Maybe a little more hiking and not as much backpacking than what I wanted/should get, but they have to be some of the lightest, comfiest shoes I have ever worn, let alone being a boot. Gortex bottom (waterproof for some shallow shallow creeks and more importantly morning dew) with a mesh top (for once the doggies get burning) make this a pretty happy purchase for me.
Now I have basically no excuse, it's gonna happen again. This time I'm going to finish what I started (cue Rocky/Rambo theme songs).
4 comments:
Just make sure they draw first blood, not you.
I'm in the market for new boots, since my old ones developed a bad case of the toe separating from the sole. I like the mesh tops, but I have to go with completely waterproof if I'm going to be happy while snowshoeing/walking to class in Maine winter.
After reading your muses about blisters and what not I have some advice. I'm not a backpacking expert but I have done my fair share of 12-20 mile single day foot marches.
Every tells you to bring extra socks and change them whenever you stop right? I don't agree with this. You should change your socks if they are soaked. You can tell when your socks are soaked. This is more than when your feet are just damp and you can feel moisture between your toes. Then, when you do change your socks, get your boots back on your feet as quickly as possible.
See, the leather in your shoes expand when they soak up your sweat. When you take them off for a longer period of time, they start to dry off, and at the same time, shrink. This is the exact opposite to your feet, which are expanding now that they are out of the confines of your shoe. This makes it extremely uncomfortable for your feet upon returning them to your boot.
What I suggest is that, barring some serious blistering going on, at every stop, you just slightly tighten your boots because of the expansion going on. If you start to feel blistering, take your shoe off immediately, put some duct tape on the hot spot, lace em up and keep moving.
I went 18.7 mi without changing my socks or unlacing my boots once. All I had was impact pain on my heels (course was all blacktop) and a teeeeny tiny blister on my left pinky toe.
Best of luck. I think there is no better food for the soul than long walks.
Thanks for the pointers, all are duly noted. I'm planning on trying to find some time the next few weekends to do some day trails to break in the boots, but given that these are the few warm weekends during the school year, well, you know how that goes sometimes.
Dan - Couldn't agree more... if I were looking at a Maine winter, these boots would NOT be my choice.
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