Hiking footwear poll

[ck_1]

How often do you replace your hiking boots/shoes/sandals (joe&sande)

[flechenbones]

Wow, am I the only one who didn't come close to any of those choices. I usually get at least 2-3 years out of a pair of boots. Then, it is because they can't be held together with duct tape anymore. :D

[evenstarx3]

Now that I've moved to The Land of AZ and given up running for hiking, I'm following the same rules recommended for runners: Have two pair and alternate. Let's boots air out and dry out between hikes. I have a pair of Columbia Elkridge II's that I bought about six months ago. Just received a pair of LL Bean Cresta Hikers in a B width and man, do they fit nice! Figure I'll end up buying a new pair of boots every 12-18 months, retiring the oldest pair. Worked really well with my running shoes.

[BoyNhisDog]

[quote='evenstarx3']
Have two pair and alternate. Let's boots air out and dry out between hikes.
[/quote]

That is very good advice. I always have 3 pair of low cut hiking boots and a good pair of sandals. I rotate them daily. I wear them to work because there is always the chance of a walk in an exotic place. No special time limit on replacing them. When they are ready for that I relegate them to work boots for a while. They last a long time that way and your feet will thank you.

[Snick33]

I bought a pair of hiking boots from a army surplus / camping store on 8th street in Mesa and they have lasted almost a year. I've ordered a pair of Teva's, ala Joe. He assures me he still has all his toes.

[Snick33]

As Red Greene always says: 'Carpe Ductum', (Seize the Duct Tape)

[ck_1]

I was going to put more options past 'a year or so' but my computer was moving wayyyyyyy toooooo sllloooowwww. I got tired of waiting. (server here at school makes everything soooo slllowww).

I keep mine about a year and a half. I have considered the alternating thing, but lack the cash most of the time.

[Sande J]

Mmmmm..good question..rather than replace footwear often, I have found that having a few different options work well for me. I have a solid pair of Vasque gore-tex boots for longer or colder weather treks, a pair of Salomon low cut trail shoes for the milder hikes and my favs for the hot temps, BITE hiking sandals (love' em!) especially the toe guard, LOL.....but I have found I need a new pair of something about once every 12-15 months give or take the mileage I have put on.
The boots I have been looking at lately are the ones that attach to a snowboard.....LOL.....hard not to catch the fever......I have never ridden before but after watching the halfpipe competition I feel a bit inspired(probably crazy too)... but hey life is short ! ...and may be even a bit shorter if I try snowboarding.
:lol: Sande J

[olesma]

[quote='Snick33']
I bought a pair of hiking boots from a army surplus / camping store on 8th street in Mesa and they have lasted almost a year. I've ordered a pair of Teva's, ala Joe. He assures me he still has all his toes.
[/quote]

Ah, the mighty Lareda's Army Surplus Store! A true icon of Mesa - catty corner to the ever popular Landmark restaurant - with the best salad bar in the east valley. Man - is that place ever a trip. Love shoping for cheap stuff there. Even more fun is people watching there to see who comes in.

Might I suggest a trip to your local REI for a slightly nicer (i.e.: more expensive) selection of kicks. The prices seem high, but in comparison to the same relative quality - they are actually as good as or better than most places. Worth the trip.

[montezumawell]

Even though I dearly LOVE Tevas, I can't wear them much any more because my feet crack and get weird. But I keep a pair of them around to wear once in awhile and imagine how Joe must be feeling soaring over basalt cobbles like a The Great Winged Day Hiker. Otherwise, we troop dutifully off to Popular Surplus (THEY call themselves Popular Outdoor Outfitters. Anybody checked the acronym on THAT one?) Anyway, we call them Popular Surplus. When they have sales, we got there and buy boots. Pretty simple equation. We usually buy three pair, take them home, make sure they fit and ride them until the next 'end of season' sale. Pretty simple equation for successful footwear rotation. So I guess that's one pair every four months if you figure three per year. Whatever. Thanks for creating this interesting topic. I really enjoyed reading everyone's responses. Good job.

J&S in RR

[Snick33]

[quote='olesma']
[quote='Snick33']
I bought a pair of hiking boots from a army surplus / camping store on 8th street in Mesa and they have lasted almost a year. I've ordered a pair of Teva's, ala Joe. He assures me he still has all his toes.
[/quote]

Ah, the mighty Lareda's Army Surplus Store! A true icon of Mesa - catty corner to the ever popular Landmark restaurant - with the best salad bar in the east valley. Man - is that place ever a trip. Love shoping for cheap stuff there. Even more fun is people watching there to see who comes in.

There is something about the smell of Army / Navy surplus, that brings back fond memories of Detroit Michigan and Epps Surplus on Grand River Avenue. The smell is a cross between locker room and casomline,(sp) that is used to protect metals. I threw a duffle bag I bought from Lareda's in the Jeep and that smell took me back to my childhood when Pappy and I used to hang out at Epps. I remember when he bought 6 enormous pontoon / rubber rafts that were used to construct temporary bridges during WWII. We used them on Lake Huron as diving platforms and the inner part which was like a 40' hot dog we used to lash an outrigger to and use them as canoes.

Nothing, so takes me back to my childhood as does smells. Photos are nice, and commentary is interesting, butit's the smells of my childhood that does it for me. I know I promised not to drift fromt he subject but damn, I do remember those smells.

[Randy]

Gee I must be the oddball here. I get at least two years, but I never go with anything less than 4 pounds. Full rand, crampon grooves, superfeet insoles, off trail-grade boots.

For overnight or multi day hikes I go for something more rugged than that. Also carry a set of New Balance trail shoes in the pack for after hours lounging...-R

[Lizard]

Whew Randy my feet hurt just reading your post :) I'm curious, what would you say is an average load for you for a multiday trip? I ask because for long backpacking trips I would likely be wearing the NB trail shoes you carry for camp wear. My typical load before food and water is around 15 lbs.

Chris

[Randy]

Chris: My multi-day loads are usually in the 40 pounds and up range. Tent (4 or 8# depending on if its the 3 season Sierra Design or the fourseason Mtn HW) stove, fuel, cook kit, sleeping bag, rain gear, fleece, camera, extra clothes, flashlights (2), extra batteries and bulbs, medical kit with most everything in Doc Forgey's book, Thermarest, rope, food, water filter, and oh yes, agua. That's the variable. Last spring when Mike (crazy moderator herein) suggested Reavis Falls, I was afraid that the creek would be dry, so I packed 8 liters (about 18 pounds). Of course creek was swimming hole deep. My hiking partners tend to take a 'Why worry, Randy has extra' attitude.

In addition to above, sometimes it brings one joy to pack some Peppermint Schnapps for the hot chocolate mix, some white wine, some red (it would be gauche to drink white with beef, and one never knows whats in the freeze dried bags), a spot of whiskey for a bracer in the morning coffee, some chardonney with the luncheon cheese, and of course the B & B strictly for medicinal purposes (as W.C. Fields said, 'But this sip, sip, sip all day has got to stop') No Beer though; I draw the line at packing ice...

On day hikes, I pack my small internal frame based on the question, 'What would I need if I had to stay out overnight' All this and my 200 plus pounds (lotta plus) yields a fair load on my size 10s. Light boots just don't hold up. -R

[ck_1]

I have to applaud Randy on his use of the word 'gauche'.

[BoyNhisDog]

[quote='Randy']

On day hikes, I pack my small internal frame based on the question, 'What would I need if I had to stay out overnight' [/quote]

This is what I applaud him for. It is my philosophy also to be prepared for an unschedualed overnighter. Things happen.

[Lizard]

I used to carry a load very similar to yours Randy. This includes during a 2 month hike on the PCT. I set off into the High Sierra with a 65 lb. pound pack that nearly killed me. It included 10 days of food, too much warm clothing and an ice axe and crampons. I loved the High Sierra but each day I struggled hard under my load. Since coming back I have made serious strides towards lightening my load. I read both versions of Ray Jardine's book (PCT Hiker's Handbook and Beyond Backpacking) and went overboard for awhile, with a base load below 7 lbs. I've moderated since then, with a load around 14-15 lbs., and most of the time I fly down the trail. Backpacking has become like dayhiking for me, and I know that next year when I set off on my next thruhike my enjoyment will be increased. Less gear=more enjoyment, at least for me.

Funny thing is, reading through your gear list I realized I carry almost everything you do, just in a lighter version. Here is the breakdown:


Chris: My multi-day loads are usually in the 40 pounds and up range. Tent (4 or 8# depending on if its the 3 season Sierra Design or the fourseason Mtn HW)

Silnylon Tarp with guylines and stakes, groundsheet and bug bivy (1.5 lbs)
In winter and above treeline I carry a Stephenson's tent (around 2.75 lbs.)

stove, fuel, cook kit,

homemade alcohol stove (.5 ounce), alcohol in plastic bottle (weight depends on trip length), titanium pot and spoon (6 ounces)

sleeping bag,

Western Mountaineering Ultralite 25* (1 lb 12 oz.)
In summer I carry a fleece bag from Walmart (about 1 lb.)
In winter I carry them both


rain gear,

Ontrail trip, Froggs Toggs jacket (8 oz)
Cross-country bushwhacking trip, Marmot Precip (13 oz)


fleece,

Patagonia Puffball (16 oz)


extra clothes,

Polypro long johns (7 oz), Paramo Mountain Shirt (13 oz), windpants (3 oz) extra nylon socks and one pair wool socks (~4 oz)
fleece balaclava (1 oz)

flashlights (2), extra batteries and bulbs,

2 Photon Microlights (less than 1/2 oz), batteries and bulbs not neccessary

medical kit with most everything in Doc Forgey's book,

I put long thought into this and thought through the things I carry that can double in an emergency. I.e. trekking poles and foam pad as splint, hydration reservoir as irrigation syringe, etc. As a result I now carry a first-aid kit that is about 7 oz, and I feel I am very well prepared (moreso than when I carried a big 1 lb. kit, as now I know what all the common injuries are and what I need to do to treat them. Before I just walked blind.)


Thermarest, rope, food, water filter, and oh yes, agua.

Closed-cell foam pad and Aquamira for purification

Food and water I don't skimp on, as that could be dangerous. That's why I talk about 'base pack weight'. Any savings on food and water are false savings IMO.



I was just curious about this. It might be fun to go backpacking with you some time. We could compare our systems like they do in those 'lightnik vs. heavyweight' articles they run sometimes in Backpacker.

Chris (aka Lizard)

[Lizard]

Forgot to add this. If anyone wants the 'recipe' for making your own homemade backpacking stove, just ask me. You can make one in under an hour (takes less than 20 minutes once you're practiced), and they are just plain fun to make. You can do it with stuff you've got around the house.

Lizard

[BoyNhisDog]

Right now my backpacking load falls somewhere in between Chris and Randy. I want to get as light as I reasonably can. Some things I don't scrimp on though like sleeping comfort. Water is the single biggest challenge out here in the drought ridden Sonoran Desert.

I believe as you do Chris that a light load will make for a happier long range journey.

Boots do make a difference with the differing amount of weight that you may carry. I make up for the weight by using two Lekis. They really help the weight somewhat dissapear.

[evenstarx3]

With all the other liqued fortifications Randy carries, he could get rid of the luxury of carrying agua and have room for his golf clubs! :roll:

OK to keep Joe happy I'll get back on topic: Just bought a pair of LL Bean Cresta Hikers in a B :!: width! Normally wouldn't buy without trying on first, but with LLB's return policy it was worth the risk and they REALLY fit my narrow feet! And now I can trade off with the Columbia Elkridge II's when I'm hiking back to back days. Think boots will last a lot longer if they're allowed to air out well between hikes. And as much as a good pair cost, think that's important, especially to an (semi) old retired guy like me who prefers to spend his money on fast cars and slow women. :twisted: