#2388835 - 08/24/08 08:49 AM
Low Hikers And Ankle Stability...
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Brad
Campfire 'Bwana
Registered: 10/31/00
Posts: 10955
Loc: Bozeman, MT USA
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OK, I'm no fan of low hikers for "real" backpacking. Here's a real-world example of the "why."
Weekend before last, myself, my wife, son, and wife's girlfriend went for a fifteen mile round-trip BP. It's a fairly stout hike in to an alpine lake with a total elevation gain going in of around 3,500' up and over a 9,500' pass. My wife lately has gotten fixated on using low hikers because her girlfriend uses them. I've objected because I think she has much more lightly built ankles than her friend, and I frankly don't think, for anyone, low hikers offer enough support when carrying a pack. Well 23 years of marriage has taught me to pick my battles so I said little, in spite of the fact she has excellent leather boots that fit her perfectly collecting dust in the garage! Well, coming out she twisted her ankle. Not badly mind you, but enough that two weeks later it's still slightly swollen and will probably preclude her from BPing next weekend.
There's a REASON why some old school stuff is still right...
My better half hiking out of the lake (note low hikers):
_________________________
"In all perfectly beautiful objects there is found the opposition of one part to another and a reciprocal balance"- John Ruskin
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#2388928 - 08/24/08 09:56 AM
Re: Low Hikers And Ankle Stability...
[Re: Brad]
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1akhunter
Campfire Outfitter
Registered: 09/27/03
Posts: 9784
Loc: Fairbanks, Alaska a piece down...
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some lessons have to be learned the hard way.
with a really super light pack or no pack at all, and not hitting the nasty stuff in climbs, low ones would probably serve.
but those of us that do the other type hopefully know, there's a reason to have good boots.
truly hate it for the missus Brad, I love the fact that the kids mom loves to hike and climb.
all a guy can do is possibly state beforehand "honey I worry about you not having enough support by wearing those low hikers"
and then if something happens "honey I blame myself, I should have been more adamant that you wear proper footwear, I know better"
after all they gots half our money and all our happiness (durn gurls)
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"This ain't dress rehearsal....it's the life you get to live, make it a good one."
some folks that can't make a compelling argument, enjoy pointing out typos, errors of grammar and spelling oversights. I add as many as possible to accomodate.
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#2388944 - 08/24/08 10:03 AM
Re: Low Hikers And Ankle Stability...
[Re: 1akhunter]
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kenaiking
Campfire Regular
Registered: 11/08/04
Posts: 1258
Loc: Officially Bozeman
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I used to do that. Right up untill I fell into a nice thick alder gully sheep hunting. No more for me.
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"It's my main love for all things Ackley. Plus the dude was cool before cool was cool."
SH08
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#2388997 - 08/24/08 10:38 AM
Re: Low Hikers And Ankle Stability...
[Re: kenaiking]
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varmintsinc
Campfire Ranger
Registered: 06/25/04
Posts: 2308
Loc: East Bay, California
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I gave up on most "hunting boots" let alone low profile hikers unless its just a casual walk. Count your blessings that she loves to go and that her girlfriends influence only push her shoe choices...
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Brag about how close you got not how far you shot.
Hunt hard, kill clean, waste nothing and offer no apologies.
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#2389152 - 08/24/08 11:51 AM
Re: Low Hikers And Ankle Stability...
[Re: Brad]
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340boy
Campfire Tracker
Registered: 10/11/06
Posts: 5817
Loc: Twin Falls, Idaho
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I hope you have a good BP trip all the same, Brad.
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Tim
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#2389154 - 08/24/08 11:53 AM
Re: Low Hikers And Ankle Stability...
[Re: Brad]
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SamOlson
Campfire Guide
Registered: 02/01/06
Posts: 4572
Loc: Montucky
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ah, the 70's 
Hook it up Brad...grin
Seriously, hope your wife heals up fine.
I'm no backpacker but it seems like the low tops would also allow more crap to get in your socks?
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Loaded
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#2389159 - 08/24/08 11:57 AM
Re: Low Hikers And Ankle Stability...
[Re: Brad]
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RickBin
Campfire Outfitter
Registered: 06/10/00
Posts: 7526
Loc: Los Angeles, California
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Brad:
I've been wearing one of these since 1997:
Before I discovered these things, I rolled my right ankle so many times, I can name the constellations I see when it happens! With this baby, I simply cannot roll it. Impossible.
They go in all my lightweight boots.
The fact that they don't fit in anything larger than hiker height means I often end up wearing much more robust boots than necessary for stuff like quail hunting. And I can't skimp on boots. I recently bought a really nice pair of Asolos that I thought had enough heel width to keep me from rolling. Neg.
The only off-the-shelf boots that I can rely on so far are Meindls. If I'm not in Meindls, I'm wearing an Activ Ankle in the field.
$30 bucks!
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#2389168 - 08/24/08 12:01 PM
Re: Low Hikers And Ankle Stability...
[Re: RickBin]
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340boy
Campfire Tracker
Registered: 10/11/06
Posts: 5817
Loc: Twin Falls, Idaho
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Now those look interesting!
One of those "why didn't I think of that?" sort of deals...
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Tim
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#2389172 - 08/24/08 12:04 PM
Re: Low Hikers And Ankle Stability...
[Re: 340boy]
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RickBin
Campfire Outfitter
Registered: 06/10/00
Posts: 7526
Loc: Los Angeles, California
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Tim:
If your ankles roll, these things are so sweet, you'll not believe it.
It takes about a week for them to kinda mold to your foot. Otherwise ...
No-brainer.
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#2389182 - 08/24/08 12:12 PM
Re: Low Hikers And Ankle Stability...
[Re: RickBin]
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340boy
Campfire Tracker
Registered: 10/11/06
Posts: 5817
Loc: Twin Falls, Idaho
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Glad you posted that Rick, I may give those things a try...
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Tim
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#2389195 - 08/24/08 12:22 PM
Re: Low Hikers And Ankle Stability...
[Re: RickBin]
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noKnees
Campfire Regular
Registered: 11/09/05
Posts: 1170
Loc: Hamilton county NY
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I am all about lightweight. I used low boots on the AT from springer to Harpers ferry and most of the NE section. the LT and the NLP trail, the JMT, my hikes in the sierra and most of my summer 14ers.
As long as I can keep my pack weight below 30lbs (which is plenty for 6 days from snow to snow, typical 3 day pack is 15-16 lbs) its fine.
I may have strong ankles but I suspect its more about good foot placement and I credit my mountaineering experience with devloping that. if your kick stepping steep snow, using the french method or just trying to work through class III or 4 terrian it teaches you to pay alot attension to what your feet are doing.
I started backpacking with heavy boots and for me lightening every thing was a blessing..less fatique, which means more awareness and less poor foot placements etc. there are some other benifits that go with LW footware like less ankle and up bruising and better moisture control.
There is good reason that so many of the LD hikers go LW and low shoe. You see alot of 50lb packs and heavy boots in GA in march.. but not many in the whites and maine in september..
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NoKnees 
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#2389310 - 08/24/08 01:29 PM
Re: Low Hikers And Ankle Stability...
[Re: Brad]
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Eremicus
Campfire Outfitter
Registered: 03/01/01
Posts: 9889
Loc: Placerville,CA,USA
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In my country, we call that class of hiking shoe/boot an approach shoe. They differ from the common running shoe in that they have a plastic insert between the soles to stiffen the shoe. They flex at the ball of the foot,not in the middle of the shoe.
Apparently they work fine on well maintained trails like the Pacific Crest Trail with the GoLite crowd. Nothing more than 20 lbs. on their backs. Some of those guys cover over 20 miles a day. Not much up or down on the PCT. Really very popular, but very specialized back packing.
I've got a couple pair that I got cheap. They work OK for even steepish stuff, but, again, not for much of a load. They are no good at all for side hilling. Or for heavier loads. They give one nothing in the way of protection from rocks beating up the ankles. No real toe and heel protection either. I wore out one pair discovering all this.
My boots are much taller, about 7 inches for my Asolo FSN 95's and not much heavier, 2.25 lbs. vs. 3.25 lbs in size 11. Far more ankle support, i.e. traction, stability, etc. when side hilling, etc. They just don't twist nearly as readily. Nice hard toes and heels. Ankle cups. The only thing I'll wear when carrying any real load or off trail. I'd never even consider hunting in the approach shoes. Use them under certain conditions only simply to save my boots from wearing out.
I've also learned that one needs to keep the ankles up with regular exercise to truly avoid getting them twisted. If I walk a paved trail that the local runners use, or do my exercising on my Nordic-Trac machine for a few months, I have to go easy to get my ankles back in shape for the irregular surfaces/loose rock of my hiking/hunting areas.
I agree 100%. No compromise on boot constuction or on pack suspensions.
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#2390077 - 08/24/08 07:52 PM
Re: Low Hikers And Ankle Stability...
[Re: Eremicus]
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Ed_T
Campfire Regular
Registered: 12/11/04
Posts: 360
Loc: Helena, MT
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Brad,
I wear trail runners nearly everywhere, including elk hunting. Did a three day trip last week on the Gallatin Crest with a bunch of off trail and I wore a pair of Go-Lite Sun Dragons.
Where I will change into boots is carrying a heavy load in steep terrain, but if I can keep my pack under 30 lbs, I'll go with the trail runners. Packing elk quarters or boned meat and I go with a boot.
Close to 30 years of trail running has strengthened my joints though.
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Ed T
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#2390219 - 08/24/08 09:21 PM
Re: Low Hikers And Ankle Stability...
[Re: PepeLp]
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1akhunter
Campfire Outfitter
Registered: 09/27/03
Posts: 9784
Loc: Fairbanks, Alaska a piece down...
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So..............can you take your wife's girlfriend camping next week? That sounds like it could be fun. 
good idea PepeLp, it's really her fault it happened so she should stand in and do whatever Brad's wife was going to do on that trip.
(sorry Brad, looks like no head for you..........grin)
_________________________
"This ain't dress rehearsal....it's the life you get to live, make it a good one."
some folks that can't make a compelling argument, enjoy pointing out typos, errors of grammar and spelling oversights. I add as many as possible to accomodate.
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