>>1339427>boots>for hiking a trailWear sneakers. They are lighter and more comfortable in warm weather. Shit, you could wear sandals for all it matters for trail hiking.
Also, barefoot is okay, but he'd better be barefooting about a year at least before tackling the AT. Otherwise, he's going to fuck up his feet, joints, and back. And, he needs to ultralight as much as possible. Shoes are a tool and part of their job is to support the foot while carrying heavy loads. If you are not accustomed to carrying heavy loads while barefoot, I'd advice against a heavy pack.
