Monday, April 13, 2009

I am looking for hiking shoes that can stand getting soaking wet...?

I like to go out in nature here in the tropics and its usually quite wet and there is always a need to cross a stream or river. What hiking shoes would be able to stand getting totally soaking wet and still be good to wear? It should also be a to drain and dry fairly fast. Any good shoes from Timberland?

I am looking for hiking shoes that can stand getting soaking wet...?
There are really three ways to go on this.





1) Try to keep water away from getting inside your boots at all times.


The best way to do this is to use waterproof boots. Most of the best ones use Gortex. You can add gaiters if necessary for stream crossings in case the water level is above the tops of your boots.


Disadvantages include that even the most breathable waterproof materials do not breath as well as materials that aren%26#039;t water proof, so you risk hiking in sweat soaked socks. Also, if the insides of your shoes get wet, they take much longer to dry if they are waterproof. Gaiters are extra weight and will make you feet sweat more.





2) Have something to change into for stream crossings. Best ideas are Crocs, water shoes or athletic sandals (e.g. Tevas). If you are backpacking you can also use the %26quot;water friendly%26quot; footwear in camp - it’s nice to have something highly breathable and less constricting to change into. Disadvantages are the extra weight and the time it takes to get in and out of your boots and to safely secure socks and boots for the crossing. Still, this is usually my choice.





3) The third is to choose footwear that won%26#039;t retain water. Trail sandals (Chacos and Tevas are the most popular) are the ultimate here. Boots with a lot of breathable mesh are a compromise between the total lack of ankle support you get with sandals and the water retention of water proof boots. Trail running shoes are another possible compromise. There are some very shoe-like sandals (such as Keen Newport H2) Sandals for this purpose and some which are more like trail running shoes made of waterproof material that have lots of drainage (such as the Five Ten Water Tennie Shoe) . This last kind of shoe seems to come closest to what you are looking for - shoes made of fabric that won%26#039;t retain water, won%26#039;t be damaged by water and drain won%26#039;t hold water.





The disadvantage of most of these options is the lack of ankle support, but I go with them sometimes - especially if the terrain isn%26#039;t too rugged and my pack isn%26#039;t too heavy.





I%26#039;d avoid Timberland for hiking shoes. Go with a local outdoor outfitter, or try a chain like REI, LL Bean or EMS (watch for sales especially with EMS). I%26#039;d suggest going to a bricks and mortar store because fit is essential, especially for boots (less so for Crocs and Sandals).
Reply:As Lucas A has stated Gore-Tex is the way to go!





I am about to get a new pair after many years of using my old ones and they are still waterproof.





I would expect that a good pair of Hiking Boots would be at least $150.00 and your feet will appreciate the fact that you got a good pair. :-)
Reply:My husband does alot of hunting and he get alot of his boots, shoes and clothing at Bass Pro Outdoors Shop. He even has under garments that soak up the sweat but keep you dry. Amazing!
Reply:Find a pair of boots that are Gore-tex lined. Gore-Tex is both water-proof and breathable. You can find these boots with Vibram soles on them as well. These are typically high-end items, so be prepared to pay around $200+ for them.
Reply:You have to pay for a good pair of walking boots make sure they have a Vibram sole as they are best. no boot is totally water proof. However I prefer leather uppers and treat them after every walk/hike. You are always better to go to the shop and try them on rather than over the net. Get a pair of good socks then break the boots in around the house for a few hours.



nanny job

Synthetic suede hiking shoes?

looking for hiking shoes, but every pair i see either has suede or leather or nubuck. i don%26#039;t want that, unless it%26#039;s synthetic. anyone know where i could find any?

Synthetic suede hiking shoes?
Wal Mart


Famous Footwear



familiar faces

Best hiking shoes/boots/whatever for women?

I%26#039;m moving to a mountain area pretty soon and want to spend a lot of time hiking...I%26#039;ve never done more than a few hours though and always in sneakers. I want to invest in some good footwear for this but I%26#039;ve no idea what to get. I%26#039;ve heard trail running shoes are more comfortable than boots but that the latter have better ankle support. So any advice (especially from those with size 9 1/2 W feet) would be greatly appreciated!

Best hiking shoes/boots/whatever for women?
footwear is always tricky. i would suggest waiting until you move, then check out the outdoors-type stores in the area. ask local hikers, store employees, etc., what they use. it%26#039;s going to depend heavily on the type of trails (rocky, well-maintained, overgrown, sandy?), how wet the area is, and the quirks of your own feet. for just day-hiking you really don%26#039;t need boots (and i don%26#039;t even wear boots for multi-day backpacking trips). see if you can find a shop with employees who have been trained in how to actually fit a shoe properly, and make sure they will accept returns on used footwear, in case they sell you a pair that make you bust out in blisters. the problem with most sneakers is that the the treads on the shoe tend to be very shallow, which doesn%26#039;t give them much grip on mountain trails. good luck!
Reply:First check to see if there is an REI store near by. that is rei.com their sales people are very good and really know there stuff. Go to the store and try on lots and lots of boots, walk on the treadmill and try them on the fake rocks to make sure the bottoms are stiff enough to not bruise your feet on sharp rocks. Almost all of the boots that REI sells are Gortex, allowing your feet to breath while keeping them absolutely dry. They also have a very good return policy. The boots at REI usually range between $100 to $200 but they are worth it. I hiked for years in regular shoes and in boots that didn%26#039;t fit well, I was amazed at the difference a really great pair of boots makes.
Reply:I highly recommend gortex...or is it cortex...anyways anything with that will keeps your feel warm, comfortable and dry.
Reply:Don%26#039;t know if you%26#039;ve ever worn Crocs or the knock offs but with a pair of socks (heavy if hiking rough terrain) these can be a god send. They are lightweight and if they get wet, no problem and your feet can breathe too. They don%26#039;t offer the rugged support of a hiking boot but if your ankles are not weak you might want to try this.
Reply:I have been wearing Ecco hiking boots for the past couple of years for up to week-long hiking trips. I LOVE them and my dad has even switched and wears them for work too. As mentioned, goretex is really nice to have. Ecco has short and tall boots depending on what you need-I usually wear short, but my friend has bad ankles so he has the same model in talls. Ecco is really good, as a company, about making sure you%26#039;re happy with their product.



affiliate reviews

Best hiking shoes?

What%26#039;s one of the best pairs of hiking shoes you%26#039;ve had? I do quite a bit of hiking.





I love quality products and believe that they should get the attention they deserve.

Best hiking shoes?
I agree with Marc H.





I also have a pair of Merrell Chameleon Wrap Stretch Gore-Tex XCR.





They fit so well that you don%26#039;t feel like you are putting on a shoe, but wrapping your foot in some flexible armor; similar to a sock with aggressive tread that is insanely flexible and comfortable. I bought a pair to wear constantly, not just for hiking although they are very, very suitable for the most avid hiker. The Gore-Tex keeps your feet just the right temperature and lets your foot breath without sweating as to avoid blisters or your feet sweating then freezing in the winter.





Also during the winter months as people were slowing down to go on sidewalks, or crossing parking lots because of ice, I could easily keep a steady pace without fear of losing my footing.





The only negative thing about the shoes that I%26#039;ve noticed is that they will let water in pretty easily, and are low top, as some people prefer a high top hiking boot.





These shoes are also worn by the famous Bear Grylls who hosts Man V.S. Wild show, and an Ex British SAS Special Forces.





http://www.merrellboot.com/Shop/Detail.a...
Reply:I do a lot of hiking too. Some years ago, I bought some LOWA shoes. Soft, comfortable, but not too durable. They had the best feel. Lately I have been using shoes by Salomon, very light, feel like you are wearing socks with soles.
Reply:Hey, the best hiking shoes I have currently are Merrell Chameleon Wrap Gore-Tex XCR....They are so damn comfrotable. I even climb a bit with these. I use them for everything. The tread on the bottom is great. They cost about $120. Was worth every penny. I have other Merrell shoes as well. Merrell is my favorite. Also Check out North Face...
Reply:I hike about 15-20 miles per week and I wear the Merrell Chameleon Stretch. I%26#039;ve been wearing this shoe for about 6 years - I just bought my 4th pair. They mold to your foot and I wouldn%26#039;t even consider anything else on my day hikes.
Reply:Merrell Pulse ll





Just a great shoe with good arch support and heel padding. Comfortable, too.



credot

Sneakers vs. hiking boots/shoes?

How important is it to have boots (or hiking shoes) instead of just plain sneakers when backpacking? total load, oh say 20 pounds or so...





Anyone out there ever tried backpacking in just plain sneakers? Was it awful?





I%26#039;ve never found a decent pair of hiking boots in my life that were at all comfortable when compared to sneakers. Not to mention the fact that they weigh so freakin%26#039; much and really slow you down.





Are hiking shoes a lot better than just plain sneakers for backpacking? And which brands do you recommend?

Sneakers vs. hiking boots/shoes?
I like Merrell hiking shoes. You%26#039;re right, though, they are a little heavier. I%26#039;m guessing this is just because they%26#039;re a bit more rugged to withstand the terrain you might encounter, and this is a good thing. Having the hiking shoes as opposed to the boots (which are even heavier) works for me and I LOVE the comfort of the Merrells.


It really depends on you personally. I mean, some people need boots for the ankle support.


I%26#039;ve been in sneakers and no, it wasn%26#039;t horrible, but I will say that my feet felt better after wearing the shoes designed for hiking.
Reply:They%26#039;ll protect you from an ankle injury, or protect your injured ankle as you hoble back to civilization. Columbia is good enough. Merrel too and Nike too. You%26#039;ll be surprised how light they can be.
Reply:I%26#039;m a fan of hiking boots, Yeah they%26#039;re a little heavy But does the weight really matter when you consider the cushioning and torsional resistance that a good boot will provide you ?


I also think that pack weight is kind of an over -rated if not a useless number in the equation.


Think about it:


When I%26#039;m in good hiking shape I%26#039;m about 220 lbs


With a 50 lb pack on I%26#039;m 270 lbs and with a 25 lb pack on I%26#039;m 245 lbs


A 50 lb pack represents 22.727% of my body weight


A 25lb pack represents 11.363 % of my body weight


For a difference of 11.364 %


The point being that most of what I%26#039;m asking my boots to react to is my unladen bodyweight not the insignificant difference in pack weight


If you%26#039;re a smaller person the numbers will still be in the same ballpark and your unladen bodyweight will still be most of the load on your feet.
Reply:Depends on the terrain. If its an easy smooth walk with no water crossings or anything, you%26#039;ll be just fine.





But if your on a difficult hike, harsh terrain, etc. a good pair of hiking boots are hard to beat. Make sure they fit good (not loose). A really good pair of socks are really important.
Reply:Depends on what kind of hiking. Hiking boots provide ankle support on rough trails. If it is on some sort of managed smooth trails that isnt rough ( I dont consider that hiking...that is just walking in the woods) then sneakers would be fine.


With shoes you get what you pay for. You are right there are a bunch of crappy hiking boots out there that arent comfortable. Go out there and find a pair or really good hiking boots for 150-200 bucks. They will be comfortable.


Anything less than about 100 bucks isnt really a hiking boot. We call them %26quot;Hiking boot shaped objects%26quot;


Personally, I like and use the Mephisto brand of hiking boots. Very strong, Very comfortable and very light. However they will set you back over 300
Reply:With the advent of ultralight backpacking, people%26#039;s backpacks now weigh under 30, 20, and sometimes 10 lbs, it is entirely feasible and in fact beneficial to toss out your heavy hiking boots in favor of lightweight trail shoes, cross training shoes, running shoes, or even hiking sandals like Teva or Keen.





There is simply no reason to spend $200+ on hiking boots, which weigh you down, take time to break in, must be treated with waterproofing and leather preservatives before use, take forever to dry, require two layers of thick socks, and will still give you blisters after hundreds of miles of use, especially if you don%26#039;t luckily buy the perfect size for your foot.





I%26#039;d much rather spend $50-$100 for New Balance trail runners, which are mostly mesh and thin material, dry quickly, require no break in time or effort, wear only thin nylon dress socks, which can be easily switched, washed and dried twice daily, and will rarely if ever give you a blister.





In action, I%26#039;ve hiked all over the Sierra in trail runners and Teva sandals including talus slopes, crossing all kinds of creeks, summiting multiple peaks, and hiking 20 mile days with a 10-20 lb pack weight, and I%26#039;ve never had any injuries nor foot problems nor more than a couple of small blisters.





This guy has had a similar experience: http://www.the-ultralight-site.com/hikin...
Reply:I have hiked long days in sneakers and hiking boots. Hiking boots protect my feet from impact far better than any sneaker. They also protect your ankle from being twisted on rocks in the trail. They have saved me many times from having a severely twisted ankle. I think they are built for load weight in mind, and in fact you can buy them based on the kind of hiking you%26#039;ll be doing. Columbia does a really good job of rating their boots by the type of hiking and amount of weight you%26#039;ll be carrying. I have a pair of Columbia hiking boots and they are surprisingly light, not much more than my cross trainers, and these boots were comfortable from the day I put them on. Also they are Goretex XCR so they are very waterproof and breathable which comes in really handy if you are climbing a mountain where snow is still present, or having to cross creeks (very common in my area). Bottom line, I wouldn%26#039;t hike without them.



skin problems

Hiking Boots Or Shoes?

I%26#039;m going to hike a 100 mile trail in Alberque New Mexico at Philmont in the mountains and i dont know whether to get hiking shoes or boots. Shoes lighter but boots more ank;e support?

Hiking Boots Or Shoes?
Boots, blisters, shoes, no blisters.


Boots heavy, shoes light.


Boots clumsy, shoes nimble.


Boots stay wet, get heavier, shoes dry quickly, don%26#039;t absorb much water to begin with.


Boots for carrying loads over 40 lbs, shoes for anything less.


You can read more about boots vs. shoes here: http://www.the-ultralight-site.com/hikin...
Reply:You should get boots for the ankle support. I am going to Philmont this summer too, and i just bought a new pair of boots made by Merrel. Whatever you do, you need to do it soon so you can break them in good before your trek. Have fun on your trek!!



koffice

Hiking shoes for women?

I am searching for a pair of hiking shoes for women that look in some way feminine. Im going backpacking later this year, and I know I need practical shoes but I cannot bring myself to buy the shoes available in traveling stores. Women styles appear to be no different to the mens other than size. Surely somebody is making them in colours other than beige and blue and with practical yet decent design?

Hiking shoes for women?
Hi





You dont say how much you want to spend or if this is a one off trip so I wil make some assumptions!!! I would strongly recommend Berghaus boots for your trip. They do a wide selection of styles and prices and can look quite feminine if your feet aren%26#039;t too big!!! My partner takes size five and she can get away wearing them under jeans etc. If you can afford it get a pair of Berghaus Explorer, these have goretex lining which will keep your feet dry and have a suede upper. These are the boots my partner has had for about five years and she swears by them. You can pick them up for between £50-£60 online from various stores.





Happy hiking!!!





Dean
Reply:Hiking shoes get dirty because you are walking --- in the dirt. That%26#039;s why they are colored to hide dirt. I think REI has a good selection of women%26#039;s hiking shoes. Yes, many look similar to men%26#039;s, but not all.
Reply:TRY TIMBERLAND.THEY DO THEM IN GIRLIE COLOURS AND WILL BE SUITABLE FOR HIKING.
Reply:I am sure you would look feminine in beige or blue!
Reply:When shopping for shoes or boots, I always go to zappos online - even if you want to actually buy the boots in a store, zappos gives you a good idea of what%26#039;s out there and you can see what looks nice for you.



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