that to return them back! But now, I wonder if Altras would be the. Best choice, but w having weird feet it’s hard! I just want comfortable and minimal pain. Thank you for your review and experience!
I have the Merrel waterproof shoes. Got them wet once and it took them a week to get dry. Wonderful shoes as long as you don't get water inside. I've tried a lot of shoes and this one fits me perfectly. Although, I do realize that if I'm going to be getting them wet, I need to go to something else. Thanks for the video. Great info. I see a lot of people loving the Altra's.
Thanks Amy! Ya I can’t do the waterproof shoes. At least for non winter. When my keens got wet in that first downpour they were wet for days and super uncomfortable. But if they work well for you they work well! I do enjoy the altras a lot !
Great review. I too have wide feet. I’ve been trying the 4.0 but not sure if they are padded enough for multi-day hikes. I find the grip is absolutely amazing probably because of the “feel” of the ground in addition to a great tread pattern. Time will tell.
Hope they work out for you! I havent experienced the 4.0s yet. I stocked up on the 3.5s when the 4.0s were released. The ground feel is huge to me. I feel like wearing boots I totally miss that feeling
Love, LOVE my 3.5s--I use them for trail running. Just bought some 4.0 mid RSM's (waterproof) for a hiking trip in England this summer. Need the waterproofing over there. It's interesting that my 3.5s are size 13 and fit more snug than the 4.0s, which are size 12.5. Really need to try on the various models/years. I also have a pair of Torins for street running. I guess you could say I'm an Altra Junkie!! Enjoyed your video. Hike on!
Thanks for the heads up Chris.
Darn tough and altras are where it's at..great story dude..the toe box is the best part..
Moral of the story SHOES are mucho mucho importante for avid hikers.. And your feet are unique..
Good info. I love the Targhee 2 mid boot. They are now making the 3's. I was able to find 2's in Prescott AZ. I jumped on it. I've used them in 110 temp in SoCal and -9 in Colorado. The 3's are not as wide. I tried the Altra Timps and they hurt my ankle pretty bad. Not used to that zero drop and did not find very much support. I know a couple of popular you tuber use them but not for me. I like the Solomon XA pro 3d, they have a wide option. Very durable, not the lightest but found them the best for me in trail runners. Darn tough, yeah good sock, but like anything else you need to find the thickness and size for you. Thank you.
Agreed on the socks, darn tough worked well for me. Ended up changing to much thinner ones from Sockwell at about the halfway point. I am currently using the Keen Durand II for winter hiking. I really like them a lot!
Great video - thanks so much!! This was immensely helpful for me! I feel validated now choosing ALTRAs for my Camino de Santiago thru hike! The TIMP is the one that my feet have fallen in love with - but only Men's would fit me (go figure) so as a heads up to all the women hikers - be sure to try the men's version if it's just not quite working for you in a women's style (plus, the colors for men's shoes are consistently more neutral). You've answered all of my concerns right here in this story (waterproof vs not? / zero drop vs regular? / socks... darn tough definitely! / and a great tip on the long compression socks, too!...Boom! I've been wearing long silk liners that have been working well on my training hikes. I didn't even think about the tick barrier benefit... great point!
Glad the video helped! All about finding the right footwear for you! For additional tick protection I also recommend using permethrin if you can access it. I used the Sawyer brand one. Spray on clothing and let dry. Supposedly kills ticks and other insect on contact and lasts on clothes for around a month. I used it all along the trail for tick prevention and only ever found one on me (after bushwhacking to a campsite it was on my knee)
Yikes! I'll keep that in mind. The Appalachian trail is still on my "bucket list" but way in the future. I have to admit, I'm a "glamper". I'm trying to ease myself into the "adventuring" world. I've chosen a thru-hike that includes bars, cafes and hostels. I'm still not sold on the whole idea of wilderness survival and sleeping outside on the ground... but, I shall watch more of your videos for inspiration! :)
The AT is a lot less wilderness survival than most people let on. You are probably no more than 2-3 days from a town at any given point. There are some wilderness-esq aspects for sure but town is much closer than you think! Appreciate you watching!
hiked today in Florida (Upper Hillsborough preserve) the boots I've had for 6 month with no issues were hurting my feet today.
i know that over time our foot shape can change also. was planning to do the AT next year and my biggest concern is foot wear.
thanks for the info. i liked your story.
I use shoe inserts and move the same old inserts among my shoes for the past several years. My thinking is that the inserts make all shoes look and feel the same to my feet. Also for hiking, I always get a wider width than my street shoes, so my pinkies never have any problems.
Good call! I’ve never been able to bring myself to buy the super feet or after market insoles. I’d hate to try one out, had cut it down, and then ask to return it and ya definitely size up on the hiking shoes. Helps immensely!
Helpful.
A very helpful video, thanks.
Super helpful, Chris! Thank you!!
Thanks for watching Eddie!
I took the commitment plunge and bought the famous Altra Lone Peak 3.5s on Amazon. Open the box today and after 1.2 miles on the hamster wheel (treadmill) and my feet feel free--unlike the previous shoes! Thanks Chris! Now increasing the mileage won't pain this old man!
Hey Chris ,,
,swamp gal here,,,
,,I'm fine tuning a tick ,answer while on the E C T ,starting in Oct,,,,
Love your reviews.
Agree! My Lone Peak's are the best! I use Injingi toe socks with Darn tough hiker light socks over that!
I gotta pick up a pair of the injinjis. Glad you found a system that works for you!
Chris, thanks for the excellent advice and informative video! Have you ever tried Danner Mountain 600's? They're a light mid boot with a Vibram grippy sole that seem very well made (though are almost as light as a sneaker), and offer very good ankle support and protection. They're water resistant as well, but as I've not been caught in a rainstorm on the trail, not sure if you'd have the same "walking in puddles" issues you've had with Gore-Tex shoes. (As I wear long pants, the mid height obviously is under the pants, so I doubt you'd get water flowing down into them.) Bottom line: they are extremely comfortable, made in wide widths, durable, light, and I highly recomment them, for at least day/short hikes in most terrain. Thanks again!
Have not tried them but heard good things about Danner. For me its also the fact that I sweat so much, so even if there isnt actual water im stepping in im still sweating like crazy and it has nowhere to really go. Its pretty lame haha
Has anyone ever hiked the entire PCT/CDT in Danner Mtn Lights?
Im so confused so you spent half your hike purposely avoiding using altras? For what reason? It's not like they weren't in stock at these numerous outfitters you went through multiple other pairs of shoes with
Awesome Video!! 🍻
I’m glad I found this video. 👍🏼
I like the Salomans. They're tough and fit my foot well, too.
The german guy I was hiking with loved the salomans. They seemed to hold up pretty great!
Hey Chris thanks for the thorough video 👍 pls advise me on one thing, I'm not a hiker but I'd like to be one day. I'm planning a move to South America and imagine I'll do a bit of hiking out there. You stress the importance of good socks, but I've always thought man if it's hot how could you wear socks?Apologies I've no knowledge of hiking socks. Are there some that you could use in the hot weather or are socks really only for colder weather? Plus why are hiking socks so important?... I noted your point about the tick issue 👍
Thanks
Boo Chris it too busy outdoors to answer my query.. hahaha no probs man 👍😂😂😩
I've had the exact same problem with the sole on the toe. Mine started coming off really soon. It hasn't gotten any worse though. I love them anyway.
Same! It’s happened to different degrees on all of them. I actually trimmed the top off one pair of them slightly. Didn’t notice any effect from it!
should have worn two pair of socks since you knew your feet shrunk, the main reason why most hikers wear two pairs of socks is that they want to avoid blisters. And you tend to buy your shoes impulsively not a good thing to do actually. Altra Lone Peak 3.5 are pretty good but I don't used them I prefer Keen and Oboz which did not work well for you, so moral of the story to each his or her own, whatever works for you. Good story sorry you got so much trouble but funny story.
So, your commentary indicates that you need a week of hiking to decide whether or not your new shoes fit? Sheesh, man…Kentucky
Good video. I have Altra Lone Peaks and while comfy, I've found the soles to be a bit more slippery on rocks. My LaSportivas and Merrells are grippier. Use Darn Tough and occasionally injingi
Nice! I've never had much of an issue with slippery soles with the Altra and never tried the sportivas or Merrells. I thought the oboz were pretty slippery, the keens were a little better. The Adidas one I feel like we're boredline ice skates with wet rock haha
ChrisGoesOutdoors
Just finished a little hike up Guadeloupe Peak in TX and did not like the way my Lone Peaks handled more vertical stuff. On typical trails very smooth. Just goes to show that people have different needs and feet. Looking to thru hike attempt next year. Enjoy your videos and looking forward to your next adventure
Totally true! Everyones shoe needs are unique! Hope you get out for a thru attempt. It was seriously one of the best things I have done. Hopefully will not be my best ever though!
Great vid. I'm in the Toronto area and finally tracked down a pair of size13s. Hard to find the larger sizes...i also have very wide feet so im optimistic about the fit. Thanks for the info!
Nice! Hope they work out for you! I usually go a full size up compared to normal shoes in altras. The 3.5s are on pretty steep discount down in the USA. They just released the 4.0s. Picked up a bunch of 3.5s on the cheap for the future haha
ChrisGoesOutdoors No deals here unfortunately. And I heard the 4.0s are out soon. Explains why i cant find many in stores. I'm I'm heading to the US later this year so I'll check then for some deals. Happy hiking!
Thanks Chris. I've had very good luck with the La Sportiva wildcats, but I'm trying a pair of Altra 3.5's. Just working through the break-in period. Like you, I have a wide foot. I normally wear a 12.5, but went with a size 13 in the Altra. Even so, I'm worried that I should have gone with a 13.5. (if that even exists?) Sometimes when you get to size 13, it's only full sizes on up.
Someone else in the comments said they were able to find odd sizes easier on Amazon. They needed a size 16. Mine are a full size up (usually 11 wear 12s for lone peak 3.0s and 3.5s) but of course everyones situation maybe different. If the 13s feel too small I would definitely try to get your hands (or feet?) on a pair in 13.5. Hope it works out for ya!
The Lone peak 3.5s are amazing. nothing wrong with them in my opinion and they saved me too
I like the Altra 3.5 a lot! I did have some issues with the insoles riding out. I also started using the Bedrock Cairn 3D Adventure Sandal and they work awesome!
Wow tho... you spent a good 6 hundy to get the right pair!
Others have mentioned that too and using super glue. I had an issue with the 3.0 sole moving in one of them but readjusted the lacing and never had the problem again. I have a pair of the bedrock cairns as well. I mainly use them around town and such but would love to put em to test on the trail.
Ya spent a small fortune out there trying to fix the footwear situation. That crozet putting for the altars cost me right around $200 alone (uber, shoes, socks, gaiters). Gotta have the right footwear!
ChrisGoesOutdoors I did 3 miles today in the PA rocks with my Bedrock cairns.. I got the 3D model that has a slight molded in arch support and feels real good. Surprisingly the tread doesn't kick up rocks and dirt like regular trail runners and my feet felt real good with them. Definitely worth a trail session if you have them
Just out of curiosity, what do you spray your clothing with to detract snakes?
Nike usually fits the right size, I think Adidas size is bigger than usual because of european sizes, so an 11 fits like a 12 but they are usually more narrow so wide feet you would probably need the bigger size but your toes would be having more space
damn good info. thanks a million
great vid, i have hard feet to find comfortable shoes for, my favs of all time were inov8 trailroc 255s but discontinued and all the others i have had sucked and hurt my feet, with no local shops i have to research and try a few to find a good fit, for this year i ordered 2 pairs of shoes hoping 1 would be good. i got the altra lone peak 3.5 and love em, also got brooks cascadia 13s and they to are great for 95% of my hiking i find though that the outsoles seem slippery on wet rocks where the altras do great, will probably order another pair for my vt long trail hike
Glad the Altras worked out for you. I was crushed when I found out the Saucony Xodus 6.0 were no longer made. Apparently the Peregrine series is what took over. I tried on the Peregrine 6s since I have been home from the trail (the 7s are now out) and they actually fit well but I prefer the feel of the Altra Lone Peaks. One of the kids I hiked with loved the brooks cascadia. I think he started with the 11 or 12s? as I remember he got a newer version and said they felt much different. Like the sizing felt different to him. Good luck on the Long Trail! Who knows, depending on what my vacation time ends up being maybe I will see you out there!
that would be awesome. ill be in southern maine doing the loop i keep telling you about, the thunderstorm parked on old speck defeated me last year this year even if that occurs again im going to complete it. 12,000 ft of climbing and equal descent lol my legs will either get stronger or fall off.
Best of luck out there! Hopefully no storms though. The terrain in Maine is legit. At least you know what you are in for!
Go straight to minute 13:00 ……
I got a pair of oboz.... just about died going up the Flume Slide in the Whites... it rained on us.... they were like skates. I didn’t trust them.slipped everywhere. And I have that same book on your desk...😆
Ya they weren't my favorites either to say the least. Ive found the grip on the Altra lone peaks pretty great personally. And it's a great book. Standard issue for all white mountain enthusiasts haha
Are you sizing your shoes at outfitters while wearing (all of) your thick trekking socks?
I called the outfitters before going. But well I was looking specifically for altra because I have hobbit feet. I found one guy who had altra and he didn’t have many. I am a Brannock size 12 and I went with a size 12 in lone peak. They felt so freakin nice I didn’t even think twice.
Now in retrospect I think o would have gone 12.5 or even 13 because I have long wide feet. I’ll for sure be buying altra again. I’ll be getting a 12.5 and hey, altras website has a 30 try out thing and you can return them if they don’t work out and exchange them.
Did you get a different insert insole for the 3.0s?
I've been rocking the Superior 4 which are pretty good on easy to moderate trails. I find that they are pretty slick when hiking over damp rock or damp plank bridge. I also experience my foot rolling off the edge of the sole on steep mountain trails. What is your experience with the lone peak with those conditions? We are both similar build and weight.
No issues with the 3.0s really. Especially compared to the keens they werent remotely as slippery. I just wore the 3.5s on the colorado trail. By the end of the trail the 3.5s sole in the back of the shoe was almost flat on the inside of the foot. So much so that the mesh tore through and I was occasionally walking on my actual heels sometimes. This was after about 450 miles
Party tips for appalachian hikers ... Ok your at a party , your being humble not saying much .
When a kinda loudmouth guy hollers acoss the room at you "Hey Bill so what have you been up to "? the room gets quiet ... Ah not too much , last year i did the Ap. trail . He hollers back
Oh i did that years ago ... You respond ,,, "I did it barefoot "
The 3.5 are great shoes. They dry out very quickly. The vents on the 3.5 really allow most of the water to drain out. The heat of your foot dries it out the rest. There are, however, a few things to watch out for. 1. The insoles tend to slip and slide up the side of the shoe. Other UA-camr channels have noticed the same problem. I just used super glue to keep them in place. 2. The size runs small. Buy at least 1 to 1.5 size larger then you normally wear. 3. The new Altra gaiters have snaps that are very difficult to put on. I just sewed on hooks on the front and sides and that worked fine. You can buy other brand gaiters and just sew on the side hooks. Even with these issues, these shoes are the best and worth the money. One more note. Altra only sells up to size 14. I wear a size 16, but I was able to purchase the Altra Lone Peak 3.5 in the larger sizes on Amazon.
I’ve noticed very similar with my 3.0s and 3.5s with the exception of the soles moving. It did once in my first pair of 3.0s but I put it back, undid the laces, and then retightened and never had the issue again. I have also seen others say the same thing but luckily the glue works!
Unfortunate about the new gaiter design. I have the older ones and they are still hanging in there. Only a matter of time until they fall apart tho!
Glad you found em in the larger sizes too!
I just ordered a 15 from Altra and they had mens sizes up to 16.
@@dj8374 That's good you found a size that fits you . You say size 16 is the largest they sell? That's not good news since I think I'll need a size 17 next time I buy shoes. I hiked a section of the AT last week and my toes were going into the front of my shoes. Thank goodness no blisters. Hopefully I can find a pair somewhere.
There is no other shoes in my book to hike in.✌
Same here David. The 3.0s were perfect for me and the 3.5s have been similar!
"Ranty" haha! I LOVE my Altra Olympus. More cushier than the Lone Peaks. You will have to check them out. Luckily I went from a hiking boot to the Altras a while ago so no extra moolah spent being disappointed. The guys at Zpacks let me know about the Altras a couple years ago. I asked Matt what he hiked in. Lone Peaks. I was happier with the Olympus though. Looking to get "knee socks" too, since I have tick phobia. So you ended up with the Darn Tough, correct? I like my other Darn Toughs so I will give them a try. Do you have a link for the socks? All I saw was a heavy weight type from Darn Tough. Looking for a thinner, lighter version. Thanks for the vid!
Nice! I genuinely feel like the lone peaks are the perfect for me. Never tried the olympus ones out though. Will keep an eye out for them. The knee length ones I left a link in the description for. They are actually made by sockwell. I couldn't find anything full knee length from darn tough unfortunately. The sockwell are definitely thinner than the darn toughs!
ChrisGoesOutdoors ok awesome! Thanks!
Excellent, informative video! I picked up some Oboz Sawtooth shoes at an REI garage sale and had the same experience as you. They really exacerbated my plantar fasciitis and sent me straight to the podiatrist. I plan on checking out the Altras.
Yikes! Unfortunate for both of us. I was told a nice set of insoles helps the Oboz but not worth it to mess with imo. Hope the altras work out for you jonathon!
The material of the 3.0s vs 3.5s are different on the top.
I didn’t even notice any difference. Guess I will see long term how it does / holds up!
WOW! what a nice story man hahaha you should write books :D thaks for sharing. subscribed!
haha Thanks Gabriel!
Interesting. I have been using the hoka one ones and have liked them, but have had foot swelling issues on longer multi day treks. I should try these.
45 bucks on in uber?!?!?!? I just moved to nyc, 45 dollars to get around seems oddly cheap.
I really dig the altras! Just bought two more pairs as the price is reduced with the release of the 4.0 looming.
The 45 was total round trip. Not bad in the grand scheme of things I suppose haha I got my shoes and that’s what counts!
Thanks for your video. I am actually an 11 but due to Morton's Toe (Greek Feet?) which makes my second toe larger than my first one, I use 11.5 Wide.....I add a certain cushion on the front to keep the heads of the metatarsals (more so the 1st and 2nd one) cushioned. I have tried just about everything and some work better than others. Funny thing is that cheap New Balance or Asics trailrunners work pretty well if I properly cushion them, my biggest gripe is that I can still feel some rocks (and a certain degree of pain) since there are no partial plates to prevent this. I also don't tape my feet like I used to since I use 2 pairs of very thin, moisture-wicking socks and no blisters! My one concern with Altras is what I've heard all along: The uppers don't last and are filled up with holes way before the soles show a decent amount of wear. What is your experience in this area?
Never had an issue with holes on the Altras at all. Along the whole AT the cushion or soles usually wore out LONG before the uppers did. I have seen some peoples shoes posted to the internets and always wondered like what the hell they were doing to get them so torn up. I still to this day wear the Altras I wore on Katahdin daily for work and been rocking a pair of 3.5s since early spring this year. No holes on either!
You should go for the Dirty Girl Gaiters...
More than likely will grab a pair after the Altras ones are no longer usable. The Altra ones have sufficed so far though.
@@ChrisGoesOutdoors Do you wear waterproof socks on the long trails?
Nope just the regular socks I showed in the video. The trail runners were great for drying out quickly when wet
Hey chris I have a question not about the shoes but what is a great hike 4000 maybe under I wanna go this weekend I just cant decide any suggestions??????
Tough one. The fraconia ridge is kind of "the" White mountains hike. It's amazing up there. Highly recommend getting there like 4am. It gets crowded. Like stupid crowded on weekends. I really enjoyed mt isolation recently. Thought that was a great hike. There are so many to choose from haha
Thanks I do wanna actually do a 4000 this weekend like you said so many to choose from Im Just trying to decide but thanks for the help my friend.
Glad you made this video. I've gone through 4 different shoes recently trying to find the right shoe with wide feet. I had the same issue with the new Keen. They were too thin in the sole I think.
It’s tough finding the right pair that fit perfect. From my experience with women I assume it’s much like that of trying to find the “perfect” pair of jeans 😂. Best of luck with the search Todd!
Shake down your footwear before you go, and buy enough pairs to get you through the hike. Experimenting on the trail is not a good idea!
Have you tried "Injinji" socks? I'm ordering a pair to try...mind if I use your amazon link?
If you click through any of my amazon links and then navigate to the inhibit socks I still get credit for the reference so feel free!
I personally have not used injinji socks but have heard good things. Big Mama used them when we were on the AT and she loved em!
Thanks! Ordered a pair (and a new sawyer squeeze). Going on a local o/n trip this week in CT. Cheers, great info as always!
Thanks John! Every little bit helps! I appreciate the support. Enjoy the time out this week!
Altra Lone Peak......no longer available.
they are now up to the Altra lone peak 4.5 I have heard they are sized a bit differently than the older ones. I stocked up on 3.5s when they were clearing them out for the 4.0s and have been continuing to use them
Love altras
What kind of horse was that Uber? :)
Unfortunately, the trail hiking shoe industry does not support folks with 4EEEE wide feet. Oh they say they do but they don't.
Those are some wide feet for sure. Have you ever been able to try on the altras? Even if you have to size up substantially maybe it’s worth a shot?
I see they make 4's now.
I've heard good things about the 4s but have not tried them personally. I bought 4 more pairs of the 3.5s when they were on clearance for the 4s coming out. From what I've heard they run a little closer to true to size compared to the 3 and 3.5s
Merrell vibrarum 210 miles on first pair like walking on a cloud bough second pair good for the fat feet people
Dude loves saying LITERALLY
Great story- I can imagine the importance of footwear on a through hike. But... how much money did you spend not spending $150 for the Saucony shoes that you knew worked?
The Altras sound better for you... but a case of penny wise foot pounding foolish.
Hi Chris great video, I have the 3.0 and today I found out that the 4.0 is coming in august - check the video out : ua-cam.com/video/LuUS9IU911I/v-deo.html
Looks like some pretty large changes on the 4.0s! with the upper looking like a lot more mesh and the tread looking completely different. It has me a little concerned but hopefully they work out as good or better than the 3.0s and 3.5s. Worse comes to worse maybe ill just stock up on the 3.5s when they release the 4.0s! **prays for great clearance pricing**
Tried watching, couldn't get past not being able to remember name of anything, so didn't want to risk continue watching.
TLDW
Are you single?? 😉
Happily in a relationship 😀
Awww, I tried 😆
U TALK WAY TOO MUCH....