Showerthought: The difference in my knee pain between hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2019 vs the Pacific Crest Trail last year was wild

I did the AT back in 2019 and my right knee was screaming by day 3. Last summer I hiked the PCT and barely had any issues at all. The big change was I stopped using those heavy waterproof boots and switched to trail runners with trekking poles. Has anyone else noticed how much gear choices affect your joints over a long thru-hike?

2 comments

2 Comments

luna_jackson281mo ago

Oh man the knee thing is so real. My buddy switched to trail runners halfway through the PCT last summer and his IT band stopped screaming at him after like 2 weeks. Totally different game. I'm still using my old leather boots from 2017 cause I'm broke but I swear my left ankle clicks every time I go up a steep grade now. Funny how one piece of gear can wreck your whole trip.

taragrant1mo agoMost Upvoted

2017 boots? Those things are tanks. My knees started acting up bad until I dropped two pounds off my feet. Lightweight shoes saved my joints, seriously.