trail shoe brands?

[bdmicarta]

Over the years I've gone through Adidas then Nike then New Balance then Merrell. My most recent have been The North Face and they work well but can be hard to find. The last time I needed shoes I couldn't find TNF so I bought Oboz (from REI) and they are working well.

The type of shoes I like are classified as trail running, although the Oboz are a bit stiffer and probably better for trail hiking than trail running.

What other brands should I be looking at?

 

[willythekid]

Salomon, La Sportiva, Brooks, Keen, Vasque, Lowa, Patagonia, Asolo, Arc'terx... I found Adidas and Vasque are my favorite "trail running" type of shoe but YMMV. Nike always runs narrow on me and while I really like Keens, they tend to run wide. People tend to look at Columbia as too budget but I've had a couple of pairs over the years that were quite nice and comfortable. My current bum around town shoes are Patagonia and I love them, but can't speak to the more hiking style versions.

 

[gadgetgeek]

I've got some jack wolfskins that are pretty decent as wandering sneaks. I can't be bothered to run so I don't be they seen to do the job well enough. since 90% of shoes is marketing, I just look at whatever looks like it will work. My current hiking boots are canvas doc martens, just as an example.

 

[Grubbster]

Lots of good brands mentioned above. Add Alta to the list. Plenty of room at the toes and zero drop. I use the Lone Peak.

 

[leghog]

KEEN. Roomy toe boxes.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

What happened to you and Merrells? I realize everybodies feet are different.

 

[bdmicarta]

What happened to you and Merrells? I realize everybodies feet are different.

I like the Merrells, but mine seemed to not last as long as my The North Face shoes. One other minor problem for me is that the Merrells seem to have a lot of padding around the ankle and can feel a bit too snug for that reason.

The past month I've been doing some walking in the evenings after work to help get ready for hiking, and to make sure my shoes are working. I've decided that my new Oboz will work real well for hiking. They are a bit stiff, probably too stiff for running, but I think they will work well for rough and rocky trails. I don't want to wear them for that because they are still new looking so I can wear them to my office, but I may have to take them for their performance.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

Interesting, you guys open my eyes to a lot of brands I might not of seen. Keen, I knew about. The others.....nah.

 

[Cereal_killer]

I will never buy any other working shoe (I'm in construction and farming) than Keen!

I also have a pair of Keen boots I LOVE.

Lightweight boots are more my style than shoes, my two favorite (other than of course Muck) are 5.11 ATACs in 11" and UA Valsetz in 7". Both are side zip, I will NEVER in my life own another pair of lace up boots that arnt side zip!

BTW both are army approved if anyone needs combat boots!

 

[Goose 7279]

Checkout the terrex by reebok i like them.

 

[HwangJino]

I don't like to wear boots on hiking trails.
So I wear either merril (spelling) or vivobarefoot shoes.
I'll never go back to boots after trying these.

 

[Skidoosh]

Salwa and Scarpa are good too- more approach shoes, also check out 5.10 and Garamont. I have a pair of Oboz and like them.

 

[Piso Mojado]

Sierra Trading Post has a lot of Merrell shoes on closeout, and my wife likes their running shoes. I bought Moab Ventilator hiking shoes because I had a –25% coupon. I liked them and bought the mid hiking boots too. Zero water resistance, but they're the best hikers I've bought for $45 and $52.49.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

Hey brother, where you get coopin?

 

[AF]

I do all my hiking and backpacking in La Sportiva Ultra Raptors. Nice shoe.

 

[Piso Mojado]

Hey brother, where you get coopin?

Sign on their spam list. You get 2 emails/day: click on the offer and your browser goes to their web site with the coupon loaded. Their best coupon is -25% with free shipping on $50.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

Sign on their spam list. You get 2 emails/day: click on the offer and your browser goes to their web site with the coupon loaded. Their best coupon is -25% with free shipping on $50.

Thanks brother, my wife is gonna love you!

 

[JoberSeven]

i got a pair of merrills. i dig 'em. most comfortable walking around shoes i own but they STINK! i'll wear my all my shoes without socks come summertime. sure. most of them are a little funky. but my merrills? sweet Christian Jesus do they hold the stink! my work boots smell like daisies in comparison.

 

[Skrapmetal]

I like Keen a lot.

Merrill and Oboz both had sort of narrow heal cups for me if that makes sense... I found myself wobbling and rolling my ankles sometimes. I assume that is what women feel like when learning to walk in high heels. ><

 

[Piso Mojado]

i got a pair of merrills. i dig 'em. most comfortable walking around shoes i own but they STINK! i'll wear my all my shoes without socks come summertime. sure. most of them are a little funky. but my merrills? sweet Christian Jesus do they hold the stink! my work boots smell like daisies in comparison.

My Merrill Moab Ventilators turned fragrant after two days. I've had stink foot and know what to do about it, but not stink shoe. So I ordered a can of "shoe disinfectant & deodorizer" spray from the big polluted tropical river.

Active Ingredients
2-Phenylphenol 0.20%
4-tert-Amylphenol 0.05%
Ethanol 53.00%
Inactive Ingredients 46.75%
​

Two treatments killed the stink. Any ethanol-based aerosol disinfectant should work. Shop for price and fragrance-free.

This is Moab in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.

It's easy enough to read, right to left: hiking sandal, hawk squat, stink foot, fan to blow away fumes.