Glass Slipper

Well you hear about what shoes to wear on the TMB. Boots, hiking shoes, and even sandals. When I did the Camino de Santiago, I had my Merrell hiking shoes that I wore, and they were extremely comfortable. I also wore my Eco Sandal with socks for more than half of the hike. Yeah it is a dad thing, but the Eco Sandals were really comfortable and a good break if my feet were feeling tired.

Then after reading all the posts, Altra hiking boots / shoes had a huge fan base. So I decided I was going to try them out. Being a Type1 foot care is one of the most important things to consider on long hikes. So, I went ahead and purchased a pair. They were comfortable as soon as I put them on. The Zero Drop (you can see how the heel is not flat to the ground) and the larger toe box were the two big selling points.

Altra has a 30 day return policy as well so this was a win / win. The guy at the store says almost no one returns them. I took them on 5 six-mile hikes on the Appalachian Trail. They weren't bad. I don't if it was this shoe or just my foot, but there was a constant rub on my left toes. Then on my last hike with them, I switched to my Merrells and my feet felt like they were in heaven again.

When I returned them they never asked a single question. They took them back and just asked if there was anything else I can do for you. Altra good for you for believing in your product so much. However they weren't for me.

The most important thing when selecting footwear is make sure that like the ruby slippers in that they can take you back home. As you know no matter where you go, there is no place like home.

Thanks and Pack Lightly

Just Joe