Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I am wondering if anyone has some suggestions for minimalist hiking boots or something of the sort. I have seen some things online, but my main concern is that I will be walking around a lot in an area filled with mesquite (I live in West Texas) for a class and have been told that wearing good boots is important because the mesquite thorns can pierce athletic shoes even. Are there any options to keep my feet safe and comfortable (I've grown somewhat accustomed to minimalist footwear).

So any ideas on minimizing the sole as much as possible while having good protection against super thorny mesquite trees, let me know, or if I'm just out of luck probably I guess that is ok too. There is also a lot of cactus growing around heavy mesquite areas so that will probably be part of the terrain as well. I am also allergic to mesquite so I don't really want to get stabbed by the trees.

Thanks you ya'lls help! :)

edited Mar 22 2012 at 16:02

lorraine
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asked Mar 21 2012 at 3:00

lorraine
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	On the less practical side of things, Shaka trained his Zulu warriors to run barefoot over acacia thorns (acacia and mesquite belong to the same subfamily) until they built up proper callouses :p – cerement Mar 21 2012 at 5:06
	The problem is the puncture resistance. Most shoes (aside from steel-toe boots and some hiking boots with a steel insert inside the footbed) are not ready for thorns of any time. Terra Plana makes a line of (expensive) barefoot shoes with 3mm Kevlar soles that will stop sharp edges but still won't protect from a thorn coming at you straight on ... – cerement Mar 21 2012 at 5:12
	yes, I think puncture issues on the sides of the shoes will be an issue as well. I probably will get a pair of heavier hiking boots to wear and then maybe once I get a feel for what it is actually like out there I can try to pull back to something more minimal. and I'm sure callouses have something to do with tribespeople being able to go around barefoot in rough terrain, but alas I'm a modern girl (in a few ways) and want soft girly feet :) – lorraine Mar 25 2012 at 21:15
	We did not evolve the feet required to live in West Texas. – thhq Jan 22 at 13:11

score 7 · Answer 1 · 2012-03-21 15:06:30Z UTC

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Rather than risk being painfully stabbed I would just wear heavy leather hiking boots and watch where I stepped...simpler than dealing with healing a foot or walking on it while it is injured.

edited Mar 21 2012 at 15:06

answered Mar 21 2012 at 13:54

henny

animaleater · Answer 2 · 2012-03-22 05:28:59Z UTC

Ive been a minimalist for years. Climb most of my mountains (4300meter in Colorado for example) in Vibram KSO Treks or Merrell Tough Gloves. Both are superb, and the trails are rough. If thorns are a real concern, Russell Moccasin makes trackers for the African bush specifically thorn proof, zero rise, and flexible.

Karen P. · Answer 3 · 2012-03-22 21:17:05Z UTC

Forgive me, but I think people are missing something here. As a native New Mexican, I can attest that part of the problem are threats from above, not always below. Meaning, thorns can stab the tops and sides of the foot too. I once walked through a field of star thistle in regular running shoes and was stabbed multiple times.

I don't have any specific recommendations, but I would go for old school, sturdy leather boots with the thinnest sole I could find. I mean, how often will you need something like this? Is it worth the investment? If you'll need them frequently then I guess I would try to figure something more minimal out, but otherwise I would just suffer with a heavier, more structured shoe.

Aaron · Answer 4 · 2012-03-21 03:29:24Z UTC

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Mesquite thorns are serious. You'd have to make your own sandals out of like... a bullet-proof vest. I've worn Vibrams in mesquite fields before - but knew that I had to be careful and the shoes would not stop a thorn if I stepped right on one.

answered Mar 21 2012 at 3:29

Aaron
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	Bulletproof vests are not stabproof. That's why they make special stab inserts for people likely to face stabbing threats, like prison guards. – RevRigel Mar 22 2012 at 5:24
	I saw something about socks made from a kevlar blend once, maybe paired with my NB Minimuses... – lorraine Mar 25 2012 at 21:16

zot · Answer 5 · 2012-03-22 03:29:07Z UTC

How about these:cwww.softstarshoes.com? I just ordered a pair of the RunAmocs with the trail sole. They are smooth leather. I live in an area where there's a lot of sharp lava rocks on the trails. I looked around for a while and decided to try these.

Caleb the Hobbit · Answer 6 · 2012-03-21 04:00:13Z UTC

Vibram makes a hiking shoe called the KSO Trek. The sole is a bit thicker. It may not stop a mesquite thorn directly - you sadly may not have minimalist options for that - but they have stood by me for rough and rocky terrain all over the US and the British Isles.

barefeet · Answer 7 · 2012-03-21 08:53:19Z UTC

This person had the sole thinned - http://birthdayshoes.com/forum/feet-and-fivefingers-accessories-and-alternatives/my-red-wing-boot-conversion/

You could buy a pair of boots from a thrift shop (if you don't have any currently) and have them customized similarly - that is, if you'll hike enough in that type of terrain to make the expense worthwhile.

Lindsay · Answer 8 · 2012-03-21 13:46:24Z UTC

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I'm not familiar with mesquite thorns. You might try a minimalist trail runner with a rock plate, not sure if that would offer enough protection.

answered Mar 21 2012 at 13:46

Lindsay
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primallykosher · Answer 9 · 2012-03-21 15:11:38Z UTC

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http://shop.oetzi3300.com/

The troops shoes look pricy but fit the bill.

answered Mar 21 2012 at 15:11

primallykosher
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jake · Answer 10 · 2012-03-22 19:41:26Z UTC

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i really enjoy the new balance minimus shoes... they look pretty cool compared to other barefoot shoes and are just a great shoe you can wear all around.

answered Mar 22 2012 at 19:41

jake
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saiklón · Answer 11 · 2012-03-22 22:18:58Z UTC

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Inov8 roclites are a serious offroad minimalist shoe line. They offer good grip and rock protection even when trail running through rock gardens. They have everything from ultralight racing to over-the-ankle waterproof style.

answered Mar 22 2012 at 22:18

saiklón
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theorist · Answer 12 · 2013-01-02 23:15:04Z UTC

The Vivo shoes are marketed as having puncture-resistant soles; you might try contacting Vivo and asking them about mesquite thorns. [And also ask them if any of their shoes would have uppers that would provide protection, following the advice of Karen P.] Unfortunately, I've note seen any independent tests evaluating the puncture-resistance of various minimalist shoes.

Minimalist outdoor footwear

12 Answers