Waterproof goretex boots

Trevor said:

The HiTech boots leek like a sieve in wet grass and are slippery on grassy
slopes

Most things are slippery on steep wet grass. You need studs to get
around that, as on fell shoes, though with any reasonably stiff
sole you should be able to kick a heel in (one thing that sandals
and trainers do /not/ do well!)

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

On 11/11/05 18:13, in article
[email hidden], "Trevor"

Quoted message said:

I continue my search for a light pair of size 14 boots. that are mostly
waterproof. The only pair I have outwweigh my HiTech fabric boots by at
least 4 X.

The HiTech boots leek like a sieve in wet grass and are slippery on grassy
slopes, but are preferable to at least a kilo on each foot that the Meindls
must weigh.

Have a look at the Scarpa ZG 65 boots. These have been pretty well reviewed.
The use Gore Tex XCR which may make them a little more breathable. Am
thinking of buying a pair for the TGO Challenge in May.

Reviews at:

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Footwear/Boots/Scarpa%20ZG%2065%20GT
X/

--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK

To mail simply put back the dots ...

"Andy Howell" <andy.howellNOSPAM@ecotrendDOTorgDOTuk> wrote in message
news:BF9C2261.470D4%andy.howellNOSPAM@ecotrendDOTorgDOTuk...

Quoted message said:

On 11/11/05 18:13, in article
[email hidden], "Trevor"

Quoted message said:

I continue my search for a light pair of size 14 boots. that are mostly
waterproof. The only pair I have outwweigh my HiTech fabric boots by at
least 4 X.

The HiTech boots leek like a sieve in wet grass and are slippery on
grassy
slopes, but are preferable to at least a kilo on each foot that the
Meindls
must weigh.

Have a look at the Scarpa ZG 65 boots. These have been pretty well
reviewed.
The use Gore Tex XCR which may make them a little more breathable. Am
thinking of buying a pair for the TGO Challenge in May.

Reviews at:

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Footwear/Boots/Scarpa%20ZG%2065%20GT
X/

....usual problem...only go up to 12.5

On 18/11/05 16:51, in article
[email hidden], "Trevor"

Quoted message said:

...usual problem...only go up to 12.5

Must be very annoying !!!

--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK

To mail simply put back the dots ...

Must Be Over There ...
http://www.ecotrend.org.uk/trek

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the
wonderful person Trevor <[email hidden]> said
<snip>
<piggybacking - original message gone>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I continue my search for a light pair of size 14 boots. that are mostly
waterproof. The only pair I have outwweigh my HiTech fabric boots by at
least 4 X.

My second pair of Brashers (FMB1s, replacement for a pair of FMB2s that
only lasted 5 months) went into the bin today - spent most of yesterday
walking around in two pools of water, one on each foot.

Basically the membrane is shot somewhere up near the toes, so water
penetrates the 'fabric' (cordura or whatever) parts, runs forward, and
then gets into the bottom of the boot. This pair lasted a mere 700Km/8
Months. Not worn out, but not worth keeping - if I want non-waterproof,
then lightweight trainers will do a better, cheaper, more comfortable
job.

Obviously these lowland forest/road/field walks are harder on footwear
than clambering about on mountains. 8>.

Summary: slightly better grip than the FMB2s (maybe just because you get
more ankle articulation, because they are lower), worse comfort
(narrower last, apparently - obviously I didn't get to try them, Brasher
sent them to me), lighter, but less protection. Not a good boot -
wouldn't have another pair for free (grass/barley seeds go straight
through the cordura .. really! and the Nubuck is just a really stupid
mutilation of good leather).

Guess I really have to get those Scarpas to learn to bend where my foot
does (if that's the cause of the problem - a crease or seam is digging
into top of the base of my big toe on one foot. Suggestions welcome).

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Contact recommends the use of Firefox; SC recommends it at gunpoint.

GSV Three Minds in a Can said:

Guess I really have to get those Scarpas to learn to bend where my foot
does (if that's the cause of the problem - a crease or seam is digging
into top of the base of my big toe on one foot. Suggestions welcome).

Don't know if I can give any good advice, but I've had a similar problem -
you might be able to learn what NOT to do.

I have a pair of Meindl boots, 2 years old. When I bought them, I
chose them because the Scarpas tended to crush my right foot as I
bent it. The Meindls were better, but also did that after wearing
for a couple of weeks. The shop thought I had a low-volume foot and
suggested a volume reducer and a variation in lacing. They also
suggested trying to soften the leather at the bend so that it was
less inclined to push a hard crease into my foot.

So I did all the above and got on very well with the boots.
Eventually they took the shape of my foot better and I ditched
the volume reducer. I still prefer a thickish sock, though.

After 2 years (1000 miles, mostly in the sort of lowland walking
you do), I've been disappointed to find the leather cracking.
The sole is worn, but not severely - I'd consider replacing them
in another 6 months or so but it isn't worth it because of the
condition of the upper. I've cleaned them carefully and regularly,
using either Meindl's petroleum based wax or aqueous Nikwax.
I haven't used so much wax that the leather is going mushy -
in fact, the splits look somewhat brittle.

Various people have agreed with me that it's an unusually short
life for these boots, but the retailer is unwilling to return
them to Meindl because they feel they probably aren't faulty.
They concluded that I'm bending my foot an unusually large
amount and this is stressing the leather excessively. The
additional leather conditioner etc. I put on in the early days
may have contributed. Contradicting that, they wonder whether
the petroleum wax didn't penetrate very far and I would have
been better off using only the Nikwax.

I've also seen a podiatrist for another reason, and he thinks
I have tight hamstrings resulting in lack of ankle movement
and a tendency to tilt my feet too much, which ties in with
the view that I'm bending the boots too much.

The main lesson from this is, I think, to try to avoid the
boots creasing rather than reduce the pain from the crease.

I don't know if I'll be more successful with the next pair,
but things I'll be trying will be :

* Hamstring stretches to reduce the cause

* Keep the volume reducer in permanently rather than working
to get rid of it (perhaps use a volume reducer in the top
of the boot rather than an insole)

* Don't attempt to soften the boot in the crease spot

* Make sure the wax is penetrating fully and evenly

It sounds as though the crease you have is closer to the
toe than mine, so the cause may be different. But I'd
still recommend trying to find out why that crease is
happening before you try to fix it.

I'd also consider getting some lighter boots / shoes to
reduce the wear on the heavier boots, but your experience
suggests that might not be so easy. I'm willing to give
sandals a try, though.

-adrian

You kinda get used to it after 52 years, but yeah it's still verrrrry
annoying!!!!!!!!!

This pain at the crease is exactly what I had when I went off to Norway in
new XC boots last March.

If I bend my right foot I can still feel the pain. It didn't even bruise the
skin, the pain was inside so must have been some sort of fracture. I used to
jump out of my skin if I bent the foot between March and September, and its
only just now easing off.

I've had trouble at this crease with every leather boot I've ever had, so
now stick to fabric boots with waterproof socks 95% of the time.

Trevor
East Yorkshire

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the
wonderful person Trevor <[email hidden]> said

Quoted message said:

This pain at the crease is exactly what I had when I went off to Norway in
new XC boots last March.

If I bend my right foot I can still feel the pain. It didn't even bruise the
skin, the pain was inside so must have been some sort of fracture. I used to
jump out of my skin if I bent the foot between March and September, and its
only just now easing off.

I've had trouble at this crease with every leather boot I've ever had, so
now stick to fabric boots with waterproof socks 95% of the time.

Thanks Trevor, but I've only had the problem (and only on one foot) with
this pair of Scarpa Rangers. I do get significant flexing around the toe
areas on all my boots when I walk, so maybe I need to stretch the
Achilles tendons, as someone suggested.

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Contact recommends the use of Firefox; SC recommends it at gunpoint.