1/29/15 4:24 PM

quick, day-hiking stuff, no loaded packs. i want something lightweight, ideally a mid+ height for a little more ankle support, with an agile and flexible feel, plus supportive sole that's protective but not at the expense of feel. also waterproof/goretex equipped.

i have a pair of <a href="http://images.buzzillions.com/images_customers/06/41/17884639_129862_full.jpg" target="_blank">keen pyrenees</a> now. had a pair of <a href="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzQ3WDExOTU=/z/T6IAAOSwk5FUtJV-/$_57.JPG" target="_blank">merrell M2 blasts</a>. in both cases the boots were supposed to be lightweight day-hikers, but to me feel clumsy and actually contribute to unsteady hiking on uneven terrain. its like i cant feel the ground, the soles are bulky and pretty stiff (even after alot of hiking) making my feet feel isolated.

i used to have a pair of <a href="http://s.stpost.com/eccstorefront/product_images/63121/f_63121_1.0.jpg" target="_blank">ecco x-tracks</a>, which were *perfect* but ecco's successor -- the track-6 and it's precursors -- does not fit or wear the same.

suggestions?

1/29/15 8:02 PM

Shoes are very personal...

Sounds like you know the features to look for. So just try as many on as possible. What fits me doesn't necessarily fit my twin...

Personally, I prefer trail runners for day hike.

1/29/15 10:01 PM

Just add some ankle support for rock-strewn terrain.

My beloved eccos were basically built like extra supportive high-top bball shoes.

I'm intrigued by the salomon wings sky gtx, high coverage trail runners, but no longer made...the search continues ...

1/30/15 7:28 AM

Just got a pair of Merrill Moab Ventilators Mid. Sound like what you want. Not waterproof, but dry super fast. If you want four seasons, check out the Keen Targhee at same pricepoint.

1/30/15 8:22 AM

just ordered some merrell moabs...we'll see how they do!

2/21/15 9:12 AM

May be a little more stout than you were seeking, and maybe the Merrells are the ticket for you, but anyway I just got these Eccos and love them. Great fit, support, sole is grippy on snow and ice, perfect for winter dog walking duty and pretty much whatever else I might use them for. Pretty much anything Ecco works for me.

http://www.rohandesigns.com/mens-travel-and-outdoor-footwear-Ecco-Biom-Terrain-Akka-II-Mid-GTX?ocode=03922595

2/21/15 3:41 PM

Here are some ECCO deals at Sierra Trading Post:

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/ecco-xpedition-ii-drak-mid-gore-tex-boots-waterproof-for-men~p~7414f/?filterString=s~ecco-men-shoes%2Fsizefamily~shoe%20size%3B11%2F&colorFamily=01

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/ecco-drak-gore-tex-shoes-waterproof-for-men~p~5989d/?colorFamily=02&merch=prod-rec-prod-5989D

There's a code for 35% off as well: ALTHIRTY5

I bought the only pair of ECCO shoes I've owned from them back in '08. After 6 years of frequent wear, the soles finally died this past fall. I did have issues with the fake welts coming unglued (they were purely cosmetic), but the shoes were so insanely comfortable that it was worth the hassle of re-gluing them periodically.

I just ordered a different style to replace them.

2/21/15 4:07 PM

Heavy boots are slow. If you want to go lightweight and fast, I have a pair of the previous generation to these:

http://www.salomon.com/us/product/s-lab-fellcross-3.html

I've done the Grand Canyon, down South Kaibab and up Bright Angel in daylight on these. And plenty of other steeper hikes. But there are two potential problems:

1. They wear out faster.

2. If the hike is rocky, your feet will tire out faster. Then you want something with a stiffer sole.

But if you need to move fast, heavier ankle high boots are definitely slower (my previous pair was a La Sportiva). And if the temperature gets above 100F (I used to do short (4 hr), steep fast hikes in 105F temperatures), you definitely want lighter weight stuff.

2 cents...

Sandiway

2/21/15 4:19 PM

I could care less about going fast in walking/ hiking shoes.

Anything with an uneven surface I want a stiff sole and ankle support. After many sprains from a misspent youth playing hoop, I can turn an ankle on a stiff blade of grass, much less a boulder.

I'm more concerned with walking at -12F like this morning than 105F.

Just different priorities.

2/21/15 9:15 PM

high-ankle trail runners. i'm checking those out, too.

2/23/15 9:47 AM

I needed a new pair of hiking boots thsi fall , I tried the Keen Targhee II MIds but I have protruding (what we call ankles but are more the lower leg medial and lateral malleous) on many boots after a couple of hours I am in extreme discomfort from rubbing of my "ankles" on the side of the boot). Sold the Keen's on ebay and tried the Merrell Allout Blaze Mid Waterproof so far I have not yet had problems but have not "hiked" in them yet.... http://www.merrell.com/US/en-US/Product.mvc.aspx/33672M/82897/Mens/All-Out-Blaze-Mid-Waterproof http://www.keenfootwear.com/product/shoes/men/targhee-ii-mid

2/23/15 11:56 AM

If you have wide feet (mine are 4E) it can be hard finding stuff except New Balance.

One of the show companies NB owns is Dunham and their light hiker - Cloud, is a very nice shoe, waterproof and not too heavy, they they do make other and heavier versions.

2/23/15 1:15 PM

Need to find some boots to hike around Africa for a couple of weeks in September. I'm afraid my 14 yr-old Timberlands won't cut it. No longer waterproof, as wading through slush puddles have amply demonstrated this winter.

2/24/15 12:10 AM

Walter, yeah they look like a pretty good" lightweight but having all the features" shoe. If you buy them a size big, then some insulation for cold weather might be possible.

Ideally, I'd like two pairs of shoes. One would be one size larger. Then I'd decide, based on the sock choice, which one to take with me.

Sandiway

2/24/15 9:53 AM

Maybe a bit more than you're looking for but these are all day comfy and super supportive. I swear by them for short hikes or multi-day wilderness treks.

http://www.backcountryedge.com/asolo-tps-520-gv.aspx?utm_source=GoogleMerch&utm_medium=dfm&zProductAttributeID=4170&gclid=Cj0KEQiA37CnBRChp7e-pM2Mzp0BEiQAlSxQCJvvNh4s_WoT-x_sfYspDvecuTfL6cTkg5zjfjuC75saAkZo8P8HAQ

2/24/15 2:37 PM

> Weighing roughly 3 pounds, 6 ounces per pair

That's about 800g each (probably in a small size)! Oof, ouch.

Sandiway

2/24/15 4:12 PM

lol....they are a lot lighter than my regular shoes. Everything is relative, I guess. I've never thought of them as heavy but I've never been a weight weenie.

2/24/15 8:37 PM

quote:

---

Anything with an uneven surface I want a stiff sole and ankle support. After many sprains from a misspent youth playing hoop, I can turn an ankle on a stiff blade of grass, much less a boulder.

I'm more concerned with walking at -12F like this morning than 105F.

Just different priorities.

---

2/25/15 11:38 AM

Sure, some people hike the Appalachian Trail in Crocs, but not me.

If I am for example on the Knife Edge on Katahdin, my preference is not to turn an ankle or fall. That will slow me down more than a couple ounces on my feet.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pmaVqyKos_o