Stiff Boots Question

I broke my ankle a bit less than a year ago. Before that, I'd done a number of multi-day treks with a 60lb pack using low-top light-hikers or very soft hiking boots.

Now, my broken ankle requires a bunch more support, so I purchased some stiff boots that sit somewhere between hiking and mountaineering. This really helps the ankle pain, but goddamn I feel like frankenstein when scrambling/walking on climbers trails.

The soles are tall so I'm elevated up, and without the ankle flex the job of balancing on uneven terrain goes to my knees. It seemed more stable before, pivoting my ankle to the terrain to wrap my soft soles around the rocks instead of clomping over them like the tin man.

Anyways, my question is for you alpinists out there who blow by me on the trail with rigid crampon boots carrying 4 days of food plus a full rack. How do you make this look so easy? Am I missing something? Are rigid hiking boots not really the right thing for approach trails? Is there some technique I'm not getting right?

I suppose it's a moot point since my ankle can't currently handle a pack on soft shoes, but I'm just surprised that most hiking boots are built like this.

What boots did you purchase?

My first suggestion would be to use trekking poles, if you do not already. They help with balance, and also significantly speed one up when used correctly. The best are Gossamer Gear, followed by Leki.

Hiking with heavy boots simply sucks. I find its slower, harder and less stable to hike in my mountaineering boots (Nepals, Baturas), than in light hikers and runners. I wear them only when the terrain requires it, preferring to use light shoes for long, dry approaches.

You'll see if you look at modern mountain boots, they're getting lighter, lower profile, and more flexible. They're trading support for speed and sensitivity. I personally like the tradeoff most of the time.

You will break into your boots and learn to walk more comfortably in time. Everyone who's hiked in plastics can tell you that they start out miserable, but actually feel okay after a few weeks. I second the suggestion of using poles if you don't already.

Bump for trekking poles. In regards to footwear it's all personal. I currently use my scarpa triolets for everything. I've always preferred stiffer boots, I like the utter stability, the feeling that I can stomp the ever livin shit out of anything and never roll. I find like/need the extra protection for my feet from Rocky terrain as I tend to quasi stumble around the trail too because I prefer looking around and up at everything rather than down at the trail and I feel these boots allow me to do so without wrecking myself. Some will say I'm a wuss and need to toughen up my feet and I'll say they're a wuss for complaining about the extra weight. Again it's all personal preference. I find they hike/walk really well but maybe I'm just used to it. While not cheap what's the price of a ruined ankle? Scarpa also makes the rebel which is stupid light and another stiffer boot that is synthetic. I only mention scarpa BC they fit my feet. Sportiva makes some light stiff boots as well and I'm sure
others do. The other down side to the stiffer more mountaineering boots is that they typically don't breath very well. You might also consider some of the high top approach shoes (this sounds like a plug but it's just coincidental) I'm selling a pair of scarpa tech ascents in a 44. They're just a bit too big on me. Anyway, there are trade offs to everything and everyone is different as for me I'm in love with my triolets another benefit is the freedom to slap on crampons and have less concern about them slipping around. Hope that gives some insight.

Thanks for the advice on trekking poles, that's probably just what I need, although I'm still a bit embarrassed to be that guy doing the approach hike with poles.

Here's the shoes I got, the Zamberlan 960 Guide GT RR:

Don't feel embarrassed doing the approach the faster, easier, safer way. There are more times I felt like an idiot for forgetting the poles than I did for having them.

For the Snake Dike example: I'm sure I approached in trail runners and carried them for the climb after switching to comfy rock shoes. If I had an ankle I was worried about, I'd hike up in stiff runners and a pair of poles. I'd carefully stash the poles and shoes near where you leave the main trail, and switch to my Gandas. Do the approach, climb, and walk down in the Gandas. The trail is basically paved, with the worst part being the loose sand above the Little Valley. There's quite the mileage to get back around, so you don't want to try and hike in rock shoes.

I have a chronically weak ankle (too many times rolled playing basketball as a kid). I approach with and "Active Ankle" (T2) brace and Gandas.

The brace controls the rolling and can be taken out and stowed when the approach is over.

A rigid brace lends a lot of stability and allows me to approach with a heavy pack. A lace-up could also be used but with less stability and surprisingly less mobility than a hinged rigid.

I also use Z-poles and they pack away pretty small for the climb.