What hiking shoe?

Heavy pack, 3 season, I go for Limmer, get a new pair every couple decades.
Day pack or just walking I go for Merrill, buy them 3 pairs at a time.

Winter, just too old for that.
 
Everybody's feet are different. Try on several brands until you find the one that feels best for you. I've always liked Garmont and Asolo.
 
I can't wear Merrill worth a darn, though I do have a pair of low Gore-Tex that I wear to and from work when it's rainy. But they're not comfortable.

I like Asolo, Lowa, Scarpa, Garmont, and La Sportiva.

Yes, try before you buy or if you get online get from a place with return policy.
 
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I have a wide foot so that limits my choices. Merrill comes in wides but the support and cushion their shoes offer has changed a lot in the past 6-7 years. I still buy them because they fit, but they are like different shoes. I liked the old ones MUCH better.
 
I think @BASIL just had a similar look at boots/shoes.

Maybe he'll chime in.
 
Well, I went to REI and the very nice lady spent all the time I needed to find what I liked.
After all was said and done, I must have tried on, and walked in eight different shoes.
I didn't come home with the prom queen, but I came home with the one that felt the best to me
with my eyes closed. :) I got the Keen Voyageur Mid.
.
 
BASIL said:
Well, I went to REI and the very nice lady spent all the time I needed to find what I liked.
After all was said and done, I must have tried on, and walked in eight different shoes.
I didn't come home with the prom queen, but I came home with the one that felt the best to me
with my eyes closed. :) I got the Keen Voyageur Mid.
.
Click to expand...

The Keens sure are an ugly duckling but a comfortable one...

Funny you post this and get Keens as this was posted by a YouTube channel I follow today.




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I recently purchased a pair of Oboz. First pair so I don't know how long they will last but happy with them so far. Interested on others opinions as well. I have knee issues so footwear is very important to me!

https://obozfootwear.com/products/sawtooth-mid-b-dry
 
Have always worn Vasque hiking boots with Vibram soles. Have big/long narrow foot and heavy duty Vasque boots are the only boot I have found that wont bend over the in step. I also have some Columbia Bugaboo II snow/insulated boots that work well. Fit is everything.
 
BASIL said:
Well, I went to REI and the very nice lady spent all the time I needed to find what I liked.
After all was said and done, I must have tried on, and walked in eight different shoes.
I didn't come home with the prom queen, but I came home with the one that felt the best to me
with my eyes closed. :) I got the Keen Voyageur Mid.
.
Click to expand...
This is what my sister did when she was going to Utah last october. They worked with her until they found a pair that worked, even took a pair back after she had worn them in our office for a couple of days and decided they weren't right for her foot.
 
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There is a lot of good info in here. Another consideration beyond brand and shoe fit is pick a type of hiker that fits your activity. "Hiking" is kind of nebulous. Are you going to be backpacking with a heavy pack over a week? A weekend with a light pack? Day hiking with just some water and lunch? More supportive and protective boots that you would wear on a long backpacking trip are different from the ones I'd pick for a day hike. Something like a vasque sundowner is a good all around boot. I like my la sportiva makalu's for heavy weight uses. I'd pick a pair of low cut merrills for a day hike at stone mountain.
 
MadMardigan said:
Tell me about hiking boots that work well in NC
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I wear Danner Crater Rim boots. They fit like a charm and are very comfortable when hiking and working in the field. I have put a ton of miles on them hunting and they seem to hold up well. For a bargain boot I like the tan combat hikers a buddy gave me. He hated them when but I found them very comfortable if heavy.
 
Climberman said:
There is a lot of good info in here. Another consideration beyond brand and shoe fit is pick a type of hiker that fits your activity. "Hiking" is kind of nebulous. Are you going to be backpacking with a heavy pack over a week? A weekend with a light pack? Day hiking with just some water and lunch? More supportive and protective boots that you would wear on a long backpacking trip are different from the ones I'd pick for a day hike. Something like a vasque sundowner is a good all around boot. I like my la sportiva makalu's for heavy weight uses. I'd pick a pair of low cut merrills for a day hike at stone mountain.
Click to expand...

Weekend light pack, my bag with hammock gear with out food and water weighs 22lbs
 
MadMardigan said:
Weekend light pack, my bag with hammock gear with out food and water weighs 22lbs
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For weekend, for light, you don't need to spend a ton of dough. Also consider if you want Gore-Tex: great when it's wet and/or cold, but seals in the funk in the summertime. Low-cut or 3/4 boots will likely serve your purpose.
 
fishgutzy said:
My favorite for both low and 3/4 is the Oboz Sawtooth. Rugged, supportive, light weight, sole is not too flexy. And they last.
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Same here!
Skip the Merrells, they are not the quality boot/shoe that they used to be. They used to be my go-to, now I'm very happy with the Oboz for the light/medium activities.
 
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I highly recommend going to REI, they have a lot of knowledge and are patient. If your a member, it's only a 20 bucks for lifetime, you can return pretty much anything if it doesn't work. So, if you buy a pair of boots and they don't work for you, then take them back and try again.
Before I went to REI, I wore Asolo only. They had me try a Solomon GTX Ultra Mid and it's the best boot I've ever worn. A lot lighter than the Asolo.
Personally I won't buy a boot that's not Gore Tex.
Good luck!
 
MadMardigan said:
What about Under Armour?
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Under Armour makes great clothing, their shoes/boots on the other hand, are hot garbage. I used to be a big fan of merrils, but their quality has really dropped over the years and I wont be buy any more. Salomons are my go-to now days.
 
LizardKing said:
I highly recommend going to REI, they have a lot of knowledge and are patient. If your a member, it's only a 20 bucks for lifetime, you can return pretty much anything if it doesn't work. So, if you buy a pair of boots and they don't work for you, then take them back and try again.
Before I went to REI, I wore Asolo only. They had me try a Solomon GTX Ultra Mid and it's the best boot I've ever worn. A lot lighter than the Asolo.
Personally I won't buy a boot that's not Gore Tex.
Good luck!
Click to expand...

You must not have sweaty feet. Gore-Tex sucks in the summer. They are awful temperate or desert boots.

If you don't do a lot of hiking or wear them much and have a single pair of all-year boots, then I would get GTX lightweight hikers (not backpacking boots), and just change socks every 6 hours.
 
Chuckman said:
You must not have sweaty feet. Gore-Tex sucks in the summer. They are awful temperate or desert boots.

If you don't do a lot of hiking or wear them much and have a single pair of all-year boots, then I would get GTX lightweight hikers (not backpacking boots), and just change socks every 6 hours.
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Ha, my wife would probably disagree about my sweaty feet! But, then again I don't spend much time in the desert either.
Reckon I'd rather deal with sweaty feet and changing socks than wet soaked boots from rain or water crossing.
 
I just bought my first pair of Oboz myself, and they kick Merrell in the azz as far as I'm concerned. The last two pairs of Merrell's I've bought just didn't seem to be anywhere near the quality of the old Merrell's I use to buy. I bought the Oboz Sawtooth and have to say, these things are super comfortable, and seem very well made. I also have to have a wide size, and these so far are great. I don't think I'll ever buy another pair of Merrell's after finding Oboz. Good luck on your search.
 
Average Joe said:
I recently purchased a pair of Oboz. First pair so I don't know how long they will last but happy with them so far. Interested on others opinions as well. I have knee issues so footwear is very important to me!

https://obozfootwear.com/products/sawtooth-mid-b-dry
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I tried on just about every shoe at my local store, and they stock a good selection. Out of all of them, this shoe is the one that fit my foot best and immediately felt "right".
 
I like Merrill a lot and I’ve had several pairs. About a year ago I came across a pair of Scott hiking shoes on amazon. $30 for a pair of waterproof, vibram sole shoes was hard to pass so I tried them. So far they’ve been awesome so maybe take a look.


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I am considering these for my next hiking boot. Gets very good reviews.
Oboz Bridger mid.
ff5f982b5f0c363b6006ec1b75e7187a.jpg


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fishgutzy said:
I am considering these for my next hiking boot. Gets very good reviews.
Oboz Bridger mid.


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Yeah I literally just tried those on a week ago. For my long narrow feet, they were a bit wide in the toe box, and almost no arch support. I choose the Oboz Sawtooth mid and it's a great hiking boot.
MUCH better Arch support, and just a totally overall better fit. They're also cheaper than the Bridger.

FWIW I tried them on at REI on the 'shoe rock' thing that tests how they fit on inclines and declines, and went up a half-size. Of course REI didn't have 11.5s so I ordered them on Amazon for $110 -dealz!
 
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Ikarus1 said:
Yeah I literally just tried those on a week ago. For my long narrow feet, they were a bit wide in the toe box, and almost no arch support. I choose the Oboz Sawtooth mid and it's a great hiking boot.
MUCH better Arch support, and just a totally overall better fit. They're also cheaper than the Bridger.

FWIW I tried them on at REI on the 'shoe rock' thing that tests how they fit on inclines and declines, and went up a half-size. Of course REI didn't have 11.5s so I ordered them on Amazon for $110 -dealz!
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I have both the sawtooth low and mid.
I went a size up because I have degenerative osteoarthritis in both big toe joints. The extra room in the toe box prevents painful bone on bone jamming over rocks and downhill.
I always use an athletic cushion insole in all my boots and sneakers. Gives better cushion and arch support.
It seems many shoes are made with throw away insoles anyway. Can easily customize with any number of aftermarket insoles to fit one's foot shape.

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