You've Made the Switch to 0 Drop - Did you go back

[North of 60]

I'm thinking i may try the topo terraventure 4's for my next trail shoes...they aren't boots but have plenty of cushion, a 3mm drop, maybe have a wide enough toe box and are supposedly more durable than altras.

I really like the altra lone peak 9s and wish they were as durable as some other brands.

 

[dgfavor]

I'm thinking i may try the topo terraventure 4's for my next trail shoes...they aren't boots but have plenty of cushion, a 3mm drop, maybe have a wide enough toe box and are supposedly more durable than altras.

I really like the altra lone peak 9s and wish they were as durable as some other brands.

I am going into second year with the Terraventures 4 WPs. They are quite a bit stiffer than the Trailventures i had prior and really liked. They are IMO a pretty robust shoe, stiffer than my Xero Ridgeways by fair amount - I chukar hunted a bunch in them last season and have been rucking all spring and summer with fairly heavy packs (alternating with the Ridgeways) and they show zero signs of wear - my Altras would have destructed by now. They are great for allowing ankle mobility but offer less ground feel IMO than a more flexible shoe/boot. I like them...but not sure I would get them again because I prefer a little more flexible thru the sole. I'm not convinced they are going to wear out anytime soon however!

 

[Schmo]

I have been wearing Lone Peak 9s for a few months now. They do lack in durability, but they sure are comfortable. I cold turkey switched to the zero drop Altras for my daily shoes. I’ve definitely felt the strain on the connective tissue, but it’s getting better. I too am looking for a lighter boot for this coming season. My feet aren’t ready yet for something like an ESC for hunting, so I gotta find something else. Maybe some light Meindls, or maybe some Jim Greens. Would love suggestions as well. I wore my Kenetreks for a little while here recently, and was glad to get them off and back into my Altras.

As a little background, I do have plantar fasciitis. The Altras have not aggravated it, and it may be getting better.

 

[P Carter]

I'm thinking i may try the topo terraventure 4's for my next trail shoes...they aren't boots but have plenty of cushion, a 3mm drop, maybe have a wide enough toe box and are supposedly more durable than altras.

I really like the altra lone peak 9s and wish they were as durable as some other brands.

I used a pair this season, great shoe. Wide enough but not sloppy, held up well, the rock plate provides protection but it isn’t too firm, the low stack height prevents rolled ankles. Traction is good. Not as good as Salomon’s, which I traditionally used, but the lower stack height was worth it for me.

Edit: I didn’t track mileage precisely, but I probably have 300ish miles and 30,000+ elevation gain out of one pair and they are holding up decently. Some of that mileage is off trail or rocky trail with a loaded pack.

 

[chives88]

Maybe I'm an outlier here. I own some altras, lone peaks, and wear them sometimes. But I also have mid height light hikers, 3 season mtneering boots with 3/4 shank, and classic mtneering boots with a full shank. For me they all have a place and there are lots of days the altras ain't it, most notably when lots of sidehilliing is expected, I just get too much motion and blister between my toes in the flexy ones.

I've definitely trended lighter and more flexible over the years and the shanked boots get less use than before.

Something I heard from a podcast about footwear (lame, I know) is that we should do most of our training/daily living as close to barefoot as possible and, in the podcast which was sports and endurance related, we can use the high tech performance shoes leading up to and on race day. I think this would apply to hunting boots as well. Spend most days strengthening our feet and pulling out sheep country boots to use where they are needed.

 

[Nine Banger]

Something I heard from a podcast about footwear (lame, I know) is that we should do most of our training/daily living as close to barefoot as possible and, in the podcast which was sports and endurance related, we can use the high tech performance shoes leading up to and on race day. I think this would apply to hunting boots as well. Spend most days strengthening our feet and pulling out sheep country boots to use where they are needed

Definitely need to train with the sheep boots if they are going. I tried to put my mountaineering boots on the other day when it was pouring and they don't fit anymore since I've been wearing barefoot shoes.

 

[fngTony]

Definitely need to train with the sheep boots if they are going. I tried to put my mountaineering boots on the other day when it was pouring and they don't fit anymore since I've been wearing barefoot shoes.

Agree, I’m trying to wear mine at least once a week for a couple miles and around the house.

 

[dgfavor]

Something I heard from a podcast about footwear (lame, I know) is that we should do most of our training/daily living as close to barefoot as possible and, in the podcast which was sports and endurance related, we can use the high tech performance shoes leading up to and on race day. I think this would apply to hunting boots as well. Spend most days strengthening our feet and pulling out sheep country boots to use where they are needed.

Nowadays, after many years of minimizing my footwear, "sheep boots" feel like an absolute liability! Probably seems hard to understand but I just feel more balanced, "in-tune", and reactive with less on my feet...to a point anyway. Gotta balance that with protection from from pokey stuff and cold environs.
Agree for sure with training at personal minimums and wearing what you have confidence in on the yearly "A" hunts. Little daily hunts around home...push your envelope a little.

 

[IAm_Not_Lost]

Definitely won’t go back. Zero drop is the way.

 

[Trail&ErrorAK]

Great thread - lots of good info.
I'm looking for a wider toebox than the Crispi/La Sportiva/ETC.
Since I'm looking at new boots been considering going to something lighter weight and possibly a zero Drop.
Reading through here had a lot of good info.

Definitely going to look into the Lone Peaks!

 

[ianpadron]

My ultrarunner wife got me on board the zero drop train about 4 years ago. I still wear traditional boots when hunting, but only because a true zero drop boot with adequate sole protection doesn't exist to my knowledge.

Make sure you ease into them if you're a runner or you could potentially do some serious damage to your lower legs/feet.

I started walking/hiking in Altras and then progressed to running in them. they're all i wear now aside from backcountry hunts like I mentioned. Your calves will absolutely blow up in size and strength with the added ROM, its awesome

Responding to my own comment...I ended up wearing vivobarefoot trackers until the last day of rifle season here in Montana.

Didn't plan on it, but they had made such a giant difference in rehabbing a knee injury I thought what the heck...

I am getting rid of all my traditional boots.

Packed out a 110+ pound load in some steep rocky nastiness and didn't think about my feet or ankles once. Wore them in 5° temps with 2 pairs of socks, no difference than my 800 gram hunting boots, feet got cold when sitting, fine when hiking. Easy fix with some boot blankets while glassing.

10 outta 10 recommend

 

[dgfavor]

Responding to my own comment...I ended up wearing vivobarefoot trackers until the last day of rifle season here in Montana.

Didn't plan on it, but they had made such a giant difference in rehabbing a knee injury I thought what the heck...

I am getting rid of all my traditional boots.

Packed out a 110+ pound load in some steep rocky nastiness and didn't think about my feet or ankles once. Wore them in 5° temps with 2 pairs of socks, no difference than my 800 gram hunting boots, feet got cold when sitting, fine when hiking. Easy fix with some boot blankets while glassing.

10 outta 10 recommend

 

[chives88]

Definitely need to train with the sheep boots if they are going. I tried to put my mountaineering boots on the other day when it was pouring and they don't fit anymore since I've been wearing barefoot shoes.

Yeah I’ve been finding this more and more true as I’ve only been wearing bedrock sandals around and topo athletics or altras for running. I tried running in my hokas a couple months back and it messed my Achilles up for a while and I can’t stand my toes being smashed. I think it’s the toe box spread of barefoot shoes more than anything that contributes to traditional boots or shoes not fitting as well. I think my feet would do alright in some stiffer boots as long as there was room in the toes though. Then again I haven’t really worn rigid boots since I got rid of my nicks hotshots a couple years ago