I find lightweight footwear (ie Terrocs) good for most of the year, with a full pack, but not for snow and ice.
It is very hard to find a decent lightweight pair of boots - the Brasher Superlites are the best, but are too low volume for my toes. Having spend days trying to find something, I've ended up with 1800g monsters for winter use (although the last pair were over 300g more than this).
I find gaiters to be useful in some conditions (snow, long grass, bogs, etc.), not particularly useful in others (easy, open paths). I've never had problems with circulation, but then I wear a pair of my own design and manufacture...
As for the shoes vs boots argument, as with all outdoor gear, you choose footwear appropriate to the conditions, the activity, and your personal physiology and preferences. Path walking on good surfaces: shoes. More mountainous terrain with uneven surfaces, or when crampons are required: boots.
Not many approach shoes have midsoles that are stiff enough to provide adequate support for the foot, or protect it from bruising caused by walking on rocky, uneven ground.
Captain Paranoia, many approach shoes have exactly the same sole units as lightweight boots from the same makers. I find that the best support for the foot is provided by a shaped footbed with a stiff heel such as Superfeet rather than a stiff midsole. I prefer flexible footwear, especially on rocky, uneven ground. I feel unstable in stiff boots and my feet ache after shorter distances than in lighter more flexible footwear. Last year I hiked the GR20 in Corsica, the most rocky "trail" I have come across and wore sandals on four days (until a pig stole one) and then lightweight flexible shoes the rest of the time. I was carrying around 12-14kg. My feet felt fine throughout.
This may not suit everyone. The point is that it's a matter of opinion not fact. Some of us find light flexible footwear better for rocky uneven ground than stiff boots. Some prefer stiff boots.
> The point is that it's a matter of opinion not fact
Erm... that's exactly what I said, isn't it?
"...and your personal physiology and preferences"
Mine are obviously different to yours, as the soles of my feet ache much more wearing flexible-soled shoes on rocky terrain than they do when wearing boots. Maybe I've just been lucky with my boots (Scarpa Trek Attak, now 10 years old, and on their last legs).
Your point about lightweight boots may well be true, but then I don't have a pair of lightweight boots, because I find their soles too flexible. If I want lightweight, I'll wear shoes, otherwise I'll wear my Scarpas.
BTW, are my posts that unclear? This isn't the first time you've appeared to disagree with me when I thought we were saying largely the same thing...
"Path walking on good surfaces: shoes. More mountainous terrain with uneven surfaces, or when crampons are required: boots."
I read that as a statement of fact rather than an opinion.
"Not many approach shoes have midsoles that are stiff enough to provide adequate support for the foot, or protect it from bruising caused by walking on rocky, uneven ground."
I read that as a statement of fact too.
A difference may be that I wear sandals much of the time and go barefoot round the house and garden and occasionally on paths in summer. This probably makes my feet fairly tough. It certainly makes the soles hard.
Okay, yes, in this case, my post was unclear. The first point was my personal footwear preferences, and the second, my experience of approach shoes and 'proper' boots, not lightweights.
Nice one Bill, my little spelling mistake has got everyone in stitches, anyway i still think gaiters are a load of CROC !
ROTFL
In 10 years of walking/camping in the Lakes there has only been one time when i wished i had a pair of gaiters (note: spelt right) and that was last year when out near the Kentmere valley, i had to cross a field with very long grass, unbeknown to me the grass was soaking, i only had a pair of walking trainers (no waterproof liner) on and came out the other side with saturated feet, luckily i had wool socks on so i didnt really feel the cold. Mind you, i dont think gaiters would have been much use with just the trainers on ;-) As for tramping through cow dung, well i have never known a full field of it, is it not easy to just walk around it?
NSJ - have you tried the Brasher Azuma's? I was in Gaynors the other day and they felt a lot stiffer/tougher than the Supalites and not too heavy. I think the Azuma's were about £70 at Gaynors.
While i was there i couldnt resist the Brasher Matenge XCR and i am going to be using these this summer in the Lakes for birdwatching and the odd fell walk ...
Yes Marcus, i agree that gaiters are useful in deep snow, personally i have just battoned down my waterproof trousers and made do with that (you can also get waterproof trousers with internal gaiters as well) , however i see a lot of peeps wearing gaiters all the time and that was my point, not needed all the time. 95% of the time they are just another item of gear to look after, wash clean, and replace etc. Also everyone goes on about breathability etc, what under all them layers of fabric? What can i say?
