The absolute best low cut bushwalking shoes you can buy..

[Nuts]

The zamberlans weren't narrow, they're the only euro shoes I tried. All the salewa feel tight but they loosen up, being 'approach' shoes they are really stable but fitting like a glove and with a high rubber rand they can get a bit hot, especially the goretex model.

I have noticed some different models can be very different fit (width). The keens (front row) are the most comfortable out there but Keen boots (still in the box) are so tight mid-foot they are painful.

[Strider]

i find euro shoes are a pain to fit into, tend to be too narrow...

The Zamberlan Zeniths are fairly wide, but have a HUGE toe box. Way too much volume for me.

My Zamberlan Trail Lites, however, are a better fit. But really didn't come into their own until I added Superfeet Green insoles.

[Hallu]

I have big feet, and there's no generality about the narrowness of Europeans shoes. Only Reebok tends to have narrow shoes, but that's about it.

[wayno]

i've had trouble with lowa normal width and with mammut, salomon i'm touch and go in, have to wear thin socks to get away with using them.

[Strider]

I have big feet, and there's no generality about the narrowness of Europeans shoes. Only Reebok tends to have narrow shoes, but that's about it.

Narrow by European standards? Or world standards?

You seem to be the only person on this forum that uses generic "running" shoes. Why not an approach shoe or trail runner?

[Hallu]

I don't use running shoes, I have Zamberlan 310 Skill GT and Patagonia Drifter GTX. I just used Asics Kayano once on a walk to see how it went (it went badly) and I'm just mentioning Reebok as a European brand, but I don't use their shoes for hiking. And I have no idea what's the difference between "narrow by EU standards" or "world standards".

[Strider]

I don't use running shoes, I have Zamberlan 310 Skill GT and Patagonia Drifter GTX. I just used Asics Kayano once on a walk to see how it went (it went badly) and I'm just mentioning Reebok as a European brand, but I don't use their shoes for hiking. And I have no idea what's the difference between "narrow by EU standards" or "world standards".

Ok no worries!

I mean are you saying Reeboks are narrow when compared to European shoes? Or when compared to all shoes worldwide?

[Hallu]

Compared to all shoes. I don't mean in the toe box, but on the middle of the foot/shoe it's pretty tight.

[andrewbish]

Let me know what you end up with!

I ended up getting New Balance MT810s from the NB store in Chadstone today.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

[matagi]

Let me know what you end up with!

I ended up getting New Balance MT810s from the NB store in Chadstone today.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

Chadstone on a Saturday? You are a brave man!

[frenchy_84]

does anyone have any experience with Merrell Refuge Pro GORE-TEX shoes?

[wayno]

mainly good reviews http://www.gearbuyer.com/site/search.ht ... o+GORE-TEX

[findbuddha]

I'm rather fond of the Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2. Comfy, cool, light, good grip, haven't fallen apart even with minor bush bashing. I suspect the sole is not as long lasting as some though.

[wayno]

ive been looking at the x ultra mid's more tread, similar construction to the xa pro's more flexible sole...

[PintMan]

I haven't seen North Face Hedgehogs mentioned yet. I'm not sure if these are available in Australia but they are great low-cut hikers. I bought a pair a couple of years ago for summer and shoulder season hiking in the Canadian Rockies. I tried the Moabs but found the Hedgehogs to be more comfortable. They kept my feet dry on mountain hikes where I often found myself traipsing through mud & snow. Light, comfortable, relatively cool (despite the Goretex) and very grippy over roots, scree, etc. A great shoe in my opinion. The sole is on the soft side however so stay off the pavement with them and they'll last longer. Now that I've moved to Australia I am looking forward to hitting the trails
Cheers!

[Obelix]

Let me know what you end up with!

I ended up getting New Balance MT810s from the NB store in Chadstone today.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

So have you or anyone for that matter had the opportunity to track test the New Balance MT810 yet? how does it perform off road - mud, river crossings, dust & prickles? can the innersole be easily removed & replaced? type of socks worn with it? ankle gaiters? cold feet? much appreciated.

This is a massive leap of faith going from my trusty low cut Hi-Tec V-Lite Fasthike Hiking Boots which are the heaviest article in my kit at 1.23kg a pair

[wayno]

shoes often and mid height boots sometimes have less tread depth than boots , that makes them worse performing in mud and shortens the life of them.. plus you need to be sure of the strength of your ankles if you're taking on rough tracks in shoes.
the topic of shoes versus boots has been debated extensively on this forum in other threads

[Mark F]

Paddy Pallin carries TNF Hedgehogs. I found them quite good - needed better insoles but quite wide. For me a bit too wide in the heel and the mesh let in a bit of dust and dirt. I currently have Salomon Synapse low, non-waterproof ($119 at MD) and I love them so much I stocked up while I could. They are possibly the first shoe that I have not had to change the insole. They do seem to run small in the sizing. Oboz (Kathmandu) have also worked well for me - many of their models are a little heavier and more robust.

[wayno]

salomons +1 , x-ultra mid's light, good tread. comfortable shoes, can also get them as a shoe.
also heavier more supportive cosmic high boots...

[andrewbish]

Let me know what you end up with!

I ended up getting New Balance MT810s from the NB store in Chadstone today.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

So have you or anyone for that matter had the opportunity to track test the New Balance MT810 yet? how does it perform off road - mud, river crossings, dust & prickles? can the innersole be easily removed & replaced? type of socks worn with it? ankle gaiters? cold feet? much appreciated.

This is a massive leap of faith going from my trusty low cut Hi-Tec V-Lite Fasthike Hiking Boots which are the heaviest article in my kit at 1.23kg a pair

Hi Obelix

My experience with the MT810s has been less than hoped. Will post something soon.

A.

PS. Love the user name - one of my fav characters from the old Asterix stories.

[wayno]

always some trade off with the light gear.... some pluses , some minuses.... i like the comfort of lightweight boots and trail shoes , less tiring to wear them, can walk faster and longer in them, but they quickly run out of tread and fall to bits compared to heavier boots...

[Obelix]

I have just put money on the table for a pair of 2013 Inov-8 Roclite 295's. Can get for under AUD$120 delivered at the moment via Amazon US with 20%discount code. Rave reviews in the northern hemisphere & Middle Earth (aka NZ). Closer to my home the brand itself is well regarded in the WA orienteering fraternity - so tried & tested on the front line!
Always a gamble when you cant try them on but according to the vast number of reviews the shoes run true to size & have plenty of room in the toe box compared to other models in the brand.
Will match up with my Simblissity LevaGaiter's & when Injinji develop a Crew length toe sock in their new Trail 2.0 range.
Anyway I intend to road test & get back to you all sometime in the future.

[Hallu]

After doing Mt Buffalo and 16 days of day walks from Perth to Karratha, I have to say the Salomon X Ultra are the best hiking shoes I've owned. At first I was afraid of the lacing system : it means you can't let it lose at the toes, and tight at the heel. But the fit was good, and breaking in quite quick. The shoes are also not roomy enough to accept other insoles, but their default insoles are great, never seen that before. Regarding the exterior sole, good amount of rubber, good grip, and overall the shoes are very comfortable. Far superior to the Zamberlan Zenith and the Keen Alamosa I own. I am VERY prone to blisters, and this time I got only a small one on one of my toes, incredible... The last test of course would be durability, since I've only owned them for a couple of months.

[wayno]

one reservation i have with them is what will they be like with an overnight or multiday pack? theres no rigidity in the forefoot. last time i had footwear like that on a multi day trip, the front of my feet were killing me from the lack of support

[Spartan]

salomons +1 , x-ultra mid's light, good tread. comfortable shoes, can also get them as a shoe.
also heavier more supportive cosmic high boots...

I agree. I've had my x-ultras for a couple of months now, and have given them a reasonable thrashing with a mid-weight pack (15kg). My experience of them is that they're very, very comfortable boots (I've not yet experienced any fore-foot pain with them).

A colleague tried mine for a day, and he's now considering getting a pair strictly for 'door-kicking' work. Which is probably not what they were intended for

All the best.

[wayno]

my pack was 20-25 kg when i had problems with the my unsupportive lowa renegades, had a couple of days of steep mountain walking, on the third day 25k walking on the flat got pretty painful.... fine when i was off my feet, not good when i was on them

[Hallu]

one reservation i have with them is what will they be like with an overnight or multiday pack? theres no rigidity in the forefoot. last time i had footwear like that on a multi day trip, the front of my feet were killing me from the lack of support

Yeah I agree those are comfortable day walk shoes, or light overnight pack. More than 20 kg on a rocky track would probably be pushing it.

[wayno]

the salomon xa pro's are better for foot support., they resist twisting in the forefoot but much less tread than the ultra's. mine are wearing out fast from rock scrambling mixed with walking on sand...