[pct-l 40] Re: it used to be just Altra Lone Peak

[Town Food]

To answer "what the young and hip long-distance hikers are wearing these 
days", Halfway Anywhere has been surveying thru-hikers at the end of 
each year.  Here's his most recent survey: 
https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/pacific-crest-trail/pct-gear-guide-2022/

His 2022 survey found that Lone Peak is still the most common shoe, 
followed by Olympus, then the Hoka Speedgoat.  But, those weren't rated 
very highly by their owners; the highest-rated were Brooks Cascadia, 
Merrell Moab Ventilator, and Hoka Stinson.

As for myself, I've switched from Lone Peak to Olympus, because I liked 
the combination of Lone Peak plus Injinji toe socks, but wanted more 
padding.  I see in the survey that toe socks are no longer popular, and 
I think that might at least partly explain the low ratings of Altras: 
The large toe box, when used without toe socks, may just be too large 
for most feet.

Although the Cascadias are also more than 5 ounces lighter than 
Olympuses, which is certainly nothing to sneeze at.  Maybe I should give 
them a try.

As for aftermarket insoles, I used them with my Lone Peaks on my 
thru-hike in 2016.  On the rockier parts of the trail, mainly high 
sierras and Oregon lava fields, my feet got pretty beaten up and 
bruised, even with hefty insoles.  Much of my day was spent staring at 
the trail, choosing the least-sharp places to step.  I can't imagine 
doing those sections with the insubstantial factory insoles.

  -=Town Food

On 6/21/23 07:13, Scott Williams wrote:
> After years, and many miles in Lone Peaks, I’ve had to switch to Brooks 
> Cascadias for a bit more heal padding.  I’d developed a heal spur in one 
> foot, and couldn’t do the zero drop anymore.  It didn’t have anything to 
> do with the Lone Peaks, just getting old and developing bone spurs. 
> Anyway, for both the Altras and the Cascadias, I use the custom molded 
> insoles from Road Runner.  They work with both and are the most 
> comfortable insole I’ve ever used.
> 
> As to which Lone Peaks the young hikers are using; all the young 
> distance hikers I know are still using the low top, non water repellant 
> versions.  Takes too long to dry out the Gortex versions, and they are 
> too sweaty when it’s hot.
> 
> Comin at ya from the Camino Del Norte right now and this old geezer will 
> be jumping from Spain to the Northern CA section of the PCT next month.  
> Starting from Georgi Heitman’s.
> 
> Good luck figuring this out.  And happy hiking!
> 
> Shroomer
> 
> On Wed, Jun 21, 2023 at 2:57 PM David Hough reading PCT-L 
> <pctl at oakapple.net <mailto:pctl at oakapple.net>> wrote:
> 
> 
>     A few years ago almost all long-distance hikers wore Altra Lone Peaks,
>     or so it seemed.
> 
>     I tried but soon discovered I needed the extra padding in Altra Olympus.
>     Now having worn out yet another pair when sharp rocks punctured the
>     middle
>     of the heel, I looked in rei.com <http://rei.com> and found that
>     Lone Peak and Olympus now
>     come in regular and all-weather trail running shoes, and low and high
>     hiking boots.    The boots are heavier and presumably longer lasting.
> 
>     Since I haven't been to any long-distance hiker events since covid,
>     I wonder
>     what the young and hip long-distance hikers are wearing these days.
>     The regular Olympus have been working well for me, EXCEPT for that
>     Achilles
>     heel problem.
> 
>     Before I switched from ASICS to Altra, I used to buy after-market
>     insoles.
>     Does anybody do that any more?    I wonder if those would mess up the
>     zero-drop Altra design goal.
> 
>     David Hough
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