This video is about feet. So basically a Quentin Tarantino movie. Are you going to
be able to watch another one of his films without noticing all the shots he has in it
of feet? I don't know but today we're talking about your feet. Somehow i made the opening of this video
even weirder with that statement i don't even know how i can do that. What you should be wearing on
your feet while hiking and backpacking. I'm gonna assume you understand the basics like
don't hike in flip-flops or even Tevas. Don't wear cotton socks.
I mean don't wear cotton anything when you hike or backpack okay. What you want is wool, wool socks.
Wool socks like these. Wool is an incredible fabric it has the ability to regulate temperature
it provides extra cushioning, it's anti-microbial so it doesn't smell as bad as your feet normally
would after a long day of hiking. Moreno wool is basically itch-free wool. I myself go with the
cool max fiber ultra light tech quarter socks from REI. Just remember, not cotton, wool socks
These are hiking boots. These are from a company called Merrell. I use these in the winter these are
a little bit heavier, a little bit thicker. They're made to keep your feet warm, they're made to help
you with traction on ice. The bottoms of these the souls is made with a rubber called Vibram.
Vibram was invented in 1935 by an Italian dude named Vitali Bramani after six of his friends
died hiking in the Italian Alps. Back in the day the soles of hiking shoes was made with
felt, provided very little insulation and not a lot of traction. Vitali and Pirelli came up with Vibram
which is a vulcanized rubber that provides way better insulation than felt. They also developed
this lugged tread pattern which they called carrarmato. so with Vibram you get extra insulation and
you get good tread. I would not recommend leather, I mean it's an outdated material don't get leather.
Gore-tex is the material that was invented by this guy named Bob Gore in 1969. It's an incredibly
strong, micro porous material that's found in a lot of outdoor gear nowadays. Is gore-tex
waterproof? No it is highly water resistant. If you dip your foot into a creek during a creek crossing
water will be able to get into your shoe. So after your feet get wet from hitting that creek crossing
will water be able to escape from gore-tex? Yes but how fast? These are the Hoka Speedgoat 4
these are trail running shoes. Now these particular Hoka's you can actually get in gore-tex.
For me i would rather have maximum breathability than a kind of waterproofness that kind of works
and doesn't breathe as well. Let my shoes breathe more that's going to be cooler on
my feet, they're also going to dry quicker. It can't be helped that waterproof technology
there's no way around it, it is going to keep water in your shoes for longer if they get wet.
These shoes dry just as fast as they get wet. Obviously the distinct feature with Hoka's is this
thick sole of vibram. Hoka describes this pillow as i call it as five millimeter step lugs
zonal rubber placement for additional support. I don't know what that all means, I call it extra
cushion for every time you're taking a step. The other obvious distinct advantage to trail runners
is the weight. These weigh one pound five ounces. These Hoka's have been on miles of miles and
miles of trips with me and all sorts of terrain. There is zero damage to them except for the part
where i damaged them in the fire, they still work great. The other very real knock
on trail runners is ankle support and that one i will concede okay. Hoka makes
the speedgoat 4s in a high ankle size, they're the Hoka speedgoat mid 2s and as of now they
only make them with gore-tex. I've heard people say "I have weak ankles." Your body is an amazing machine
and it has its own ankle support. There are a bunch of tiny muscles little stabilizing muscles
in and around your ankles designed to keep you from injuring yourself. You need to develop
those muscles in your ankles in your joints to keep you safe and keep you backpacking longer.
I run in the boise foothills back here. Not only does it strengthen my big muscles like my quads
and my hamstrings it increases my cardio and it also helps in terms of developing good
ankle support, knee joint health, and things like that. The best way to not get injured out there
is prevention. So take that two cents from someone who doesn't have a degree in any kind of health or
strength training whatsoever. So let's wrap this all up with a comparison real quick.
Hiking boots are going to be heavier, they are going to be waterproof. These are going to be
lighter on your feet, these are going to keep your feet cooler. These are going to protect your ankles
more than these. There are a lot of hiking boots that do a lot of things
and they do a lot of things well. And then there's some trail runners that do
some things, but they do those things to perfection and that's why i go with these
shoes when i go hiking and you should too. Thank you for watching and we'll see you next time.