Nearly every single through hiker, nearly all of whom do a minimum of 20 miles a day on rugged and/or rocky terrain, use trail runners. I recently switched to Altras and find that after walking the 10 or 12 miles I normally do with a pack in the Sierra, my feet feel really good. I know they won't last as long as my Merrell Moabs, but I love the lack of "clunk" factor. I do not have big, fat ankles, but I am flexible and know how to roll with a twist, rather than resist it. I have heard that some people can have a problem with plantar fascia with the zero drop, but to me they are the closest thing to backpacking "slippers."
