Originally Posted By: Teslinhiker


Good post test report.

You may want to do your feet, legs and back a favor and look for something more suitable for the urban jungle / hiking environment that you probably most encounter. I never wear heavy hiking boots in urban areas nor the back country unless it is on very difficult terrain and my pack weight is above 40 lbs or there is deep enough snow. In amongst my ever expanding hiking footwear collection, 90% of the time I slip on a pair of these ankle height hiking shoes. They are lightweight, waterproof, have a Vibram sole and very durable. I also have another similar pair that are not waterproof and use them when the PNW weather is not as wet in the late spring and summer.


After my experience on the test hike, I am definitely going to research footwear more designed for urban environments. Due to my concerns about post-earthquake debris (glass, rebar, etc), I will still want something made of leather instead of nylon. Will also want something that fully encloses the foot. It looks like the footwear you showed had holes cut in the sides, possibly for breath-ability or weight.

I also want a high-top boot. I have badly twisted both of my ankles over the years and the high tops feel much more stable to me, especially in rough terrain (like a downtown post-earthquake debris field).