hiking boots vs. hiking shoes

chrisaloia, I understand what you mean about feeling your step. When in camp, I am bearfoot, I know some my sneeker, but I too like feeling the earth under my foot. Something spiritual both physicaly and mentaly In why I do this.
 
chrisaloia said:
Now, I have changed my approach totally, I am into flat converse style sneakers. I believe in feeling the ground and being more mindful when I walk. I take more secure steps and don't take as much chances on rocky terrain like I was in thick boots which did not let me feel the ground.
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Bring a PLB for when you bust and ankle or leg I need to know where to come get you. The terrain I hump on missions would chew up anyones ankles I dont care who they are and where they have been. Sure some smooth trails with the dog on a lazy sunday is for shoes but when it gets rugged boots.

Boots 100% leather, heavy, quality and expensive, my feet are fresh as daisy's (not smell :D) after a 36 hr off trail tomp.

When is the military going to converse sneakers I wonder?:rolleyes:

Skam
 
I hear the Danner pronghorn leather boots are durable, and soft as already broken in, but for around the low end of $200.
 
skammer said:
Bring a PLB for when you bust and ankle or leg I need to know where to come get you. The terrain I hump on missions would chew up anyones ankles I dont care who they are and where they have been. Sure some smooth trails with the dog on a lazy sunday is for shoes but when it gets rugged boots.

Boots 100% leather, heavy, quality and expensive, my feet are fresh as daisy's (not smell :D) after a 36 hr off trail tomp.

When is the military going to converse sneakers I wonder?:rolleyes:

Skam
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Hey Skammer,

Give me some ideas for name brands. I have some Vasque Skywalks, which I really like for about 5 miles, then they just kill my shins. I don't remember any of my Army boots doing that, and they held up pretty good, but I don't think they were real high quality. How high up the leg should the boot go?
 
Skammer, I appreciate your comments. I think it was in Vietnam where many military guys would go barefoot in the jungle. The Viet Kong wore cloth sandals. Tibetan sherpas wear sneakers in the Himalayas. Maybe our miliary should tote converse? ;) That could be a place where our Tax dollars could be saved.
 
Me and Skammer don't agree on knives but we sure do on boots, for what I like to do I would destroy chuck taylors in a few days or less. For work Corcorans and for play Danners. I have had several pairs of Danners in different styles and they were all good, right now I am liking the elk hunters.

cool pic.:D
Picture907.jpg
 
chrisaloia said:
Skammer, I appreciate your comments. I think it was in Vietnam where many military guys would go barefoot in the jungle. The Viet Kong wore cloth sandals. Tibetan sherpas wear sneakers in the Himalayas. Maybe our miliary should tote converse? ;) That could be a place where our Tax dollars could be saved.
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Save your tax dollars? I don't know about that but I know what you can kiss.
 
I wear hiking shoes - Merrel Chameleon II Stretch shoes to be exact. I have tried wearing hiking boots before, but I prefer hiking shoes quite a bit more. I hike fast (4+ mph on flat ground, about 3 mph on steep terrain), and I have pretty strong legs, so I don't really need the support of boots. I also usually carry a pretty light pack (~20-25 lbs). I can understand situations when you would want to wear boots, but I don't think they are ever required for hiking, even on very rough terrain.
 
Dave568 said:
I wear hiking shoes - Merrel Chameleon II Stretch shoes to be exact. I have tried wearing hiking boots before, but I prefer hiking shoes quite a bit more. I hike fast (4+ mph on flat ground, about 3 mph on steep terrain), and I have pretty strong legs, so I don't really need the support of boots. I also usually carry a pretty light pack (~20-25 lbs). I can understand situations when you would want to wear boots, but I don't think they are ever required for hiking, even on very rough terrain.
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Low quarters huh, you don't ever walk through sand, mud, briars, leaves, rocks or much of anything but smooth trails,do you?
 
sodak said:
Hey Skammer,

Give me some ideas for name brands. I have some Vasque Skywalks, which I really like for about 5 miles, then they just kill my shins. I don't remember any of my Army boots doing that, and they held up pretty good, but I don't think they were real high quality. How high up the leg should the boot go?
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Sodak,

There are a lot of decent boot makers out there. Not all makers make boots that will fit YOU as you know. The key is to try on as many as you can and get fitted properly and with a good sock and footbed system.

Personally, I dont like fabric boots unless I am in the desert or jungle I also do not like Gortex as it doesn't breath the way 100% leather does.

The key for me is all leather with as few seams as possible. Fashion means nothing to me, they could be the ugliest boots ever but if they work I buy em.

That said I have found my perfect personal boot (Limmer) and will never use any other boots, they are the off the shelf version light mountainering boots and cost $300 and worth every penny as they will last me 10+ years of hard use and can be resoled.

I used top of the line Merrells $300 and they were ok but the soles wore out and I had to turf them in 3 years.:mad:

For hard off trail use quality 100% leather boots should be stiff as a board and not very comfy as the leather molds to your foot as they break in.

Perfect fitting and comfy boots out of the box never worked for me as they were not stiff and supportive enough after the break in period.

Boots are a personal thing and not one works for all feet. Its trial and error.

Get fitted by a very experienced boot guy, get the best you can afford, break them in well and take care of them. They are an investment.

http://www.backpacker.com/backpacking101/A2boots.html

If you are out under any scenario and your feet pack up you are in trouble.

Good boots are #1 on any gear list as far as I am concerned. I see it quite often, people with expensive gear, tents, knives, clothes and they are wearing POS boots and are hobbled with blisters and foot pain.:rolleyes:

Makers make many diffrernt boots the better ones are the most money and are for light mountainering or off trail use.

Good off trail boot makers:

Limmer
Zamberlan
Meindl
Asolo
Montrail
Merrell

Some like hunting boots or military boots. I do not but there are a few that are decent quality and serviceable.

My 4 cents.

Skam
 
Everybody is talking about merrells, I have 3 pairs and they are good light duty shoes/boots. What's the name of the merrells you like skammer, I guess I haven't seen the high end ones. Chris
 
runningboar said:
Low quarters huh, you don't ever walk through sand, mud, briars, leaves, rocks or much of anything but smooth trails,do you?
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Wow, where did that comment come from? I hike through sand, mud, briars, leaves, rocks and much more when I go out hiking. Also, since we seem to be making assumptions about people we don't even know, I'll also venture a guess that I can hike through those terrains faster and farther than you can in your boots.
 
Dave568 said:
Wow, where did that comment come from? I hike through sand, mud, briars, leaves, rocks and much more when I go out hiking. Also, since we seem to be making assumptions about people we don't even know, I'll also venture a guess that I can hike through those terrains faster and farther than you can in your boots.
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I can tell you exactly where it came from, how do you keep the crap out of your shoes, gaiters? I am sure you are very much faster than I am, I don't go to the woods to run through it or get a work out. I do have a whole lot of time on my feet in rough terrain and shoes ain't where it's at, now if I am going jogging, shoes are the bees knees. Chris
 
runningboar said:
Low quarters huh, you don't ever walk through sand, mud, briars, leaves, rocks or much of anything but smooth trails,do you?
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"Most" shoe lovers never been on long treks involving serious terrain and weather with a decent load and are on marked smooth type trails. I wonder if converse made it to the peak of Everest?

I got extreme lightweight nut job friends who see the light very quick when they go out with me off trail.

BTW. The Vietcong wore mostly tire tread sandles made out of heavy tire rubber for support. The NVA wore boots. An american who took his boots off in the jungle to travel would be charged. The Vietnamese aslo grew up barefoot and had the feet for lighter footwear or none. Western culture do not. Hell even native americans wore calf high moccasins for support when off trail.
I wear shorts and t-shirt till its 20 degrees out as I grew up in the North, someone from the south would freeze to death first.

Funny story: I met Cody Lundin personally a few years back and we chatted as he was filming in the area and I was involved with the show. He bragged about going barefoot most of the time. His Arizona bush is different than mine. I challenged him to come back in February and do another show barefoot.;) He declined.:D

Skam
 
runningboar said:
I can tell you exactly where it came from, how do you keep the crap out of your shoes, gaiters? I am sure you are very much faster than I am, I don't go to the woods to run through it or get a work out. I do have a whole lot of time on my feet in rough terrain and shoes ain't where it's at, now if I am going jogging, shoes are the bees knees. Chris
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I've never had issues with anything getting into my shoes unless I'm in sand. Sand, of course, is a pain in the ass - I'll give you that. However, getting a bit of sand in my shoes is no reason for me to switch to wearing boots on hikes.
 
Dave,
I'm sorry for being so prickly, I think I am just an A hole by nature, at least that's what my wife tells me.:o

I do a lot of land navigation cross country and shoes just don't cut it. I will agree with you for most hiking shoes are fine, for serious cross country humping, boots are the only way to go. Chris
 
chrisaloia said:
Skammer, I appreciate your comments. I think it was in Vietnam where many military guys would go barefoot in the jungle. The Viet Kong wore cloth sandals. Tibetan sherpas wear sneakers in the Himalayas. Maybe our miliary should tote converse? ;) That could be a place where our Tax dollars could be saved.
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CHRISALOIA
I hate to bust your bubble but I served in the Marine Corp during the period you speak of with 20 months in the jungle and not once during that time did I see a single Marine, Soldier or sailor without boots or with a rag tied around there head while on Duty. MILITARY RULES STATE THAT YOU WILL BE IN THE PROPER UNIFORM AT ALL TIMES even in combat.also try humping 70 or 80 lbs.
of personal gear + weapon and ammo for the machine gun with out good boots for support. and then theres all the little critters that like to bite sting or suck to worry about then things called punji stakes and the list goes on:)
 
skammer said:
"Most" shoe lovers never been on long treks involving serious terrain and weather with a decent load and are on marked smooth type trails. I wonder if converse made it to the peak of Everest?

I got extreme lightweight nut job friends who see the light very quick when they go out with me off trail.
Skam
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The guy that turned me on to shoes had done the PCT & AT. That is some seriously long trekking. Trail runners aren't exactly going on smooth terrain. But this discussion has more to do with purpose of being on the trail. My purpose is for enjoyment, leisure and to clear my mind.

I will concede that you are more extreme than I, as well as, go to more extreme terrain. So you probably shouldn't wear converse.

Everyone's life is what they make it. If you want to crash through harsh environs, have at it. I truly enjoy slow mindful walking with a backpack on.

Stay safe,

Chris
 
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