Hiking boots recommendations?
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Thanks again to everyone who replied to this thread. Your input has been very helpful and I’m truly grateful for this community! I went to my local outfitters today which is surprisingly good for a town of its size. I feel fortunate to live where I do as it’s very outdoorsy and @goosehd is right when talking about the number good shops on the west coast and Vancouver Island. Being a Tuesday afternoon, the shop was quiet and I spent a good 1.5 hours talking and trying on different boots. When I told the salesman what I was looking for, the first boot he handed me was a Salomon Quest 4. No question it was a very nice pair of boots - surprisingly light and very cushy. I also tried on Aku, Keen Targhee 4 and a pair of Oboz Bridger. They were all nice boots but lacked the stiffness in the sole that I’m looking for. Next came out the Scarpa Kinesis Pro GTX, which is their top of the line all leather traditional hiking boots. We were both surprised that my Vibergs felt heavier. Very nice boots that had a good stiff sole, but felt bulky on foot and when walking around the store. I tried on a couple of pairs of trail shoes but didn’t jive with them. Out of all the boots I tried on, the Scarpa Zodiac Tech GTX were the ones that I like the most and felt best on my feet. They felt light on the foot and were the most comfortable with a nice stiff grippy sole. I have E width feet and the toe box fit is great with room to wiggle the toes. The lacing system is straight forward and easy to adjust. Sizing up to avoid toe jamb on descents, I was able to lock my heel in place with no slip first try. I definitely like them.
I told them that I was going down to Victoria this weekend and they said to go to their store there and try on a pair of Scarpa Rush TRK, which they think I’ll like. I also wanted to try them (from reviews) so I’m excited to try them and compare. Conveniently MEC is very close by and is a mecca for all things outdoor gear related. I am feeling much better now after trying on different boots and figuring out what I want, need and like in a pair of hiking boots. So far the Scarpa Zodiac Tech GTX are at the top of the list, which I wasn’t expecting from online reviews - so there ya go. I’m tired and rambling so I’ll tie this up. Thanks again for all your insight and I’ll be sure to let you know how the weekend goes.
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Yes!! Those look like the ticket. Glad it work it worked out for you. And I must apologize; I saw Vancouver and assumed the city, failing to realize that you're on the island. Big difference there!
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@Bobcat-Sig And to confuse you more, I don’t live on Vancouver Island either, but on one of the gulf islands
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I was able to try on a few different pairs of boots this weekend but came back to Scarpa Zodiacs. I was able to try on some La Sportiva Aequilibrium Trek Gore-Tex Backpacking Boots that were very nice, but I didn’t bond with them. They fit narrower than the Scarpas and that was the deciding factor. Tried on a pair of leather Merrell boots, but didn’t like how they fit on me. I saw a beautiful pair of leather Zamberlan boots that looked amazing. Unfortunately it was the heaviest boot on the wall. By this time my mind was made up. Cruised around downtown hitting the outdoor shops before heading back up island to get the Scarpas.
So far I’m really impressed with them. My wife and I went alpine hiking yesterday and it was so tempting to wear them. I’ve been walking around the house with them as much as possible and took them for a walk in the forest this evening. The break-in period has been pain free so far with no blisters or hotspots. My goal is to have them well broken in by the time I leave. They are definitely more boot than I’ll need most of the time.
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@Denman-John sounds like a very good choice. Especially that you could try on all these excellent boots and decided based on the feeling of your feet. Wish you a great time in Nepal with them and probably also more beautiful tours for many years to come. They should really last a long time.
si tacuisses
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@Denman-John very nice! How’s the sizing on the Scarpas?
IG - gratefuldenimhead (jeans and boots), Norseamerican (bicycles)
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@endo Thanks for your help and insight. Yeah, I think they‘ll last for a good time to come and hope they will take me on some epic adventures. Scarpa say that these are resoleable so we’ll see when the time comes. I think the decision process was made easier due to wanting to try them on in person to make sure they fit properly rather than try my luck with ordering online. I also feel good about supporting a local shop as well. They are a hybrid between a trekking and light mountaineering boot so they should be able to handle most of what I encounter along the trail. If needed they can accommodate semi automatic crampons. I sized up so they will also take double socks if necessary. All in all I am very pleased with these boots and look forward to breaking them in.
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@Denimhead-0 Thanks man! I was able to measure my feet at the shop and they fit true to size. With that said, I sized up to avoid jamming my toes at the front of the boot while on descents.
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@Denman-John Those are sweet!! And that tread looks gnarly and excellent. Nice.
I took my old Asolos out on Friday, only to have the tread delam in both heels, so this thread is timely.
Congrats on the new dancing shoes
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Thanks @Bobcat-Sig I’ve only heard good things about Asolos, but have never been fortunate enough to try a pair on. Are they repairable or are you looking for a new pair of hiking boots to go along with your new Engineers?
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@Denman-John I opted to have my Asolos repaired. The uppers are in great shape. The midsoles, which are almost entirely comprised of a molded, expanded foam, deteriorated on a hike last Friday, causing the sole heel to delaminate. And while the sole itself can be replaced, my local cobbler will need to replace the midsole, as well, as it's failing at several spots. The cost was far less than a new pair of gore-tex hikers, so we'll see how the repair comes out. He assured me that Vibram has a decent sole + mid-sole that he can reattach. Fingers crossed.
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Update:
Last week I wore the boots around the house and while walking the dog (roughly 4km/day). No problems and felt great so decided to take them on a longer hike on Friday afternoon. Great fit and comfortable. The only downside I found was that the insulated insoles that I put in them are too warm for this time of year. Changed the insoles back to the originals and everything feels good again. The traction is incredible with these boots and I feel my foot placement is more precise. So far I’m very impressed with these boots.
Friday morning I picked up a Patagonia Triolet hard shell/rain jacket and tested it out Saturday as it was raining and blowing hard. The storm knocked out the power for about 16 hours, but I felt cozy walking in the storm. I’ll bring this to Nepal with me and use it as an outer layer when I get higher up in the mountains or if the wind picks up.
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That’s some quality gear my friend!
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Those boots are resolable (is this proper English?), which might be necessary after a some years, when the glue hardens.
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@Denman-John appreciate the update and thanks for including such beautiful shots of the terrain. You look well equipped! Will the 822’s make the journey?
