Isn’t the NP and all variations of SS one set of DLs only?
Hiking is incredible. Does anyone have gear recommendations? The problem I seem to run into is not getting stable footing in areas that are difficult to traverse, especially steep terrain where the soil tends to give.
https://www.rei.com/product/890608/kahtoola-microspikes-traction-system
I use these on steep loose dirt. Makes it sooooo much easier, especially going down.
What other kind of gear are you looking for?
2 Likes
I like trail running shoes with just enough cushioning to prevent bruising from rocks/roots and I avoid any waterproof membrane but instead look for mesh that will dry fast. (Membranes are good until they soak through, and then they stay wet for days. I walk straight into streams/rivers with mesh shoes and they are dry 30 walking minutes later.)
I used to think hiking boots were better and gave more stable footing. But the problem is that they are heavy and inflexible and take away from nimble and precise foot placement. I never wear boots now unless temps are below freezing and I expect to be out for days. (I’ll use a liner sock/goretext sock/insulated sock layered in a trail runner sized about 1 size larger than my normal size right into December in the mountains in NH, with microspikes for packed snow/ice, but only for day hikes. Multi day in freezing temps you need to go to boots to prevent risk of freezing off toes.)
1 Like
Get trekking poles.
2 Likes
If you weigh more like me those things kill your feet climbing over rocks and stuff. I tend to go with like lighter hiking boots that have some bend but still provide some protection from getting pinched in between rocks. I only break out the serious hiking boots in the snow.
These are good too. But I find when I rely on them going down I actually put more impact on my feet. Without them I’m forced to use more of my strength and try to glide down.
Going up they’re fine but my point is to get exercise not go fast, so I usually leave them in the car. I tend to use save them for when I need a boost to keep up with a faster group.
I guess there are arguments that can be made for multiple way of doing things, but I’ll just say when I stopped wearing boots I stopped doing things like pinching my feet between rocks. That’s exactly what I mean by precise and nimble foot placements. Harder to do with boots imo.
Even at 225 pounds (5’11") there was a period of time when I wore so called barefoot shoes (model below) on multiple 75 to 100 mile hikes in New England, which is very rough and rocky terrain.
I now wear something slightly beefier, because I do get some bruising with these at times. If I could ever get back to like 180 pounds or less, I would go right back to those things.
Can you show me something beefier? I tend to be on a lot more dirt and mud embankments than rock though. Most of my hikes are around lakes and rivers and I am by no means a rock scaler.
I usually only take them when I need them to pull double duty for holding up my shelter. But I think poles are “polarizing” in that people either usually love them or hate them.
If you do buy poles, this is one piece of gear where it’s worth spending good money for light weight but strong poles. I like collapsing poles so I can strap them to a pack when not using, but others will make good arguments for one piece poles. The best argument being the collapsing mechanism can’t fail since they don’t have one.
I wear something like that for hiking trails around town.
But for like Mt. Baldy I use something like these.
https://www.amazon.com/Vasque-Mens-Breeze-Gore-Tex-Hiking/dp/B001DNE0VS
3 Likes
Something like this:
Just Google “trail running shoes” or “Approach shoes” and there will be lots of hits.
1 Like
I know poles are harder on my feet and knees going down. Because I get lazy and rely on them to stop my momentum instead of using my muscles to glide down. W/o poles I’m forced not to plop down, since I risk losing traction.
They do give you a bit of an upper body workout going up. And if you’re into going faster they definitely help. (Unless you’re some serious trail runner of course)
Yeah I used boots like that for a long time before I completely gave them up. I wouldn’t ever go back, but everybody is a little different and has different use cases and different circumstances (I like to run flat sections of trail, for example) so if you found something that works perfect for you, I’m not going to tell you you’re wrong.
Boots are great. I’m off on a 9-mile hike right now, as it happens.
I think unless you are carrying a pack and backpacking in with gear or climbing or scrambling rocks most people use trail runners or equivalent mostly. In CO the trails are well worn until you are climbing or doing higher class hikes.
1 Like
Yeah everyone is different. You’re some kind of rockclimber and I’m just a fatty. ;)
Also I like to be able to stumble along and daydream and not worry so much about my foot placement.
Well I’m a fatty now too, that used to climb. I think I weigh more than you at the moment, and I believe I’m shorter.
Not yet. I’m 245 6’1.
I was hiking baldy at 280 a couple of years ago. That’s a good leg workout.
5’11" and 256 last I checked. 
The last couple of years have been… Difficult.
1 Like