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What backpacking/hiking boots do you use?


wallwombat

30-May-2010
6:01:12 PM

On 30/05/2010 Musique wrote:
>I personally believe you should go into one of the outdoor stores in the
>city, and have a proper fitting. IF you find the right one, get it! Don't
>be cheap and cheat the company if you recieve awesome service.

I don't know where you work but it's been around 15 years since I went into an outdoor store in the city and received awesome service.

scarecrow

30-May-2010
6:11:04 PM

On 30/05/2010 wallwombat wrote:

>I don't know where you work but it's been around 15 years since I went
>into an outdoor store in the city and received awesome service.
>

That sucks! In Adelaide at least you can expect pretty good service in pretty much any store there..I wont name names of the ones that let the side down.. :P


JamesMc

30-May-2010
6:22:28 PM

On track I use Crocs.
Off track I use full leather Asolos
Not really into the middle ground

JamesMc

Wendy

30-May-2010
8:13:03 PM

I did a walk in the Kimberly last year with a friend who started the trip with a new set of heavy duty boots, got nasty blisters in the first 2 days and resorted to wearing his camp shoes (Crocs) to walk in. He proceeded to do about 2 weeks of off track walking in the crocs.


cruze

30-May-2010
8:58:44 PM

Call me old fashioned but I use Scarpa treks almost dripping with snoseal. With a decent pair of gaiters and a good pair of socks you will never have wet feet. I must also be a complete gumby because every time I whack my shoes on a rock or root with a decent pack on my pack I thank the heavens that I am not wearing sneakers.

Rogaining I wear sneakers all the time. That is typically mostly off track in some pretty nasty terrain, but it's only for 24 hours so I can deal with the consequences. I use the cheapest pair of Asics I can because sneakers get trashed. I still do my best to keep my shoes and socks dry though.

For me, anyway, walking with wet skin = very bad.

That said, my next pair of walking shoes probably wont be full leather, I think the non-full leather materials they use now are spiffing.

Mike Bee

30-May-2010
9:33:23 PM

I walk in a pair of Aku Lagorai GTX boots most of the time. Full leather, goretex lined, very stiff and relatively wide fit makes for a great boot for me. They works awesomely well down in Tassie, or up in the Gammon Ranges. I have a dodgy ankle, so when I'm carrying a heavy pack, I like a stiff boot. They're hard to get currently, as Snowgum (the Aku importers) are a bit useless at stock control. I chose these over Scarpa SL as they are a wider fit. SLs would be my first choice for a heavy duty hiking boot.

On trails with a lighter pack, or for approaches, I'll use a lighter trail shoe. I've got a few options there, all have their pros and cons. Salomon XT Wings, Scarpa Mojitos, Keen Taos (now Arroyo), Vibram Five Fingers and Crocs all get used at various times depending on exactly what I'm doing.

It's horses for courses really, and what works best for you will be different to what works for your friends/climbing partners. Head into a store, find someone with a clue (some salespeople don't have a clue, others do) and get yourself fitted out. Unfortunately, trying to base your decision on the recommendations of people in real life or off Chockstone is going to do nothing but draw out the decision process.
Buy a pair, and try them. If they're well fitted, 90% chance you'll be happy your purchase. If you're not happy, accept it as a learning process (eg you learn that you prefer more flexible soles in a lighter weight shoe (eg trail shoes) than stiff, heavy Scarpa SLs (easily the most durable boot for sale in Australia).

Take the time and spend the money to do it right and get a good fit. A good pair of boots (or any good quality footwear) will tend to cost a lot ($200+ for shoes, $300++ for boots), but the comfort, security and durability of them will make you forget about the money very quickly indeed. As someone else (dmnz?) said, fit is the most important thing.

Winston Smith

30-May-2010
9:46:16 PM

For wet walking and heavy packs - Frenchmans Cap, Federation Peak, the bits of the Overland Track that are not boarded over and the like - I'd recommend Scarpa SL or Asolos both in full-grain leather.

The support in walking boots comes mostly from the shank of the boot which is a metal or fibreglass sheet in the quarter or half of the sole of the boot starting at the rear of the boot. For comfort the sole needs to flex at the ball of the foot.

In very wet conditions nothing will keep you dry forever but a well water-proofed - Nikwax/Sno Seal - pair of leather boots - some also have a Goretex layer - combined with gaiters will keep you drier longer.

Sure you can walk in sneakers or barefeet (!) but if you want to carry heavy loads without damaging your feet - either arches or ankles - decent boots are a necessity.

Also if your feet are constantly wet, in a shoe that flexes too much and fits badly expect to get heaps of problems - aching arches, twisted ankles, skin falling off your feet.

I agree that fit is the most important thing, especially width - some brands come in wide fittings including Asolo and Scarpa.

Leather boots will also last twice as long - think 10 years - as lightweight nubuck and nylon models but are typically only $100 more expensive.

I don't think that Blundstones have the build quality of Asolos or Scarpas when you compare them dollar for dollar.

I hope that helps.

citationx

30-May-2010
9:48:13 PM

I bought a pair of Scarpa SLs once. Stiffest pieces of clogs ever. Worthless. fell over more often than not when scrambling on rocks because when the boot rolls sideways it supports you so well that your leg got pulled over sideways with it. Hated them. Managed to offload them to some sucker then went to some crappy pair of salomon trail shoes. Best ever. So comfortable, respnosive, stiff soles as far as shoes go but still very responsive.
Then I guided in Tassie and it was a requirement that I wore boots. So I bought a pair of Scarpa Peak GTX. Fantastic boot! very soft rubber, solid build but not as high or as stiff as the SLs. They were sensational for running over wet stuff but that soft, sticky rubber was their downfall, the rubber wore down too quickly. Regardless, I reckon they're the pair of boots that I'd buy if I needed a new pair.
Having said that, I haven't worn a pair of boots since that season ended in 2006 except for ski ones. I stick to trail shoes these days. If you need so much ankle support that you need boots, then you probably shouldn't be walking with weight on your back. Sticky rubber, best way forward..


S4A

30-May-2010
10:20:47 PM

Wish you luck with the search and i thought i would throw my 2 cents in. I had a pair of Raichle Mnt Trail GTX boots that had done around 60 days walking with a heavy pack and the soles started to come away from the boot. It got to the point that i could feel water under the ball of my foot between the goretex liner and the sole. Getting them replaced took forever but now have Zamberlan 996 VIOZ GT and i am so so happy with them they are amazing. Super light and easy to spend the whole day in.

Hope this helps

hargs

30-May-2010
10:52:16 PM

Ditchede the boots ages ago. Love my 5.10 Camp Fours.

TheNewGuy

30-May-2010
11:23:23 PM

Thanks all, good food for thought.

And good to hear that an ankle roll tipping me into the drink wasn't just because I am unco, but that others have had similar experiences with very stiff boots.


dave h.

31-May-2010
1:11:39 AM

If you have wide feet, I suggest you try the Asolo FSN 95. I've used a pair of these (which I got for free because they were used) on a couple of easy 2-3 day hikes, and found them fine.

I work in a shop which retails mostly La Sportiva, Asolo and Garmont. Out of the mid-cut boots in each brand (La Sportiva: Onyx XCR, Garmont: Flash III, Asolo: Voyager XCR, Prism GTX, and FSN 95), the FSN 95s are really quite broad in the fore-foot area. The Prisms are also broad but are higher and stiffer from memory.

The sole will flex but I'd say it is more rigid than a lot of other boots in that size. Hope this info is of some help.

widewetandslippery

31-May-2010
7:36:27 AM

I'm with ODH and don't "get" boots. Then again I'm not a spastic, just retarded. WW your ankle I thought was a result of a T.J.Hicky?


BoulderBaby

31-May-2010
8:29:26 AM

On 30/05/2010 wallwombat wrote:
>On 30/05/2010 Musique wrote:
>>I personally believe you should go into one of the outdoor stores in
>the
>>city, and have a proper fitting. IF you find the right one, get it! Don't
>>be cheap and cheat the company if you recieve awesome service.
>
>I don't know where you work but it's been around 15 years since I went
>into an outdoor store in the city and received awesome service.
>

I work for Outside. Nuff said.


wallwombat

31-May-2010
8:42:24 AM

>On 31/05/2010 widewetandslippery wrote:
> WW your ankle I thought was a result of a T.J.Hicky?

Nope, I slipped down climbing off that sandstone boulder between the suicide towers.

You spastic.


evanbb

31-May-2010
8:56:28 AM

Canyoning (which is the inbetween) I use Dunlop K26s. I prefer shoes as light as possible for most bush walking. Unless I'm carrying a proper pack, which I've got Scarpa Rangers for. Had a pair of Scarpa Treks for about 8 years but found the rubber too hard; decked off a lot of wet rocks. The Rangers have a softer sole which helps a lot.


cruze

31-May-2010
9:11:38 AM

I thought I might add that earlier this year we met a nice Melbourne couple while walking the grand circuit in Torres del Paine. They were backpacking for a year and didn't bring walking shoes, instead just a pair of Salomon trail shoes. Whilst they did skirt the boggy bits (where we could walk right through) they didn't seem to have too many problems with the sneakers including kicking steps over pretty decent snow patches leading up to John Gardner Pass! Just got cold feet.
Might be worth checking those shoes out if you into lightweight footwear.


markq

31-May-2010
1:20:03 PM

I bought Scarpa 'Kailash' boot new before going to Nepal and wore them for 7 weeks solid hiking. Never had any problems at all. Well built boots and didnt take long to wear in. Stay way from them If you have a broad foot though as they are a bit narrow in the toe box. They re full gore-tex so youll be alright in the muddy/wet, itsnowed most of the time I was up there and I never got wet feet anyway.

No complaints here.

One Day Hero

31-May-2010
2:33:38 PM

On 30/05/2010 Winston Smith wrote:
>
>The support in walking boots comes mostly from the shank of the boot which
>is a metal or fibreglass sheet in the quarter or half of the sole of the
>boot starting at the rear of the boot. For comfort the sole needs to flex
>at the ball of the foot.
>
Right.....so you have a steel shank in the sole......how does that stop foot damage?

>Sure you can walk in sneakers or barefeet (!) but if you want to carry
>heavy loads without damaging your feet - either arches or ankles - decent
>boots are a necessity.
>
I've done a 10 day walk in sneakers, no dramas. Also hauled big loads (50ish kgs) up big hills (vertical km) in sneakers without ever wishing I had boots on. Sneakers have arch support too, is there any actual reason why boots would prevent problems better?

One Day Hero

31-May-2010
2:38:36 PM

On 31/05/2010 cruze wrote:
>
>while walking the grand circuit in Torres del Paine. They were backpacking
>for a year and didn't bring walking shoes, instead just a pair of Salomon
>trail shoes. Whilst they did skirt the boggy bits (where we could walk
>right through) they didn't seem to have too many problems with the sneakers

Man, when I did that walk it had huge patches of thigh deep bog. Those of us in sneakers had wet feet (and legs), those in boots and gaiters had dry feet for the first hour then a liter of water in each boot for the rest of the trip.

Net effect: sneaker folk walked with wet feet, boot folk walked with wet feet but slower cause they stopped every 20mins to drain boots

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