The "one" shoe.

[FurthurOnTheFly]

Allow me to say that the Newports (sandals) I have worn so much they have been now relegated to around town and work duty...aside from the NYC adventure as mentioned above, these were my primary hiking shoes on many trips including Sabino Canyon, Grand Canyon, West Fork, you name it those shoes have been there. I know, I know, very little ankle support but they did well!

 

[TeleScooby]

Right on, thanks Wil! How did you find the sizing? Did you need to go a size up or down? and lastly, did they stretch or break in much?
Post up should you start carrying them. ; ) I'd rather give the business to you.
Otherwise I think I may drop by REI tonight and take a spin in a couple pairs of them.

I've been living in the cameleon stretch Gore-tex all winter...frickin love'em!!!

You may have to size up 1/2, at least I did. the neoprene took a little getting used to, but then you're good to go...and go...and go...

At this point, I don't even bother tightening the elastic lacing, just pull them on and head out. But then, my other day to day shoes are Blundstones...so I'm spoiled on the whole pull on thing...

 

[SOAZ]

I've been living in the cameleon stretch Gore-tex all winter...frickin love'em!!!

You may have to size up 1/2, at least I did. the neoprene took a little getting used to, but then you're good to go...and go...and go...

At this point, I don't even bother tightening the elastic lacing, just pull them on and head out. But then, my other day to day shoes are Blundstones...so I'm spoiled on the whole pull on thing...

Its funny, the shank in the chameleon with laces seemed much more stiff and the shoe was uncomfortable.

The stretch with the neoprene is SO much more comfortable. I love it. I think I'm going to go with the stretch, neoprene, with elastic lacing, withOUT the gore-tex. My feet were almost sweating in the store with the gore-tex!
:smileeek:

 

[TeleScooby]

Its funny, the shank in the chameleon with laces seemed much more stiff and the shoe was uncomfortable.

The stretch with the neoprene is SO much more comfortable. I love it. I think I'm going to go with the stretch, neoprene, with elastic lacing, withOUT the gore-tex. My feet were almost sweating in the store with the gore-tex!
:smileeek:

The shank is totally different in the two models...I hope your REI has at least one knowledgeable boot fitter...The stretch is a lighter plastic, while the laceup has, I believe, a version that is reinforced with resin (?)...haven't worked there in years though.

I went with goretex despite having feet that are always hot since these are my walking/dog park in the slop/trail hiking shoes, and in the NW having a little extra protection is a good thing. Besides, I hike in chacos in the warm months...

 

[SOAZ]

Which chacos do you wear?
I found a brown colored set of the chameleon stretch II's on sale for 59 bucks at sport chalet. It was a discontinued color, but I like it better than the new colors! Woohoo! It is the one with the lighter shank. They are really comfy, but I think they'll do okay. We'll see, next time around I may do the stiffer shank ones, but these are more comfy.
I'll post a pic of them. I love them!! Soooo comfortable.

 

[TeleScooby]

Which chacos do you wear?
I found a brown colored set of the chameleon stretch II's on sale for 59 bucks at sport chalet. It was a discontinued color, but I like it better than the new colors! Woohoo! It is the one with the lighter shank. They are really comfy, but I think they'll do okay. We'll see, next time around I may do the stiffer shank ones, but these are more comfy.
I'll post a pic of them. I love them!! Soooo comfortable.

Chacos are hands down the best footwear I've ever found. They work for my feet better then any boot, show, orthotic, etc...I have really low arches, like bordering on flat feet kind of low arches. add to that a really wide toe box, and extremely low volume (sole to top of instep) and I've got some hard feet to fit and harder to please. And, can you tell I was a boot fitter for 2 years?

I have two pairs of Chacos right now, Z1 and Z2. They just use one sole now, instead of the off-road and water ones they used to have. I love the Z2 for hiking as the toe loop adds some lateral stability, and the Z1 is for cooler days where socks are called for. Yes, I said socks, with sandels. I'm a Seattlite, what do you want from me?!?!

Ragg wool only with Chacos, otherwise they get insulted.

 

[SOAZ]

Love it! I need to get some Chacos.

Here is what I got!!
I really like them. So far so good. The only thing I might do next time is get the other Chameleons that have a full length stiffer shank. These are good for sharp rocks though. I just wouldn't mind a little stiffer one for the longer or rougher hikes.
These are great as an all day shoe.

This color is Chocolate and its discontinued. As I realized after searching the internet, Merrell comes out with new colors all the time, but keeps the same design for much longer.

They even do TRICKS!!!

 

[TeleScooby]

I don't think I've ever seen shoes posed so pretty!

Get chacos and you're set. I've been wearing them all week, in the rain with highs in the upper 40s...it's an illness

 

[spressomon]

I bought a pair of these Patagonia Huckleberry shoes about a month ago at Wilson's Outfitters in Bishop. I really like them alot! Great all around shoe. Wore them in the bush in SA a couple weeks ago; toured Cape Town in them; wore them to dinner; great for driving; very good ventilation; sticky soles for light scrambling; low volume and medium width (C)...which fits my feet just fine.

 

[SOAZ]

I don't think I've ever seen shoes posed so pretty!

Get chacos and you're set. I've been wearing them all week, in the rain with highs in the upper 40s...it's an illness

:costumed-smiley-007 40's? brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

 

[silvercruiser]

Creating the "one shoe" is a daunting task

Hopefully by Spring 2009 there will be a new shoe brand to suit many of your needs. It's been a challenge that I have been working on for the last 9 months...that's all I can say for now

All the shoes mentioned above are very good shoes. In our research the Merrell shoes have always come out on top for value and quality. Keen are very popular and make for a good casual shoe. Their sandals have good protection but many also have an issue with sand or dirt rubbing against the foot...a problem inherent with all sandals.

Montrail makes a great product. The last they have developed is one of the best fitting and they are very lightweight for all the support they offer (my personal favorite). They were bought by Columbia and it will be interesting to see how their future bodes.

Salomon has great styling but we have heard complaints that they are narrow in the toe box (except the water shoe...another favorite of mine).

Nobody mentioned the brand Ecco. Check out www.thewalkingcompany.com (no affiliation) and take a look at what is offered. Ecco make great casual shoes and sandals that are also technical. They are pricey but well worth the money. After destroying/researching many shoes the quality of Ecco is now a benchmark for what we are striving to accomplish.

After interviewing various guides and explorers it seems that packing 2 shoes is ideal. A multi purpose shoe that has protection and a sturdy outsole along with a pair of sandals.

Cheers,
David

 

[spressomon]

Hopefully by Spring 2009 there will be a new shoe brand to suit many of your needs. It's been a challenge that I have been working on for the last 9 months...that's all I can say for now

All the shoes mentioned above are very good shoes. In our research the Merrell shoes have always come out on top for value and quality. Keen are very popular and make for a good casual shoe. Their sandals have good protection but many also have an issue with sand or dirt rubbing against the foot...a problem inherent with all sandals.

Montrail makes a great product. The last they have developed is one of the best fitting and they are very lightweight for all the support they offer (my personal favorite). They were bought by Columbia and it will be interesting to see how their future bodes.

Salomon has great styling but we have heard complaints that they are narrow in the toe box (except the water shoe...another favorite of mine).

Nobody mentioned the brand Ecco. Check out www.thewalkingcompany.com (no affiliation) and take a look at what is offered. Ecco make great casual shoes and sandals that are also technical. They are pricey but well worth the money. After destroying/researching many shoes the quality of Ecco is now a benchmark for what we are striving to accomplish.

After interviewing various guides and explorers it seems that packing 2 shoes is ideal. A multi purpose shoe that has protection and a sturdy outsole along with a pair of sandals.

Cheers,
David

David,
I have tried Ecco's but have always found them to be too soft soled (lacking in fore/aft and torsional rigidity). Do you know if they make a shoe or boot that provides more support/sole rigidity?

 

[SOAZ]

Hopefully by Spring 2009 there will be a new shoe brand to suit many of your needs. It's been a challenge that I have been working on for the last 9 months...that's all I can say for now

All the shoes mentioned above are very good shoes. In our research the Merrell shoes have always come out on top for value and quality. Keen are very popular and make for a good casual shoe. Their sandals have good protection but many also have an issue with sand or dirt rubbing against the foot...a problem inherent with all sandals.

Montrail makes a great product. The last they have developed is one of the best fitting and they are very lightweight for all the support they offer (my personal favorite). They were bought by Columbia and it will be interesting to see how their future bodes.

Salomon has great styling but we have heard complaints that they are narrow in the toe box (except the water shoe...another favorite of mine).

Nobody mentioned the brand Ecco. Check out www.thewalkingcompany.com (no affiliation) and take a look at what is offered. Ecco make great casual shoes and sandals that are also technical. They are pricey but well worth the money. After destroying/researching many shoes the quality of Ecco is now a benchmark for what we are striving to accomplish.

After interviewing various guides and explorers it seems that packing 2 shoes is ideal. A multi purpose shoe that has protection and a sturdy outsole along with a pair of sandals.

Cheers,
David

I have worn ecco's to work for a couple of years now. Amazing shoe. After tweo years of use almost 5 days a week the soles show no wear. The most amazing is that they are comfortable and in a dress shoe that say a lot. Its was well worth the money I spent so long ago. :elkgrin:

 

[silvercruiser]

David,
I have tried Ecco's but have always found them to be too soft soled (lacking in fore/aft and torsional rigidity). Do you know if they make a shoe or boot that provides more support/sole rigidity?

You are right. Ecco uses a direct attach outsole which tends to be light weight but doesn't provide rigidity and to some people is to soft. Depending on the kind of insole board they use they can control the rigidity of the shoe. It's a tough balancing act between too stiff and soft...keep your mind out of the gutter.

The Sayan and Mudslinger series have a stiffer insole board that you might find more to your liking.

David...

 

[SOAZ]

Little "update" on the Merrell's.
I love these things, they look funky, but I really like them. Getting them on and off is easy.
Only issue. These are not, like some warned me, an ALL day shoe. After walking around and standing a lot all day my feet actually had a couple blisters and the balls of my feet ached.
I'm going to try an insole.
These will most likely still be my "offroad" shoe, but I'm going to try some chacos, keens or something as an every day around town shoe at some point... Unless the insole fixes the hurting feet. :victory: