This blog is designed to exchange ideas about how to dramatically cut your gear weight to make tramping (hiking) trips less strenuous, but still remain safe and sensible. Subscribe, make comments, ask for advice, or share your lightweight gear experiences with our community. The header photo features me on McKellar Saddle. The pack is the 45Lt Zpacks Arc Blast, hiking poles Helinox FL120, Dirty Girl gaiters, Spalms sunsleeves and Altra Lone Peak shoes
Showing posts with label hiking shoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hiking shoes. Show all posts
9 Jan 2016
In Field Emergency Repairs
Evidence that carrying a needle and dental floss comes in handy. I tripped and got my shoe caught on a razor sharp piece of rock (lucky it wasn't the leg!). May not look 'seamstress' quality, but it worked really well.
1 Jul 2012
Camp Shoes
Most lightweight American hikers do not carry "camp" shoes. In NZ we have a very good hut system and if I am not going to be staying in huts, I will probably not bother about camp shoes. This cuts 177grams off my weight (Teva Jandles as pictured). I would still take a second pair of socks.
However, it's bliss to roll into a hut late in the afternoon and shed the hiking shoes and wet socks and slip into something dry and warm. Over the years I have used Injinji toe socks coupled with Teva Jandles (thongs). The big draw back has been the 5 toes. After a big day, particularly if we have been doing a lot of river bashing, it's hard to get 5 damp toes into the sock. Enter Hideo, my Japanese tramping friend. He uses toe socks that isolate only the big toe but not the rest. Bingo, problem solved.
Note: This set up is not good if you have to go outside in wet grass or boulder hop near a river when bathing. - socks become soaked, but an ideal and comfortable solution around the hut.
The socks are about 70% merino and weigh 79grams - checkout Defeet.com
However, it's bliss to roll into a hut late in the afternoon and shed the hiking shoes and wet socks and slip into something dry and warm. Over the years I have used Injinji toe socks coupled with Teva Jandles (thongs). The big draw back has been the 5 toes. After a big day, particularly if we have been doing a lot of river bashing, it's hard to get 5 damp toes into the sock. Enter Hideo, my Japanese tramping friend. He uses toe socks that isolate only the big toe but not the rest. Bingo, problem solved.
Note: This set up is not good if you have to go outside in wet grass or boulder hop near a river when bathing. - socks become soaked, but an ideal and comfortable solution around the hut.
The socks are about 70% merino and weigh 79grams - checkout Defeet.com
18 Mar 2012
Inov8 Roclite 315
As you all know, I am a fan of Inov8 shoes. For those of you who hike in trail runners, especially in NZ, they wear out quick. I get about 650 plus Ks out of mine. I will say I beat them up a lot on scree slopes.
A feature of my shoe break-downs are the inside heels. I seem to wear the inner lining around the mid heel area that exposes the plastic heel support. This then rubs to cause blisters. My wonderful Indian boot maker fixes this with sewing in a suede sleeve around the inner heal.
Before my Mt Taranaki climb a couple of weeks ago I need to invest in new shoes as my boot-maker was away for a month and a second pair would not go a miss. I have had great success with the Roclite 295s, but this time went for the more robust 315s. The team at Inov8 we great at advising me. They also give you a 20% discount if you are a returning purchaser.
This is my third pair of Inov8s. The 315s are stiffer and come with an added covering of hard wearing mesh on the uppers (see photos). The Inov8 guys told me they won't drain as fast as the 295s but this is a small compromise given added toughness.
I love the soles on the Roclites - for NZ conditions they offer great grip. The 295s are better on smooth rocks as the rubber compound is more "sticky". The high wrap-around "mudguards" on the 315s offer better protection to the outer foot than the 295s and also stop the breakdown of the upper where the shoe flexes off the base of the little toe margin. All and all a great shoe!
A feature of my shoe break-downs are the inside heels. I seem to wear the inner lining around the mid heel area that exposes the plastic heel support. This then rubs to cause blisters. My wonderful Indian boot maker fixes this with sewing in a suede sleeve around the inner heal.
Before my Mt Taranaki climb a couple of weeks ago I need to invest in new shoes as my boot-maker was away for a month and a second pair would not go a miss. I have had great success with the Roclite 295s, but this time went for the more robust 315s. The team at Inov8 we great at advising me. They also give you a 20% discount if you are a returning purchaser.
This is my third pair of Inov8s. The 315s are stiffer and come with an added covering of hard wearing mesh on the uppers (see photos). The Inov8 guys told me they won't drain as fast as the 295s but this is a small compromise given added toughness.
I love the soles on the Roclites - for NZ conditions they offer great grip. The 295s are better on smooth rocks as the rubber compound is more "sticky". The high wrap-around "mudguards" on the 315s offer better protection to the outer foot than the 295s and also stop the breakdown of the upper where the shoe flexes off the base of the little toe margin. All and all a great shoe!
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| Note high mudguards |
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| Note additional mesh cover |
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| Great grip power |
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