Balance

[Col Mike]

#5682

A great day is one in which I receive the next issue of Trad.magazine. And I see this title article from G.Fred Asbell–The man who has taught me to shoot the long bow again after 42years via his book and video. And thanks to Shrew and Dave Petersen I have the bow to do it with. To the point– you old farts out there need to read it.

But if it’s appropriate, perhaps you would like some comments from one who has walked and climbed in some of the most inhospitable spots in the world.

To add to the advice in the article I will go radically traditional. Our ancestor’s did it for some 2 million years–yep bare foot. When it got tough animal skins were attached to feet.

Key points–from Herderings experience

1. You have the greatest engineering marvel in the world –your foot.

2. It doesn’t need support–it walked out of Africa 50,000 years ago and populated this planet

3. Ankle support–bull s..t the foot supports the ankle.

4. After traversing the AK pipeline by dogsled and snow machine and ATV in 83-85 with natives–at some points we humped 80lbs with skin boots. our feet were balanced in mocs and Mucks -But balance was there.

5.Throw your boots away–get your feet back on the planet. Enjoy

Semper Fi

Mike

[paleoman]

#43864

I don’ t disagree in theory. Are you saying throw your boots away when it’s 10 degrees out? If so, you first:D

[Troy Warner]

#43881

paleoman wrote: I don’ t disagree in theory. Are you saying throw your boots away when it’s 10 degrees out? If so, you first:D

That’s what the mucks are for.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#43922

What Mike is saying makes a lot of sense, imo. I’ve gone to lighter boots/shoes for a lot of my hunting and hiking.

Certainly, there are situations where a boot with a substantial shank and solid ankle support can be a good thing – hunting in really steep rocky goat terrain, carrying a really heavy pack, etc. But more often than not, I think most people choose a lot more boot than they really need for the actual terrain they are hiking/hunting in. Our typical approach to footwear is to place the emphasis on buying a heavy, stiff boot to do the work for us, rather than focusing on good technique – hmm….sound familiar?

I think there are actually a lot of parallels between this and why we tend to choose a trad bow over a compound. Lighter, more minimal footwear requires more conscious attention and a shift in how we move; at first anyway, after a while it becomes natural, just like shooting a trad bow. However I find that it does require a conscious re-training of hiking technique and heightened awareness of foot placement. But as bow hunters, these are smart things for us to focus on anyway. It’s always blatantly apparent to me when I go out hunting with someone who isn’t an experienced hunter, or who is only a rifle hunter, by how they travel, the amount of noise they make simply due to hiking technique, and the footwear they choose. I had a guy come out with me a few times this season calling for elk, and he always wore stiff, hard mountaineering boots. He couldn’t move quietly in those if he tried.

One of my ankles was fairly well destroyed a few years ago, and still has 6 screws in it. Conventional wisdom would encourage me to wear a boot with good ankle support when hiking. However, I’ve found that with less support, and more attention paid to good technique, my ankle has actually improved and gotten stronger. I would attribute this to being forced to redevelop the muscles, and technique, that a stiff boot usually compensates for.

[handirifle]

#44065

Having hunted most of my life, I have never felt over booted, in the dept of sole protection. I have no desire to go bare footed, but I do have a desire to go lighter, for sure. Since my last pair has just separated the soles from the uppers, it’s time.

I will go more towards the sneaker type hunting boot, but hunting here in central coast region of CA, I need more of a warm weather boot, but also one that keeps out the foxtails. For those not familiar with them, they are a weed seed that is more like a blowgun dart than a seed. It has about a 1″ long and hard, and barbed pointy section on one end, with the “tail” fanning out the back. They will easily get between the tight weaves of most jeans and fabric shoes, and bury them selves in your socks or where ever they get to.

Most of the light weight boots are some sort of woven fabric so it will be tough for me to find something suitable. Snakes are also a serious threat as out bow seasons in this area start in August :shock:, yea bowhunting in 90deg weather, fun huh?

Lighter and thinner will be my motto for next season!

I think we can prepare our selves and we can use all the good technique in the world, but there will be times when we plant our foot on a rock that slips out from under, and all the good intentions in the world will not help that sprained ankle.

I have a set of mucks, and they are great for certain areas, but as mentioned above, climbing in rock covered hills, in my opinion, is not a Muck boot area.

By the way, those same folks that crossed into new lands thousands of years ago, most of them never lived past 40 either. SOME of the good ole days/way are not all good.

Just my humble opinion.

[Stumpkiller]

#44399

colmike wrote: 2. It doesn’t need support–it walked out of Africa 50,000 years ago and populated this planet

3. Ankle support–bull s..t the foot supports the ankle.

It didn’t transport a body 30% overweight and carrying 20 lbs of additional gear plus another five pounds of clothing. The more you carry, on you or of you, the better boot support you need.

[Col Mike]

#44371

Whoops I may have mislead with my use of the term mucks. I meant to say mukluks which is what I wear when temps are below +20 to -50. Check out mukluks.com. Not promoting that site but they are the best hunting footwear going IMHO. Oh, by the way, the fossil record shows that many of our ancestors lived to the ripe old age of 80 and were running 30-50 miles a day–while hunting. While we loose about 15,000 a year below the age of 25 in car accidents.

Semper Fi

Mike

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#44467

Stumpkiller wrote:

It didn’t transport a body 30% overweight and carrying 20 lbs of additional gear plus another five pounds of clothing. The more you carry, on you or of you, the better boot support you need.

And, to coin a phrase, “the more you know, the less you need.”

[handirifle]

#45305

I guess I can makee my last statement of, to each his own.

Nuff said, by me anyway.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#46299

Handi –

I certainly wasn’t implying a lack of knowledge on anyone’s part. And, reading back through my previous post, I can see how it could have been taken that way. Not my intention at all, and if it was taken that way, you have my apologies. Sometimes, the internet is an odd way to have a conversation…

I was just making a point about the relation between pack weight and footwear choice. I have found that getting my pack as light as possible is another way in which I can get away with lighter footwear as well. Obviously, if you’re on a week-long cold weather backpacking trip, more substantial footwear is very helpful with carrying a heavy load. But for day trips, whether from home or a backcountry basecamp – even if I’m going to be out all day – with layers, snacks, water and necessary hunting gear, I can usually keep my pack to < 20lbs. no problem, if I'm diligent about not bringing things that aren't truly necessary. And in my experience, with a sub. 20lb pack, I can get away with lighter, more nimble, and quieter footwear.

Just passing along thoughts based on what I’ve learned through my own experience, prompted by colmike’s post, but as always to each his own.

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