Footloose and fancy-free

What's the best part about hiking for five months? Why, buying new shoes to carry you, of course! There are different opinions on what type of footwear is best for long-distance hiking, ranging from straight bare feet to the heavy-duty combat boot. Nolan hiked the entirety of the Appalachian Trail a few years back in some trusty old running shoes, but initially my years of Girl Scout backpacking fought intensely against the idea of leaving my boots behind. However, after doing some research and reading articles such as this one , I've settled on a pair of New Balance trail runners. I've ordered them early (to test their comfort) and a size too big (to allow for foot swelling).

If these shoes prove to be satisfactory, I will order a few more pairs to be shipped out to me at various points along the trail, since running shoes aren't meant to travel 2,000+ miles. Nolan has invested in some more durable sandal-type shoes for hanging out in camp, which I may need to try as well. After all, what better reason does a girl need to hike than buying new stuff?!

My new shoes

Nolan's feet on the AT