HikeArizona.COM

hmm...
I need suggestions on good Hiking boots that will last me awhile, yet are comfortable and light weight. ????????

@CannondaleKid
Shoe Goo is another option. I believe I got mine while taking my latest pictures of Wal-martians.

@CannondaleKid
Try boating stores, or outdoor stores that sell boats etc, if you like paying double REI has it as well ;)

I am a honk for Keen shoes through and through. I am cursed/ blessed with wide, hobbit-like feet and this brand seems custom made to accommodate as such. I have burned through 4 different pairs, and even some of their hiking sandals which I reserve for canyoneering and the like. I have had a few different models, I usually get about 250-300 miles out of each pair. I tend to do mostly low desert and rocky hikes that are pretty hard on the soles. I rarely get blisters, even on 13+ mile hikes. Wool socks of course!

@The Dude
hobbitpelli?

YES! Altra trail running shoe company has listened to hikers and is coming out with a new model with what looks like better traction. I just hope the fit is the same, because for me, it's been the only shoe that has worked for a long time. Fastest unsupported time on the AT, Heather Anderson, wore Altras. I'm not trying to be the fastest, just needed shoes that didn't hurt my feet. I remember a couple of years ago some of you were telling me to see a podiatrist or neurologist due to the foot pain. Not bad advice, I guess, but all along it was because I couldn't find a proper fit.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/2 ... -Mid-Hiker

Jenna Palomino wrote:
hmm...
I need suggestions on good Hiking boots that will last me awhile, yet are comfortable and light weight. ????????

Good question, I have been curious about that myself, and the sandals thing blows me away. I guess I don't have the luxury of hiking trails that are groomed on a regular basis. I prefer a mid height boot for better protection of my feet. I am allergic to sand, pebbles, and brush between my toes and under my bare feet. I wear Salomons, they would be considered extremely heavy for the granola crowd, but I'm on my third pair with hundreds of mile on each walking in difficult rocky terrain, wet slippery conditions with no injury to my feet. I think Jesus would have worn Salomons if he had the choice.

Check out Ahnu boots.....ultralite, waterproof, vibram soles. I love these boots. They are the most comfortable ones I've ever owned (and I've been through a lot of boots.) But I have to say that my "go to" footwear for most of my hikes and backpacking trips are my Inov8 Roclite trail shoes.

I just ordered the new Altra hiking-specific shoes. Zero-drop, (which means heel is not raised) and same fit (I hope) with the square toes and narrow heels. I ordered them through Road Runners, free shipping. These shoes came out just this month.

http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/pro ... tid=479600

I haven't been hiking the past couple of weeks because of a possible stress fracture of one of the metatarsal bones on my left foot. I haven't been noticing any pain the past few days with normal walking around. I will continue to bike and paddle for now. When I get the new shoes I'll start out with something very easy, and I'll turn back immediately if there is any pain. I want to give it plenty of time to heal.

I used to wear Danners for hikes and I thought they were great until I started using the La Sportiva Synthesis. The Synthesis is so much lighter and more comfortable than my Danners.

Anybody wear CV4010 Corcoran 6" hiking boots?

Well I order a new pair of Ecco hiking and my boots and brace should be here on Tuesday.
I love my Ecco Sandels and dress shoes so I am hoping for the same results with the hiking boots.

While I have mostly transitioned away from using Salomons, I still like to have a pair for local hikes. However, seemingly none of the models (any of the X Ultras or Pathfinder) I would like have any inventory on any of the sites I’ve checked. Anyone else having this issue? Or am I missing a good site that has them in stock?

@LindaAnn
Cathy got these. Not waterproof however. They offer the same with GoreTex though.
https://www.sportsmans.com/footwear-out ... 3WEALw_wcB

@LosDosSloFolks Thanks! I had not tried Sportsmans.

@LindaAnn
Free shipping to boot! Pardon the pun.

@LindaAnn - This is just a sampling from my local outdoor shop here in Tucson. But chatted with them about the availability of various Salomon's and why they were out of stock. They've had this year's order of shoes on backorder for months and were down to a solitary pair of size 13's. Claimed that they are starting to see supply chain issues with various outdoor related merchandise and shoes in particular.

There are a lot of supply chain issues with outdoor products right now and shoes are definitely experiencing some major availability issues. Part of the problem is a shortage of foam which has impacted a number of industies. The other is that a lot of shoe manufacturing is done in Vietnam and they are experiencing a massive COVID outbreak right now. That loss of production capacity has caused manufactures to shuffle production around the world which is resulting in some products being late and others being cancelled altogether.

According to my source for running shoes a number of manufacturers (large and small) have pushed planned launches of new models out for months. In that space this is a big deal as runners become used to the new model of their chosen shoe coming out at a specific time only to find no new model and severely limited stock of the old.

I've noticed a huge drop in available models from most brands that interest me, not just in NJ (REI and Ramsay Outdoor), but in the handful of other places I've been (Iowa City, Salida, Buena Vista, REIs in Boulder and Silverthorne). It seems like manufacturers pared back to just a few of their biggest sellers.

I've fallen in love with Zamberlan boots. I've gone from a Trail Lite EVO GTX to a Duke GTX to a pair of Latemar NW all-leather bad boys without Gore-Tex or anything like that. I couldn't be happier, and I wish I'd switched a long time ago. The Latemars have an all-leather monowrap and calf-leather liner, but they're not for everyone. The welted lower and last require a lot of break-in, but I'm about ready to sleep in them because they're so comfortable. I'd wanted a pair of boots without Gore-Tex for a while because I've never believed the hooey about it being very breathable.
Zamberlan definitely isn't for everyone. One had better be willing to pony up a good deal more for a pair than one would with even Vasque, but I'm never going back.
The Latemar also has a welted lower so I hope that my current pair lasts at least a half-decade if not longer.

I don’t usually use hiking boots, but am required to use ankle high boots for work. Used Lems Boulder boots for the last couple of years and they work great and are minimalist, but not warm enough for the winter night shifts. Just ordered Soft Star switchbacks fortunately I was able to use a code from a minimalist site to get money off as they are not cheap. Been pretty happy with their primal runamocs with thick socks or waterproof socks for winter running, but I got those as a gift last winter as the Altras I had been using and their dumb toe spring has left me with a nagging foot injury after using them last winter for cold weather running. These have same sole as runamocs and are resole-able. Not fully waterproof as tongue is not gusseted, but waterproof to the tongue. Merino wool lined. Hoping these will fill the void between my full on winter boots I pieced together from existing products, and my winter running shoes, for work and for snowshoeing and moderate winter hiking. I stIll prefer VFF’s for hiking down to about 30 degrees.