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re: Good pair of waterproof hiking shoes?
Posted on 4/2/24 at 11:55 am to Boudreaux35
Posted on 4/2/24 at 11:55 am to Boudreaux35
quote:
always questioned the idea of waterproof hiking shoes. If you're just talking <2" of water, you might be able to find something. the problem is that if the water is more than about 4", you're getting wet from the top and then the waterproofness works against you.
Spring is where I find them most useful, especially off trail and in the mountains. Not so much standing water, but mud, spring snow, heavy dew, etc. you’ll be soaked in that stuff quickly in non-waterproof shoes, but don’t necessarily need a full boot, especially with gaiters.
1
Posted on 4/2/24 at 1:27 pm to ccard257
Okay so our trip is May 21-28th so is that late enough where waterproof shoes are not necessary as often as early spring?
Posted on 4/2/24 at 1:36 pm to KLSU
I go through a lot of these type shoes. I have worn too many brands to remember. All have had durability issues. Of them all, I would go:
Keen>Salomon>Merrell
Keen>Salomon>Merrell
Posted on 4/2/24 at 1:59 pm to KLSU
I would normally agree with everyone stating don't go waterproof. Just go with trail running shoes and wool socks and they will dry out in minutes with that dry air and elevation but May in the rockies might be nasty. Like snow storm nasty.
Posted on 4/2/24 at 2:08 pm to KLSU
quote:
Okay so our trip is May 21-28th so is that late enough where waterproof shoes are not necessary as often as early spring?
Not really. For RMNP I’d say early May is 100% likelihood of being necessary. Late May is 75-90% likely. Hell the vast majority of my may travel in that park has been in ski boots. As a point of reference, the road the bisects the park won’t open until the 26th.
Posted on 4/2/24 at 5:01 pm to KLSU
Hoka, Altra, Brooks, Topo all make great trail runners. And I believe all make a gortex high top version. Find the ones rhat fit you correctly and have fun.
I prefer Altras as they fit my feet right. Topos have a better durability and great traction and I've been wearing them more lately.
I prefer Altras as they fit my feet right. Topos have a better durability and great traction and I've been wearing them more lately.
Posted on 4/2/24 at 9:29 pm to KLSU
Buy a pair of non-gotten trail runners suggested in many posts in this thread and a pair of Sealskin waterproof socks. You’ll probably stop using the socks after a couple of days and you’ll have a pair of shoes you can actually use year round.
Posted on 4/3/24 at 7:02 am to 257WBY
quote:
No need for waterproof.
What? Some of the guys on here I’d say GTFO but I know you are experienced.
I could not disagree more and would absolutely go waterproof.
Morning dew as said is a major issue in the south, now dry climates not so much. But having wet feet 8 miles back is absolutely terrible. Why risk it when there are waterproof options? It sure as hell is nice to just be able to cross a stream by stepping in some shallow water and not being concerned as opposed to having to hop over puddles, streams, etc.
Posted on 4/3/24 at 7:03 am to ccard257
quote:
Not really. For RMNP I’d say early May is 100% likelihood of being necessary. Late May is 75-90% likely.
I'll agree with this, though more like 95% for late May. That's based on around 25 summers of hiking RMNP and living in Boulder for several years. It's not just the snow and runoff, if you are hiking in the afternoon it's pretty close to 50/50 that you will see rain, and some of it pretty heavy. We used to hit the trailhead just after dawn for that reason, and for better parking and less crowded trails.
Posted on 4/3/24 at 7:41 am to baldona
quote:
Morning dew as said is a major issue in the south
this is why I can't imagine NOT having waterproof boots, and most of the times I discovered my boots were no longer waterproof it wasn't from walking through water, it was walking through wet grass
Posted on 4/3/24 at 8:27 am to LoneStarTiger
quote:
this is why I can't imagine NOT having waterproof boots, and most of the times I discovered my boots were no longer waterproof it wasn't from walking through water, it was walking through wet grass
Yep. Turkey hunting in the south my boots and bottom of my pants are often times soaked all morning from walking through the woods or across a single field in the morning. Once the sun hits and dries the grass up its all good.
Drier climates are different I know. I've hiked many many miles in wet feet and will again. I just would much prefer not to.
Its one thing to have a high top gore tex boot when you don't need it, but a low top hiking shoe like trail runner has never been an issue with me as far as not breathable. Just my 2 cents
Posted on 4/3/24 at 8:40 am to KLSU
I bought some Adidas Terrex trail shoes on sale a few years ago and love them. I’ve hiked up to 22 miles in a day with them, mostly marked trails but also a bit of scrambling and had zero issues with blisters. In May you’ll probably still have areas of snow on the ground at higher elevations. I just spray scotch guard on them and never got wet feet going through snow.
Posted on 4/3/24 at 12:08 pm to KLSU
For a truly "budget" option, I've had good luck with roughly $100 Columbia hiking boots and trail runners on many the many scouting camping trips and outdoor activates I bought them for. I've used them in all sorts of conditions from desert sand, typical trail hiking in the intermountain west, scrambling over rock faces and in snow. I'd say I had several hundred miles on my latest pair in "off road" conditions. I'd guess they are 1/2 through their usable life. I even wore them ice fishing back in January and they kept my feet warm and dry all day. My only complaints is that in the heat of the summer the waterproof versions are a little warm.
This post was edited on 4/3/24 at 12:11 pm
Posted on 4/3/24 at 12:52 pm to KLSU
Went there many moons ago. Great views and lots of wildlife to see.
Posted on 4/3/24 at 6:53 pm to Wedge
quote:
I'm on my 3rd pair of Timberlands.
I'm using my fourth. Great boot for the money (50% less than my running shoes which is absurd). The main problem is that the water proofing lasts a year at most. I compensate by using Sno Seal on them for a few years. That does the trick. I want ankle support when hiking, and water proofing higher than hiking shoes provide.
Posted on 4/3/24 at 11:25 pm to KLSU
If you want to do more than tally up miles I'd look at approach shoes.
A great many are waterproof, they most all have excellent ankle support, and trail runners won't have near the traction when it's rough and steep. As said fit is going to vary by brand and your foot. And weight is going to vary greatly from extremely light to more warm and heavy. My last few in past order have been Salewa, Sportiva, and Scarpa's.
The key for me is to switch out to different night shoes so the day one's can be opened up an left to dry.
A great many are waterproof, they most all have excellent ankle support, and trail runners won't have near the traction when it's rough and steep. As said fit is going to vary by brand and your foot. And weight is going to vary greatly from extremely light to more warm and heavy. My last few in past order have been Salewa, Sportiva, and Scarpa's.
The key for me is to switch out to different night shoes so the day one's can be opened up an left to dry.
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