Boots vs Shoes

[Diamir]

It may be a topic that has been done to death, but anyway..

I have been umming and ahhing over whether to try hiking shoes instead of boots, as something of an experiment.

I have kneecap pain that predictably flares up going downhill, and pronation issues to go with it. I've tried six or seven different boots ranging from the lightest to mountaineering level and still experience the same problems. It may be a lack of fitness but being very tall and lean (to put it mildly) at 57kg, I have gotten to thinking that every extra gram of weight on my feet is contributing to the pressure on the knee area. And as far as "ankle support" goes it seems to be something of a sales pitch more than an actual feature of many boots.

Anyhow I would love some input from those who started with boots and transitioned to shoes, pros and cons, as well as anyone suffering from the same issues. And also if anyone wears a brace to combat this problem.

Cheers!

[Neo]

I broke an ankle about 6 years ago, then i was getting pain when working and walking 3 & 2 years ago. I used a $12 neoprene and velcro brace from big w which helped a lot. The ankle is fine now but i carry the brace when im out walking in case it flares up. Its light and may help me to get back home.

Luckily my knees are good. I go walking in trail shoes and wear a mid boot for working, only for a bit of side impact protection, not support.

[wayno]

a lot of knee problems can stgem from feet problems, see a podiatrist to see if theres anything wrong with your walking gait, pronation issues usually require footwear with a stiffer sole that resists twisting that can leave the knee cap tracking incorrectly

[north-north-west]

Orthotics will help, even just off-the shelf ones like Orthoheel. I have knee issues that originated from pronation and other biomechanical faults that weren't diagnosed until I was nearly 40. Once I started with orthotics they've improved a great deal.
Of course, the resultant arthritis is now as much a problem as the other stuff once was, but even that is easier to control.

Definitely talk to a podiatrist.

[wayno]

i wouldnt get any orthotic without professional guidance, i've known them to do as much harm than good if its not the right shape for you... they can stop your foot arch working properly which is important and that can alter your biomechanics in undesireable ways causing further problems

[ConnorH]

Have you tried trekking poles?

[Joel1982]

I have a similar (or maybe same?) problem with my kneecap, as it does not track properly when extending and longer walks or running make it worse. Agree that the lightweight footwear helps, but a better solution would be to visit a doctor first who may refer you to a physiotherapist or podiatrist. I have a set of exercises from my physio that strengthens the right muscles to keep that kneecap in place which I make sure to do a lot of of a few weeks before embarking on a longer walk. Also wear a DonJoy knee support brace and support tape when running (as directed by physio), but that's just my specific problem

[andrewa]

Just to add something useless, I use both. I have no underlying medical problems, but I use boots in some situation,and shoes in others. I do a lot of research about where I'm going, and try to find footware to suit the trip....I buggered up about 10 yes ago by trying to walk into a wilderness NZ river, with lots of contouring, wearing low cut shoes. Would have been miles more comfortable in boots, but we still got there.

A

[north-north-west]

I have a similar (or maybe same?) problem with my kneecap, as it does not track properly when extending ... I have a set of exercises from my physio that strengthens the right muscles to keep that kneecap in place ...

Yes, this is the issue I have. Diagnosed by a physio I was training with. There is a technical name for it but It's long and forgettable.
I've found that with the orthotics (and, more recently, Glucosamine/Chondroitin supplements) I hardly ever need the exercises any more. Standing is worse than walking, but that's the hip problem contributing as well.

[Joel1982]

Patellofemoral pain syndrome, I think? Many causes and solutions....

[Diamir]

I do use poles. They have saved my knees from turning to dust on a few occasions but they don't really help in a big way.

I use insoles in my mountaineering boots and they seem to work reasonably well. Just a standard Scholl gel insole. I've also used different types of brace to no avail. Same pain kicks in. For the moment I've gone with a pair of Salomon trail runners. Not a light model something with a sturdier build and I'll be interested to see how they go. I think my legs missed out on something vital in the gene pool. Left foot is a little bit twisted to the left and is a half size bigger which makes sizing an absolute pain. I've several alpine ascents in both Oz and NZ under my belt and have absolutely no real dramas above the snowline. But walk-outs are a struggle once the white stuff vanishes.

Perhaps the foot doctor is a good option now.

[WalkOrCrawl]

Now there's a market niche waiting to be filled - being able to buy boots and shoes singly, so those of us with a 1/2 size difference can buy the right size for each foot. Could be just selling in singles, or even matching up people with mirror image differences!

[Bubbalouie]

There can be many causes for knee problems.

Some things that have caused me troubles (I'm perhaps an odd case due to a car accident and subsequent rehabilitation, but this may still help):
* Quadriceps too tight.
* ITB too tight (needed to use a roller to help).
* Doing too much too soon and not taking regular little breaks during reconditioning.

I'd recommend checking out a few running forums or something like that for a full set of stretches to help keep everything limber and in balance, even if it doesn't fix the knee issue it may help avoid issues in future. In my case I thought I was going to have to give up hiking due to knee problems, thankfully this didn't happen.

On the specific question though, I use light weight fell running mid boots now days (inov8 292 gtx I think). They do help, but I think that has more to do with me getting less tired and being more steady on my feet than anything else.

Sent from my D5833 using Tapatalk

[Davidf61]

Shoes, definitely.

I read somewhere about the maths of picking up, moving foot forward and then putting foot down, the comparison between weight of boots vs shoes. It came to being several tonnes! difference in effort over the course of a moderate day-walk. If you have any joint/muscle issue that has to make a huge impact [ no pun intended ] in the long term. That was just the difference in weight between 2 types of footwear, not taking into account what's in your backpack as well ie are you picking up 10kg or 25kg in load.
My podiatrist was absolutely in agreement, always go for as light as possible. I have two outer toes that rub/chafe together, she blames a lifetime of wearing heavy, over the top workboots
Think it was on BPL? I'll search for it.