What does UL packing look like for masters? 04 Tips for choosing shoes and how to tie shoelaces that don't easily loosen
Even if you wear sneakers casually on a regular basis, there are tips for comfortable and safe use that can only be achieved through hiking or trail running.
The theme of the fourth video series in the "Outdoor Gearzine Trailhead Presents Arai Yusuke Packing Course 2016" is "hiking shoes (boots)." The theme itself cannot be explained in just a few minutes' video, but in the talk, he talked about the misunderstandings that Arai usually feels when choosing the shoes needed to hike (run), and the method of tying shoe laces that Arai practices, which he does not loosen up.
As always, this is an opinion based on individual experience, so rather than just accept each conclusion at face value, enjoy it through the filter of each individual's wise judgment and broad mind.
What is Outdoor Gearzine Trailhead?
Outdoor Gearzine was held in November 2016 at a gallery near Yoyogi Park for two weeks under the theme of "Starting autumn mountain climbing with Outdoor Gearzine . There is an exhibition of recommended autumn mountain tools, a corner for purchasing tools, a store for valuable outdoor gear, a flea market for used mountain tools after the test, and a talk event with mountain photographer Arai Yusuke, and various projects are being held that can be enjoyed by people who want to climb the mountains or have recently started climbing the mountains. This event has been a huge hit with readers of this site and mountain enthusiasts who have come here casually. For more detailed plans, please see this past announcement page .
Profile of Arai Yusuke
Mountain photographer. Head of SHARA PROJECT. Since his father's acquaintance was a traitor, he grew up in a deep, intimate nature from a young age. He has a deep knowledge of a wide range of fields, from traditional trekking to UL hiking, skiing, MTB, hunting and survival techniques, and outdoor gear, and is also well-versed in knives. Every year in autumn and winter, it is a bush crafter that clings to hunt, and then dismantles and cooks in the mountains.
List of serialized articles "What is Master's UL Packing like?"
- 01 What is the contents of Arai Yusuke's carefully selected backpack?
- 02 The secret to packing is how you use the stuff sack.
- 03 How to use sleep bags and sleeping pads
table of contents
table of contents
- Packing techniques for ultra light hiking - Ties when choosing shoes and how to tie shoelaces that don't easily loosen - (video)
- Video and audio transcription
- Video commentary
Packing techniques for ultra light hiking - Ties when choosing shoes and how to tie shoelaces that don't easily loosen -
As usual, the characters in the video are Arai on the left and me (Hisatomi) on the right.
Video and audio transcript
Things you shouldn't make a mistake when choosing a shoe
Arai Yusuke: When climbing the Northern Alps, this depends on your leg strength, but this (VASQUE St. Elias GTX) is a bit over-spec.
Hisatomi: Northern Alps?
Arai Yusuke: What if the Northern Alps were in a dry season. Most people carry around a kilometer on their normal mountain climbing, which is around 10km. We carry 30kg and 40kg on our backs and cut the middle run. The Montrail is really a (low-cut) trail running shoe. That's how you can walk completely, once you get used to walking. Is it really necessary (straight heavy mountain climbing boots)?On the other hand, it just increases fatigue.
Overseas, most people climb 2,000 or 3,000 meters of Japanese mountains using shoes that climb 4 to 5,000 meters. Furthermore, it is actually a general mountain trail that takes the Alpine route. That's better considering safety, but if you think about whether to climb the mountain with a cast on your feet, or if you want to improve your skills, you'll try to accommodate them with lighter shoes like these, the latter is much more comfortable.
Everyone runs in mountain races in the Alps, wearing light low cuts, right? There's nothing you can't go. However, only those people can tell whether they have the skills to go, so the correct way to choose is to have them use different types of mountains, how many years they have started mountains, how many luggage they carry and how many days they have walked along the mountains, or taking technical routes, whether they are middle or low, or regular mountaineering boots .
Other things like whether your toes are properly protected even when you change to soft shoes, and how your walking habits are (it's important to consider). The softer toes are better, the softer soles are better, and since there are fewer snowy fields, this is fine. Even if there is a snowy field, it will be non-slip with spiked crampons. I use it even in the summer. It can be used not only when walking in snowy fields, but also places where fallen leaves are accumulated, so it can be used while hunting or when growing. The rest is Sasa Ridge. Also, a high pine belt is convenient.
How to choose sandals
Arai Yusuke: the sandals I wear at the stove, like the Luna SANDALS (the bottom is sturdy). Don't take Crocs with you if you mistakenly. I hope that when your mountain boots break, you will recognize that the sandals you can wear as a secondary pair are mountain sandals. Other KEEN toes are better. Crocs are something that goes by quickly. For example, there are often people who have broken shoes and walk from Yokoo to Kamikochi using Crocs, but in that case, rocks sometimes pass through the soles of shoes. They'll end up thinking about whether they'll be able to take advantage of the Sugai-chan, so it would be best to bring something that is perfect for walking, such as Lunathan or Keene.
Hisatomi: It's one with a sturdy outsole.
Arai Yusuke: I guess the premise is that you can run sandals. If that were the case, I think it would still be more careful to take that five-fingered Vibram That hurts. I thought I would die when I ran at Mt. Fuji lol.
How to tie shoelaces that don't loosen
Arai Yusuke: Training shoes are popular these days, and these are also surprisingly done at training events, but the way they tie the strings through them (like regular sneakers, cross them all the way to the end) is a mistake. The end of the string should originally go over here (not on the diagonal side). The last one is something you should go here. The reason is that if you tighten it with the "x" button it will remain prone to slipping, but if you pass it through the top at the end, it won't slip. It won't loosen. In principle, it is the same as the one that adjusts the strings (guy line) that is attached to the outside of the tent. The reason why the laces on trail running shoes are long is that they are supposed to be worn by gaiters.
Hisatomi: The key is to flex twice at the end and stop it with friction.
Arai Yusuke: Since it is assumed that you will be wearing a gaiter, you will need to put the extra knot in the instep at the end. It's covered with a gaitor, so the string won't come out. This will definitely not change this loosening, so you won't have to re-strip. It's also important to put the string properly in this way. For example, take a closer look at the reinforcement part of the shoelace hole. Everyone is one at a time, but the last two are connected. Without realizing it, everyone passes it like regular sneakers, so it loosens and slips. They say that the ankles are not supported, but if the upper is tight and secured, the landing will not shake, making it difficult to twist . The upper is loose and it shakes.
Hisatomi: Is that a story about low-cut trail running shoes, or sneakers only?
Arai Yusuke: That's right. Even in the case of middle cuts, there is a way to tie them without loosening.
When you put your feet in your shoes and start tying, everyone (in the second half of the time when you put the laces on the hook) will start to hang from the bottom to the top. At that time, just hang the string from top to bottom, just the last hook This will cause the string and knot to be rubbed. That way it won't loosen up. This is how people who wore heavy, leather climbing boots from the past. This method won't slow down. Just the way you tie this string will change the comfort of your mountain climbing.
Another common problem is that some people tend to fall into the final knot tightly tied, but the instep and the ankle loosens (from the first step from under the hook). What to do in that case is to put the first step of the hook up from above, then use the next step (middle row) from bottom to top, and finally use the top step of the hook again from top to bottom, and it will never loosen. If you put it on the ankle, it won't loosen at the ankle, so it's fine to tie it like this even in situations where it tends to loosen, such as when it's downhill.
Hisatomi: It means the beginning and the end (in the second half that catches the hook).
Arai Yusuke: That's right. And more. This can be used surprisingly well in the temp. I think a lot of people carry sandals with them, but when you loosen the entire string like this, if you put the top of the last hook from the bottom to the top, it will come off, but when you put it from top to bottom, the end of the string will point downwards, so you can put it on and take off without getting in the way . This way, you can continue using sandals as they are. If you don't want to stay in the temps area in particular, you won't need sandals.
Video commentary
About choosing shoes
Mr. Arai's story may have been somewhat extreme, but he speaks of something very important in his fundamental thinking. also written about this site how to choose trekking shoes , but it is a mistake to choose shoes based on old common sense, such as "Go to the Northern Alps? Then there are heavy mountain climbing shoes," which is often the case when choosing shoes.
When choosing the best shoes, the important thing is how much the overall weight you put on your shoes, including your own weight and luggage. In the past, when even a small overnight climb was quite heavy, the above speculation might have been correct, as "North A, stay overnight → heavy," but now that light and durable equipment is overflowing and technological advances, many hikers don't weigh much. In that case, it is natural that it is safe to say that there is no need for a hard sole that can withstand a considerable amount of heavy load or a high ankle that is difficult to twist even under strong loads. Looking back at my own situation, I have rarely done long-term traversing, but now I rarely wear high-cut boots outside of winter.
However, this does not mean that anyone can choose light and soft shoes just by weight. It is also important to remember to consider the terrain of your destination, your leg strength and technical skills, and how easily you will sprain. In that sense, the safest way to gain experience is to start off with some heavy, sturdy shoes and then gradually lighten them. However, even if your individual needs to find the perfect pair, there is no doubt that lighter and softer shoes are more comfortable and easier to walk in.
By the way, the spiked crampons that appeared at the end (they are called chain spikes and chain crampons, etc.) is highly recommended as they are very convenient for low mountains in winter and for lingering snow in the future. It grips well even on frozen trails and roads, even small snowfalls and snowy fields, and is compact compared to light crampons, and is easy to walk in because the nails are distributed throughout the soles of the shoes. Of course, unlike 12-prong crampons, it can be worn with any shoe, and most importantly, it's easy to put on and take off.
I use a model called CAMP Ice Master, and I like the fact that the plate on the spikes is stable and it's highly durable. Or you can get something that's almost the same easy to use with Montbell. This one has simple spikes, so it may be a little less durable, but it is not that different in terms of usability.
How to tie shoelaces
Many people probably knew how to properly sweep the laces on trail running shoes, but I didn't know about them. . It may have been difficult to see in the video, so I'll add it to the photos below.
It's true that just by passing the string on the right side of the photo, it will be quite difficult to loosen. RUN+TRAIL Vol.23 published in February featured even more detailed shoe set-up methods than this, so if you're interested, please take a look!
Next, we also introduced how to tighten middle-cut hiking shoes that do not easily loosen. This has been said for quite some time, so many people may know this, but I also made some additional photos for those who find it difficult to understand in the video. This is a method of hanging the end of the shoelace hook from top to bottom to prevent it from loosening (photo below).
Furthermore, the knot is made by hanging the shoelace hook from the instep to the ankle from the beginning from the bottom to the ankle to make it even less likely to loosen (photo below).
Another thing I'd like to add an enlarged photo of how to tie it easily in a tent area (photo below). Simply hang it loosely and remove the hook on the bottom shelf, and simply hook the hook on the top shelf from top to bottom. It's certainly easy to put on and take off, but it doesn't really get out perfectly lol
In fact, if you try out how to tie shoelaces, you will find out by searching Google or YouTube, but there are many different methods introduced around the world, not just outdoors. I'll try to summarize it if you feel like it, but there are also some acrobatic ways to tie it up, like "Huh?", so it might be interesting to look for it too.
Finally, personally, I am fully satisfied with this same method at the moment, but the above is just a knot that is "hard to loosen" and in my case I have added another method to make the knot "hard to loosen". Some people probably know this, but I'll end with the method at the end. Seeing is a must-see, but in a nutshell, at the end of a typical bow, you can pass the ring of the bow through the knot once more once. This alone makes it more difficult to unravel even with round laces that are strong but easy to unravel.
