Thanks I’m disabled held together by titanium. Need light firm boot with good grip. Have to use walking stick also. I fall a lot I back pack for the challenge. I’ve lost 36 lbs for this yr. 20 more to go. My morphine helps a lot. Michigan
I got the Merrill Alverstone Low and I couldn’t be happier. They are waterproof, warm, great grip, and most importantly support my high arches well. My recommendation for anyone is try a shoe before buying (vs online). Your feet will tell you what shoe is right for you. It’s a very personal thing.
Just got the speedgoat mid 2 and I think they are a great balance. Light weight, ankle support, water resistant and a softer supportive sole for higher miles
In the snow, good wool socks plus rugged trail runners with good lugs, plus tall gaiters makes a good combination. I also have a pair with built-in cleats that work great in icy situations.
I backpack in Unshoe Pah Tempe 2.0 all the time and love them! Feet, knee, ankle problems all disappeared when I stopped rapping my feet in the rubber coffins from Altra, Hoka, Brooks, etc. Those shoes are built and designed to for quality, but they are doing the work for our feet, ankles, knees, muscles, joints, tendons and actually weakening our bodies. Look at the injury data overplayed by advancement in shoes. It will blow your mind.
I've actually looked into that alot. I've went back and forth. After never injuring to switching to a barefoot running "technique" I stress fractured my foot. I went back and 6 years and thousands of miles later I have never injured. It's a hard topic. Kind of like nutrition. Some say meat is bad, some say vegetables are bad . I don't know what to believe. Haha... I just listen to my body. Thanks for the input!
@@BryceNewbold , yes the transition can be treacherous. After sharing my excitement for barefoot running and backpacking, my wife attempted to transition and it led to an ankle injury. What we learned is that you have to transition very slowly/carefully because the body has adapted to the platform style (heel to toe drop) and that’s all it knows. The most immediate negative thing that is happening to your body wearing platform style shoes, is the shortening of your achilles tendon...and then the negative body response domino effect follows. By the way, my vote is for meat and veggies! 😀. Just cut down on the hollow carbs.
I used to hike in clunky hiking boots. Never again! I have weird wide "Egyptian" shaped feet so there aren't many shoes that work for me. Altras are my new best friend. But for winter hiking I fell in love with Vasque Coldspark. Mid height, lightweight, waterproof, little bit of insulation.
Every time I've had any kind of problem with my feet on a hike has been with "hiking boots'. I've found the lightweight , breathable military type of desert tactical boot works best for me. Not had any kind of problem since I started wearing them 7 or 8 years ago.
I bought a pair of Topo Athletics Boot recently for winter hiking. My old hiking boots weighed 4 lbs 4 oz. These boots weigh 2 lbs 1 oz. They are 11 oz. more than my trail runners. They got an e-vent liner in them, an extra wide toe box and a near zero drop. It's like if a hiking boot and a trail runner were to mate this is what their offspring would be. Best part is they got a rock plate in them.
If you like that "in between" trail runner..try the new balance fresh foam Hierro V5's. Totally my current go-to for hiking. Never a blister, and love the feel moreso than my hoka speedgoat 4's.
Thanks for your input on this topic. I’ve been using lone peaks for the last 3 years and am looking to switch it up this year. I mostly love the loan peaks but I need something with more heel cushion. My heels feel beat after a long day on trail. Maby the altar timps or olympus.
Lots of folks w/flat feet &/or have tightly strung hammies and calves can run into trouble w/any of the zero drop shoes. (& I have both) I typically wear Salmings for hiking and have Merrell hiking shoes when I need a little more support, or dealing w/snow/mud, etc. I also tend to steer clear of waterproof shoes as well, unless I'm doing serious snow.
As always, it depends on your hike and the conditions. Here in Ireland, 70-80% of the time it's wet, either it's raining or the ground is wet. Fewer River crossings, but a lot of bogs and generally damp rough ground. A waterproof leather boot (not goretex lined) with vibram sole and a pair of gaiters (almost year round) for me. If I know the trail will be dry, or there is a stony path, the may break out trail runners. Thanks for the video, wasnt just bashing one type of footwear over another like most of these types of videos.
Check out the Xero Alpines…..just did a review video myself and they meet my needs for lightweight warm and flexible. The only thing is that I would feel rocks a little more since it has a smaller stack.
Try the X Ultra 3 Mid. GTX if wanting waterproof. Super light for a boot, feels like a shoe. Good toe cap, which I need. They run narrow. 12 wide for me.
Tried these but had to take them back. The toe box was just too tight for me even in the wide version. Good lightweight waterproof option though if they fit your foot.
I have the X ultra shoes for summer low level. In the mountains I wear Salomon Quest prime gtx boots. Shoes don't work in bog and I don't like getting ankle scrapes on rock. In winter I use leather boots for crampon use or a pair of leather grisports. If someone thinks fabric boots are heavy they should try the boots I used in the 80s. Leather vibrams with 3/4 steel shanks. Even modern leather boots are lighter. As for wet feet. I prefer dry feet. I don't get the US way of getting wet feet. Most river crossings will be dry with gaiters on. If it is going to be deep then I will find a better place to cross. I live where being cold and wet in the mountains could kill you even in summer. As for sandals. Did that once in Majorca. Even with toe caps it wasn't comfy.
I think anyone who doesn't like boots didn't find the ones that fit them well. I can't stress enough how important that is and how an ill-fitting boot will ruin your feet, whereas a good-fitting boot will in fact "fit like a a glove" and make it feel like you're walking on clouds. So I'm boot person but I'll be the first to admit it took me a long time to find the right uns. Lowa, Salomon, Meindl, all excellent shoes that all caused me blisters. Which is something that I took for granted for 15+ years. Then I tried Hanwag and I found out that wasn't necessary and that those particular boots I had been using were wrong for me personally. The curve in the soles on those Hanwagss fits my tread perfectly. No blisters and my feet didn't get tired as quickly. Then I narrowed it down further to the Hanwag Yukon wide, which offers just a wee bit more space around the toes but still encloses the ankle very nicely and I haven't looked back. Good boot for slender feet. I am also not a trailrunner person because those kinds of shoes just slide around my feet as if I were hiking in flip flops. That also has to with kind of terrain I tend to hike in, off the beaten track, very uneven and very mossy, so the terrain just gives way to your weight while the rocks under the moss tilt your feet in unexpected ways, so as you step down you also rebalance in a very different way you would on solid rocks. I guess you can do that wearing trail runners when you have strong ankles but it's very tiring. I don't use watertight (gortex) boots though, I found a leather boot like the Yukon is still comfortable to wear when soaked, unlike it's gortex laced brother Hanwag Alaska, because it shapes to your foot when wet. In my experience gortex doesn't do that it just starts chafing. In a way the leather boot becomes even more comfortable albeit it more heavy. Leather boots also dry up quicker.
@@MartinCloon yes it is, in more ways then one because like I said, I took blisters for granted for over 15 years. But the same time I haven't looked back ever since I díd find the right kind of boots, and that's what I wanted to share. There's a boot for everyone, hopefully more then one, and the fact that many people do fine (or think they are doing fine) on trailrunners doesn't change that. Which is good to know, because then you have a choice whereas now people press the idea boots are relics that belong in the past and that's simply not true. But you are right, when you have trouble finding the right ones that can cost you, in more ways then one.
Bryce- All good shoes you showcased, good stuff. Agreed on runners. HATE BOOTS. Never snows where I live and everything is dead (donkey sound) so good thing I don't 'need' them! Started off (like a lot of folks do) with Lone Peaks when I switched to a trail runner, and I still use LPs for my daily hikes. For backpacking though, because I am an athena, I go with something similar to the Hoka but imo I think a bit better, personal opinion of course... If i am backpacking with weights
I just spent 2+ hours at REI trying new trail runners. I tried to get on the Altra Lone Peak bandwagon but just could not do it. Tried boots, shoes of all sorts for a wide foot but ended with the Hoka Speedgoats. They felt like my feet were walking on clouds. Testing them on trail tomorrow.
I'm running with the TerraVentures right now and like them more than the LonePeak 3.5s for my feet. Did the SealSkinz with them in the snow and it was like a light weight waterproof boot!
Check out the Hoka Challenger: much cushioning but the don't feel squishy/tippy. Also different North Face trail runners have more or less cushioning, but with a harder feel.
Late to the game here, but if you can find some of the surplus goretex desert boots from belleville they are a good winter hiking option. Definitely not ideal for summer with high mileage days, but they are made for people being on their feet all day, comfortable and good traction soles, and dont make your feet soggy when wearing a darn tuff or smart wool.
Hahahhahah Moon Boots!!!! Have you tried waterproof socks from either SealSkinz or an Amazon knock off? You could also used Injinji liner socks to double up for the cold. I'd just stick with the trail runners, waterproof socks and maybe a gaiter for the winter. Bryce can't be slowed down by boots!
Salewa Mountain Trainer lite mid GTX I live in Pa. and hike in these in the winter muck, great grip on wet rocks and snow, these could easily be used with snow shoes as well, not overly padded so they dry out fairly quick and not to heavy @ 20oz each size 10. So far I do like them but I have not put in any more than 10 miles in one day with these.
I feel like Adidas Bounce is a good cushion for heavy weight like backpacking, could be wrong , they are heavier cushion but the rebound and durability seems better than cushion that is too soft and mushy and possibly get sore feet with. Not sure if had Bounce but would recommend trying that type of foam.
I just recently bought a pair of Oboz Sawtooth waterproof boots. They’re not too heavy, and are ehat I plan to use for cold wet hikes. I have several Keen shoes that aren’t for hiking, and a pair of high insulated boots rated for -20 deg. I wouldn’t hike in those, but they’re great for general winter use. Keen are really good for wide feet, and they also have hiking boots. I mostly hike in trail runners, and have been using Topo Ultraventure for about a year. They have a toe box similar to Altea, but are low drop snd vibram soles. Also thought you’d like to know my wife looked over my shoulder while I was watching your video wiih headphones in, and asked me why I was watching the unibomber.
Good info. And yea I totally look like the u-bomber in the thumbnail 😆😆. My wife tells me that when I go into stores with my hood up and glasses on, haha! It's that introvert coming out in me
For me I only have two shoes that I walk in one my altera's 3.5s and my redhead boots with the extremely soft bottom or rubber sole that don't break twigs and sticks as I'm out hiking and stalking deers and other animals to get take pictures of By the way my boots are waterproof and they go 12 and 1/2 in so that way I can go into some small creeks and streams and not get bogged down too much
I'm always thinking of spraining my ankles with low profile shoes, I have the flattest feet in the world, they look like boards 🤣 there's very little info about hiking with flat feet - no such shoe reviews on YT...
Great video! I just went to the Hokas Bondi 7 from the Speed goat. I wore the tread out way to quickly because I used them on paved and unpaved trails. Bond's feel really comfortable.
I backpack in altra lone peak mids. The ones I have are waterproof which has been nice in cold weather and my feet don’t get too sweaty in them. They are super light. But I think in a past video you said you don’t like altras
I wear Solomon speedcross 4 and LLBean wildcat pro boots for winter, rated -20 and still not always warm enough. It’s very cold here in upstate NY/Adirondacks. Do you use waterproof socks to help?
Great video Bryce, and accurate assessment on the Hoka Speedgoats. I'm 275 lbs and just switched from my Salomon boots to Hoka Speedgoat Mids for winter and spring. I was a little leery at first about stability due to the chunky profile, but they are rock-solid stable and really do feel like walking on a cloud. Backpacking at my weight with fused vertebrae wouldn't be possible without this new technology. I have a pair of custom Limmer boots (5lb) that I used back in the day. I gave up most hiking and wouldn't have even considered backpacking about 10 years ago until I started using trail runners in the summer and lighter mids for the past two years.
You just can't beat the sole on the speedgoats. I have 250 miles on mine and they still feel new. Not to mention the tread still looks new!. I noticed in the video the torrents look more worn than the goats and they have half the miles on them
Everyone talks about how long it takes to dry a waterproof Boot, but nobody ever talks about how your average day or overnight hiker will not have time to dry out either boot (waterproof or not waterproof) before their short hike is over lol
I feel like this boots vs. trail runners debate is a bit exaggerated. My Salomon Xs boots weigh about 5 ounces more in total than a pair of Hokas or Lone Peaks, plus are waterproof and more supportive.
Hi, I’m starting out with hiking, and I will be doing the Camino de Santiago in the summer, Ive been looking at the hora speedgoat, but I’m worried aboutthe road parts, do you have any recommendations for a trail and road shoe?
I use the zero sandles for camp only. Your so right about feeling everything. I recently started using oboz sawtooth II low B-Dry boots. Check them out dude!!
When I saw the sealskins in person I hated them. Super weird feeling and big and heavy. look like a sauna for the feet. Can't imagine how much they make you sweat. Although im sure it acts more like a wetsuit, warming the water inside and keeping you warm
@@BryceNewbold Can't the same argument about sweating be made for any waterproof boot? And those are much heavier and bigger. By the way, there's different thickness Sealskinz. Probably worth a try and much cheaper than boots too.
I did 6 miles through the Smokey's in the snow last month wearing Neoprene water shoes. Usually my camp shoes but my boots were soaked from river crossings so I just put on the water shoes and pushed through. It was...an experience...video on my channel if you want to see it :) #shamelessplug. I'm looking at switching to trail runners now so this was good info, thanks!
I think I knew that but the store didn't have them. And I was impatient. Haha. Most of the time I don't like wides though because they always make the heels wider, and my heel is not wide at all.
Boots to Heavy? Maybe you're just to weak? Seriously, wear what you need to protrect for your feet for the conditions, if you find boots are too heavy but don't want cold feet, you need to get in better condition.
It's not an ability thing. It's an "I'm spending my weekend in the woods and want to be comfortable" kind of thing. And better condition? Dude I run 100-120 miles a month. Lol. Appreciate the input, no hard feelings 👍
