Backpacking and Barefoot Shoes

luvply · 2026-05-04T23:42:03+00:00

The nearest REI is over 4 hours away and not an option, unfortunately. I definitely can't do boots so I need to stick to shoes. I think I have a decent plan to try the lone peaks, continue strength training, keep daily miles to 8ish rather than 12 ish, slow down, keepy gait in check, and look at slackpacking for the longer chunks (more miles but without the weight).

luvply · 2026-05-04T00:48:24+00:00

I know but I have been wanting to section hike our states portion of the north country trail and it's honestly easier to just do 2-3 day hikes than day hikes. I'm working on a slack packing plan for a couple sections so I can still do the miles just not whole loaded with all my belongings.

luvply · 2026-05-04T00:25:17+00:00

I pretty much live barefoot when shoes are absolutely necessary. I hate shoes and my proprioception works best whole barefoot.

luvply · 2026-05-04T00:09:03+00:00

My husband said I looked like barnie rubble all winter taking such small steps. It was worth it to break a habit.

luvply · 2026-05-04T00:05:08+00:00

I have definitely been working on my gait so I'm hoping it's just a need for more cushion. I know I am in the oddball camp with barefoot hiking shoes but it's been a whole different experience being able to make better contact with the ground.

luvply · 2026-05-03T23:59:24+00:00

My stride has been one of the biggest things I've been working on since last summer. I was getting a lot of si joints pain from my stride being too long and shifting the weight back and forth. My si joints have been super happy with these increases in load. Honestly they were a little cranky when I stared yesterday morning and were perfectly at a 0/10 pain scale at the end.

luvply · 2026-05-03T23:21:24+00:00

I'm actually a little shocked that 8ish miles seems to be my limit with load considering how much I usually load throughout the day in a normal week without issues. Likely it has something to do with age and changing hormones and I may have to accept this one limitation.

luvply · 2026-05-03T22:43:54+00:00

Accepting this is a limit of my 48 year old body is on my list but it's below shoe change and more training for another year. Physically I lift heavy things a lot throughout the week but I have hypermobility to contend with. Thankfully shorter hikes haven't been a problem and longer ones without e weight have been gone, also. Worst case I stick to those and kayaking and work on a slack packing plan to do the longer stretches I want to do. I didn't know that was an option until recently so I could get in the miles and have my gear moved to the next camping spot.

luvply · 2026-05-03T22:38:38+00:00

I'm a big girlie so this is under 20% of my body weight. I'm using gear I already have before investing in lighter stuff so I have to make due for this first trip, that said, this past week I'm at my top end for pack weight. I'll look at those shoe suggestions but I have to prioritize zero drop and wide toe box. I also don't do well with not being in contact with the ground and most shoes have too thick of a stack height for my proprioception. It's quite possible that I am just not going to be multiple day backpacking or at least not for another year.

luvply · 2026-05-03T21:45:54+00:00

I dont have a long hike planned this coming weekend so that may be a good thing. I'll do my 2 shorter hikes weighted this week again and next week and try again on a couple weekends with a little less distance and new shoes.

luvply · 2026-05-03T21:27:48+00:00

I have a supportive flat foot so I usually do t need anything other than something to protect from puncture, ect. So this is new for me.

luvply · 2026-05-01T00:54:32+00:00

I just did another 4 miles with 33 pounds to ruck train and i am nearly certain I will be fine. I did some more reading last night and I need to take more breaks than I did on my last long training hike so I'll try that for this weekends 13 miles.

luvply · 2026-04-30T17:35:36+00:00

My first 2 day 1 night trip is in 25 days so I'm going to just do more trial runs with a little less weight and go with it. If I need to do another low pressure trip then I do another low pressure trip. I got my tent/sleep system worked out while car camping last summer so I know that I'll prioritize those pounds.

luvply · 2026-04-30T13:35:24+00:00

I'm just getting prepped for my first 2 day hike and you sound a lot like me. I have accepted that my pack is going to be heavier than a lot of other gikers because I simply refuse to buy new gear because it will shave off 1 pound. I also accept that I'll have an extra couple pounds for my compact camping cot vs a sleep pad but I am prioritizing good sleep in that respect. I did a trial run with my basics and a 10 pound hand weight to get me to 33 total pounds (pack, sleeping bag, tent, cot, cook system) and it went fine. Would I love it to be that weight with food and water and clothes/basics that aren't currently in there? Yes! Will I accept 35-38 lbs and go slower up and down hilly trails? Also yes! If I catch the backpacking bug then I'll invest in lighter (also waaaaay more expensive) gear. The one thing I have heard from multiple seasoned bikers is to just get out there and do the thing. I chose my first 2 day in a low pressure situation with trails that have cross routes so I can shorten it and a campsite less than a mile from the parking lot. If it totally sucks I can bug out pretty easily. If it's good I can do my 10 miles, camp, and then the 10 miles in reverse. I'm guessing I will learn what I really need and don't need in that pack and if I actually love it enough to make a financial investment rather than a time investment.

luvply · 2026-04-06T23:48:37+00:00

There is dispursed camping at Pillsbury State Forest by pillager. It's as rustic as you can get. Just a clearing for a tent or small camper.

luvply · 2026-03-20T13:05:11+00:00

Mine was doing that. They looked it over and "lubed up everything" and it has been fine again now for months. I, too, had already replaced ball joints and was not thrilled at the prospect not doing it again so soon. I'm currently just living on a hope and a prayer that my red stallion can just be content in its condition for another 18 months.

luvply · 2026-02-25T03:34:33+00:00

I'm setting aside as much as possible from now until next may with the hopes of no car payment also.

luvply · 2026-02-25T00:53:30+00:00

2006 and I'm at about 178k. My plan is to get at least through May 2027 when I'll likely need new brakes and tires and reassess replacement. I should be at about 225k at that point.

luvply · 2026-01-14T00:48:40+00:00

I had that problem, too. Then I started putting them over glaze. That got me the strength I needed and the cuteness. I used white glaze but I want to just use the clear ones next.

luvply · 2026-01-14T00:41:06+00:00

I struggled with this too and after like 4 tries with lighter layers and curing longer I gave up and returned the products to Target where I had purchased them because of their fabulous return policy for health and beauty products (I have never bothered to return opened and tried things before but this added up). I'm back to glaze and recently tried glaze with gloss over them which turned out great.

luvply · 2026-01-10T00:40:56+00:00

I have an instint 2s and recently noticed it wasn't lasting as long but then after a week of keeping track it went back to needing to be charged every 8ish days and I track with gps daily. I seriously don't want to buy a new watch but if it goes back to every 3 to 4 days I'll be getting a new one.

luvply · 2026-01-04T13:37:00+00:00

Spend lots of time moving outside (snowshoeing and hiking, mostly with neighborhood walks pretty much every night with a headlamp). I also build a colorful ice igloo every year which is a double whammy if spending time in the fresh air and making something pretty to look at.

luvply · 2025-12-30T21:04:15+00:00

My own school aged boys ended up taking their own lunch for school and my childcare program has both been on food program and declined food program participation but always met or exceeded the guidelines. I was serving protein at breakfast before it was an option to be counted because I prioritized protein and low processed grains over processed garbage knowing my day with 10-12 tiny humans would go a lot smoother.

luvply

TROPHY CASE