Advice on shoes?

C

crowdog

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May 20, 2009
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I know this is off topic, and there may be better places to ask. I am part of this forum and there seems to be alot of intelligent people in here that may know something about this.

I just picked up a pair of Merrell hiking shoes (brand new for fifty cents :D) at a yardsale, As well as one pair of Hi-Tec boots. (never heard of them, but they fit and are in great shape.)

Should I Camp-Dry the Merrell's? Will it interfere will the gor-tex, or is it just extraneous and the shoes are fine as is for day treks?
 
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Well Both company's have been around for a long time. On the Merrell's I would check with them about the waterproofing. I had a pair or boots that I was going to Camp Dry, only to find out that it would have voided their lifetime warrenty. (How they would have known, I have no idea.). I assume they are full leathers from your description. Hi-Tec seem to be very popular for day hikers and the SWAT wannabee's (as well as some actual LEOs). My wife loves hers, mine are ok, mostly used them for playing paintball in the woods. You'd never get me out and about in them in the bush.
 
MrCoffee said:
Well Both company's have been around for a long time. On the Merrell's I would check with them about the waterproofing. I had a pair or boots that I was going to Camp Dry, only to find out that it would have voided their lifetime warrenty. (How they would have known, I have no idea.). I assume they are full leathers from your description. Hi-Tec seem to be very popular for day hikers and the SWAT wannabee's (as well as some actual LEOs). My wife loves hers, mine are ok, mostly used them for playing paintball in the woods. You'd never get me out and about in them in the bush.
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Thanks for the info.
 
I just bought a pair of merrell Outland hiking shoes and I love them, they are waterproof and very comfortable. As for Hi-tec, I have never owned any, but have friends who have them, they seem to really like them. I usally wear my Danner or Magnum on the job.
 
Jetblack said:
I just bought a pair of merrell Outland hiking shoes and I love them, they are waterproof and very comfortable. As for Hi-tec, I have never owned any, but have friends who have them, they seem to really like them. I usally wear my Danner or Magnum on the job.
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How does the gor-tex shell on the Merrells hold up? Is there any need to water-proof do they hold up well for gen. use??
 
IMO you should never do any after market stuff that seals the exterior LEATHER/PIGSKIN/OTHER HIDE upper of any Gore-Tex equipped boot. These systems in boots all rely upon the transpiration of moisture through pores in the material and through the surrounding upper. The interior of a Gore Tex equipped boot wicks the gaseous evaporated moisture through a membrane with small pores that larger liquid molecules from the environment cannot pass.

Sealing the upper from the outside cuts off the ability of the Gore Tex to "breathe," which can easily result in a foot that feels uncomfortably wet. Folks think that dampness might be the liner leaking, but if the moisture is generalized and not traceable to a failure point, or prolonged immersion which overwhelms the system, it's likely that pooling sweat is the culprit, not outside moisture.

Now, I understand that Camp Dry is not sno-seal or mink oil or something, but I question how long lasting or useful Camp Dry is on a boot as opposed to like a nylon shelled G-T jacket.
 
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Boats said:
IMO you should never do any after market stuff that seals the exterior upper of any Gore-Tex equipped boot. These systems all rely upon the transpiration of moisture through pores in the material. The interior of a Gore Tex equipped boot wicks the gaseous evaporated moisture through a membrane with small pores that larger liquid molecules from the environment cannot pass.

Sealing the upper from the outside cuts off the ability of the Gore Tex to "breathe," which can easily result in a foot that feels uncomfortably wet. Folks think that dampness might be the liner leaking, but if the moisture is generalized and not traceable to a failure point, it's likely that pooling sweat is the culprit, not outside moisture.
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Thank you Boat's, nailed that sucker for me....I just bought them this morn from a yard sale down the street, brand new...church yard sale, someone did not know their worth i would imagine, and had just thrown them in with the other used and abused shoes, priced at fifty cents a pair.
I know that Merrell makes some quality items so i just want to care for them like i should so they will hold up the best they can as i beat the shit out of them. "i am very hard on shoes."
I will abstain from the camp-dry with the Merrell.
the HIGH-TEC are all leather so i will camp-dry those.
thanks guys...
on with the knife/gun/pack/chic porn.
the Merrell are low tops, HIGH_TEC's are high tops.
 
Have fun with them. Merrell Chameleon Lows are my favorite all arounders. For "real boots" my favorites are Danner Mountain Light IIs. I prefer boots with stitched on soles for totally serious hiking.
 
Boats said:
Have fun with them. Merrell Chameleon Lows are my favorite all arounders. For "real boots" my favorites are Danner Mountain Light IIs. I prefer boots with stitched on soles for totally serious hiking.
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My next investment footwear wise will be a good set of winter boots. I got a hard winter on its way so i want to weather this one in better comfort.
Yea stitched soles would be a huge improvement to all the shoes/ boots i wear, it is always the sole that pulls lose first and then the rest is down hill from there.
 
Jake Bauer said:
I just got a pair of Merrell Moab Mid GTX Gore tex hikers. Very comfortable. Love em.
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These feel very nice, but i have only had them a day so far.
Its funny, i always go check their store section out, but alas i just can never see spending that much money on shoes when i have a pair currently that function fine. I also have good luck running into new shoes when i need them...found a great pair of cowboy boots in the trash once, fit me perfect. i still have them....my friend buys new nike's everytime they come out with a new color so he gave me his old pair he had bought a week before because they were white, and he wanted black.. they are really nice workout running style.
So when i saw these from like ten feet away i jumped on them read the 50cent sticker and proceeded to purchase with held breath. waiting for the older women to say "ohhhh not those, those are really 50 dollars.":eek::mad:
but no problems and i got them.:D:thumbup: plus a pair of HIGH -tec boots. which i am unfamiliar with but i ve heard from mister coffee that they work pretty good for gen. paintballin and such.
 
crowdog said:
How does the gor-tex shell on the Merrells hold up? Is there any need to water-proof do they hold up well for gen. use??
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I havnt treated my Merrells, and they have worked pretty well for my general use.:thumbup:
 
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