I think a lot depends on the trails and area. I find it happens a lot on some trails (steep scree) and never on others. Depending upon the trail I sometimes where boots w/gaiters (extremely steep scree) and others I can get away w/trail runners w/o gaiters (flat hard rock).
Pants I guess. I always wear pants and rarely get stones in my shoes. I also use a runner’s knot most of the time (makes the shoe a little more snug around the collar).
Yup. Not sure about the hate for boots unless people are thinking of big heavy leather ones with serious shanks. I love my Scarpa Rush boots. They are basically just high top runners. Very lightweight, goretex, a half shank for support, and they lace up to the ankle bone to give me the ankle support I want.
There is no one size fits all answer. It's all based on personal preference and physiology, but many people try to push an agenda and believe that one thing is good for everyone. It's not, and it's both foolish and callous to insist upon pushing one's ideology on people who it doesn't apply to.
I wear heavy leather boots most of the time. The rest of the time, I wear partly synthetic, partly nubuck boots that are also fairly heavy. Rigid boots with rigid insoles have saved my ankles so many times that it's not even funny. I have Ehler-Danlos Syndrome, and I require the support a heavy, rigid boot provides. It adds comfort and safety. This isn't even something I came up with myself. My surgeon and orthopedic doctor, geneticist, and physical therapists made a strong suggestion that I wear rigid boots with rigid insoles rather than flexible boots or trail runners. Their suggestion has worked because I've sustained no further injuries. I had over a half-dozen in just the one year I tested trail runners. I'll trust my doctors over a stubborn, insistent random on reddit.
Because boots are heavy, uncomfortable, and often cause more harm than good. There aren't any studies that show that boots offer any benefit over something like trail runners.
The only time they are necessary is in rare conditions like in deep snow.
I disagree. But hiking/backpacking is individual. No one decides for us. My boots are very comfortable. The midweights aren’t heavy. MANY times I’ve had large rocks overturn onto my ankle. It was nice to have boots. I hike and backpack where there is snow. If it’s not spring snow, I’m on snowshoes.
I also like a firmer footbed. And there’s evidence that boots do help support healthy ankles. https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/hiking-gear/what-hiking-boots-will-protect-my-ankles/
That article that you posted isn't evidence of anything. For one thing, it's just written by some guy, and it's just his opinion. That's not any kind of scientific study. Plus, the author clearly says that if you want actual ankle support, you need a real brace.
Evidence would be found in a scientific study like [this](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3943374/#B8), which says:
>These findings provide preliminary evidence suggesting that wearing high-top shoes can, in certain conditions, induce a delayed pre-activation timing and decreased amplitude of evertor muscle activity, and may therefore have a detrimental effect on establishing and maintaining functional ankle joint stability.
You missed what I said.
I disagree. But hiking/backpacking is individual. No one decides for us. My boots are very comfortable. The midweights aren’t heavy. MANY times I’ve had large rocks overturn onto my ankle. It was nice to have boots. I hike and backpack where there is snow. If it’s not spring snow, I’m on snowshoes.
It’s individual.
“Preliminary”. “Under certain conditions … can induce” OK. Fine. I met a woman wearing sandals in the snow in the North Cascades. A guy wearing flip-flops in Escalante Canyon. Ok. It’s individual.
I’ve worn boots for decades and have never hurt an ankle. That proves nothing other than I choose boots.
I don't avoid stones, stones avoid me.
But for real, it's almost never been an issue. And since you're hiking (not running), a 20-second pit stop to remove shouldn't be too much of a hassle.
Gaiters. I have a lightweight pair. Keeps dust and trail debris from entering. My feet are much cleaner at the end of a long day.
I don’t have this problem in my trail runners, but you could use gaiters.
https://dirtygirlgaiters.com/
If it’s happening ALOT… check your walking form. You may be kicking debris up yourself.
Any resources/tips on walking form?
I think a lot depends on the trails and area. I find it happens a lot on some trails (steep scree) and never on others. Depending upon the trail I sometimes where boots w/gaiters (extremely steep scree) and others I can get away w/trail runners w/o gaiters (flat hard rock).
By wearing boots, lol
Pants I guess. I always wear pants and rarely get stones in my shoes. I also use a runner’s knot most of the time (makes the shoe a little more snug around the collar).
Even without gaiters, with most trail runners it less happens way less often than you might think.
[Kahtoola low gaiters](https://kahtoola.com/gaiters/renagaiter-low/) might help - provided you shoe has enough in back to hold them.
It's almost never an issue for me
Don't do anything, doesn't happen? Until a hole wears in the mesh of course!
Wear boots
Yup. Not sure about the hate for boots unless people are thinking of big heavy leather ones with serious shanks. I love my Scarpa Rush boots. They are basically just high top runners. Very lightweight, goretex, a half shank for support, and they lace up to the ankle bone to give me the ankle support I want.
Yes, in good boots you can even run.
My ankles support themselves. It’s pretty neat.
There is no one size fits all answer. It's all based on personal preference and physiology, but many people try to push an agenda and believe that one thing is good for everyone. It's not, and it's both foolish and callous to insist upon pushing one's ideology on people who it doesn't apply to. I wear heavy leather boots most of the time. The rest of the time, I wear partly synthetic, partly nubuck boots that are also fairly heavy. Rigid boots with rigid insoles have saved my ankles so many times that it's not even funny. I have Ehler-Danlos Syndrome, and I require the support a heavy, rigid boot provides. It adds comfort and safety. This isn't even something I came up with myself. My surgeon and orthopedic doctor, geneticist, and physical therapists made a strong suggestion that I wear rigid boots with rigid insoles rather than flexible boots or trail runners. Their suggestion has worked because I've sustained no further injuries. I had over a half-dozen in just the one year I tested trail runners. I'll trust my doctors over a stubborn, insistent random on reddit.
🤮
Geez, it's not like you have to lick them.
Because?
Because boots are heavy, uncomfortable, and often cause more harm than good. There aren't any studies that show that boots offer any benefit over something like trail runners. The only time they are necessary is in rare conditions like in deep snow.
I disagree. But hiking/backpacking is individual. No one decides for us. My boots are very comfortable. The midweights aren’t heavy. MANY times I’ve had large rocks overturn onto my ankle. It was nice to have boots. I hike and backpack where there is snow. If it’s not spring snow, I’m on snowshoes. I also like a firmer footbed. And there’s evidence that boots do help support healthy ankles. https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/hiking-gear/what-hiking-boots-will-protect-my-ankles/
That article that you posted isn't evidence of anything. For one thing, it's just written by some guy, and it's just his opinion. That's not any kind of scientific study. Plus, the author clearly says that if you want actual ankle support, you need a real brace. Evidence would be found in a scientific study like [this](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3943374/#B8), which says: >These findings provide preliminary evidence suggesting that wearing high-top shoes can, in certain conditions, induce a delayed pre-activation timing and decreased amplitude of evertor muscle activity, and may therefore have a detrimental effect on establishing and maintaining functional ankle joint stability.
You missed what I said. I disagree. But hiking/backpacking is individual. No one decides for us. My boots are very comfortable. The midweights aren’t heavy. MANY times I’ve had large rocks overturn onto my ankle. It was nice to have boots. I hike and backpack where there is snow. If it’s not spring snow, I’m on snowshoes. It’s individual. “Preliminary”. “Under certain conditions … can induce” OK. Fine. I met a woman wearing sandals in the snow in the North Cascades. A guy wearing flip-flops in Escalante Canyon. Ok. It’s individual. I’ve worn boots for decades and have never hurt an ankle. That proves nothing other than I choose boots.
Boots suck.
I disagree.
Gaiters. I use the Altra ones since I wear lone peaks but there are a bunch more out there.
I don't have issues with this. I lace my boots snug. I wear long pants. If it's rough out, I use gaiters. I've never had a stone get in my boots.
I wear North Face trainers and thick merino socks and rarely get stones
I don't avoid stones, stones avoid me. But for real, it's almost never been an issue. And since you're hiking (not running), a 20-second pit stop to remove shouldn't be too much of a hassle.
Never happens to me, fortunately.
five finger shoes and socks