A ranger in the Smokies told me to skip the heavy boots on the AT

Back in May I was gearing up for a 3 day section hike near Clingmans Dome. A ranger at the visitors center said most folks wear way too heavy boots and I'd be better off in trail runners. I was skeptical because I always wear my old Merrells but I tried it with some cheap Salomons. Honestly my feet felt way less beat up after 30 miles and I didn't twist an ankle once. Has anyone else switched from boots after getting a tip like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

flores.tessa7d agoMost Upvoted

Wait, wait wait. A ranger at Clingmans Dome told you to ditch heavy boots? I've been hiking those trails for years and every ranger I've met was always pushing the whole "ankle support" thing. That's wild. My feet are killing me just thinking about it. I did a 20 mile day near Newfound Gap in my old Asolos last fall and I could barely walk the next morning. Maybe I should have listened to that ranger too.

uma3067d ago

20 miles in Asolos? Man, that sounds like a punishment. I did 12 miles in my old Keens last spring and my feet were screaming the whole way. I swapped to trail runners a couple years ago and it made a huge difference for me. But honestly, is a little foot pain really that big of a deal? You walk it off in a day or two.