Ultimate Camping Thread

thanks! any particular pair you like the most?

I have had a few pair of Merrells that I liked. I don't really need water proof but if I happen to splash in a puddle or slip and plunge my foot in to the water quickly, something that will keep my foot fairly dry or at least dry quickly is needed. How long do you think your Merrells will last? The shoes I am checking out have the Vibram sole on there like yours.

 

Aaron I have the ones I linked to you. My brother wears his and they have done 2 tours of door kicking in Iraq for him.

 

im like the boot subject...im lookin to get some as well. Ill prolly get some oakley combat boots cortesy of the US Govt here soon. but i always wanted to try these on

 

awesome! good to know! I don't like spending a bunch of money on shoes that I have to replace each year. Glad the Merrells will hold up well.

Awesome thanks!

Thanks! those are some crazy shoes! Not sure I want to get in a fight with the bottoms of those shoes! haha

 

yeah they are comfy. I don't even wear my merrells any more. My feet were always way to hot in my merrells.

 

My personal experience with Merrells has soured in the last couple of years. Although that being said you should know that I generally own one pair of boots at a time and wear them every day until they fall apart.

About 7 years ago I started wearing Merrells higher waterproof top of the line boot, I bought them for a trip out to the wind river range in wyoming. They've changed the name over the years so I don't remember what they were called. I liked them so much that I started wearing them everywhere, including work as a laborer/carpenter at the time, so they were seriously abused on a daily basis.

I was getting about a year and a half out of each pair, which I considered to be great considering the amount of time I wore them. The first two pairs didn't even break down, I actually wore through the soles before the boots went bad.

Fast forward to the last two pairs I had, I am now out of the field in construction, doing management, take a lot fewer hiking trips, and actually have to wear something on my feet besides hiking boots or flip-flops.

I can't get a pair of Merrells to last me over 8 months, and I was still purchasing what is considered there best high ankled waterproof boot. I discussed this with a few different people, including a couple different guys at the REI's around minnepolis. What I found out is that Merrell had shipped their manufacturing to China at about the same time my boots started falling apart on me. I had seams ripping open, soles seperating from the boots, all sorts of quality issues.

I loved the Merrells, but they are not what they used to be. I have since switched to Asolos, they are an amazing boot so far, and I have not found one issue with them. They also seem to be holding up much better than my recent merrells did.

One thing to keep in mind with the Asolos, they are very pricey, but I'm ok with paying a high price for quality that lasts, also they are are European manufacturer, and Euopean boots tend to run narrow, so if you think you have a normal foot, you may need a wide for the Asolo's, I know I did.

 

http://www.rei.com/product/706762

These are what I plan on rocking from now on

 

First what type of hiking do you plan on doing, how much do you plan to carry and what type of terrain will you encounter? All boots/ trail shoes fit everyone differently so I would go try on every pair you can and really walk around in them, incline/ decline. If you plan on carrying a load go with boots over trail shoes. Trail shoes are good for experienced hikers with strong feet and ankles or for people who don’t carry much. I will only wear boots when I hike.

Boots Carrying a Load:
The best advice I can give you is grab the sole with both hands and try to fold the boot in half. If it folds they are junk, find a pair that don’t fold. Also try to twist the toe; if it twists much they are junk. Bring a pack with you or take one from the store to use to test the boots and put some mass in it, I like about thirty pounds. You may feel stupid in the store but you will thank yourself at the end of the trail when your feet feel like you just started. Other things to look for but won’t go into them unless you ask.

Lastly don’t go by looks like most people do, the fit and performance is what matters. People who only care about style walk in the city.

 

I disagree with Your if they bend they are junk. If they bend and You are not a person with a strong foot they are not the shoe for you. I try and hike a 14er a month If Not two in the months that there is little to no snow on them or not snowing. I have done the blizzard hike and I live in Co so there is no reason for me to do It any more unless I'm snow shoeing. Ill wear my Solomon's about 90% weather I'm packing a ton of weight or not. Pack Weight is Not my concern when choosing my show. I also have a pair of Lowa boots I wear but that's more for deep snow stuff.

 

I have been wearing the Vibram Five-fingers for almost a year. Trail running, hiking, and kayaking. Great shoes once you get all your feet muscles use to them.

 

X2 on the Asolo's! I am on my 3rd pair. Love em. I rock Superfeet Insoles in all my shoes and they are pretty damn good. I wore out a pair in Afghanistan, and just spilled honing oil on my last pair. For light hikers, I prefer Salomons. They are big in the Adventure race world as being bomb proof. I also have a pair of Five Fingers KSO's, Great for running in, not so much for climbing.

 

i have the same merrell's (the high tops). great shoes, but i would never use them for any serious (weight-wise) backpacking trip over two days. they are gloried tennis shoes (not a bad thing).

 

these merrells are the best shoes hiking boots ive ever put on my feet and i use em over here in afghan every single day and i havent had a problem with em yet

 

not to mention i do a lot of humpin wait up these mountains and i absolutely love em

 

also the chameleon 3 ventilator goretex are great to i wore them for most of my tour here and they are still holdin up extremely well

 

that's nice. never said anyone would have a 'problem' with them. however, if you're carrying any serious weight, or doing a longer trip, they're certainly not designed for that. they are essentially high top tennis shoes. you could just as easily be wearing air jordans (except the soles are flat). yes, they work fine... not demeaning them (i own a pair) - just stating what their purpose is. just as i don't wear my vasques to the gym and for day hikes, i wear these.

 

I was checking them out as well. My pack usually weighs in around 20-30 (usually low 20's though). How much weight did you normally walk around with in both your chameleons and the other pair?

 

I've been wanting to get me a pair of these myself! I may get these or Merrell just came out with a "Barefoot" type shoe, that gets good reviews.

 

low 20s i wanna have a pack that light!