By mileage, our trip on the Trans-America Trail will be more highway than dirt, but we expect to spend about the same number of days on each. In a 50/50 scenario like this it'd make sense to have a 50/50 boot—something like Sidi's Discovery or Oxtar's (just-discontinued) Infinity, right? Right!
...Which is why you can probably call me crazy with my footwear selection. But, being a newbie dirt rider I expect to fall, and fall a lot. As such, I'm looking for maximum protection for both my bike and myself, which is why I decided to get a pair of Sidi's Crossfire boots. The Crossfires are Sidi's most protective boots, but they also have two hinges around the ankle to allow easy, controlled foot flexion. The rigid hinges prevent both side-to-side bending and over-extension of the foot in both the up and down directions. Coupled with an extremely rigid sole and armored pads on the shin, the Crossfires protect quite well while being easier to walk in than, say, a ski boot (or non-hinged boots, for that matter).
I figure that the Crossfires will be fine for the road and excel in the dirt, plus the ankle hinges will make them flexible enough to walk around in for short distances without trouble. But what about my time off the bike, or for hikes? As camping and photography are the other activities we're planning on enjoying during the trip, I'll need some other footwear for these occasions. My old Teva Sci-Fi sandals, which were the very first things I ever bought at REI back in 1991, finally gave out last year. They would have been great as they were comfortable, light, and they packed flat.
I headed back to REI and took advantage of a sale to buy a pair of Chaco Z/2 Steath sandals. These will pack even flatter than my old sandals, plus they have a nice loop around the big toe to provide a little more control. They also use a strap system that lets me snug them down enough to fit my narrow feet quite well. A couple of the staff members at REI have switched from light boots to the Chacos as lightweight hikers for day trips or weekend get-aways, so they promise to work well for my intended use.
So, I think I have the footwear angle figured out: Maximum protection while on the bike, and comfortable, light-weight, easy-packing sandals for off the bike. Matt and I will be putting my theory into practice over Memorial Day weekend as we take advantage of the extended weekend for a little wrenching, riding, camping, and photography. We'll see how well this gear performs then.
nice article. Thanks for sharing
Posted by: Paula Makenzie | June 28, 2017 at 01:17 AM