Ultralight Backpacking Footwear & Trekking Poles - CleverHiker.com 

Reins, clay mud and streams, are my usual friends, so only boots (. )))

I can't stop watching your videos. Please come back!!!

Great video. I would not agree with the light shoes for me and the trails that I am on. I really need the ankle support or at least the psychological effect of having something for ankle support. However I do agree that light is better. Thanks for the video and the work being put into them. Really enjoyable.

Hey, first of all I want to say thanks for all the lightweight video series. In this video, at 04:52 there is a backpack with pockets on both sides of the belt. Can you tell me what backpack that is ? Also, can you recommend some good 1-2 day backpacks with belt pockets ? Thank you !

Thanks for all the clean and concise video guides Dave. They are a great resource. I've been reading a lot of books on backpacking to prepare for an eventual PCT thru-hike, and all the videos have supplemented them nicely and really helped with visualizing things and driving a lot of points home. Looking forward to getting out on the trail and testing out my knowledge soon!

Thanks for making the video and explaining your reasons for your gear choices; appreciate it. My 2 cents. I'm old school on boots. La Sportiva Makalus, over 5 pounds of solid leather, steel shank, high ankle support gear. In all the years I've hiked, I'd say they saved me from a severe ankle injury about 5 times. I found your 5 lb boot equals 18 lbs of backpack comment interesting (is there some science/math behind that?). I think if you are in shape, you don't really notice. I always keep an open mind, but feet are just too valuable for me to try trail runners. But I see the advantage if you are going to walk in water. On the other hand, I always thought poles were for wussies, but borrowed a pair in the spirit of keeping an open mind. Now I will never hike w/o them. My arms have never tired from using them (I use heavy aluminum poles), so I find that comment specious. What I did find was my hands don't swell hardly when using poles vs not. It's like having hand rails everywhere you go. When making big steps up hill you don't have to bend over, you can keep your back straight. I'm 52 but don't have any knee issues, so can't speak to that. If you catch a carbon fiber pole in a hole/rock and bend, it will shatter. I had to field repair a friend's pole, whittling a tapered insert and duct taping it all up. My poles just hang from my hands if I need them for water or picture taking. That dramatization was a little over the top. I use one pole and a carabiner to make my pack freestanding when I take it off (old school again, I have an external frame pack). Thanks again.

You mention that boots can cause blisters. As opposed to shoes, which CANNOT cause blisters at all? I have binge watched a bunch of your videos, but that comparison seems strangely unbalanced as opposed to your other arguments.

Oh my god, I borrowed a pair of trekking poles when I went to Philmont, and they made my trip so much easier. I don't have knee issues or anything, but the weigh from my pack just distributed so much better with the extra arm support. I think my arms got kinda sore, but to be honest, my whole body was sore, so it was pretty par for the course.

A worthwhile debate - that depends a lot on personal taste and quality of the boots or trail shoes you choose! I am a former college distance runner and cross country ski! And I'm still going at age 72. Shoe fit is a very individual thing. There are many good quality trail shoes I would try [ except Niki ] Niki is a result of Hype and advertising. If they are your favorite fit then good for you! New Balance has been a most comfortable choice for me for much of my running life until I finally realized that their soles have a very short life. Since l finally realized the NB sole problem I've purchased North Face, Asolo, Brooks, La Sportiva and many pairs of Salomon, lastly one pair of Oboz ( the most comfortable ). None of the Salomon show much wear at all. About 11 years ago my family freaked out when I paid $425.00 for a pair of Lowa High Tech mountaineering boots. From the day I put them on I have never had a blister or any discomfort from them. In spite of mountaineering, back country skiing, chain saw work and slash burning ( I've melted and warped some of the rubber moulding - interior cloth is pretty well torn and missing ) the Lowe boots are still to this day the most cost effective and sweetly comfortable foot wear I've ever owned. Probably because of my cross country ski racing training I will admit that it frustrates and saddens me that probably 90 % of all pole users are not trained to use the pole correctly!!! This prevents the poles from being of any serious advantage. In FACT if not used correctly they could be a big DISADVANTAGE! And again the sad thing is while this SIMPLE APPEARING product actually has a fair amount of science behind it. Not knowing or EXPERIENCING THE BENEFITS OF THE SCIENCE the end user goes away unimpressed and often with a OH HUM EXPERIENCE! 1. IF you are not using the pole straps correctly and fall forward and catch yourself you can dislocate or break your thumb. So If you don't know how to use the strap DON'T USE THE STRAPS AT ALL UNTIL YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW. The correct way to get your hand into the strap is to hold the pole up with the strap hanging down. ROTATE THE POLE SO STRAP IS between your face and the pole. Grab the strap as it droops down the pole and let go of the pole NOT the STRAP. This leaves you holding only the pole AND strap assembly by the strap only. Make sure the strap is closer to your body than the pole. While holding the STRAP like that run both your fingers and thumb all the way through the strap and bring your fingers and thumb straight down. At this point you WILL BE griping the pole with the two ends for the strap between your hand and the pole. 2. YOUR GRIP OF POLE: DO NOT GIVE THE POLE THE DEATH GRIP!! This takes a lot of extra energy. Let the strap do the work saving your hand-wrist tendons and SMALL muscles. If you watch a good XC skier you'll notice that he/she doesn't even really grip the pole at all. You just kind of cradle it so it goes where you want it. I use my thumb and index finger to lightly make a channel for the pole swing freely to operate as I swing my arms. In this way the large muscles of the arms on up to the chest and back muscles do the work without tiring you out. I should also add the the most important muscle group in some climbing motions are the abdominals. The DEATH GRIP ON THE POLES will make it questionable as to the value of even carrying poles. 3. DOWNHILLS: LENGTHEN POLES (if adjustable POLES) If straps are correctly used one should be able to bring the hand up and PALM THE TOP OF THE POLE FOR BETTER LEVERAGE. Downhills are the ONLY TIME (UNLESS YOU ARE ELDERLY) that one should ever place the pole(s) in front of your feet. This is like putting the brakes on. HOWEVER THIS PLACEMENT saves your knees and joints ON THE DOWNHILLS (and becomes more important as one ages). 4. UPHILLS: SHORTEN POLES (if adjustable POLES) If fairly steep one may want to take hands out of straps and grab the poles lower on the shaft. If very steep it may be time to stash the poles away for steepest sections. LEARNING AND TRAINING: When I teach someone to use hiking, nordic walking, cross country ski poles I like to start them out (AFTER SHOWING CORRECT PLACEMENT OF HANDS IN STRAPS) JUST DRAGGING THE POLE's TIPS FORWARD ON THE GROUND ON EACH STRIDE (JUST LIGHTLY GRIPPING - between thumb and index-NO DEATH GRIP) making sure that you DON'T DRAG THE TIPS FURTHER FORWARD THAN THE FRONT OF THE FOOT before the backward push begins. DON'T FEEL BAD IF YOU HAVEN'T LEARNED HOW: WHY??? My very favorite Camping supply store has more product videos than any backcountry store out there on what they sell. This outlet has one presenter that never uses the straps correctly and one ALSO that doesn't even have the diagonal stride down. (placing right pole tip beside right foot and visa versa (Kinda wobbling like a duck) instead of the diagonal stride that every human learns when learning to walk (Rt foot goes forward as Lt hand goes forward) On the flats the pole tip should never be placed further forward than the big toe. Anything forward of the body is like putting the BBRAKEON. The basic concept is efficacy of motion! So why the 90 % don't know: Watch a few of these videos and see how many actually explain how to use the straps. One of the sad things of life is - "We don't KNOW what we Don't Know" including me. And when the sales people don't know what chance do we have of learning? I'm sure many if not most shoppers just walk up to a rack of trekking or nordic walking poles in a store...Check out...NEXT STOP GLACIER NATional ...

Trailrunner shoes in the alps ....last only a week. Most of the time walking small rock..very sharp, and abrasive. Boots last 2-3 months! Never go without trekking poles. Length up to 1.35m. leave the "teller" (disk) on. Otherwise they Will be useless in snow. My experience...since 1982....

underarmour boots. lightweight. low top. show sole. water proof....i wear them everyday. i wish i had a very large boot of it to live in

Dave, great video. I really like the tip of wearing shoes half a size larger then your normal size. Little things like that make a big difference down the trail. Keep it up bud.

Hi Dave I was wondering if your ever gonna do a video about Hiking in the High winds. 40-50-60 mph winds I'm just wondering.

That is interesting about not using high boots when the backpack is not too heavy... Any tip what is the max. weight of the backpack where I can use low running shoes without ankle support ?

I subscribed because of the cool intro music and the amazing knowledge and content

Running shoes and hiking boots both have their place. If you are 21 years old, stand 6 foot 2, and weigh 150 lb then go ahead and wear your runners. I am 51, stand 6 foot even, and weigh 227 lbs. I would destroy even an expensive pair of runners within 150 miles… .if I could stand to walk in them that far… .which I can't.

Dave Collins Thanks for the good info! Im definitely not bringing boots then. Ill be comming from Michigan, and cant wait to get away from the "cold" haha Is there any parts of the PCT you liked most, or were a little sketchy? and I was wondering if I use a hammock for sleeping, should I still bring a sleeping bag or just a smaller blanket ?

good info, and mad emnacipator love. props yo

Another amazing video. Thank you SO much for taking the time to produce these videos. Extremely well thought out and professional.

How do you keep your feet warm while wearing running shoes in snow?

Dave, new to your channel and like how you explain things without rambling on about other stuff. I have a question.. My buddy and I are taking on the PCT in the beginning of April. Were going north to south. I want to go between light, and ultra light packing. I was wondering if I should bring winter boots just in case, or just rough it with my trail runners ? Their pretty much rubber boots that I can fold in half. Maybe just let them hang from my pack ? I know the last 500+ miles of California is desert and Ill have no need for boots. Thanks man! -Steve

Great advice. I'm in need for a new set of hikers soon. I like the idea of using trail runners and keeping it light.

These are the most professional hiking videos I've.

Good info on the shoes...I may try that vs the boots...another very informative video...thanks

Thanks for sharing.

intro is amazing :)

Has anyone ever hiked the entire PCT/CDT in Danner Mtn Lights?

For forest and well maintained trails, I agree. But I was hiking in a fairly soft sole hiking boot down Headlee Pass and injured my foot on sharp talis. Now I would never hike in rocky areas without boots. With the Morton's Neroma foot injury, to keep hiking I had to get a wide pair of boots and with few options available ended up with Asolo boots which keep my feet protected, breath well, and stay dry.

I'm trying to figure out what model of New Balance you are using in this video? I mean the grey/yellow ones. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

A friend of mine recently switched from boots to running shoes. I'm thinking of doing the same -- or finding some trail runners, as you suggested. I can't imagine using trekking poles myself, mainly because I'd rather have my hands free most of the time. I would constantly be setting the poles down to use my camera or boost myself over a log, and I'd no doubt lose the poles in short time. If I need help forging water, I've always been able to find a good stick when I need one.

I was expecting your feedback on the poles like, "I bring them when im expecting a steep rocky hiking trip, but i don't bring them when it's going to an easy hike."

I've got loose ankles compared to alot of people so even walking in running shoes let alone running I can feel my feet sort of flop as my ankle rotates on its own accord. For this I wear boots due to needing the ankle support although some may argue that if I wore the shoes more often my ankles would strengthen. How much truth this may hold I'm not sure but my boots (Lowa Zephyr Hi) are pretty light for a boot.

Personally, I feel the older you are the more sense boots and poles make. Older bodies need the additional support to minimize wear on the joints.

Would the keen Newport h2 be good all year hiking shoes

Have you ever hiked the Grand Canyon? I'm going in late April and was wondering what type of footwear you would use?

Make more videos pease

is using a walking stick (maybe one you pick up on the trail) just as good as using trekking poles?

awesome video Dave....do they have titanium trekking poles? if so who is a good brand? about shoes I highly prefer runners ...I am a basketball player I had weak ankles the way I fix that ankle workouts. after done with college I stop playing and when started again I used highs on shoes for ankle protection and that's when I injured my knee...cartilage,meniscus and ACL...ever since injury did two things...Learn how to fall and workout you ankles...and boots I think wear out you body faster plus way slower...my friend who's a hiker and work at the mountains putting trees said he would only use boots of off trail and down hill is involved.:-)

Enjoy your videos. Always like to get a fresh perspective to keep me constantly evolving my system. I see a lot of people struggle to get water etc. when using poles (like you showed in the video). Totally unneccesary. Wriststraps main function is to alleviate pressure and stress from your hand to the strap while hiking, but can also be used to free your hands to grab a drink, snack, or whatever. I've always wondered why this, seemingly, obvious function goes unused so often. I too am a trail runner convert. Love them. However, I feel a good pair of comfortable boots is an essential component to an avid hiker's gear stash. In very cold, snowy conditions their value is immeasurable, and certain terrain really begs for their use when bushwhacking etc. My feet have paid the price from my being overconfident in my trail runners when sturdier, more protective footwear would have been the better call. Finding the right pair can be time consuming, and really test your patience, but well worth it when you need them. Obviously, some of these trips were not really suited for "ultralight" packing, but just thought I'd chime in several months too late. Ha. as I'm sure you, and most of us, know, there is rarely any piece of gear that is well-suited for all situations. Part of what I love about our pursuit. So may approaches. So many different philosophies, atitudes, and lessons to be learned from almost every hiker you meet. And so much to constantly learn from getting out there in all different types of terrain, weather, and scenarios. Thanks for the videos, and keep up the good work.

I used regular Asics track running shoes in Zion and Switzerland and they worked well. You said you spend 50 dollars on trail runners. What shoe do you use? Trail runners seem a little heavier than running shoes. I also have some Merrell Continuum shoes which seem heavier. Would you consider these to be trail runners?

Just wondering if you'd still use running shoes on a 4 or 5 day hike? Going to the Smokies in the summer so it could get wet but it's still a long trip.

sweet vid but wood like to see what u use on the trail what your lode out and what changes and why kee up the vids

Awesome video! This is what I was looking for.

What brand of shoes is the man in front of the group wearing at 0:35? I would love to know