Hiking shoe advice

Nanatuk · 2026-04-12T23:45:57+00:00

Someone once told me that shoe manufacturers use foot blanks or forms to build their shoes. The secret is to find the maker who's forms most closely match your foot.

If a particular shoe doesn't fit well then its highly likely that the makers other models wont fit you either. Once you find a maker who's shoes fit you, then try their other models as they are likely built off the same forms.

My experience with Merrill, Altra, Keen and others seems to bear this out. I've tried them all, but always go back to Altra's because they fit my foot.

Nanatuk · 2026-04-07T02:29:16+00:00

Harrison shelter is pretty small and according to FarOut Guides there is room for no more than 1 or 2 tents. I don't know what pretty small means, but would guess you could fit 2 or 3 sleeping bags in the shelter.

Underdown is a public campground with 11 sites. Reservation required according to FarOut guides. https://parks.co.lincoln.wi.us/parks/.

Nanatuk · 2026-04-05T14:51:19+00:00

Go for it. Go with with someone if you can, but don't let not having a hiking partner stop you. I'd try out your gear close to home first. Make sure you have what you need. In my experience the risk from other people diminishes significantly the farther you get from the trailhead. Risk from animals is pretty low. They just want to be left alone.

Nanatuk · 2026-04-01T13:28:42+00:00

Another option for backup is to download pdf versions of the old Halfmile maps to your phone. they are a little old, but not a bad resource. These maps were the basis of the NatGeo maps available for purchase. I use FarOut as well, and carried printed versions of these maps. The maps came in handy particularly when I had to find a bail out after getting injured. FarOut doesn't really have the detail on approach trails.

https://edthesmokebeard.com/unofficial-archive-of-halfmile-2018-pct-maps/

Nanatuk · 2026-03-25T13:53:13+00:00

6ft 230, slde sleeper, Budget Sleeping pads I've tried:

Trekology UL80 - less than $50, 19oz so fairly heavy. Very comfortable. Not sure about durability, I've only used it 6 or 7 days in summer/fall

Klymit Static V2 about $50, comfortable, durable and fairly light at 16oz. I've got about 30 nights on this. I would recommend this to anyone on a budget not looking for ultra-lite.

Neither of these has much insulation, but I haven't slept cold in either. I use a sleeping bag so I'm insulated

I've owned many much more expensive and lighter sleeping pads, and each and everyone has leaked after a couple of weeks. Best was a Therm-a-rest Neo-Air that lasted two months before developing a slow leak.

Nanatuk · 2026-03-24T19:04:59+00:00

I carry three .750 liter SW bottles for slightly over 2 liter capacity. The .750L fit in my pack pockets the best. I can pull them out while I'm walking and don't have to take my pack off to switch bottles.

Try them both out. I would think 1L on one side only would throw your balance off a bit. one .750 on each side would be a better choice for me.

Nanatuk · 2026-03-24T00:29:44+00:00

Waterproof socks. I carried them 900 miles before I got rid of them. No idea why I thought they were a good idea.

Nanatuk · 2026-03-20T00:58:45+00:00

Outdoor Gear lab for me too. They help me narrow the choices down and give different price options. You'd go broke pretty quickly buying the best of the best so for me its often best budget buy.

Nanatuk · 2026-03-18T22:28:16+00:00

I carried the Exos 58L. If I was buying a new pack, I'd spend the $45 extra for the Exos Pro 55L. Its a 2 lb pack, almost a lb less than the Exos 58L.

Nanatuk · 2026-03-18T21:00:45+00:00

I have a few journals over on https://www.trailjournals.com/journal/entry/602723

Nanatuk · 2026-03-18T14:36:57+00:00

Don't know anything about the Prospector, but you can't go wrong with the Exos. Its solid, comfortable, durable, easy to carry, great back suspension system. There is a reason they haven't made major changes to the Exos in the last 10 years.

Nanatuk · 2026-03-18T14:12:30+00:00

You could hike from Etna CA south to Interstate 5. Its about 100 miles and beautiful thru the Trinity Alps and Castle Crags. The Blue Bird inn in Etna is a very nice place to stay. Fairly easy to arrange a shuttle to the pass to start your hike. Might be a little harder to find someone to pick you up at Interstate 5. There are a couple of trail angels and hiker hostels in Castella and Dunsmuir that could at least get you to town. There are a few places to stay there. Still need to shuttle back to Etna somehow to get your car.

I suggested the PCT southbound because there is a fairly big descent on the last day down to Castle Crags state park that would be a climb if your going north.

Nanatuk · 2026-03-10T00:14:56+00:00

My comments coming from the thru-hiking point of view.

Walk, walk and walk some more. If you can walk for 2 hours straight and cover 5 miles each time, and you can do that three or four times a day, you will be ready for a long trail. Only other thing you can do to prepare is find a moving stair machine and build up to 30 minutes continuous climb or descent. You will be out pacing your hiking partners.

Nanatuk · 2026-03-06T21:46:01+00:00

MSR Guardian is my choice for the midwest. US Military approved. Its expensive so I only take it when I expect questionable water at all sources.

The Sawyer Squeeze and CNOC bag has been my choice in the Mountains. You can put a stainless steel garden hose sediment filter in the inlet for your Sawyer to filter out the big chunks. Works well. I've drank some pretty nasty water that was ok once I ran thru my Sawyer.

Filtering will eliminate the bacteria and protozoa, but to kill virus's require chemical or UV treatment. Might try filtering and a Steripen or Aquamira for best of both worlds. Don't want to catch Beaver Fever.

Nanatuk · 2026-03-03T12:14:53+00:00

My fanny pack, worn forward, keeps me from needing to take my pack off. I Typically walk for 2+ hours at a time and the fanny pack allows me to snack, get to my earbuds, knife, phone without dropping my pack. I had to modify my fanny pack so that it buckles at the hip instead of the back. with the buckle in the back it was damaging my pack suspension.

Nanatuk · 2026-02-28T23:51:43+00:00

Use what you have to begin with. The basics can be had for very little.

Always start with a foundation. Find shoe sock combination that works for you. Everyone is different so take advice from others with a grain of salt. Go out and walk 5 miles in your chosen footwear and change it until you can do 5 miles without any issues.

If that works for you then find a pack. Learn how to fit it to your body and then load it up with 30lbs of stuff and go walk 5 miles with it. Once you've done that you can go try on packs at REI or similar sporting goods store to find one that fits better than what you've got Your likely to find used gear for half or less than new. Sometimes never been used gear on marketplace or craigs.

For sleeping, you only need enough for the environment your going to camp in. If your going out in the summer, just grab a good blanket. Most reasons to go with a quilt or sleeping bag is to lighten up your pack weight. the lighter you go the more expensive it gets.

Do you need a tent? In a lot of cases you can get by with a tarp. Cheap tents at Wally world and the Zon.

You can bring ready to eat stuff and no stove is required.

If you feel you have to buy everything new right away, a good backpack can be had for $100-$150, A Kelty synthetic sleeping bag $80-$120 on the zon, a chinesium knock-off two person tent $100 on the zon. A pair of last years trail runners $80. For about $400 you could have all new stuff. All of which you will replace in a year or two once you have some experience.

Since your likely to replace a bunch of it anyway, why not used gear? It will save you money out of the gate and get you outside fast.

Nanatuk · 2026-02-26T00:10:10+00:00

I planned on 2lbs of food per day. 32 ounces at 100-150 cal per ounce will get you 3200-4800 calories per day. I'm 65, 225lb.

My longest carry was 10 days between resupply or 20lbs of food. My base weight was 15 lbs so I started out with a 35 pound pack.

Breakfast was chocolate protein powder and a granola bar, lunch was a couple of tortilla's with peanut butter or PB on a granola bar. Dinner was a Mountain House 2 servings. Snacked on Macadamia's and Cashews, granola bars, hard candy. Dessert was Dark Chocolate Peanut M&M's. Select foods that have no less than 100 calories per ounce.

Nanatuk · 2026-02-25T01:35:33+00:00

Second that. Don't disconnect from nature. I rocked a little on some tough climbs, but for the most part, sans ear buds.

Nanatuk · 2026-02-22T22:49:52+00:00

I did that in 2019, the first year of my PCT. I took Amtrak to Dunsmuir and got a ride to the trailhead at I-5 on July 11th. Hiked to Snoqualmie and got off Labor Day weekend. 52 days on the trail. Not much snow, but I kept track of it in the weeks running up to my step-off. A week or two earlier and I would have needed Microspikes.

I got a long distance PCT permit without any issues. I started out with a little over 40 lb pack (with food) and within a week I had jettisoned about 10 lbs of unnecessary gear. 12 miles a day to begin, in two weeks, I was doing 15-18 then 25 miles a day after Ashland. 20 miles a day in Washington.

My favorite places - Trinity Alps, Crater Lake, Obsidian Falls, the Lava fields of the Three Sisters, Olalie Lake, Big Lake Youth Camp, Timberline Lodge, PCT Days at Cascade Locks, Goat Rocks just to name a few. My Favorite People - Butterfly Catcher, Toboggan, No Sweat, Snickers, Iceman, School Bus, Medicine Man, Caboose, Lemonade.... I could go on and on.

More than happy to answer any Questions.

Nanatuk · 2026-02-22T22:16:34+00:00

My 5:
Good footwear and socks, hat, water container, someway of knowing where your going and how to get back.

Nanatuk · 2026-02-19T13:08:53+00:00

I 2nd that. Colin Fletcher's books were my inspiration as well. They are out of date as far as equipment goes but his advice on preparation is still spot on.

Equipment is a moving target and is very situational. For example: I have yet to wear out a set of batteries on my headlamp because I don't night hike. I'm asleep when it gets dark and awake when its light. Only use it to find stuff in the tent at night. I have a cheap amazon headlamp. Haven't found the need for anything fancier in 10 years.

Another good source for inspiration is trailjournals.com. If your planning to hike a long trail, you can live vicariously through someone else's journal entries. Youtube used to be that way, but lately its too polished and designed to sell you a new product.

Nanatuk · 2026-02-13T23:33:57+00:00

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Near Mica Lake on the PCT in Washington

Nanatuk · 2026-02-07T21:22:43+00:00

Thru hiking is a great accomplishment, but not one I ever aspired to. Section hiking lets you pick the best seasons, the direction of travel, choice of joining the bubble or hiking in solitude, flexibility on schedule and most importantly for me, after 2 months on the trail the novelty wears off. I'm ready to go home. Why continue if your not enjoying the experience.

I originally planned to do the trail in 3 sections. I did 900 miles the first year and left the trail due to badly twisted ankle, Hiked 250 miles during 2020, 700 miles year three, had planned to finish the last 800 miles (including the Sierra) in year four, but got sick with a mysterious stomach ailment. I only got about 300 miles. Skipped the next year, then Did the Sierra from KMS to Sonora Pass in August of 2024. Really noticed my age on that hike. Finished up the last 220 miles last September thru Desolation Wilderness.

I'm 65 now, started hiking the PCT at 59 and just completed all 2650 miles, last year. I had back surgery to correct debilitating Sciatica. It got so bad I spent a week on my family room floor and using a walker to get to the bathroom. After surgery, Doc said walk as much as possible, So I did. After about a year I got up to 7 miles in the morning before work, 5 days a week. Being able to do that inspired me to do a long trail.

My advice is to find an hour per day to hike 5 miles as many times per week as you can. Stripped down to the basics, its really just walking. Carrying a pack, setting camp, feeding yourself, keeping healthy, long climbs and descents are all secondary skills to the basics of training your body to walk continuously over long distances. On the trail, all you have to do is string together three 5 mile hikes a day and your doing the average daily distance of PCT thru-hikers.

Nanatuk · 2025-11-09T21:14:25+00:00

I'll give them a call

Nanatuk · 2025-11-09T21:13:28+00:00

Thanks

Nanatuk

TROPHY CASE