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Post by bayliss on Sept 11, 2014 10:55:59 GMT -5
I'm looking for new hiking boots. Any suggestions on brands?
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Post by treebeard on Sept 14, 2014 8:38:40 GMT -5
The ones that fits your feet the best - trust me on this one.
DO NOT get hung up on brands.
Go to an out fitter (REI, EMS...) towards the end of the day (your feet will be more swollen and this is the best time to try on boots), bring the socks you intend to wear and be prepared to spend a bit of time. Try on a bunch and hopefully the place will have a slant ramp, make shift rocks or similar and give them a good feel.
Most important - check the toe box (you don't want any rub or toe bang); and avoid heel slippage. If you experience any of these, move on. Also don't get hung up on size. Just because you wear a size in a street shoe or sneaker does not mean it will directly translate to a given boot.
Good Luck.
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Post by bayliss on Sept 14, 2014 10:56:24 GMT -5
That is great advise. I know you have saved me some pain
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Post by capt00 on Sept 15, 2014 20:33:37 GMT -5
If you happen to fit in them right, my Lowa Renegades are going strong and still waterproof after 5 years.
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Post by bayliss on Sept 16, 2014 11:02:44 GMT -5
new brand to me. I look into them thanks
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Post by capt00 on Sept 16, 2014 11:28:44 GMT -5
new brand to me. I look into them thanks They're a little pricey but any time I think the trails will be moist I depend on them. Otherwise I wear Reebok trail runners. |
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vdeal
Forum Elder
Posts: 580
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Post by vdeal on Sept 16, 2014 12:29:07 GMT -5
Lowa Renegade user here too and what I like about them is the polyurethane midsole and nearly the lightest weight out there for leather and the PU midsole. What has bothered me is the smaller toebox. Mine are due for replacement and I will look at them in the wide size but am exploring other options as well.
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tomas
Junior Member
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Post by tomas on Sept 19, 2014 11:46:53 GMT -5
Go with what best fits your feet. I'm wicked lucky in the sense that Merrell boots seem to be a natural fit for me.
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Post by arfcomhkr on Oct 2, 2014 13:28:53 GMT -5
Go with what best fits your feet. I'm wicked lucky in the sense that Merrell boots seem to be a natural fit for me. My feet are messed up six ways from Sunday, but I can almost always wear a Merrel. Problem with them is that they wear out quickly, at least all of them that I've had. I just bought a pair of Vasque Summit GTX that seem to fit pretty well. Unfortunatly I have a pair of Vasque St Elias GTX purchased earlier this year that I can't wear. 1 trip on them and I'll end up tossing them if I can't give them to somebody. |
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Post by tedebear on Oct 14, 2014 19:32:41 GMT -5
I'm looking for new hiking boots. Any suggestions on brands? My expensive brand name shoes only lasted two seasons and about 500 miles. Serious de-lamination of toe guards. "Rugged Outdoors" Payless hiking boots for $45 seem to fit well (two hikes so far) and should wear just as well or better. The toe rubber is not only glued but sewed as well. |
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MRHyker
Forum Elder
Out to Lunch
Posts: 130
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Post by MRHyker on Oct 15, 2014 1:09:53 GMT -5
I'm looking for new hiking boots. Any suggestions on brands? My expensive brand name shoes only lasted two seasons and about 500 miles. Serious de-lamination of toe guards. "Rugged Outdoors" Payless hiking boots for $45 seem to fit well (two hikes so far) and should wear just as well or better. The toe rubber is not only glued but sewed as well. I respectfully have to disagree with Ted. I bought the exact same boots (probably from the same Payless store) about a month ago not for hiking but to replace my worn out tennis shoes when I walk my dog at the local county park. After a mere 50 miles of leisurely walking on asphalt, sand and grass I noticed that the heels collapse to one side or the other when I rock back on them, putting my full weight on them. I've been hiking for many years. This is a sign that either the rubber is too soft and/or the air pockets in the rubber are too big. Regardless which is the case it means these boots will probably fail prematurely. The fact that the toe guard is sewed gives me concern - a sign that the lamination is weak. Even though @ $45 they are pretty much a throw away commodity I wouldn't trust them for a New York minute if hiking an extended distance over rugged terrain with a full pack. It's one thing to have footwear issues a mile or 2 from your car but it's a different story if your in the middle of a 1-200 mile section of PA AT (A feat that would probably delaminate the toe guards on the best of boots). BTW, 500 miles is probably about right for toe guard delamination on mid-range quality boots, especially if hiking in PA. Some people do OK with Vasque but I and several other hikers I know have had nothing but problems with them - mostly with boot lace hardware flying off when lacing up. I had a pair of Renegades that I used just for day hiking. One sole totally delaminated back to the heel. The boots had less than 100 miles on them. I had to cut the sole off with a knife and hobble back to my car. Wooly Bully also has Renegades and noticed that his were just starting to delaminate and they were newer than mine I believe. I think I'll stick with my Merrells and Asolos. |
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christopherrobin
Forum Elder
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.”
Posts: 257
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Post by christopherrobin on Oct 15, 2014 6:06:02 GMT -5
Sierra Trading Post has several Asolo models on pretty hefty sale right now, if you catch them at the right time.
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vdeal
Forum Elder
Posts: 580
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Post by vdeal on Oct 15, 2014 7:45:05 GMT -5
I've had my Lowa Renegades since Oct 2009 and just this spring on a hike wore a hole in the area next to the ball of my foot behind the big toe. Interestingly the Gore-tex still seems intact. This is an area with a lot of seams. No problem with the soles at all. The boots have 400+ miles on them. The problem as I noted before with me is the tight toebox. I now have a few feet issues and need something with a bigger toebox. In fact on my last hike I pulled out of retirement my 22 year old all-leather Vasque Summit boots (a step up from the Sundowner) and wore them.
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Post by Hours Per Mile on Oct 28, 2014 14:09:03 GMT -5
Here is a review that I wrote for my current boots, the Lowa Ticam. Click this link, I hope this helps! |
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vdeal
Forum Elder
Posts: 580
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Post by vdeal on Oct 29, 2014 7:46:14 GMT -5
4 lbs. - crickeys! My twenty-some year old all-leather Vasques only weigh in at about 3.75. That kind of weight is a killer. Might be necessary for certain areas but for anywhere around here that is totally unneeded. Honestly, I try to keep the total weight of both boots under 3 lbs. My Lowa Renegades (size 11) weigh 2 lbs. 11.63 oz. (yeah, i'm kinda obsessed with detailed weights). My old Technicas were 2 lbs. 13 oz. These boots have seen every kind of abuse imaginable and came through with flying colors. I'm on the search for new boots right now. Another pair of Renegades is a possibility if the wide size gives me more toebox room otherwise I'm considering the Salomon Quest 4D GTX or the Salomon Comet 3D GTX. The 4D might push my 3 lb limit but the 3D would be good. My best advice is to try them on and see what fits best. Wear the socks you hike in and watch the weight like a hawk.
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Post by Hours Per Mile on Oct 29, 2014 11:41:26 GMT -5
4 lbs. - crickeys! My twenty-some year old all-leather Vasques only weigh in at about 3.75. That kind of weight is a killer. Might be necessary for certain areas but for anywhere around here that is totally unneeded. Honestly, I try to keep the total weight of both boots under 3 lbs. My Lowa Renegades (size 11) weigh 2 lbs. 11.63 oz. (yeah, i'm kinda obsessed with detailed weights). My old Technicas were 2 lbs. 13 oz. These boots have seen every kind of abuse imaginable and came through with flying colors. I'm on the search for new boots right now. Another pair of Renegades is a possibility if the wide size gives me more toebox room otherwise I'm considering the Salomon Quest 4D GTX or the Salomon Comet 3D GTX. The 4D might push my 3 lb limit but the 3D would be good. My best advice is to try them on and see what fits best. Wear the socks you hike in and watch the weight like a hawk. 'That kind of weight is a killer'- for some. I destroyed a pair of Lowa Renegades in one season a couple of years back. I have also tried so many combinations of boots, trail running shoes, etc. with different kind of rigid ankle braces that it had become nauseating. ActiveAnkle T2 with the Ticam work well for me, and my hike. The weight has never bothered me one bit, ever. |
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vdeal
Forum Elder
Posts: 580
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Post by vdeal on Oct 29, 2014 13:53:15 GMT -5
wvbackpacker,
How old are you? I looked at the Active Ankle T2 and am not sure why one uses it. I guess if you need it then maybe a tougher boot is called for. Also, how many miles do you hike a day. My note on the weight is for the average hiker - honestly, unless there was some very strong reason for it I would never suggest 4 lb boots to anyone. I guess one's body weight is a bit of a factor along with how much you carry.
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Post by Hours Per Mile on Oct 29, 2014 14:26:27 GMT -5
vdeal,
I am 39 (5'10", 160lbs.), but suffered a major ankle injury years ago tearing all three main tendons of my right ankle. I have been prone to rolling that ankle since, regardless of physical therapy and strength training. The ActiveAnkle T2 brace prevents significant lateral ankle movement, and those boots give me added stability, especially off-trail. Being a Wilderness First Responder my pack weight is higher than the average hiker, carrying plenty of the stuff that nobody ever wants to see in the field... As for miles per day, I'm more of a days per mile hiker... I will hike 10-15 miles/day at times, but personally prefer much less if I am out for leisure. One can call it stopping to smell the roses, I like considering it 'blending in, becoming part of the surroundings, and letting the wilderness resume its typical activities.
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vdeal
Forum Elder
Posts: 580
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Post by vdeal on Oct 29, 2014 14:40:22 GMT -5
Well, that explains a lot and your choice of footwear. 99% of the people here don't match that criteria and would better be served by lighter boots. I'm betting in 20 or 30 years you'll be wearing something lighter also.
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Post by Hours Per Mile on Oct 29, 2014 15:05:02 GMT -5
Wisdom of the crowd, as Aristotle puts it vdeal... We can all only submit our own real life experiences to help educate each other, especially the ones who ask for insight. One's information shouldn't ever be considered 'wrong' because its not the norm.
Reading the initial post to this forum, I would only hope that a general inquiry like this would only come from someone interested in reading all of the information given them, like the scenario explained in the beginning of the boot review I posted.
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