I'm planning a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, and I was wondering what the thoughts are for that application with these shoes? Any specific comments about expected mileage, water resistance, or blisters would be great.

In my opinion, light hikers are the best shoe for the AT. The trail is not too rocky for the most part so you wont have to worry too much about the lack of ankle support. Plus it does tend to rain quite a bit and no shoe is water proof. A heavy boot or something with a waterproofing like goretex just makes it take a lot longer for your shoes to dry out. You will also be glad for the lighter weight of this shoe as it should save you from injuries you might incur wearing a heavier boot. All in all, this would be a good, durable choice though you may also want to look at some trail running shoes, as they are light and will dry out even quicker, but are much less durable.

I have thru-hiked the AT 3 times any each time I wore a light hiker. The first year I went with Merrells and had a great experience. They were some of the most comfortable shoe that I had ever hiked in. I personally don't like to hike in gortex because my feet sweat and then don't dry out. A non gortex shoe breathes and allows my feet to stay drier as I hike, and on rainy days or after stepping in a creek they dry out much faster than their gortex counter parts. Another great thing about Merrells is there is no break in time, so when you wear out one pair and switch to a new pair and you are good to go. The most milage I got out of one pair was 1,000 miles, but I usually average closer to 700 miles for Merrells. The soles hold up great and have good traction. Mine usually wore out where the uppers met the soles. I don't carry a heavy pack, usually around 22 pounds so my feet stayed happy even on long days. If you are planning of heaver pack weights(35+) you might want to invest in super feet to help support and cushion your feet from the rocks and roots on the AT. Nature Boy

I thru-hiked in 2003 and started out in full blown hiking boots. By the time I reached Franklin, NC (105 miles in), my feet were in bad shape and covered in blisters. I picked up a pair of ventilators at the outfitter there and and it changed my entire hike. No breaking in required. The blisters went away and the ventilators provided plenty of support for all AT terrains. I doubt they will last the entire trail. By the time I reached Delaware Water Gap, they needed to be replaced. But I think it's safe to say you should be able to get at least 1100 miles out of a pair. I had a lot of rain my year which definitely contributed to the wear and tear (it rained everyday while in Virginia!). The only downside is that they are low tops, so you won't have ankle support, but that shouldn't bother you if you have strong/flexible ankles and are used to hiking in lows/chacos. Don't even bother trying to waterproof them. They will soak through during your first downpour, but they dry out quickly while hiking. I've done several long distance hikes since the AT and I've always worn ventilators. Great value, durability and comfort. Good luck on your hike. It will be the best time of your life. Ponyboy PS Always have one pair of dry socks. It's the best feeling to be able to put them on at the end of a long, wet day of hiking.