Or you could just use the right tool for the job... Merrell Wilderness USA Backpacking Boot - Men's | Backcountry.com
Or you could just use the right tool for the job... Merrell Wilderness USA Backpacking Boot - Men's | Backcountry.com
Backordered Christmas gift arrived.
Apparently the classic brown version had over 1,000 pairs backordered in a men's 8 and the wait was going to be until March or April, so I settled for an experimental olive and orange pair they had two of left in stock. I think they're growing on me.
I like those a lot!
‘The Earth is not dying, it is being killed, and those that are killing it have names and addresses-‘ Utah Phillips
For anyone that does do most of their walking on corporate carpet (but maybe strays outside even if only to get to the train), I can highly recommend the following:
Higgins Mill Boot with Dainite Sole by Allen Edmonds.
Nice enough for a dress-down day at the office, but a sturdy enough rubber sole for at least urban outdoor wear. One of my best purchases of the year.
Saddest boot story was a pair of Asolos I bought in college that lost a sole in the midst of a day hike in Panama, after having them for about 12 years. Sole fell off the left boot, and then I noticed that the right was close behind. Didn't have any duct tape, so just ripped them both off and hiked home on the leather bottoms. Could have brought them back to resole, but decided to leave them behind and use the space in the bag for extra coffee.
When I worked at Hudson Trail Outfitters in DC, I would sell about 1 pair of these every 2-3 months. The buyer was always a guy, around 45 years old, and often had a mustache. And they were always replacing a pair of boots that had either worn out or been discarded prematurely at some point long ago. Great boots. Take a bit of break in.
I've always wanted to get a pair of Limmer Mid-Weight boots.
These Danners are great looking, I have them and a much older pair of Merrill Wilderness that have been resoled. The Danner soles are much softer than the Vibrams on the Merrills. On the one hand they are pretty comfortable, on the other they wear much faster, like I'm not sure I'll get a third season out of them without needing to have them resoled, and that's with a lot of other shoes and boots in rotation. That said, they look great.
I am still really digging these Olukai Mauna Lalo shoes. They look like boots, but are low top with 200G of thinsulate insulation and a wool lining. They have been my most worn shoe this winter. Not for hiking, for work and casual.
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-Joe
Limmer midweights are pretty great. Fit is always a personal issue, but I've found that they fit the same as Lowa Baffins, and if one gets the wide model, it's the same as the Lowa wide in the heel, but with loads more toe room. Their built-in arch is nicer for my feet than any of the non-custom after-market insoles. Short of the Limmer custom or Merrell Foot Lab customs, I can't imagine better. One guy in his 70's (?) over on the John Muir Trail newsgroup hikes hundreds of miles per year in the Sierra in midweights, and can't imagine wearing anything else. Of course, for day hikes, nice trail shoes like Altras are hard to beat, but for self-supported "I'm in it for real now" trips, the foot and ankle protection is worth the weight.
I really like those. The original colors will (eventually) be available forever, but those will be pretty cool in a few years time.
If they are the non insulated version do yourself a favor and get some shearling insoles for the winter. They will vastly warm up the boot, then swap them back out in the spring and fall for general mucking around.
my name is Matt
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