changing feet size

[cburnett]

hello all.

I've read about the mysterious foot expansion thru hikers experience. Would anyone like to suggest a time line that this happens over? In other words. Should I start the trail with should 1/2 size bigger, or wait until I'm busting out of my current runners?

CAsey

caseyonpct.blogspot.com

[cburnett]

from PCT-L

Casey,



How fast your feet change will depend on your own physiology and the conditions you hike in. Some hiker’s feet don’t change at all. Others change and swell on day one. How much you weigh, how much you’re carrying, and how conditioned your feet are to repetitive walking all come into play. Heat often makes feet swell, increasing your chances of having this happen. I believe the experts recommend that you start with larger shoes, but I think they recommend a full size larger. Personally, I hike in and swear by Chacos which can be adjusted for width – I’m not sure what my feet might do, and I don’t want to take any chances.



One thing is certain – if your shoes are not large enough, your feet will suffer. We’re at mile 454, and see a whole lot of traumatized and swollen feet.



L-Rod

[cburnett]

from pct-l

In 2005 I had the thrill of a lifetime, starting SOBO from Manning Park. I was just so excited to be on the trail. Five days and 100 miles later my foot was killing me. Why? I had tied them too tight. Monty is absolutely correct. They should be like a slipper. If you can't slide them on and off of your feet, then you have them tied too tight. They were okay for 15 miles, but I noticed pushing to 20 mile days caused my foot to swell. Not that doing 20 milers was bad, but I just had the shoes too tight. You also need the extra length so your toes don't crash into the end of the shoe. My problem was that I was trying to save up all of my vacation days so I never noticed this on everyday hikes.Capt Bivy

[cburnett]

from PCT-L

> Not familiar with the term 'marathoner's knot'. However, to provide as> much toe box room as a particular shoe affords and still avoid heel> rubbing against heel counter, a knot in the lace can be used: Thread the> lace ends loosely up through the first few crossings (typically two) and> loosely through the holes above that crossing, then tie a firm square> knot. Above the square knot, lace remainder snugly and tie normally> at top. The square knot prevents lower part of lace from being tensioned,> thus preventing the toe box and toes from being compressed. For extended> descents, cinching lace ends very firmly above the square knot can cinch> top of the shoe down against the foot bridge and keep foot from sliding> forward and pressing toes against front of shoe.> This approach isn't applicable on a an unmodified Salomon shoe because of> it's slick lace points and slick single tug lace with cord lock.>> My street shoe size is also 10.5, D width. I wore size 12, 4E width shoes> through Section D and had no blisters. Next pair size 12 D worn to> Tuolumne, many toe blisters. Next pair size 13 D worn to Castle Crags> with fewer toe blisters. Next pair size 13 D worn to White Pass,> continuing toe blisters. Final pair Montrail Hardrock 13 'wide' worn to> Manning Park. Wish I'd found Montrail Hardrocks sooner! Would have> gotten 4E instead of 'wide', if that had been an option. It seems my feet> are more prone to blistering on toes than elsewhere and that excess width> is as important as oversize for me.>> geezer

[cburnett]

from PCT-L

"Should I start the trail with should 1/2 size bigger,>>> or wait until I'm busting out of my current runners?"

My answer is No.>>>>>> Bigger shoes is right.................. but even>>> bigger.>>> I wear shoes 2 sizes bigger and big enough they ring>>> like a bell when I shake them.

Scott Herriott wrote

I completely agree. In fact, I wear size 13 on-trail,>>> 10.5 in civilian life. Before I did this I was very>>> prone to blistering, afterwards, hardly any. Make>>> sure>>> to tie your shoe in what's referred to, I think, a>>> "marathoner's knot". Hard to describe...anyone wannahelp out with that?

[cburnett]

from PCT-L

Good morning, All, I totally agree with Geezer. I also wear 10.5 D in a street shoe, but forthe trail I wear 12 or 12.5 4E. That didn't change while I was hiking, butI had booked quite a few training miles so the early-trip foot spread was inthe past. I usually keep the laces quite loose, and rarely untie them forremoval. On long downhill trails I sometimes tighten the laces to preventjamming my toes foreword, but with a wide toe-box the laces can be tighterand still not squeeze my forefoot. Just as Geezer describes, I started using a stop-knot about half way up thelace pattern back in the days when I worked for the USFS. I was wearing thetypical lace-to-the-toe boots, which are touted to be great because the toelacing could be left loose while the ankle and top lacing were snug. Thatworks great .... for approximately 10 steps .... after which the lacetension equalizes and the toe becomes too tight while the ankle becomes tooloose. I put a stop-knot in the middle to prevent such silliness. The onlything I did differently was to us something like a surgeon's knot, except Idid a double turn on the second half of the knot as well as the first half.That knot holds well, and is much more easily untied when necessary. Steel-Eye

[cburnett]

When to get them bigger?Using my normal size one year in a grear, broken in shoe my feet were destroyed by the 45 mile marker. They never recovered the whole season. 5 months of pain and lots of time off the trail. Expanding started immediately. The standard is one to one and a half sizes too big, but your mileage may vary. Try this link "Fixing Your Feet" http://vonhof.typepad.com/fixingyourfeet/ John is one of us. See you on the trail Monty

[cburnett]

from Pct-l

I am a 5'9" female and I wear women's size ten shoes, but I hike in Men's New Balance 10 1/2 4E shoes. I wear one pair of synthetic socks. I never get any blisters. I put a good quality arch support in the shoe to take up some of the volume, since men's shoes are higher volume than women's. But I need all the extra length and width the big shoes give me.

Marion

[Ender]

My feet never grew. Everyone's feet are different. Some grown, some don't. No way to really predict. Just make sure that the boots you start in are comfortable on you... over time if your feet do grow larger, the boots will stretch with them to a point. It's when you buy a second pair of boots before the hike, and try to switch to them that it becomes a problem. Whenever you need new boots, just buy them then. Worst case, you have to take a day off the trail to hitch to a town that sells shoes. No big deal.

And please don't post my response over on the PCT-L list. I only want my responses being used where I put them. Thanks! :cool:

[Palmer]

I can't afford to have my feet expand too much. I'm already wearing size 15 Merrells. Do any common brands of hiking shoes go bigger?

[Ender]

Yowza... dunno of any hiking brands that go much larger than size 15. You'd probably have to look at running/athletic shoes for the really large sizes and go the trail runner route.

Another option is to hike in sandals. A guy I hiked with in 2003, One Breath, switched to his Teva's while hiking and never went back. Since they usually fit a bit big anyway, and are open, you don't really have to worry about your feet growing while hiking.

Of course, you're hosed when you finish hiking and you have to find new work shoes, but that's for another forum.