Footwear Choices and isle Royale

MY PERSONAL OPINION REGARDING FOOTWEAR CHOICES AND ISLE ROYALE:
To a certain extent, whether (or not) one's feet develop blisters, bruises, toenail issues, or leg injuries (on Isle Royale) is often more of a matter of "luck", the weather, and the trail conditions during your particular trip (and the number of miles hiked) than it is a matter of choosing "the right" footwear. Your FOOT CARE practices also play a MAJOR factor. (Of course, this all presumes that your specific shoe/boot/sandal is generally "appropriate" for hiking, properly fitted, has a wide enough toe box, etc). Thus, IN MY OPINION, the specific brand name and footwear style (boot or trail runner or sandal) are probably "minor" considerations and just a matter of personal preference. There is probably no "right" or "wrong" footwear choice.

ILLUSTRATION: I have sometimes done 2- 4 trips to Isle Royale using the same footwear. On one trip, I might have foot problems. On another trip--I might have ZERO foot problems. Same hiker. Same footwear. Same type of socks. All trips taking place on Isle Royale.

What accounts for the difference?
I really think that the weather and the trail conditions during my different trips have been two of the biggest factors in whether I developed foot problems on that trip. 1) On some trips, the weather has been wetter than others--and the humidity has been higher. 2) On some trips, the trails have been rougher and wetter than the trails during another trip. 3) On some trips, I have hiked 5-8 miles per day (and I have even had days where I hiked few or no miles). On other trips, I have averaged 10-15 miles per day-- for many days in a row.

Hiking 5-8 miles (per day) on drier and "smoother" trails is easier on the feet than hiking 10-15 miles (per day) on wet and rugged trails. That is often going to be true--no matter what brand or style of footwear that one chooses. It isn't the footwear choice--it is the environment where you are using the footwear.

I have been to Isle Royale on many occasions when your footwear and feet were going to get soaked--no matter WHAT you wore and no matter how waterproof it was advertised to be. I have been to Isle Royale when the wet conditions (and high humidity) made it very unlikely that ANY footwear was going to get fully dry for a few days in a row. Wet feet and/or high mileage will increase your chances of experiencing foot problems (no matter what brand or style of footwear you select).

If you twist or turn your ankle (or leg) severely enough--your ankle (or leg) will get injured --- whether you are wearing sandals, trail runners, low boots, or high boots. It boils down to simple physics (and bone strength) more than footwear choice. You can only place so many pounds of force on bones, tendons, ligaments etc.
So, at the end of the day, luck (regarding weather conditions and not twisting your foot) ---and having good foot care practices-- will often make a far bigger difference in the condition of your feet (and legs) than what brand or style of footwear you choose.

Of course, that is just my opinion. Your Mileage May Vary (YMMV).