Advice needed: pair of hiking boots

[gorby]

my experience with columbia boots was a bad one.

they were a nice fit with great features but the tread was so hard it caused me to have numerous falls from slipping on rocks.
I threw them away before they were worn out so they would not kill me..........

[stump1100]

I went with a pair of Scarpa Kailash GTX (so much better than GP boots!), kept my feet comfy and dry on the OT last year! I like the weight and really fit my feet well, quite grippy on the rocks and don't feel too hot even in QLD summer.

[DaveB]

I had a similar experience with my new Columbias initially,my feet flew out from under me twice on sloping wet paving,but now they have some wear on the soles the problem seems to have gone.They are very comfortable.Some years back I had a pair of Hitech Transcenders disintegrate within 3 months,but I've had 2 pairs of Altitudes since which gave stirling service,I used each of them for workboots as they were over getting past it for walking and got plenty more use from them.I would buy another pair unreservedly,although I want to try the fit on a pair of Scarpa Terras before I decide next time.

[John Sheridan]

Do you think these boots are good and really water proof ???

Just looking for some decent beginner boots

Scarpa Cyclone Gore-Tex Boot Mens

http://www.paddypallin.com.au/footwear/ ... -mens.html

Cheers.

[DaveB]

That's a good price John, but I think I'd prefer these:http://www.anaconda.com.au/Product/Technical-Apparel-and-Footwear/Mens-Footwear/Mens-Altitude-Ultra-Hiking-Boot -similar weight,both vibram -I can vouch for the effectiveness of the standard Altitudes waterproofing, until the water gets deeper than the boot anyway, and these are touted as better.I believe the sale ends Sunday.Bugger,I have nearly talked myself into a pair now.
Cheers,
Dave.
PS I should add that I Snoseal the hell out of all my new boots, then later on spasmodically if and when I remember.

[John Sheridan]

Those Hi Tech Boots are not water proof.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmxI6B0ln0o

At least not when submerged, maybe from rain, just don't step in any puddles

Cheers.

[gayet]

No boot is waterproof if submerged though.... They are open at the top

[John Sheridan]

I am not talking about water going in the top, just the boot, no water went in the top, just the outside and it leaked, not sure why I was told Hi tech was better than a Scarpa boot, that is kind of stupid, sandels are better than a Hi Tech boot.



Cheers.

[Bluegum Mic]

Its always hard as even the best brands fail from time to time. I've had 3 pairs of Scarpas and never had an issue with them, yet a man I was hiking with a couple of weekends ago had a pair of new scarpas he'd walked 6 times in (nothing strenuous as he's new to bushwalking) and the glue had given way on both pairs and the rubber toe caps had come away and the soles were starting to lift. Mind you I've had a similar problem with a pair of hi-techs many many moons ago so it happens. Best bet is to pop by a few stores with a good range of boots and see what fits best with the features your after. Sadly no boot will resist wetting out eventually when the weathers that bad. Some just do a better job than others
From memory your in Sydney so if you can get into the city there's a great range of stores (most of the major players plus some others) all near each other near town hall station. You'd be able to try on a great range of shoes.

[John Sheridan]

I really just need pair that will stay dry in heavy rain, I don't intend to do any puddle jumping on purpose unless I have to and wont stay in the puddle any longer than I have too


Yeah the best way to get some boots that are good is go to the shop and try em on, I have a problem though my right foot is bigger than my left foot, one 10 and one 10.5 please, hope I can get away with that scam :p

Cheers.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Get yourself a pair of lightweight hiking boots that fit, don't worry to much if your feet get wet or not. Lightweight hiking shoes are quick to dry. This also depends where you going. Lucky for me here in QLD it don't get very very cold

[wayno]

the glue is a fiddly one, from what i understand , or the commercial glies to wrok best they need to be heated to a specific temperature to bond effectively,
stuff up the temp and then it's no good. mind you could juste have beennot enough glue or they sold out and switched to something cheap and nasty....

[clarence]

Any boot, even the goretex lined models, will leak if you are out in the rain long enough- it is just a matter of how long. Regular re-proofing of boots with snoseal or similar is their best defence against water, until it eventually finds a way through. If you can stop water running down your leg/gaiter and into the top of the boot or tongue, you will prove to be smarter than most bushwalkers.

I recall the story of a sales assistant who was pressed by a customer about the gore-tex "guaranteed to keep you dry" slogan. After questions about a multitude of scenarios from the customer his response was "If you go for a real bushwalk, in real bush, for long enough, you will get wet". The same goes for boots generally.

Vibram do a wide range of soles, so the quality covers a reasonably broad spectrum. On my last five pairs of high quality boots I have found them all to be of very good quality and performance.

Years ago I would have recommended the Scarpa Trek. Light, strong, a good fit for a wide range of people and a blake-stitched midsole. The current equivalent offering from Scarpa/Outdoor Agencies is the Trek Pro and it is far inferior to the original. It does not surprise me that sthughes eventually found his to be not so good.

I would recommend the zamberlan or asolo models (depending on what fits you). You will get these for $300 or under, especially if there is any promotion or sale going. Hi tec have many low to mid quality options which are more suited to recreational trail walking. Fine for easy daywalks on trails, but no match for a FULL LEATHER asolo, zamberlan, la sportiva, garmont on a hard/off track/ extended walks.

Most people have one foot size slightly different to the other. Half a size is not much. Go for the size which suits the larger foot and save the poor retailer from being left with an unsaleable mismatched pair. Any astute saleperson who offers you professional fitting and good product knowledge will usually check the pair is a matching size (in the interest of the customer) before they leave the store. If you manage to walk out with odd sizes I would question how professional the service is.

Clarence

[Bluegum Mic]

Fantastic advice Clarence. Ill also second the Zamberlans. And on that thought have a Google to see if mountain designs have an outlet in Sydney. I picked up the Zamberlan Venus in the Melbourne MD outlet store for $149 down from 300 and something. Really like this boot.

[wayno]

the gore tex eventually tears inside boots. and keps tearing in various places, where the pressure and friction is greatest, it can sit losely between the outer and inner of the boot

[Bluegum Mic]

I've got to say its a bit of a gripe with me ie goretex in a boot. Agree that it eventually tears, they always sew the stitching/seam of the goretex right on the heel (where I have a heel spur) and its really hard to find a boot without it (or some form of waterproof membrane) and always makes the boot warmer to wear (not good in hot/humid). Not to mention taking longer to dry once wet. I prefer not to rely on the waterproof membrane to keep you dry, but the outer material ie a good leather (or mostly leather boot). Its not to say I don't buy boots with WP liners (2 of my 3 pairs have it). It ultimately always comes down to fit, comfort and the sole for me so having a goretex lining isn't enough to stop me wearing it if the boot fits so to speak.

[wayno]

yeah first time i wore gore tex boots , it was on a wet muddy track in cold weather,, something was missing then i realised i didnt have the usual feeling of cold wet feet.
i replace the insole in the boots and replace them with something less flimsy. depens how soft or hard the boots are. i've got salomon cosmics, reasonably suportive, i put some sof sol allsport insoles http://www.sofsole.com/mens/allsport in them to soften them up. made of polyeurethane they will last longer than the normal insoles.
most commercial insoles can be too thick to practically work well in shoes and too much extra weight, the allsport model is thinner than the others so doesnt cramp the feet up too much in the footwear.
similarly softer footwear i have superfeet insoles which are relatively thin and a lot harder to add more support, they have a plastic half shank in them.

[John Sheridan]

I draged out an Old can of water proofer I got AGES ago to water proof some nice shoes, never did it though, anyway I just emptied a can onto my work boots. I did this as a test to see how well it works, before the boots were ok in light rain, but got caught in some heavy rain and they got soaked

Read the instructions on the bottle after and said not to saturate the boots, just a light spray, I guess I could have done 6 pairs of boots with the can instead of one, Oh well 6 times as water proof I guess :p

The boots are some Steel caped Bacta boots, pretty good and stong as I work 8 hours a day in them and not easy work, no idea if bacta make hiking boots, somehow I don't think so, anyway My boots are rain proofed now if I ever get caught in the rain at work, or on the way to work as I walk to walk every day.

Might have to use them as My hiking boots for a bit if I don't get off my butt and get a proper pair, nice they are water proofed now at least.



Cheers.

[wayno]

HI Tec have some fancy new process to waterpoof the boot . it sound like above average DWR, reviews say their boots still get wet..
but again is it because the water is just running into the gaiters you also need overtwosers overlapping the top of the boots to stop water getting in from the top.

[Rob A]

Those Hi Tech Boots are not water proof. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmxI6B0ln0o

Depends who you believe.
Thats the trouble with the internet. Any clown can respond or give advice .

[Rob A]

Ive never seen the gortex liners rip. Maybe Im a bit hard on boots but theres always been plenty of stuff check out before the liner (of any sort) gave way in any of the twenty odd pairs Ive trashed. Bearing in mind I tip out any stones that get in.

[wayno]

Kailash's get very good reviews, the boot of choice for some outdoor gear reviewers

[ULWalkingPhil]

Boot reviews are great to read, but if they don't fit you, Ouch!

I made the mistake of relying on boot reviews, looking for the boot that will last a lifetime and keep my feet dry. What works for one person, don't mean it will for someone else, we all have different feet.

Make your number 1 priority, fitted boots. I learnt this valuable lesson.

I now wear light weight non water proof boots made by GoLite and my feet couldn't be happier, the lighter weight makes life so much easier on the trails.

[greyim]

I wear same boots for work and walking. Need to be cheap and durable. Had a pair of Mack Timberlites (I have wide feet) they were great for several years spade work and trekking... then recently bought Mack Flinders which fell apart in a few months. Hope to get timberlites again.