Minimalist Footware for the PCT

If I were to get a pair of minimalist shoes for the PCT, my first recommendation would be a huarache-type sandal, such as the Leadville Luna Sandal. This sandal design has a long and illustrious history and has become popular since the publication of Christopher McDougall's bestseller Born To Run.

The materials used in the Luna Sandal are top-quality, and the sandals should be durable enough for many hundreds of miles. Walking in them will require a somewhat different stride that you are used to in trail runners. There will be less of a heel strike and your foot placement will not be so far in front of you. There will be other adjustments to get used to, and some stabilizing muscles may become sore.

Here's another variant on the huarache style: the Unshoe.

The advantages of such a shoe on the PCT, or parts of the PCT, are:

• very light weight
• almost negligible drying time (great for stream crossings)
• better ventilation for hot conditions (blister prevention)

I hope to get a pair of these before my summer thru-hike in Europe and try them out a bit.

Inov-8 Trail Shoes for the PCT

I'm a big fan of Inov-8 trail running/walking shoes. I wore 315s on my Colorado hike last year and was pleased with them. I've also hiked in 320s (good) and have held models 295, 270, 212, and 312 in my hands. 

Best models for the PCT

A lot depends on the person, but I think I need thicker midsoles on my shoes for long-distance walking. Inov-8s have 3 degrees of midsole cushioning. Here are the models with the greatest amount of cushioning that are appropriate for the PCT (i.e. trail runners, but with no gore-tex, which impedes breathability and slows drying):

• Roclite 305 
• Roclite 320 
• F-lite 335

Each of these models generally costs $90-100, unless you find a great sale (more on that later). In order of likely breathability: 335 (most breathable), 305, 320 (still dries pretty quick). Reverse that order for durability of uppers (important for rocky sections of trail)

Here are some other appropriate models with a bit less cushioning than the above:

• Roclite 295
• F-lite 300
• Roclite 315

These all cost about the same, too. (note to self:  runningwarehouse.com  stocks 3 of these 6 models - 295, 305, 315 - in my size at prices between $70 and $75.)

Finding deals on Inov-8 shoes

Here are some websites to follow. You should never have to pay full price for Inov-8 shoes!

• shopping.com, amazon.com, spadout.com - good places to start, because they track prices in many shops (but not all)
• runningwarehouse.com - 295 and 315 usually cost around $70, with no sales tax and free delivery (note to self: if you order by phone - 1-800-606-9598 ("Terra") - they can ship to general delivery addresses, but they "assume no liability for the package". So I can wait till I get on the trail to order new shoes, and see whether I'll need size 13 or 14.)
• eBay.com - you never know what will be selling
• backcountry.com and backcountryoutlet.com - selection varies from week to week; can have some awesome deals; free shipping over $50
• zappos.com - small discounts; has large selection of models
• zombierunner.com - occasional sales; has large selection of models
• runbargains.com - occasional discounts
• gearzone.com - occasional deals; free shipping over $100

Sizing of Inov-8 shoes

Almost everyone recommends going up half a size compared to your other shoes. Also, most people's shoe size increases when hiking in the desert and/or hiking for more than a week at a time. For me, that means wearing size 13, possibly 14 for long-distance hiking. Since I don't know how much my feet will expand (they didn't expand as much over a month in Colorado as people said they would), I'll try to put off buying new pairs of shoes till I'm a month or so into the trail. 

Footwear for the PCT

As an ultralight backpacker, I've come to prefer lightweight trail runners for just about any kind of hiking. I never get blisters anymore, and a quickly drying shoe is very important for lengthy treks with a high chance of rain or marshy ground. Even trail runners can become putrid, too, though, if they're continually wet for days on end. 

My favorite brand these days is Inov-8, which I will focus on in my next post. The price of those shoes - and brands like New Balance, The North Face, Salomon, etc. - can really add up over a multi-month trek, though, and I'm considering experimenting with cheap, no-name running shoes from K-Mart or Walmart. In fact, I'll probably buy myself a pair that seems decent (good cushioning, lightweight, highly breathable, comfortable) and start the hike in them, shipping myself my Inov-8s to a resupply point 40 to 100 miles up the trail when I'll begin climbing into the higher mountains of Southern California. At that point I will know if the cheap shoes are any good and can mail them to myself further up the trail. If $20 shoes will do the trick, then I might be able to save myself $150 or more during the hike. 

ADDED LATER: I looked at shoes at both K-Mart and Walmart and was not impressed. I only found possibly one model (at K-Mart) that might be breathable enough for hiking. In general, the shoes have too much padding around the foot, which will lead to excessive sweating.

Sierra Nevada

During this section, many people recommend a tougher boot with a stiffer sole and covered ankles. When postholing, or slogging through snow with a crusty top that you keep breaking through, one's ankles and shins can get bruised and cut up in trail runners. At the moment I expect to keep hiking on in a fresh pair of Inov-8 trail runners, but with gaiters covering my ankles and [partially] protecting them from harm. I'll probably have my wind pants on, too, which will protect my legs [somewhat] from abrasion. I'll be following snow reports, though, and could opt for something more protective at the last minute. Also, I will try to get out early to be walking on harder snow (I have a good traction device - the Kahtoola microspikes).