The "one" shoe.

[Bergger]

I recently got a pair of Teva Ossagon Trail Shoes and absolutely love them. They retail for $100 and got them from sierra trading post for $50. I did not even know Teva made shoes. They are very comfy, waterproof, have a moisture wicking liner, seem quite breathable and have great traction. It's called spider rubber and is amazing on dry and very good on wet surfaces. They aslo offer good support with an EVA midsole. I have yet to go on a long hike with them but so far they have been awesome on shorter walks and driving around. I did have to order a slightly larger size to get a proper fit. Sierra has them in a cool olive and black color.

 

[toy_tek]

I'm a new fan of Sierra Trading Post. Picked up some Keen Newports for $41 and Merrell Chameleon Thermo w/Thinsulate hiking boots for $59.

Love the Keens so far. The boots are for a little cooler weather than we have right now.

 

[Co-opski]

What I want in a shoe:
-light
-Small. (I can't stand bulky shoes. I grew up in converse and original Vans so all shoes feel big on my feet and I can't stand the extra material. A mocason type shoe that has some rock protection would be best)
-Good driving shoe. (hiking boots kill all of the finess of the ankle use so I want low tops that are flexible and thin so I can do two foot driving more easily)
-Reserved looking (I can't stand running shoes or basketball shoes look. I want them to be shades of dirt colors so I don't have to clean them. I like wearing them to work sometimes)
-As comfy as possible.
-Needs to be breathable. (It gets to 110 here for pete's sake!!) (does this one rule out getting waterproof...?)
-Waterproof if possible...But breathable is more important in AZ.

I also grew up in Chucks, Vans and One Stars and I would put the Clark Wallabies with the crepe sole as one of the most comfortable shoes. But quality has gone down since they went to China.

My next pair may be from Steiger Moccasins and their Apache looks like a good match. It has a thick soft rubber sole. These are not for everyone: No support, light, and the closest thing to hiking barefoot.

These are what I would rock every day if I did not live in a rainforest and wore my gum boots every day. I've busted out the Chacos twice in the last three years.

 

[Reece04]

I know that the keens have been mentioned a few times and I have throw in my support. I own the Keen Arroyo 2's which are probably the best multipurpose water / land shoe out there. I canoe with them, swim with them, and most recently wore them exclusively on a 3 day Colorado river trip we canoed and hiked (about 5-7 miles) to find hot springs, I never took them off.

as for an everyday shoe, I switch Daily between Merrill Moab Ventilator 2 and Keen Targee 2. The Marrills are awesome in the summer because they are comfortable and they let your feet breath. The keens are great because they are probably the most comfortable shoe I have ever owned and they are waterproof.

one word of caution about the keens, both me and a friend of mine bought them and it took about 2 days before they were broken in, during that time they would really leave your feet sore, now they fit like a glove.

just my 2 cents

 

[ZREM]

I'm gonna have to be on the Merrel bandwagon as well. I've had a pair of the Chameleon's for 3 years now, and love them. They are finally ready to be replaced and there is no doubt I'll pick up another pair. Will probably go for the gore-tex this time though.

I also have a pair of Keens, a more casual shoe, that just aren't quite as comfy is the Merrels, but I do like them.

As a guy with narrow feet, the Keens just aren't really that suited for my foot.

The greatest thing my foot has ever felt is a pair of Red Wing boots. After a bout with plantar fasciatis (sp) and 2 back surgeries these things are amazing. I work at Home Depot, which means 8 hours a day on concrete, and any shoe other than the Red Wings leave me miserable.

Back on topic...all around shoe... vote goes to the Chameleon.

 

[lamontagne]

Oh here we go...

Mon-Fri, Blundstones all the way! 490's are currenty on the dawgs! :victory:

Weekends...

Merrell Chameleon's..the older model. I hate the redesigned ones
Chaco Z1 and Z2's
Chaco Beckwith boots (did you know they used to make boots?)
Keen Targee 2
5.10 Camp Four
LaSportiva Trango GTX (mostly use these for backpacking though)
LaSportiva North Dome (AWESOME approach shoes)

And my newest favorites...

Vibram Five Fingers!

 

[4Rescue]

Summer = Either the Chaco's or my Keen H2's
(mine aren't this horid color though )

or

Every other day of the year: Georgia Romeo's... flat out the best all around "shoes" I've ever owned... They make my blundy's feel like TORTURE chambers for my feet (don't worry, I didn't pay the silly American price for my Blundy's, mine are real, from OZ 39.00 farmer specials not the yuppy boots they sell here for 145.00... so silly)

Best boots ever, and now I find that they come in a taller/more Bludy esque "boot" instead of the shoe style I know and love... got to try these out...

Cheers

Dave

 

[T.Low]

Salomon Solaris, they're light< I usually wear them 12-15 hours a day on film sets and they're good and sticky for climbing things.

Great thread.

Now i need to hijack it for a second.

Sloan, is your car pictured in this thread? http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=kehq67epar9nhf854e2c0pq286&topic=6.0
(I could have sworn I saw one with a Land Cruiser in the background, but its 150 pages long!) If so, I'd luv to see which one it is. :drool:Thanks.

Returning thread to its rightful direction.

 

[john difool]

new balance 790

very light, as small as a shoe can be, good driving shoe, pretty reserved looking, super comfy, very breathable.

http://www.newbalance.com/running/trail/MR790/

 

[jesusgatos]

Expedition boots. Duh.

 

[saburai]

Merrill guy here. Got a bunch of them. I'd suggest the Mesa Ventilator for you.

 

[rctr03]

KEEN has too many choices, so i bought three different styles all occassions

 

[ChuckB]

Just got a pair of these from REI when I was in Seattle. They are exactly what I'm looking for and I wear them whenever I don't have my flips on.

 

[latinoguy]

I like these, for the occasional urchin infested waters during surf trips, they seem small enough to fit in the trunk's pockets, so you can take them off, roll them up and put away, or even try them as "booties" How protective are the soles?

And my newest favorites...

Vibram Five Fingers!