Thread: Hiking Footwear

Hey i was looking into buying some footwear for the upcoming season. As of now i've hiked in a pair of running shoes, not the best... Just seeing if anyone has any info on footwear. Looking to do all kinds of hiking, from couple day backpacking, 14ers, Class 3, looking to get into Class 4 moves, a little of this, a little of that, basically looking for an all-around shoe, or boot.

Any comments would be appreciated...

Get a quiver. Buy 2 or 3 shoes for the things you're looking to do. Few shoes will do all of those things well.

Hmm. I find a pair of trail running shoes works for all of that. Unless of course the extra altitude would make Nike Air's explode when ascending a 14er

Class 4 = Class 3 with exposure

I'm a fan of approach shoes for most of that. My mountain masters saw me through 20+ mile days on the trail, a handful of 14ers, months of slickrock, and were enough to get up 5.6-5.7's without too much trouble... I loved them while they lasted, but they're all blown to hell now. But like focus said, a "quiver" could be best, unless you don't mind carrying some weight without ankle support. That said -- Chaco's are my go-to for pretty much everything now, but the approach's still come out for anything with exposure...

I'm a boot guy. I swear by these boots. I've put about 2500 miles on mine and now its time to replace them. Ash has the same pair and she's put about 1700 miles on them and they are still in great shape.


I use those for everything that I can't do in Chaco's. Chaco's fkn rule BTW!!!

Goretex vs nongoretex


is the goretex really better than treated leather?

Seems like it would breath less in the end (tongue is goretexed) and lead to moister feet and socks and all the complications that brings (besides wet feet feeling)

i mean... unless you are PNW or somewhere else super rainy...

I could do anything in my Tevas but I do get sick of having my feet scratched and cut during scrambles and bushwacking.

I'm looking at a Timberland Cadion Mid to replace my old falling apart timberlan mid boots. They have an Goretex XCR version and a non membrane version.

Sick mid... full length pebax shank and crampon compatible /w vibram and it is only 2#3oz! that is the weight of most sneakers! it is 2oz lighter per pair sans goretex... so do I really gain for $30 more + 2oz more for XCR?

I (and several people in my hiking club) have gone with these Raichle boots. Full grain leather upper, reasonably lightweight, rubber guard on the toe, good tread. Much better in wet weather compared to fabric trail runners. A proper boot will also take crampons for those early season hikes. Low cut trail runners are nice for around camp and maintained trails but a stiff sole and ankle support for off-trail hiking is worth having.

Originally Posted by Summit

Goretex vs nongoretex


is the goretex really better than treated leather?

Seems like it would breath less in the end (tongue is goretexed) and lead to moister feet and socks and all the complications that brings (besides wet feet feeling)

i mean... unless you are PNW or somewhere else super rainy...

I could do anything in my Tevas but I do get sick of having my feet scratched and cut during scrambles and bushwacking.

I'm looking at a Timberland Cadion Mid to replace my old falling apart timberlan mid boots. They have an Goretex XCR version and a non membrane version.

Sick mid... full length pebax shank and they list it at 2#3oz for a pair... 2oz lighter per pair sans goretex... so do I really gain for $30 more + 2oz more for XCR?

Goretex liners works really really well! During those spring hikes when the trail turns into a creek and then turns to a field of snow, I get to camp with soaked leather but dry feet!!

While I don't know much about 14ers (we only have 2k'ers here in the Midwest), I've done my fair share of hiking in a lot of different conditions. I swear by the Montrail Torre GTX. You can read a big review I did for it here: http://drunkencamping.info/?p=51. They work great for all that...Vibram sole, GoreTex, blah blah, great ankle support yaddah yaddah. I won't regurgitate what I wrote there.

I also have a pair of non-Goretex trail running shoes from Lafuma, but I wouldn't recommend them for most of that stuff.

The girlfriend just picked up a pair of Asolos too this weekend at Midwest Mountaineering's Outdoor expo. She put a pair of Superfeet in them and said they fit better than her normal shoes. The guy at the shop did an excellent job fitting her. Now she's finally out of some ancient-ass Columbias into something Goretex that can actually keep up with what we do.

No matter what, good luck with your quest. I would highly recommend going to a professional boot fitter (probably not at REI) and investing in some good footbeds. Just like with ski boots, a great fitting boot is uber-important.

After a misspent youth running around in big heavy leather boots (btw- properly snowsealed full grain leather boots are perfectly waterproof and with a really well fitting set of gaiters you can wade creeks w/o getting wet) I pretty well switched over to trailrunning shoes or light hikers for everything. (don't backpack anymore though). Other than true mountaineering (complete with snow/ice sections) a lowtop works so much better for me. Lighter, more agile and fewer blisters. Always wear a good pair of gaiters and you can get away with not getting very much.

Fonixmunkee, I've come across your blog before and I have to say, nice work. Definitely some good information on there.

That said, I finally own a pair of Lowa Tanarks. No fancy gore-tex, just a nice mid-weight hiking boot for a wide range of activities. So far they have only seen time out snowshoeing, but they will soon be getting their workout on the Superior Hiking Trail. I can already tell they are going to beat my old running shoes hands down for the 3+ day trips.

Originally Posted by fonixmunkee

While I don't know much about 14ers (we only have 2k'ers here in the Midwest), I've done my fair share of hiking in a lot of different conditions. I swear by the Montrail Torre GTX. You can read a big review I did for it here: http://drunkencamping.info/?p=51. They work great for all that...Vibram sole, GoreTex, blah blah, great ankle support yaddah yaddah. I won't regurgitate what I wrote there.

I also have a pair of non-Goretex trail running shoes from Lafuma, but I wouldn't recommend them for most of that stuff.

The girlfriend just picked up a pair of Asolos too this weekend at Midwest Mountaineering's Outdoor expo. She put a pair of Superfeet in them and said they fit better than her normal shoes. The guy at the shop did an excellent job fitting her. Now she's finally out of some ancient-ass Columbias into something Goretex that can actually keep up with what we do.

No matter what, good luck with your quest. I would highly recommend going to a professional boot fitter (probably not at REI) and investing in some good footbeds. Just like with ski boots, a great fitting boot is uber-important.

I started wearing Salomon boots a few years back after owning a pair of about every other major brand...I'll never wear anything else now...they last twice as long as all others I've had too

I've had a number of Asolo, Salomon and Lowe boots. Last year, I bought a pair of Mephisto Allrounders. These things rock. Very comfy; gore*tex; reinforced up the wazoo. Look into them. They don't disappoint.

Originally Posted by booner

I started wearing Salomon boots a few years back after owning a pair of about every other major brand...I'll never wear anything else now...they last twice as long as all others I've had too

I'd go with half as long as all the others, but whatevah

I don't see much reason for goretex in boots unless you are snowshoeing or crossing lots of low streams. If they are deep streams, you are over the boot top anyway. Most other times, I think the gore just makes feet sweat more than needed. I have Vasque gore boots for early Spring late Fall stuff. Then low cut hikers with a stiff sole for everything else. Unless of course carrying a heavy pack, and then I would go with the ankle support and stiffer sole of a heavier boot.

Basically the only time I use boots now is if I'm going to using crampons. I like the heavy-duty trail runners (I wouldn't run in them) as long as I have hiking poles. With the poles I find that I don't need any more ankle support. Without poles though, I prefer something with good ankle support if I'm in rocky terrain.

An approach shoe would be good for most of what you are talking about Joe, but if you want some ankle support which isn't a bad idea, I like my La Sportiva Trango S boots (red non-insulated boot), which are super light, burly enough to do snow climbs (they have a heel welt for a hybrid crampon like the Grivel New Matics), yet comfortable enough to backpack with IMO. I've only had mine for a month or two now, so haven't gotten out on them a lot, but they seem really nice so far.

Another option for this type of boot (3 season mountaineering, non insulated) is the Kayland Super Rock. My friend digs his, but your foot has to fit Kaylands, which is a good point. Try on boots from a variety of brands to see which ones fit the best as they will all fit slightly different. Mountain Outfitters and Wilderness Sports have ok selections, but I think Bent Gate in Golden has a bigger selection to try on different brands.

My boot/shoe quiver would ideally look like this:

-Chacos
-approach shoe
-3 season mountaineering boot (this is the most versatile I think, make sure it will accept your crampons)
-winter single layer mountaineering boot for most NA winter stuff (ice climbing vs. general mountaineering)
-plastic mountaineering boots for cold weather and multi-day trips where you want to put your liners in your sleeping bag (least versatile boot, reccomend getting this one last and you could rent them unless you start doing lots of trips to alaska)
-AT boot for when you take your skis with you (this is becoming my main winter boot lately)

great fan of the vasque sundowner. great support, very comfortable from the get-go without causing any blisters:

http://www.rei.com/product/721357

i'm a heavier guy and can't fathom going on rocky terrain in light shoes so i favor solid approach shoes for less demanding hikes. i snagged the Vasque Pingora off SAC and am very happy with them:

http://www.trailspace.com/gear/vasque/pingora/

I'm with LB and cj, light hikers or trail runners are best and the most comfy, unless I'm going backpacking for a week or more and want to bring a ton of shit. I've haven't tried any of salomons newer boots but the leather pair I still use for long backpacking trips I've had for almost ten years and it was only just last year that I started to get any holes or leaks in the gortex/leather.