The right shoes ?

[truebluehendo]

Hi i am new to this forum and have just began walking, i am in my mid 40's and around the 100kg mark and would like to get some advise from those who know as to what shoes to wear!! i'm looking at either a pair of Merrels from Rays outdoors or some Asics trail runners from Rebel sports. Any advice would be much appreciated
Cheers TBH

[Tortoise]

G'day TBH. Welcome to the forum, and good on you for starting! If you get a fraction out of bushwalking of what i've had over the years, you'll be very please you did.

I think there will be almost as many opinions on this as there are makes/styles of shoes/boots So much depends on the shape of your foot, and the type of walking you'll be doing - day walks vs multi-day, flat lands vs high country, 'well-made tracks' vs off-track/boulders etc. Some will say you need high solid (leather) boots for good ankle support, others say they don't stop ankle rolls, go for something light, comfy, less blister-producing and much less tiring.

My suggestion is start with cheaper, lighter weight boots and easy walks, till you know what you can do and want to do. I also am a believer in using a pole or 2, especially if you're carrying a fair bit of weight (on your person, in a pack, or both). I resisted getting poles for years, until I did in an ankle (not bushwalking, just stepping out of a van in the dark ). Once i got a pair of poles, i wish i'd done so 20 years earlier.

All the best

[Hallu]

I think you can forget about Asics runners. I tried the kayanos on day walks and the heel is way too soft. Maybe they could work with poles and really thick socks, but then it would kinda defies the purpose of the comfortable light runners. Not to mention that they're expensive (especially if you buy them here in Australia) and wouldn't last very long, even on day walks.

I've never tried Merrels, but they usually come up as the top brand in reviews alongside Keen, Zamberlan, Patagonia, or Scarpa. When you try them, bring the socks you're gonna wear on hikes (hiking socks are usually thicker than regular socks), be sure to have plenty of room for your toes (otherwise it's gonna be a blister zone). Be sure to break them in before going on a multi-hour walk. I'm very prone to blisters since I sweat a lot, and I used to think I needed light snug shoes. Actually tough boots and thick double socks was the way to go, even for short day hikes (and tough boots are just tough on the outside, and can be very comfortable inside). Also get waterproof shoes/boots, the modern ones breathe well I think, so you don't need 2 pairs depending on the weather (and muddy areas even in summer aren't uncommon in Victoria).

[magichat]

Trail runners are different to Kayanos. The Asics Kayanos are pure running shoes, designed for something completely different (running on pavement) and are very good for that.

The trail runners should be stiffer and have a better sole. I find them perfect for bushwalking but ymmv.

[wayno]

try using the search function, this topic has been discussed extensively on here already.
problem with runners is they can be very open weave letting any dust in , amongst other issues with tehir design, but its an endlessly contested debate here about what is appropriate. some swear by shoes, others boots, some will use one or the other. the less experience you have on rough trails the more you should look for solid supportive footwear till you find out just how well adjusted you are to rough trails. that may mean boots, mid or high ot it may mean stiff shoes depending ont eh trails. but you'll see this argument thrashed out already in previous threads so we could be repeating things again if we go into this agrument again.

[wayno]

brand can be irrelevant if they dont fit the overall shape of you feet. smeone can recommend a brand that they swear by but your feet might suffer in that brand... you have to go out and try on different brands and types of footwear and consider the pros and cons. again use the search function on this site and you stand to learn a lot.

[quicky]

brand can be irrelevant if they dont fit the overall shape of you feet. smeone can recommend a brand that they swear by but your feet might suffer in that brand... you have to go out and try on different brands and types of footwear and consider the pros and cons. again use the search function on this site and you stand to learn a lot.

Agreed with Wayno...fit trumps all.

[festivus]

Hi,
As a fellow newbie to the forum (but not bushwalking) I know it can be hard to find your way around. Chosing footwear depends largely on the kind of walking you'll be doing and where. I personally found nike runners very comfortable and more than adequate for many years of day walks on the mainland (many between 15-25km). But that was for walking in fairly dry conditions on well formed tracks and i was young and agile.
Once coming to Tasmania and experiencing the wet, cold and bog holes on 'tracks' that get more traffic than any of the tourist grade tracks I've walked in NSW and Qld, boots are definitely the go.
Will you be doing day walks, overnights, in the high country? On formed track or off trail? (Remember, the standard of formed tracks varies greatly in NPs from state to state).
The obvious advantage of using sneakers for a beginner are no blisters (if you've chosen well), and all day comfort. However, if you're a bigger person (height/girth whatever) and might do some cold or wet weather walking, I would suggest the stability and cover of a half boot. They are lighter and more comfortable than full boots, and easier on feet that have issues, such as achilles tendonitis etc. but still give good ankle support and can help stop a stumble turning into a twisted ankle.
Most of the popular hiking brands make these mid height boots, which are usually a combination of waterproof cloth and leather. If you have a narrow foot, saloman, merrell, north face all make apparently reasonable shoes. If you have a wide foot like mine, Keen's are excellent. Having just done this myself, my advice is to try every shoe on you can find - i think its the most important purchase you'll make in terms of walking gear. Good luck