Hiked the AT in trail runners last year, went back to boots this spring

I did 200 miles on the Appalachian Trail in 2023 using Altra Lone Peaks and my feet were wrecked after every single day - rocks, roots, ankle rolls. Switched back to my old Merrell Moabs this March for a section hike near the Smokies and suddenly I'm not limping into camp every night. Anyone else find that the whole barefoot hiking thing just doesn't work for rocky terrain?

2 comments

2 Comments

emma_hart18d ago

The whole barefoot hiking thing" isn't really what the Altra Lone Peaks are about, and that's a common mix-up. Those shoes are zero-drop and wide toe box, but they still have a decent stack height and cushioning, so they're not minimal or barefoot style. A true barefoot shoe would be like a Xero or a Vivobarefoot with barely any sole at all, which would feel even worse on rocky AT terrain. The issue you hit is probably more about the lack of ankle support and stability on technical ground, not the zero-drop or foot shape. Moabs are heavy and stiff but they lock your ankles in place, which helps a ton on rocks and roots where you need that lateral support. I tried Lone Peaks too and had the same problem, I just need that rigid chassis for the rough stuff.

lucas6317d ago

Same. I switched from Moabs to lone peaks a couple years back and rolled my ankle so many times on the AT that I went back to the stiff chunky boots. The zero drop is nice on flat trail but as soon as you hit a boulder field you're just asking for trouble.