The road to lightweight

For me, it all started with a 20 mile sponsored walk for a breast cancer charity with my younger sister, herself a cancer victim who has just finished her treatment and has come out of the other end almost intact - just a little lighter in the chest area, but fully recovered :)

I had done a lot of 10 to 15 mile days, but had not hit the 20 mile mark since my 20's. I knew we had to train for it and I knew it was a lot of road walking - no way was I wearing my boots. I was visiting my sister and dropped into a running shop in Sheffield and they kitted me out with a pair of wonderfully comfy, lightweight off-road running shoes from New Balance (M781) for around £50.

The first 20 mile day was hard work (leg muscles not used to the distance), but I couldn't believe how well the shoes performed on and off road. After boots, it was like walking on air - my theory was if people can run 26 mile marathons in running shoes, walking should be fine.

The next 20 mile training session was a dream. Then two more (combining on and off road). This was easy! I couldn't believe it!


I did a few shorter walks leading up to the event and when the day came, we both made it in good time and I could actually run across the finish line with my four year old son on my shoulders. I have not used my boots at all this summer and have clocked up around 150 miles in the NB's so far. I have used them all over the western Beacons and in the Peak District with no problems at all (I have not used them in the wet yet due to the fantastic summer!)

They have great grip with a reasonably deep tread pattern, excellent shock absorption, they give perfectly adequate support for light hiking on decent paths, they are supremely comfortable and are only 768g per pair (with Superfeet green's in them).

This walk set me thinking about other ways I could lighten the load on my days (and nights) in the hills and after some research, I found quite a few other items and ideas that have made my life easier. So the journey started!