The best adventure travel boots.
- Thread starter datoy
- Start date
CSG
Explorer
Wow, really? I guess that's why there are lots of brands with lots of styles and fitments.
perterra
Adventurer
They felt just super comfortable, I thought I had really found a pair. One day hiking around Canyon lands and the next day my arches hurt so bad I had to lay up a couple days to recover. Rest of the trip I wore a pair of Montrails with no issues. Thought it might have been a fluke so a couple weeks later I wore them on a short day hike, exact same problem. Gave them to a buddy, he loved them. Go figger.
CSG
Explorer
I wonder if their last favors one type of foot arch over another. I have pretty high arches so I need a little support there. For me, my feet feel pretty secure in them considering they're not really a backpacking boot. I hike in them, of course, but only day hikes (maybe 3-4 miles on average) with a light lumbar pack. I run between 165-170 and am 6' tall so I suppose that could be another factor. They might not offer the right kind of support for a bigger guy. My 20 year son has had a pair for a couple years and he seems to like his as well.
Hilldweller
SE Expedition Society
Moabs are a fairly cheaply made boot with an EVA midsole that I can crush in one real hike. I've never met a full-sized hiker that liked them.
I had a pair that I thought was the dog's bullocks ---- broke them in gently around town. Destroyed them on one hike.
It's funny how different the midsoles are between one model to another. I can't kill my Keen Durands over many hard hikes but I killed my Keen Voyagers on one trip.
I had a pair that I thought was the dog's bullocks ---- broke them in gently around town. Destroyed them on one hike.
It's funny how different the midsoles are between one model to another. I can't kill my Keen Durands over many hard hikes but I killed my Keen Voyagers on one trip.
perterra
Adventurer
6' and probably 235# at the time so maybe Hilldweller is on to something. I had worn the shoes with no issues for a few months with no real problems, but that few months involved no hiking or even long walks. In the following year I developed some foot problems in the form of a neuroma, so in all honesty the shoe may not have been fully at fault, it could have been a confluence of shoe design for my weight and foot problems starting. I switched over to a pair of Saloman GTX and it triggered issues as well. Going on two years of daily wear in a pair of mid ankle Hoka One One Tor Summits. Took some adapting to get used to being an inch taller in them LOL but I like them so well I bought a second pair when they announced they were discontinuing the mid ankle. They use an RMAT midsole (type of EVA I believe) which is also a portion of the outer sole as well with bonded Vibram outer in high wear areas. They were pretty firm for about 6 months then became pretty cushy but havent broken down at all after that. I'm in my second year, and if the upper holds together I should get another year or two from them. Hoka impressed me with comfort enough that I own 4 pair now, challenger, bondi and 2 pairs of tor summits. The challengers have an annoying tendency to sound like Velcro being torn apart with every step on textured concrete. LOL It has more of an RMAT outer sole and they and the Bondi are my nightly walking shoes.
If I am out day hiking, depending on conditions I will be in either the Hoka Tor Summits, Oboz Firebrands or Meindl Gomeras.
FlipperFla
Active member
There are a lot of great quality boots on the market. I feel the most important thing is how they fit YOUR feet. Everyones feet and applications are different. I read plenty of reviews but shopped locally so I could test them. Weight was a big factor for me. Some weighed 3X more than the other contenders. The store where I finally bought them even had a 60 day guarantee so after I broke them in if I wasnt happy I could return them with a full refund.
Last edited:
MCX
TalesFromTheDesert.com
Fully agree! Shoes are one thing that you can ask 100 people and you'll get 100 different answers on the best / worst. There's just so much uniqueness that you have to try on different styles & brands to find what works best for you. Shoe material, sole composition, width/narrowness, toe box room, feet size, gait, weight, inserts, types of terrain, climate where you'll be hiking, etc. all come together to determine what works best for you and the type of hiking you do.
TommyCastro
New member
Mind please that going adventure, it is necessary to realize that you will be presented only to yourself and, in an emergency, everything depends on well-chosen equipment and clothing. Everything should be convenient. First of all, clothes - shoes should not rub, pants are better to choose loose, as are the upper part. This will allow you to move faster, because sometimes everything is decided by the seconds that you can’t spend on "now I will correct the sleeve and the leg, and then we will talk." By the way, after coming across some riding boots reviews, I give preference to them as an alternative to jackboots. Also, the size of the backpack should be chosen based on how many items you plan to put there. It is better to carry the prey in a separate bag, so here it is not taken into account. The shape of the backpack should be comfortable specifically for your physical parameters - height, build. It is better to give preference to models with 2 straps that are worn on the back and these should be dry bags. You can choose the one at https://gearexpertguides.com/best-dry-bags/ .
jacobconroy
Hillbilly of Leisure
I'm not sure if you'd really call these a boot...but they are the only shoe I've worn for years (since they were released). I gained 50 lbs. in the last 10 years and my feet were hurting all the time. Tried a handful of $200.00+ shoes for hiking and daily wear. Nothing worked. I have very wide feet and the search for a good shoe wasn't easy or cheap.
Thick padded soles, aggressive tread, high top, event, waterproof. The cats' meow. If they are ever discontinued I will buy a couple grands' worth of them and store them.
I get about 1 year out of each pair (wearing full time). The tread is a bit soft and wears fast though. I buy one size over and wear thick REI wool socks with some high-arch inserts.
Haven't had ANY foot pain in years. Hoka One One Tor Ultra Hi WP
Edit: Crap. They have been discontinued but there is a newer model. I missed it. Woulda bought a half-dozen pairs for cheap if I had been paying attention.
Thick padded soles, aggressive tread, high top, event, waterproof. The cats' meow. If they are ever discontinued I will buy a couple grands' worth of them and store them.
I get about 1 year out of each pair (wearing full time). The tread is a bit soft and wears fast though. I buy one size over and wear thick REI wool socks with some high-arch inserts.
Haven't had ANY foot pain in years. Hoka One One Tor Ultra Hi WP
Edit: Crap. They have been discontinued but there is a newer model. I missed it. Woulda bought a half-dozen pairs for cheap if I had been paying attention.
Last edited:
perterra
Adventurer
Hokas are the dogs balls for comfort and cush. I have found with the Bondi, you can twist an ankle if you do not keep them snug but that hasnt been a problem with the Tor Summit mid ankle. The boots you have, I was trying to buy and they sold out before I bought. I picked up a pair of the sky kaha and have been impressed with them.
Sky Kaha
They really offer both cush and support
jacobconroy
Hillbilly of Leisure
The Tor is famous for being the "widest" Hoka. Do you think that the Kaha offers the same width? If it's narrower (than the same size in Tor) then it won't work for me.
perterra
Adventurer
It feels about the same as the Tor Summits, possibly just a little wider. It is a lot wider than the Challenger trail runners and wider than the Bondi. I'm up to 5 pair of Hokas, and wouldnt hesitate to buy another pair. I talked to the main office and they said they are moving to a wider fit across the board.
D
Deleted member 9101
Guest
I just wear my old Danners that have become too stained to be worn in uniform.