My Forum

Hi Skip,

so much useful info. Great thanks. I'll be with 3 companions at least one of which is more fearless than me. I had done the high level route below Pillar before but the initial steep descent seemed steeper and I was at the back and felt rushed and a bit 'exposed' which made me nervous. We'll be able to take things at a slower pace.

We're staying in Ambleside at the Unicorn pub. We're actually driving up on the 2nd of June and I doubt if I'll arrive in Ambleside until about 4PM. I'm not sure how many cars we'll be split over but it could be as many as three purely down to logistics.   

Martin thanks for that I'll have a closer look at my boot.

I like Peter's idea of naked feet. I did try it for a littel while but obviously not long enough. Once the weather gets warmer I do revert to sandals and I have experimented with Five Finger footwear. I found that I couldn't walk more than about 3 miles in them over level grassy terrain. Also thorns from low lying thistles sometime got through the thin soles. 

I'm seeing my physio on Saturday and he keeps my gait in check as I do sometimes end up with one leg longer than the other, AND since I've been going to him I've not had any real problems with my achilles tendon. I may have to treat myself to a good podiatrist to get my gait analysed and corrected as necessary. I used to slightly turn out my feet as I walked but I believe this is no longer the case.

I think the comment about the Superfeet insoles having a low arch is spot on, which if I remember correctly is why I didn't get on with them.      

Hi Tim,

thanks. I had the ASOLO Fugitives. Nice boot but I found the sole wore out much more quickly than I liked. The lugs weren't too deep to begin with so that didn't help. Not so grippy in muddy conditions.

My Lhotse's have kept going for about 5 years now, worn over late autumn, winter and early spring. I think they've still got a bit more life left in them. They're likely to go when the crease across the toes finally cracks and lets the water in. I'll have a look at their light weights when I'm up in the Lake District. 

I'll also have to find time to try on the 'spare' as yet unworn boots I bought a while ago, although for those I did go up a size. Hope they still fit otherwise I'll have to sell them unworn.

Skip thanks a lot. Up in the lakes for a week from the 2nd of June. Hope to do the one you posted starting from New Dungeon Ghyll ascending via Whiteside(?) during the week.

Hi Waldo, well I checked the current insole and there is cushioning but it feels as though it wouldn't do much. I'm going to try replacing the insole with one I know works. By replacement I shouldn't have any volume related problems.

Interestingly I went walking last night in my 5 10s which I also haven't worn since last summer. These shoes have had far less wear. The soles of my feet were fine but once again there was a feeling of the shoes being tight across the broadest part of my foot. Loosening the laces helped a little. So it does look as though my feet are spreading. I'll also experiment with thinner socks as best I can. But it looks like I'll have to replace several pairs of footwear by this summer's end.

For my benefit if my feet are spreading which boot manufacturers have a wider fitting? I know from experience that ASOLO and Salomon are slim fitting. My Meindl Lohtses stil seem o.k. if not 100% comfy on the longer walks. I know Altberg do several widths for their boots.