What kind of shoes do you use?

[ArkAngel]

Of course these are pretty difficult to beat at times.....

and they have that special waterproof lining......what's it called now?.......

....ahh yes.... SKIN

 

[Stew]

My main problem with Goretex boots has been with durability.

They always seem to fall apart at the seams.

I suspect it is because gortex boots do not get the treatment with wax that leather boots do and the stitching rots. If you do wax them regularly, why bother with Goretex?

The other possibility is that the manufacturers treat these like all the other "fashion rambler" kit and make them for rapid customer replacement after a Summer seasons stolling around.

Either way, I prefer to break in a pair of decent leather boots and wear them to destruction, which with luck should be a couple of years minimum.

Call me old fashioned or what.....

My goretex boots have lasted me for 7 years of regular use (quite often daily) and they've just started leaking.The seams are fine - the problem is one of the creases you get at the toe/foot junction has worn through.

I'm quite impressed with how long they've lasted as I didn't think they would be as good as leather.

Oh, and the make is Line 7.

 

[Wayland]

Perhaps I'm just heavy on boots...




Looks at knackered pair of Zamberlam cloth boots just used for dog walking.....

 

[Wayland]

and they have that special waterproof lining......what's it called now?.......

....ahh yes.... SKIN

Nice thing is it doesn't matter how long your toenails are.....

 

[ESpy]

When they start curling over the front of the sandals, that might be a hint?

 

[woodmunky]

I've got some hi-techs that i used for many years, recently got shelved when i got a pair of Berghaus Explorer IV GTX...

http://www.berghaus.com/index.asp?bhcd2=1162226527

Extremely comfortable in all conditions i've put them through so far

 

[redcollective]

Out in the hills - hard walking - a pair of Scarpas or Karrimor KSB trainers (trainers if wet and scrambly); ordinary amble in the dales: a pair of Karrimor KSB trainers. For camping and general bushcrafty stuff - a pair of pull on aussie Blundstone workboots - which I wear to work every day (no laces to pfaff about with, but really convenient).

 

[themac]

Boots, Goretex or not? I'm less likely to use gortex boots in the warmer weather, they are more prone to making my feet overheat. In the colder/wetter weather then goretex are great, I'm just back from 3 days up in Perthshire and with 2 out of the 3 days kicking it down with rain I'm very happy I took the goretex boots

I don't own a pair of all leather non goretex boots but I'd have a concern as to how they would have faired in heavy run and mud for a period of 2-3 days?

Quick nip off topic but I picked up a couple of pairs of KSB trainers from Soccer and Sport, they are doing them for around £20 a pair.

 

[rik_uk3]

I use the KSB trainers (shoes I call them, showing my age ) got mine for £20 as well from Lillywhites in Piccadilly London, its now a discount store, back in june they were selling a load of Karrimor stuff very cheap, check the store out next time any on you are in London, well worth a visit

 

[Geuf]

Yes they are (bought them this year) - though I haven't waxed them yet. I'll keep it in mind and reply to you my outcome.

excellent! looking forward to hearing how discoloured they got

make sure not to smear to much wax in between where the shoe meets the rubber sides if you know what I mean

 

[Alfa]

I use Meindle's Army Pro. They're about 7 years old now, never had a problem with them. Not cheap however, now they cost about 240 euros. That's about 160 £

 

[wentworth]

I use dunlop volleys. When you have to walk through a creek up to your groin, you don't want waterproof boots...
http://www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/images/VolleysFAQ.jpg

 

[big_swede]

Boots, Goretex or not? I'm less likely to use gortex boots in the warmer weather, they are more prone to making my feet overheat. In the colder/wetter weather then goretex are great, I'm just back from 3 days up in Perthshire and with 2 out of the 3 days kicking it down with rain I'm very happy I took the goretex boots

I don't own a pair of all leather non goretex boots but I'd have a concern as to how they would have faired in heavy run and mud for a period of 2-3 days?

Quick nip off topic but I picked up a couple of pairs of KSB trainers from Soccer and Sport, they are doing them for around £20 a pair.

I've used a pair going through rain, mud, gravel and morain for a week+, didn't have a problem. But they did look a bit sad, not as sad as my friends cheap merrel gore-tex boots though. He burnt them before we got on the bus home.

 

[big_swede]

I use Meindle's Army Pro. They're about 7 years old now, never had a problem with them. Not cheap however, now they cost about 240 euros. That's about 160 £

I've used Meindl Performance for three years, and I really hate them! There completely worthless in cold weather, there even worse in hot weather, and the rubber rim is already destroyed after only three years. Not only that, but the gore-tex membrane is either clogged up or leaking, depending on location.

I've talked with the resellers here in sweden, and they will just give me a discount on new shoes, from meindl. I will never buy it again, warning for meindl! And after this I talked to some other guys, and everyone agreed that the lifespan where somewhere around 2-3 years, that's really crappy for a 280€ boot!!!

 

[mark a.]

So, I'm guessing you don't like Meindl then?

 

[Graham_S]

i use karrimor ksb boots with an eVent lining. very comfortable.
for tracking i use a pair of converse all stars
in winter it's usually a pair of proboots.

 

[rik_uk3]

I said earlier that I used Pro boots, in fact I told a fib, I use these
http://www.wardenssupplyco.com/cata...id=99&osCsid=5e19100013b0386f3997c0f4028c68b2

keep an eye on this site, he does stock bigger sizes sometimes, and he is very good on postage

These look OK too, I'll order one and let you know
http://www.wardenssupplyco.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=549

 

[pierre girard]

Just a wild guess, but there homemade, right?

What materials is it? And mainly, what kind of leather? How far have you hiked in them?

I most often make moggasins of moose, but the pair on the left in the photo are from a fairly thick deer hide. Only trouble is deer hide stretches a lot more than moose. The uppers are made of canvas or wool, and the winter mocs are lined with a removable fulled double layer Hudson Bay blanket liner.

Not sure what you're asking.

I've hiked the kek in summer mocs - both ways, and portions of the Border Route Trail and the Superior Hiking Trail.

http://www.borderroutetrail.org/

With winter mocs I've done the Caribou Rock Trail, the Tomahawk Trail, Pow wow Trail, and others I can't remember the name of.

I've portaged many portages with mogasins. The winter mocs are usually used with snowshoes.

For boots, my favorite has always been Red Wing Irish Setters, though I haven't had a pair for years:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Brown-L...1QQihZ006QQcategoryZ48862QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



PG

 

[Brocktor]

i have hi tech hiking boots. i like them but using bees wax to look after them has not been enough, now they look terrible, i need something to condition them too. if i was very fussy i would buy lighter shoes for everything except long walks or bad weather

 

[big_swede]

I most often make moggasins of moose, but the pair on the left in the photo are from a fairly thick deer hide. Only trouble is deer hide stretches a lot more than moose. The uppers are made of canvas or wool, and the winter mocs are lined with a removable fulled double layer Hudson Bay blanket liner.

Not sure what you're asking.

PG

Thank's for the material info. How long does a pair last? Do they survive a season?

What I was trying to ask, was like, how many kilometers you would use them for. Do you use them for longer hikes as well? To me, it looks like they would be a bit more unstable then hiking boots, which would make them a bit more exhausting to walk in with a heavy backpack.