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| brina25. 09. 2010 00:06:40 |
Hi! I'm about to make (my first) purchase of low hiking shoes (for short light trips with kids, for "training" on Smarna Gora, Polhograjec etc.). For such things I don't want to walk in high boots, until now I've walked in regular sneakers, now I'd like something in between... but in the flood of offers I can't find my way around very well... I have another problem... I have a very large foot (42 or 42.5), but narrow and especially with a very low instep, so women's models I practically can't get, men's are okay in length for me, but don't hold the foot, because there's too much "air" everywhere except the length... What do you use, what do you recommend, with which brand or model are you satisfied, what to watch out for. Thanks for every advice!
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| Fazo25. 09. 2010 04:26:27 |
Try Garmont DragontailKlik!Klik! or La Sportiva Trango Lite Low. Klik!Klik!
Both are unisex models. From experience I'm increasingly swearing by La Sportiva...
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| klm25. 09. 2010 07:56:10 |
With such shoes it's like this: Merrell is a manufacturer with wider lasts and won't suit you because of that. Same for Keen. Garmont is also a manufacturer with somewhat wider lasts, and also somewhat smaller. Their Dragontail model looks nice, but no longer good quality. Almost serially they tear inside the lining, plus due to sole profile not best for wet terrain of Smarna Gora, because you can slip so that ouch. Similar with La Sportiva Trango Light Low, namely sole rubber is such that on rock or dry wooded terrain super, but when wet - and in autumn it is - then it's a slide; wheeee!
Given the mentioned foot, it would be better to look for e.g. Scarpa Zen; Scarpa is namely manufacturer with narrower lasts; you get them in Annapurna, Pohodnik in Hall A in BTC or Iglu sports stores. Worth checking Five.Ten Guide Tennie model in Kibuba store - excellent American product. If choosing La Sportiva, for mentioned hikes I'd rather recommend than Trango low either F.C.2 models; Sandstone, or even Lynx. Latter is running shoe. According to manufacturer good mountain running shoe, but from own experience and many colleagues I assure you they are better for walking than running. Namely stiff enough (hard), sole gives good grip wet or dry, forest paths or grass. Definitely model worth remembering. Ultimately also for Salomon sports sneakers - namely this manufacturer also known for narrower lasts. They have quite diverse selection (in Hervis, Intersport and Tomas Sport). Ultimately walking in sneakers on mentioned hills easier and ultimately more pleasant. Namely, as mentioned, these sneakers are stiffer, harder, so provide quite lateral support, at same time sole profile such that much more usable on all terrains and conditions compared to initially limited Dragontail etc. At end I'd highlight only Asics Trabucco model - excellent mountain/trail running sneaker, one of best. Namely somewhat narrower, quality undisputed. Otherwise wouldn't produce 12 years in row....sell it only (I think, not sure!) in Koala Sport on Bled. LP.
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| klm25. 09. 2010 08:00:55 |
Forgot to say, Kayland which Andrej recommends in above paragraph is also manufacturer with narrower lasts. Undoubtedly one of best mountain footwear manufacturers in world. So if you find any of their products, grab it. Among others they sell in Kibuba, but I think they don't have quite diverse offer. For now enough....
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| serajko25. 09. 2010 09:54:35 |
I suggest a call to Dumo, better a visit. I always get a good shoe. They even have some model not on the net. Dušan advises from first hand. lp
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| tol25. 09. 2010 12:32:32 |
But you are funny.
Everyone advocates the shoe that personally fits his foot. Which doesn't mean it fits everyone.
Go to several stores, try several different brands and models, and buy the one that fits you best.
Given that now in LJ there are many stores with hiking footwear, practically in one place, that's really not hard. Take one afternoon and that's it...
If nothing else, in Alpina in Kranj they have some laser device that measures foot properties and suggests Alpina shoes that should be suitable for your foot. If nothing else you learn what foot type you have.
BTW does anyone know a store where I could buy shoes of different sizes. e.g. left shoe 44.5 right shoe 44?
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| tol25. 09. 2010 12:34:27 |
EDIT: Alpina offers the possibility to buy two different sizes. Just their offer doesn't fit me.
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| Santi25. 09. 2010 14:07:39 |
Brina, as tol advised, try more models, don't buy the shoe that someone explicitly recommends because he is so satisfied with it, because you'll get ..... pissed. All mentioned models are excellent if they fit your foot and you feel good in them. I for example use 5.10 INSIGHT, for me excellent sneaker, even with some IV I tackle with them, it's not said that they will fit someone else...
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| serajko25. 09. 2010 14:29:40 |
tol
you can order different sizes at Alpina after scanning. Don't know if they still do it.
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| brina25. 09. 2010 23:08:46 |
Oh, thanks a lot for all the replies and advice, especially klm-ju. I already had this Garmont Dragontail in my shortlist  , so good thing I posted this question and klm's comment deterred me from buying. I agree you need to try many different models and find the one that "fits your foot" but that's not all, the model also needs features that satisfy your needs, for which you're buying some shoe. And here expert opinion really matters. And what convinced me most is that klm didn't swear by one and exactly that model, but listed a whole bunch and gave comparisons and usability in certain conditions. Sincere thanks again.
And if I'm not too nosy - klm, is hiking (mountaineering) gear your "foh" or do you just delve into it as a hobby so deeply that you know it in detail? Nice evening to everyone on the forum...
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| GITA25. 09. 2010 23:40:39 |
Klm and others, if anyone's interested by chance - Asics models (also Trabucco) are sold at Tomas Sport and/or their online shop superge.si....
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| klm26. 09. 2010 08:19:29 |
By education I'm a graduate u..., but two of my hobbies are running and mountaineering. But I have such a nature that I study all things in life in detail theoretically - practice is its Siamese twin. - Yes, currently my profession is also connected to mountaineering gear...
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| Karletto26. 09. 2010 09:10:53 |
graduate watchmaker?
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| klm26. 09. 2010 09:52:20 |
you're a golden boy...
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| tol26. 09. 2010 17:54:58 |
My opinion: If you're a beginner you don't need top shoes. It's funny when people climb local hills in top clothing and footwear that far exceeds the quality of gear that first ascenders had in Himalaya.
And then they whine what they need for their recreational needs???!!
And beginner doesn't need anything more than an average trekking shoe that will fully meet his requirements.
And then you walk and walk
easier
a bit less easy and at the end harder paths.
With that you gain experience and know what you need...
at the very start you don't need some top gear.
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| nevi27. 09. 2010 08:42:05 |
What experiences do you have with Asolo shoes? On mine the soles just fell apart. They're six years old, used only a few times a year. Did I have bad luck?
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| klm27. 09. 2010 10:32:31 |
Asolo is undoubtedly a very good brand of mountaineering shoes. My personal opinion is just bad luck. Even the most renowned brands in the so-called premium class (Kayland, Fitwell, Hanwag, La sportiva, Scarpa) make mistakes; either due to excessive mass production or moving production to the Asian market (worse control). This applies especially to so-called "hiking" models. A remarkable drop in production quality is noticeable especially with...
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| nevi27. 09. 2010 10:39:51 |
klm - ran out of time to finish? Thanks for all the info.
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