Who makes a good hiking/walking boot?

[BikeJunkie]

I just use the trail version of my running shoes when I go on a hike (ASICS GT2000 / GT2000 Trail). They've held up fine so far.

A fine shoe, but terrible for winter hiking.

 

[Imported]

A fine shoe, but terrible for winter hiking.

I guess I have the benefit of not knowing what winter hiking is?

 

[MrSquished]

i've had merrell and vasque boots and liked them both.

but when i got my first pair of salomon's the other year? hands down the best. needed no breaking in time. so comfortable. did me fine on my two first backpacking trips this past summer carrying 35lb on my back. also they really are waterproof. i purposely don't bother to worry about stepping in water anymore in these. great treading on the bottom - they are extremely surefooted.

these are teh ones i have:

http://www.amazon.com/Salomon-Comet-...=salomon+boots

61 customer reviews, 4.5 stars. they really are on another level.

 

[Markbnj]

i've had merrell and vasque boots and liked them both.

but when i got my first pair of salomon's the other year? hands down the best. needed no breaking in time. so comfortable. did me fine on my two first backpacking trips this past summer carrying 35lb on my back. also they really are waterproof. i purposely don't bother to worry about stepping in water anymore in these. great treading on the bottom - they are extremely surefooted.

these are teh ones i have:

http://www.amazon.com/Salomon-Comet-...=salomon+boots

61 customer reviews, 4.5 stars. they really are on another level.

I like the look of them, even though I usually prefer more "boot" and less "sneaker." The reviews are outstanding, but they are another level on price as well. No doubt worth it from your description and the reviews.

I assume this is the same company that makes bindings and boots for skiing?

 

[PricklyPete]

My goto is ASOLO for a full on hiking boot. Had my pair for 6+ years with very regular usage and other than the mud all over them..they look brand new.

 

[MrSquished]

I like the look of them, even though I usually prefer more "boot" and less "sneaker." The reviews are outstanding, but they are another level on price as well. No doubt worth it from your description and the reviews.

I assume this is the same company that makes bindings and boots for skiing?

yes they got their start in ski boots from what i know

it looks kinda sneaker-ish but trust me, it's all boot.

i've never put a boot on and then gone immediately on a 10 mile hike and felt so comfortable. i think salomon is one of the most under the radar hiking boot manufacturers. i use them on hikes, on backpacking trips, and when i go out to shovel the snow. you owe it to yourself to at least go try them on.

i went on the reviews and got them from amazon. love at first try.

 

[PricklyPete]

yes they got their start in ski boots from what i know

it looks kinda sneaker-ish but trust me, it's all boot.

i've never put a boot on and then gone immediately on a 10 mile hike and felt so comfortable. i think salomon is one of the most under the radar hiking boot manufacturers. i use them on hikes, on backpacking trips, and when i go out to shovel the snow. you owe it to yourself to at least go try them on.

i went on the reviews and got them from amazon. love at first try.

I use Salomon for my trail running/light hiiking shoes, but for heavier duty hikes (14er's/ 40+ mile backpacking trips), I prefer my ASOLO hiking boots.

http://www.asolo-usa.com/men/hiking-footwear-for-men/flame-gtx-mens-cortex-tundra.html

 

[norseamd]

what is a good low ankle hiking or multi sport shoe that comes in 12+ 4e

 

[AViking]

Vasque

I bought a pair of these at REI and they are hands down the WORST shoe I have ever bought. They fell apart in less than 2 weeks of moderate use. I hadn't even had a chance to use them on the trek I was planning before the stiching was coming undone and the tread was falling apart.

For $107 I was not impressed.

Not really answering the OP's question but the best hiking "shoe" I have ever bought was my pair of Chacos. I have had them for 5 years and they are amazing! If you don't need the ankle support or your feet covered get them. I've used them in just about every climate that wasn't freezing.

 

[aceO07]

I'm a fan of Lowa.

I'd had Merrell, Vasque, Nike and others before. I did like the Nike ACG (all condition gear) hiking sneakers. The Vasque broke. No comment on Merrell.

The current Lowas are expensive, but well worth the money.

 

[Specop 007]

Merrill

Seconded, Keens are nice as well.

 

[Markbnj]

yes they got their start in ski boots from what i know

it looks kinda sneaker-ish but trust me, it's all boot.

i've never put a boot on and then gone immediately on a 10 mile hike and felt so comfortable. i think salomon is one of the most under the radar hiking boot manufacturers. i use them on hikes, on backpacking trips, and when i go out to shovel the snow. you owe it to yourself to at least go try them on.

i went on the reviews and got them from amazon. love at first try.

Definitely will. Thanks for the rec.

 

[Markbnj]

I use Salomon for my trail running/light hiiking shoes, but for heavier duty hikes (14er's/ 40+ mile backpacking trips), I prefer my ASOLO hiking boots.

http://www.asolo-usa.com/men/hiking-footwear-for-men/flame-gtx-mens-cortex-tundra.html

That is a really good looking pair of boots, and they look very well-built. But ouch, the price.

 

[Tango]

Oh, and that waterproof comment is nonsense. My hiking boots are gore-tex waterproof and snug as a bug. Comfy and stable on the Highline in Glacier at 35 degrees and Angels Landing in Zion at 90. Get what's right for you.

Gore-Tex, like all waterproof PTFE membranes, substantially reduces the airflow. It is an acceptable, or even necessary, compromise if the conditions where the shoe will be used require it.

Personally, I never use waterproof shoes in the summer. Not even in high-altitude alpine terrain if it is a single day outing. Multi-day is a different story. Other people go even beyond, as I have seen climbers on the glacier system above Everest base camp still in non-waterproof approach shoes. The fact is, sweat makes your foot clammy, and that's potentially very, very bad because it is one of the three ingredients necessary for blisters.

Anyway: my point was just that nowadays for marketing reasons most brands push on the market even low-cut light boots with trail-running threads... with gore-tex lining... which really makes absolutely zero sense. Gore marketing convinced people you are getting something for free, without giving up anything. It is not so (and this is true for mountaineering clothing too).

 

[Capt Caveman]

Gore-Tex, like all waterproof PTFE membranes, substantially reduces the airflow. It is an acceptable, or even necessary, compromise if the conditions where the shoe will be used require it.

Personally, I never use waterproof shoes in the summer. Not even in high-altitude alpine terrain if it is a single day outing. Multi-day is a different story. Other people go even beyond, as I have seen climbers on the glacier system above Everest base camp still in non-waterproof approach shoes. The fact is, sweat makes your foot clammy, and that's potentially very, very bad because it is one of the three ingredients necessary for blisters.

Anyway: my point was just that nowadays for marketing reasons most brands push on the market even low-cut light boots with trail-running threads... with gore-tex lining... which really makes absolutely zero sense. Gore marketing convinced people you are getting something for free, without giving up anything. It is not so (and this is true for mountaineering clothing too).

I find Gore-tex on my low-cut Lowas better than soaked feet and socks when you're out in the rain or hiking in very wet conditions.

 

[norseamd]

I find Gore-tex on my low-cut Lowas better than soaked feet and socks when you're out in the rain or hiking in very wet conditions.

are you talking about unpredictable conditions? he said there were acceptable uses which i think rain and wet dirt would cover.

 

[Capt Caveman]

are you talking about unpredictable conditions? he said there were acceptable uses which i think rain and wet dirt would cover.

I'm guessing you missed this.

Anyway: my point was just that nowadays for marketing reasons most brands push on the market even low-cut light boots with trail-running threads... with gore-tex lining... which really makes absolutely zero sense. Gore marketing convinced people you are getting something for free, without giving up anything. It is not so (and this is true for mountaineering clothing too).

 

[norseamd]

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_...nid=6127766011

any of tese good? i know that the new balances can be thin.

 

[norseamd]

Gore marketing convinced people you are getting something for free, without giving up anything.

t is an acceptable, or even necessary, compromise if the conditions where the shoe will be used require it.

he was saying there are tradeoffs i think. anyways i have not read this entire thread so if you guys were talking about something earlier i would not know.

 

[The_Dude8]

danner boots:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

soles are resoleble.

another option is alico from stp, made in italy, soles are also resoleble.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/al...p~63669/?filterString=s~alico/&colorFamily=32

 

[The_Dude8]

Merrell does seem to be getting the bulk of the votes here. I really like the look of these, and these, and the price will do. I like these even better, but not sure I'm ready to go $200.

for those prices, i get the Danner from amazon for $185 if your size is available for $185. They are made in U.S.A, and their vibram soles are soleable.

 

[The_Dude8]

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_...nid=6127766011

any of tese good? i know that the new balances can be thin.

no they are not. Since you live in MN, i would get this Danner boots if you can afford them.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?tag=anan06-20

 

[Tango]

he was saying there are tradeoffs i think.

Yup. If one knows the range of conditions he will be using the shoe (or any gear really) it becomes apparent what side of the compromise it makes sense to be.

For example I quite routinely see people with baking feet in places like Red Rock, Nevada or Joshua Tree, California who are wearing WP membranes in 0.00% probability of rain.

The same is often true of mountaineering clothing. The situations in which it is in fact necessary to wear a waterproof hard shell over of a stretch-woven membrane-free soft shell are very limited. Yet the industry's marketing is really pushing the idea that people should be *running* in fair weather wearing gore-tex for some reason...

Anyway, to each his own I guess.

 

[yhelothar]

I haven't tried too many brands, but I can vouch for skechers' hiking shoes. I used to go hiking up a mountain twice a week. The first thing I noticed with the pair of Skechers is how well they gripped on the loose gravel on a fairly graded incline.

http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/trail-running-shoes.html

 

[BikeJunkie]

My Merrell moab polar winter boot arrived yesterday and was WAY too narrow... so bummed Very unusual for Merrell. I always wear an 11D and never have problems with shoe width, but a lot of people commented in the reviews that they run narrow (why?!).

It took me a week to finally decide on that boot - it's light, insulated, waterproof - perfect for winter MTB'ing.

I'll probably just go with their Moab GTX boot. It's not insulated, but reviewers claim it keeps their feet warm down to 20 - 30 degrees, which is all I'm really after. I've had these suckers on my feet so I know they the right size/width.