Hutson Photography

When I started hiking I bought water proof boots. I was so worried about dry feet I made sure the boots I bought would stay dry when I stomping through ankle high water. I hiked in those for about 3 months and then it finally rained in my area. Of course the boots didn’t keep my feet dry. So I went back to my local store and found mid-calf hunting boots. I thought those will keep my feet dry. I realized after my first hike with these new boots that the old boots were horrible. With the old boots I always came back with sore feet. When I got back after a hike with these new boots my feet didn’t hurt and my feet were dry. That year I got a chance to get out once in the wet season and never encountered water. No water but by golly those 5lbs boots were going to keep my feet dry. The following year I took a backpacking class at the local community college. The instructor, at that time had hiked the John Muir Trail 12 times, taking anywhere from 11 to 14days. He seemed to know what he was doing. On the subject of foot wear he said he only hikes in new balance. On the subject of wet feet. He said around here its never wet (which is basically true), and in the sierras he said ‘the only thing that would keep you dry are hip waders. If there aren’t rocks to use or a log or a bridge you’re going to get wet. Take off the pack tie your shoes to it and hold it above your head.’ Finally on the subject of footwear he said ‘why would you want so much weight on your feet so you can keep your feet dry. Your feet dry don’t they and how wet does it really get here.’ I hiked in sneakers for a few years until my wife suggested that maybe I should get some hiking shoes for a half-dome hike. My response to that was why would I want to put more weight on my feet the sneakers are fine. I continued in sneakers for a few more months wearing the same shoes for my hikes as I wore to work (I wear jeans, t-shirt and sneakers to work). One day at lunch I went to a local trail and started out crossing a creek. Horrors of horrors my feet got wet. Well I wasn’t worried they’ll dry. They did but not before I got a few comments on the ‘interesting odor’ in my office. I figured maybe having a second pair of shoes for hiking would be a good idea. What I ended up with were hiking shoes that looked about like sneakers, a little heavier than my normal shoes but breathable. In the end what was driving my purchase decision wasn’t what I should have been concerned with. I was ignoring comfort, and weight just so I could keep my feet dry.