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

[sierracharlie338]

Gotcha. It takes time to transition. Gotta build your feet up to it. I started wearing my Lone Peaks in May, and have worn them pretty much 6 days a week until lately, when I’ve been switching between them, barefoot shoes, and a pair of low drop hikers. Last month while in Montana, I did a 6 mile day of plains and coulees while out hunting. The 2+ miles back to the truck were with a 70 or 70+ lb pack on. I’m 250 myself. My feet were tired, but not hurt. In wearing my Lone Peaks for several months, I have used them on flat ground, ladders, hillside, etc, so my feet have really been strengthening. That being said, with these as your first pair, if you haven’t been doing trails and uneven terrain fairly significantly, your feet are still adapting and strengthening. My feet were tired, but I didn’t feel I needed more support. I know my feet do have a little ways to go before I can hunt in something like a Vivo. Should be ready for it next season tho.

Good info thanks. I like the shoes overall but definitely need to spend some more time in them before I make a decision.

 

[Schmo]

Good info thanks. I like the shoes overall but definitely need to spend some more time in them before I make a decision.

Not sure what your job/life allows, but be in them as much as you can, do as much of a variety of things as you can. The Lone Peaks are an excellent transition shoe.

 

[SROB34]

We talked a lot about hiking/hunting/running zero drop shoes - any recs for a semi dress work shoe?

 

[dgfavor]

We talked a lot about hiking/hunting/running zero drop shoes - any recs for a semi dress work shoe?

Lems 9 to 5's

 

[twall13]

We talked a lot about hiking/hunting/running zero drop shoes - any recs for a semi dress work shoe?

I've used Vivobarefoot Ra shoes for years as a semi dress shoe. Their Geo Courts are nice as well and have a little more sole on them. The Ra is a true barefoot shoe with tons of ground feel.

If you are looking for something even more dressed up, I have a pair of Zaqq shoes that I like as well. Those are my Sunday shoes.

I recently picked up a pair of Freet Richmond II's that I'm liking as more of a chukka type shoe. These do have notably stiffer soles to them and feel like they need to break in a bit but seem to be good quality. Still definitely a barefoot shoe, just less ground feel than the others.

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[Big_wals]

Lems 9 to 5's

These are my dress shoes. I tried Vivo Gobis and really like them, but the Lems look nicer IMO. They are a thicker sole with less ground feel, but look like a more traditional dress shoe while still being wide and zero drop.

 

[isleofGough]

I went back. I find altra or topo running shoes work better in the summer but in the wet and snowy winters, my regular boots are warmer, drier, and more supportive. In the fall and winter, I use Kenetrek hardscrabbles, hanwag anash or Zamberlain Tofanes.

 

[Schmo]

I went back. I find altra or topo running shoes work better in the summer but in the wet and snowy winters, my regular boots are warmer, drier, and more supportive. In the fall and winter, I use Kenetrek hardscrabbles, hanwag anash or Zamberlain Tofanes.

 

[nm.otter]

Altras fall apart very easily, from sole foam degradation, glue coming apart, uppers tearing ... very quickly into their use in rugged terrain.

I'm about a year into my first pair of Altras, but only wear covered shoes when hiking, climbing, or doing field work. The first few weeks felt like I was walking on marshmallows -- regularly tripping on rocks and door sills -- that never happened with my old Merrells. Now that I've got about 100 miles on them, I'm not tripping, love the toebox, and they're quite grippy on rock, but the outsoles are halfway gone and there are tears in vinyl bits of the uppers.

Jim Greens are next...

 

[dgfavor]

I'm about a year into my first pair of Altras, but only wear covered shoes when hiking, climbing, or doing field work. The first few weeks felt like I was walking on marshmallows -- regularly tripping on rocks and door sills -- that never happened with my old Merrells. Now that I've got about 100 miles on them, I'm not tripping, love the toebox and, they're quite grippy on rock, but the outsoles are halfway gone and there are tears in vinyl bits of the uppers.

Jim Greens are next...

Altras are reknowned for their fragility! Give Topos a look if you like Altra style - IME much more durable.

My biggest concern with Jim Greens is the OEM soles look like they have zero traction. ??

 

[nm.otter]

My biggest concern with Jim Greens is the OEM soles look like they have zero traction. ??

I'm planning to try these first -- for heavy construction and wildland firefighting. Some of them come with a lugged sole, but it has a heel.

I suspect the Barefoot Trooper soles would fare OK in our our desert/mountain terrain. I'll replace it with a Vibram if not.

 

[nm.otter]

Now that I've got about 100 miles on them

Correction: more like 150 miles.

the outsoles are halfway gone

...to the point where I had several slips on downhill trails with loose DG last weekend.

 

[RojoGrande]

Been barefoot/minimalist for nearly 10 years. Won't go back. Was shopping for some trail runners at REI, Topos and Altras, for giggles, I tried on some Merrell Moabs, ugh, no way I could walk in those. Ending up getting the Topo pursuit II. Have tried a number of brands, Lems, Xero, Vivobarefoot, Freet, Vibram 5 fingers, Altras, etc. Lems original boulder boot are still my favorite daily wear. Have hunted in Vivo's, Xero, Altra's and Lems. My only complaint is that I have yet to find decent waterproofing on any barefoot boot. Understandable with how flexible the boots are and with typically lighter weight materials. They are fine in a little rain or crossing a seasonal creek but wet out quickly crossing a meadow in the morning with heavy dew or heavy rain. Mink Oil, Nick wax and other treatments help.

Altras do tend to wear quickly, soles and uppers. My Topos lasted over 500 miles (thru hike)