Can you do a video on shoes for obese folks suffering from plantar fasciitis? It’s hard to be active when walking down your driveway and back (I have a long driveway, about a few hundred feet, but still) leaves your feet screaming in pain 😣 I’m doing better now, but I still have to be VERY careful sometimes.
We have different ideas of what a traditional hiking boot is. To me the Lineman is a logging/work boot, not something designed for hiking/backpacking. For traditional hiking/backpacking I think the Danner Mountain Light from a few months ago would have been better of what has been cut in half. If you are looking for the top of the line, look at Limmer.
@@adventuretarian8191 I have a pair of Vasque Sundowners that need to get resoled. Once they are beyond rebuilding a trip up to North Conway is definitely in the cards.
Would be interested in more hiking boot vids. Merrell, Columbia, Vasque, Adidas, Danner, Hoka, Keen, ECT, ECT. Comparisons between brands, or between a single brands leather traditional hiker and their new tech heavy synthetic counterparts. Keep up the good work.
@@stefanoberli5920 Agreed! I think one of the most interesting things happening in footwear right now is the split between heritage/long lasting, handmade footwear and more disposable single use, but lighter and cheaper footwear. It would be interesting to see a breakdown of the cost/wears and the effect each one has on the market, economy, things like that. A real big contrast between the two philosophies in modern footwear.
@@stefanoberli5920 Also would love to see Lundhags. Probably very rare to see outside of Sweden, but they're made to last decades and they often do. They like to use very thick full grain leather as well.
@@user-il9ze9py8cyou literally cannot go backpacking or bushwhack with the nicks shown in this video. Not a chance in hell. Obviously rose anvil has never gone backpacking or even hiking for more than a few miles, let alone bush whacking .
Those are not lineman's boots. More of a forestry/ firefighter boot, although I don't believe the collaboration boots are NFPA rated. I am a utility forester, and we put more miles on these kinds of boots in the worst imaginable terrain than most hikers ever see. The comfort of these types of boots would shock you. All they give up to a boot like the Keen is weight and shock. When you hike every day, the weight loses significance. Cushion is no issue in the woods. Cushion in districts where we follow lines from woodlands or prairie into town are a different matter though. Our employers require an NFPA boot. Wearing a pair of Hotshots on pavement all day can hurt. Keens are a great shoe if your terrain and load will be moderate. I used to sell shoes, and they were a real problem solver for customers who were leaving for hiking trips in the next few days. There is no break-in. They provide adequate support for casual hikers. The only real issue I have with Keens, Merril, et al, is durability. The upper and outsole will outlive the EVA midsole. The cushion is gone before the rest of the shoe wears out. For lots of folks, it doesn't matter. The demands placed on the shoe are minimal. For someone who works and plays in wild places a lot, the cost of a stitchdown boot is spread over years and may be less costly than a synthetic boot in the long run. It is important to note that there are lighter and lower options available. You can usually get a custom height, softer leather, and choice of outsole from companies like Nick's Once you wear boots like these, it is very hard to part with $170.00 for a boot that will fail in a year or less, presuming that you are very active. Just my two bits from the trenches. Cheers!
I wrote a comment some videos ago which got a lot of likes, that hiking boots comparison would be awesome. I would love to see Keen vs Meindl vs Zamberlan vs Stelvio vs Scarpa, etc, etc...
@@alex_ottomano it sounds like you're never met a serious hiking sandal acolyte. They are crazy, and to be fair after a while they are wearing thick leather on their feet- thick living human leather.
@@zackstewart4109 haha I mean similar to the hardcore barefoot shoe people I'd imagine. I like to run very rocky, jagged, steep trails so I'm staying far away from sandals and go for grip and stability. All the power to them though!
I think the two biggest cons about a leather boot is weight and waterproofing. 3mm thick leather and a big giant slab of veg tan underfoot is not going to dry for several days, whereas a fast and light hiking boot can get wet and dry much easier.
@@emty9668 but those are purpose-built hiking boots. Big difference between those and these workboots from the video that have a huge thick heap of leather underfoot that does take forever and ever to dry out.
@@_bats_That’s why you buy yourself a Peet Shoe Dryer. Almost 20 years ago I worked a winter as a skilift mechanic, pulling up to 17 hour days and having a few beers in the lodge after work. The Peet had my Sorels dry and warm every morning.
I mean......not to rain on your parade but its 2023 and pretty much most decent sneakers run around $100 - $150 these days on average. Everything is over priced, no exceptions
What of the design team? The logistics surrounding export from said country? Marketing? Materials? Research and development of said materials? There’s so many things aside from labor that factor into cost, that being said as with any big company, there are overpaid CEOs and senior staff as well as shareholders that establish price and increase cost
I work in a hospital, middle upper level mgmt always makes most of the profit from the actual employees that perform the care/task. Ethics are are cheaper to deal with some good shell game advertisements and brochures essentially marketing. Business models ? JK boots ❤ I like not the typical business model. Totally upfront on a consistent higher level.
IMO, neither of these are hiking boots. The Keens are light, high-top trail runners. They are meant to be comfortable, but disposable - like 500 miles or so. The Nick's are work boots. They offer great support and durability for long days working in harsh conditions. But are not ideal for moving long distances, just too heavy and not breathable.
These two are near the extreme ends of hiking boots. Tough and leather vs. light and cushy. Somewhere in between is where I head for. But as was said, where, when and weather determine the best hiking boot. No two places or seasons are the same.
These are really light duty hiking boots. It would be great to se some medium to heavy duty ones. Some of them are made of leather and have good Vibram soles so I think they would take away even more advantages from the traditional hiking boots.
My circa 2009 Keens finally gave out last summer! Best pair of general walking/hiking/work shoes I've ever had. Been on the lookout for another pair similarly styled without the WP treatment since that's too hot for my feet, but either way Keen is a great company and so glad they were in to helping you with this video!
It's the expert English Language purists whose feathers ruffle when they listen to made up words like funner ( more fun than fun ) or y'all, kinda, lika, sorta n'stuff, fortunately we don't have to pay attention to them.
@@justsomeguy5470 you're studying English, aren't you ? Well there ain't no point in you studying the language if you ain't gonna have an ample vocabulary, btw, ain't is the contraction of are not.
I love my PNW boots and on mixed terrain, they can be great for walking all day. For walking all day on paved/hard surfaces, the lack of shock absorption really starts to make itself known. However, for actual offroad hiking, they're really not ideal. I've been up and down a fair number of mountains in my White's and the cons are pretty serious: the weight really, really gets to you after a lot of miles, the lack of shock absorption is hell on your knees on downhills, and the ridiculously thick leather underfoot takes forever to dry. I wore a pair of White's Bounty Hunters through a bunch of bogs and crap in heavy rain and they took nearly a week to completely dry out. For light day hikes, boots like the Keens are fine. But when I do serious hiking, I have a pair of ripple-soled Italian Fracap hikers that are my go-to. They weigh probably a quarter of what my White's do but are wholecut leather with a fully gusseted tongue so do well in wet conditions, and the foam wedge between my heel and the outsole gives them great shock absorption. I'm sure more hiking and less fashion-oriented boots with similar patterns by other makers are even better. tl;dr even if you want traditional, get hiking boots, not work boots.
One of the biggest problems with the traditional boots is how long leather takes to dry out. If it pours one day and your boots get soaked it'll suck the next day to walk in wet boots and wet socks, and you can really easily get athlete's foot. The hard outsole isn't ideal too, especially on steep slopes where they'll slip a ton. I spent 3 weeks on the catamount trail in a pair of Red Wings and I wouldn't do it again.
I would love to see some of what could be considered more specialty hiking brands boots that may include leather. These could be from Salewa, La Sportiva, or Scarpa. There's a lot of brands that are really well made but not seen as often in the general stores.
It's been about 10 years that I use a pair of hiking sandals for hiking. I find that these are the most comfortable shoes for long walks, even with a backpack. I've walked hundreds of km in sandals on all sorts of terrains, including mountain. The pros are: - the most breathable shoes - don't smell - the feet never get hot or tired even after 5 straight hours of walk - they don't need to be waterproof, as the feet dry up pretty quickly. In fact I don't remove them when crossing streams, I simply go through the streams and enjoy the refreshing water. - zero maintenance - inexpensive and small footprint in the luggage The cons: - don't maintain the ankles, so if you have fragile ankles, wear boots instead - not suitable for very cold regions or temperatures approaching 0°C - sometimes, a stone can get under your foot, but it's easy to remove Make sure you choose hiking shoes that are 3/4 inch longer than your toes, protecting them.
I got my first pair of Keen boots about a year ago. I'm never going to buy a different brand again. I even just ordered a pair of sandles for at home. Love'em.
I was hiking at the weekend wore my jimmy greens razorback with an upgraded insole and they were fantastic no sweaty feet or wet feet great boots for hiking
But You are not comparing hiking boot to hiking boot. Leather hiking boot is made from one peace of leather, no stitches, more waterproof than any plastic membrane, it also has soft midsole, but the boot is rigid to support the foot on rugged terrain. Hiking sneakers are only for well established trails.
Right lol I get that it’s a sponsored video but why put “best hiking boot” in a video when you’ll literally never see anyone who spends time on trail using them 😂 just cut a pair of Solomon’s in half
I have two pairs of Lowas hiking boots - one taller and brown and the other black and not as tall. I also have a pair of Lowa sneakers which are waterproof (I was told that all Lowas are waterproof), the sneakers can get a little hotter as they are not as breathable.
I've worked at several outdoor stores selling hiking boots of aal types, but have never seen any boot close to the nicks leather boot being sols as a hiking shoe. The type B mountain boots come closest, but are still much more modern in terms of contruction and materials. Another thing to consider about a super soft foamy shoe is weight. It is comfortable because it molds to your foor and steps, but for the same reason the foam will collapse under your foot if you're a heavy person, and/or are carrying a heavy pack. Your feet are not used to carrying and stabalizing the extra weight of a backpack, so a soft shoe will make a twisted ankle and tired feet more likely. That why lots of foam is popular in trailrunners and sturdier heavier materials are better for mountain trekking.
I used to wear "performance" synthetic hiking boots and then changed to leather for the durability for off trail stuff. The upgrade in comfort was next level. When leather breaks in it fits the foot so well. I've also started walking barefoot a lot too and the "shock" of hitting the ground just seems to be because people heel strike way too much when they walk. So I call bullshit on "comfort vs leather".
My Lowa Camino GTX are so comfortable on my feet - more comfortable than any hiking shoe or trail runner I’ve tried - that the weight compared to trail runners doesn’t matter. It’s a lot like my 4+lb Osprey pack vs a
Yay hiking shoe vids! The scary thing is I think you were light on the break-in for leather boots. It takes 200hours to get them softened up, but it takes months of daily wear to get that custom glove fit on full leather workboots.
I like that he didn't just hate on the Keens and gave a really even and quality comparison for someone who may not know a lot about either of these types of boots Also I think Weston's favorite word is juxtaposition
Unrelated request: I’ve seen a lot of Brunt marketing on social media lately and they’ve really taken aim at Thorogood and Redwing in their ads. Could we get a revisit or a wider look at Brunt in the context of their ads? I recently rewatched your tear down on the mic toe and my main takeaway was that they were mediocre but not terrible at the price point but for 50-60 more the Thorogood was a better option and at the Brunt price point a Rock Rooster or Carolina was a good option. Is that still true? Has Brunt improved is their marketing BS?
KEENs are nice but the soles wear out pretty fast and the quality is hit or miss. I am curious about the traditional though and how they truly compare. Probably put in an order in a few months.
Ive owned 6-8 pair of Keens in the last 10 years. About half have been casual sandals/hikers i typically wear on vacation (one was actually made in the USA), the others have been work boots/shoes I've worn at my warehouse job, on my feet for 8+ hours a day, typically get 2-3 years out of a pair, previously wore Timberlands at my job, but quality went downhill.
I bought a pair of Ridgemont heritage boots. I didn't have super high expectations. On sale on preorder(l (they do the pre order sales every so often) they were like $90. These have exceed expectations. Going on 2 years of semi regular wear and they are just starting to come apart. For a "disposable" hiking boot they are woth a look.
Very helpful and informative. One aspect I'm interested in is how fire-resistant the boots are . It may seem obvious, but the light boots could be fireproof to a certain degree as well.
Still waiting for that Yeezy 500 quality test !!!!!!!!!!!! Really though, love your videos and you taught me alot about shoe quality! and boots, even though i dont use those xD
Forgive me if you’ve already done some of these, but I would love to see a traditional hiker shootout with things like the Eddie Bauer K6, Danner Light (I and II), Danner Grouse, and Russell Mocs. I need a new pair of boots for hiking and don’t want to go back to my chunky Merrell Moab’s. They ugly. Also, doing a breakdown of the Nicks Ridgeline would be cool.
A key factor for me is how well do they keep your toes from being mashed on mountain downhills? With my Nick's, built to my fit, Ridgeline hiking boots I haven't experienced mashed toes yet... the boot's arch and sturdy vamp hold my foot in place in the boot. This compared to "modern" hiking boots that left me all but crippled from my toes being mashed.
I used to hike with my dad doing the GR Long Distance Footpaths (Europe) and both my dad and me never would go for synthetic materials; we always prefer full leather boots. Yes, it takes a while to break them in but then they're super comfortable, durable and safe (when you come across big stones and rocks you want some protection). However, these Keens seem fine for people doing few hour long walks.
I think modern synthetic outdoor clothes outperform anything traditional by a large margin. You want to be as light and dry as possible even at the cost of some durability.
It just depends what you're doing. If you're in the field for months or in harsh terrain you have to strongly consider the durability of your footwear. No shoe is good if it falls apart on you in the bush.
I kind of agree, but that lug sole is so stiff and wide it makes them a liability on even so much as a 2" rock. Your ankle has to just twist, which is an injury waiting to happen. Excellent for lowland tracks and soft ground, but I'd never take them up a mountain.
I'd love to see some specialty hiking boots cut in half. Like Zamberlan, Bestard (Mountaineering and hiking shoes from Spain), Meindl etc. In order to be able to see how they differ from PNW boots (which are very hard to come by in Europe).
I have similar shoes Merrell moab speed and they are super comfertable .. but only for 3 or 4 hours. after that its like my legs go to jello. its like it takes more effort to walk in them? I think it is the lack of arch support. there is arch support in the shoe but its just squishy foam and i have high arches and i guess it is not enough support. I like how the Keen has that "spring board" shank in the sole that would make a big difference to my feet!
Try some aftermarket insoles - Superfeet, Sole, FP, etc. Both FP and Sole have heat-moldable ones that you can shape to your feet and footwear, FP can be re-molded for different shoes but Sole can’t.
@@philsmith2444 i'll check those out. i'm thinking i'm just using these shoes past their intended purpose like these are made for short light duty and i'm on concrete all day and using step ladders a lot working in IT. I think the ladders are what is doing the most damage and i need to get something more rugged just hard finding something that is both rugged like a work boot and also light weight.
Waterproofness is a bit of a myth. If you cross streams or if there's heavy downpour the water will get in anyway. What matters to me is whether the shoe can dry quickly after I'm done with the hike. Ironically, those heavier waterproof shoes take longer to dry.
My GTX Lowas are completely waterproof unless I get into water over the top. I beeswax them, but that’s so the leather doesn’t wet out and freeze when I wear them snowshoeing (down to maybe 15F/-10C), not to keep my feet dry.
Purchased keen hiking boots last September $185, 3 months later the side split, pro bass gave me another, 4 months later leaking , pro bass said, no way, had to file warranty claim with keen, im getting tired. Keen gave me credit to spend in keen store online, added $35 to purchase $200 hiking boots made in US, warranty 3o days. Yes keen makes many different styles, YOU CAN KEEP THEM.
Most Hiking and Mountaineering boots are hybrids. Many have thick, full grain leather (Scarpa SL1 = 2.8mm thick) but have foam midsoles (usually PU foam) and aggressive outsoles. The midsole and outsole are normally combined into a single unit but these can usually still be re-soled. That means you gain cushioning and support with less weight than traditional boots but still get the benefits of a thick leather upper. Unfortunately most use Goretex as marketing makes this desirable. I don't really know of any "outdoor activity " brands that make an all traditional boot any more. I'll add that these boots are often used for mountaineering off trail and over very rough ground and with crampons in snow and ice.
@@1maico1 Yes and so do Meindl, Zamberlan and Scarpa . Unfortunately there are fewer models available and in the UK often the importers don't bother with them. Yu seem to have a better choice in Europe ( from viewing the big German internet sites).
Something that should be noted. With mass produced shoes, you'll have massive problems when you have special feet, if their a super wide, narrow, big instep and so on. Next to impossible for my duck footed family to really find much that fits us well. A handmade boot can customise the last, thus you can solve all these issues.
@@debluetailfly 100% Tried countless "wide" shoes that are not even wide. Heck some brands have wider "normal" widths on some models compared to another models wide one. It's actual hell and what has made me begin making my own shoes. US are lucky for having many classical bout makers in JK boots, Nicks and so on. For they can change the lasts to fit your foot properly. Sadly a bit too expensive to import over to here in the EU. Did it once. Which meant 275-ish dollars in import and shipping fees. Found like two shoes that are "acceptable", one normal work Boot and one minimal one. But they are still, not wide enough for true comfort.
@@WolfMimirMori If you are trying making your own shoes, check out www.youtube.com/@harryrogers\ He did a series on making shoes. I think he also wrote a book about it. He hasn't made a video in 5 months, hope he is ok. He is in England. He was already a leather worker, so he had a lot of tools already. Shoemaking was a new adventure for him.
What I really don’t get is how I’ll need to wear different sizes between boot manufacturers and even among models by the same mfr. What’s the sense of making sizes if they’re not standard? Widths are a little more of a grey area, but still vary more than I think they should.
@@philsmith2444 The issue is lasts. There are so many lasts, many manufacturers have their own patented lasts and so on. So it becomes like clothes, no real universal system as everything do their thing differently.
An in depth video about proper hiking boots would be much appreciated, would be very interresting seeing your perspective as a shoe maker. I had my sole practically disintegrate on my Lowas after 10 years. While I got a lot of use out of them, I still would be curious where corners were cut.
If they went 10 years before self-destructing I doubt it was because corners were cut. As good as Lowas are (I have a 6 y/o pair that’s in almost perfect shape) they’re not traditionally-constructed boots like Limmer or Pivetta.
How often did you wear them and how did you store the shoes? The PU cushion is damaged by hydrolysis over time. Actually not using the boots speeds up this process... Lowa boots can be resoled- had mine repaired a year ago and I was quite happy with the result
@@size1985 In hindsight I'm totally ok with 10 years. They werent the most expensive Lowas, and resoling would have cost half the price of the boot. I regret not doing it. They were a perfect fit and were adequate for the hiking I do (sub 3000m in the swiss alps). Now I've got more expensive boots, but they dont fit as snug. Guess you never know what you've got, until you havent got it anymore..
@@stefanoberli5920When I got the boots back from resoling, I discovered that they actually refurbish them as well. They looked like new from the outside but were already worn in of course. They saw extensive use since then (also swiss and austrian alps) and held up fine.
You should do video for the Best boot for landscapers I'm a landscaper and I been look for the best boot for my job but still have found mabe you could thank for reading
I have a nice Idea about a boot series for you. I was thinking, maybe you look into traditional european hiking boots and thier Brands like the series you did about dr. Martens. Featuring brands like Lundhags, Hanwang, Meindl, Haix, Haglöfs. I would like to see them cut open.
You should check out Hondo boots, really interested to see a cut in half, and leather rating, they’re traditionally made cowboy boots and made in the USA 🇺🇸
The holes in the sole that expose the foam on the bottom is an immediate no go for me. I learned long ago that hiking in the woods of the PNW will have small twigs poking through in to the bottoms of my feet in no time.
I like my Keen hiking because they are good on average trails. They’re not for intense hikes and that’s not what they are for. They are really supportive and comfortable. They aren’t expensive and often can be found on sale. As for buying ethically, it’s something worth trying, but even I have Nike and designer goods made in Asian countries. It’s impossible to not face that. Im sure many men would love ethically made shoes, but when you realize how much those cost, very few can afford them. Loro Piana soft shoes start at $900, Italy isn’t cheap.
Used to love Keens (uneek, koven) but their foam soles thread wear down so quickly (maybe good for a season ot two, after that it gets slippery). Tried NXIS (quite similar looking to these in the video) and the plasticy layer reinforcing WP around the toe area cracked in many places after a year (4-5 months of actual wear). They approved a warranty claim, but beware their warranty policy on their website: they will provide store credit for the full price of the shoe, no matter at what price point you bought them, but stire credit will only enable you to buy product at full price - no matter what price you bought them at originally and no matter their current sale. In my case the sales taxes on the full price 'killed' the original sale i had gotten them at. (Regular price is 210, I purchased them for 159, had I used the store credit to buy a replacement, I would have paid 195, all the while their current sale price is 126, much closer to the actual value of this shoe, i might say.) As you can tell, I find this way of making me pay for the replacement unfair. They could have just asked for shipping cost so something. On another note... Have you ever compared the quality of footwear between gendered models? It's really hard to get good winter boots (good slip resistance) for women. Ive come across models (muck) where the men's version is actually decent, but the women's is less wuality for more money. Just a suggestion.
It would be nice to see some tear downs of some of the European hiking brands like Grisport. It is hard to find videos comparing North American brands to European ones.
this is kind of a silly comparison since they're not in the same price bracket and most people don't use logger style boots for heavy hiking. You made valid points with the keens, but it makes it look like the keens are far more superior than other, more traditional boots, than they actually are (the sponsor does give me an extra bias to that).
Thanks for another great video! Been wondering about the Zionic! Their product page has a video that indicates full-length plate, but the product details makes no mention of it. Keen's new WK400 rocker walking shoes reportedly use a full-length nylon plate. What was the material for the Zionic plate, Nylon, or TPU perhaps?🧐
Love my quests, I have the same pair since 2015, altough they are a bit on the heavier side. My latest affair is with Aku Spiders - really good boots, made in Italy too, cheers
I would like to see modern light hiking shoes compared, Keen, Merrell, Danner, they all make low top hiking shoes with some claiming interesting things, like Merrells air cushioned heel on their Moab 3. Be nice to see if its just marketing
For trail running I’m using the salmon braze x , very good shoe , not as crazy aggressive as one of salmons comparable offerings but the benefit is that they are water proof If I needed an hiking boot now I would have picked the Lowa Z-6 s , best boot I’ve tried yet, Btw a review of it would be nice to see
I'd like to see a video on the Danner Lights's. I think they're a great middle ground between these 2 boots. They have gotten ridiculously over priced recently (I think after covid). I have a pair and there are a few things I'd like different. One thing I love is the gortex lining. I know people say it wears out but my dad has had a pair for 25 years and it hasn't so...
You say that the Keens will wear out your leg muscles, but it will make them stronger over time. Unlike the leather boots that will keep them compressed so you don’t use them hardly at all.
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 89 | คู่เอก "ยอดไอคิว vs คิริลล์"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z3vYkHJ_5Ig/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks to Keen for sponsoring this video, get a pair of Zionic hiking boots for yourself here - amzn.to/3Kstx2p
Sorry man, but kind of an ad for these "shoes"
Can you do something on socks? Can’t believe I’m asking.
Can you do a video on shoes for obese folks suffering from plantar fasciitis? It’s hard to be active when walking down your driveway and back (I have a long driveway, about a few hundred feet, but still) leaves your feet screaming in pain 😣 I’m doing better now, but I still have to be VERY careful sometimes.
You know, you might want to try comparing these to trail runners rather than heavier boots. Seems more like a better comparison.
@@boomkruncher325zzshred500
We have different ideas of what a traditional hiking boot is.
To me the Lineman is a logging/work boot, not something designed for hiking/backpacking.
For traditional hiking/backpacking I think the Danner Mountain Light from a few months ago would have been better of what has been cut in half. If you are looking for the top of the line, look at Limmer.
Yes! I have had my sights set on Limmer boots for some time now!!!
@@adventuretarian8191 I have a pair of Vasque Sundowners that need to get resoled. Once they are beyond rebuilding a trip up to North Conway is definitely in the cards.
I'm on the wait list for my limmers currently!
Lowa - at least when I was walking to k2 Basecamp.
All leather didn't make sense 30y ago ( possibly if you need irons )
True, i was thinking the same thing....i would have never thought that the Lineman would be a hiking boot...
Would be interested in more hiking boot vids. Merrell, Columbia, Vasque, Adidas, Danner, Hoka, Keen, ECT, ECT. Comparisons between brands, or between a single brands leather traditional hiker and their new tech heavy synthetic counterparts. Keep up the good work.
Agreed! It would be really interesting to see the differences.
This! But please include heavy duty brands like Lowa, Meindl, Hanwag, Salewa, Mammut, La Sportiva etc.
@@stefanoberli5920 Agreed! I think one of the most interesting things happening in footwear right now is the split between heritage/long lasting, handmade footwear and more disposable single use, but lighter and cheaper footwear. It would be interesting to see a breakdown of the cost/wears and the effect each one has on the market, economy, things like that. A real big contrast between the two philosophies in modern footwear.
@@stefanoberli5920 Also would love to see Lundhags. Probably very rare to see outside of Sweden, but they're made to last decades and they often do. They like to use very thick full grain leather as well.
@@user-il9ze9py8cyou literally cannot go backpacking or bushwhack with the nicks shown in this video. Not a chance in hell. Obviously rose anvil has never gone backpacking or even hiking for more than a few miles, let alone bush whacking .
I won’t buy a hiking boot without metal shoe lace eyelets. they always tear out without them.
thanks for this.
If I saw someone hiking in those lineman boots, I'd think they were nuts.
Those are not lineman's boots.
More of a forestry/ firefighter boot, although I don't believe the collaboration boots are NFPA rated.
I am a utility forester, and we put more miles on these kinds of boots in the worst imaginable terrain than most hikers ever see.
The comfort of these types of boots would shock you. All they give up to a boot like the Keen is weight and shock.
When you hike every day, the weight loses significance. Cushion is no issue in the woods.
Cushion in districts where we follow lines from woodlands or prairie into town are a different matter though. Our employers require an NFPA boot. Wearing a pair of Hotshots on pavement all day can hurt.
Keens are a great shoe if your terrain and load will be moderate.
I used to sell shoes, and they were a real problem solver for customers who were leaving for hiking trips in the next few days. There is no break-in. They provide adequate support for casual hikers.
The only real issue I have with Keens, Merril, et al, is durability. The upper and outsole will outlive the EVA midsole. The cushion is gone before the rest of the shoe wears out.
For lots of folks, it doesn't matter. The demands placed on the shoe are minimal.
For someone who works and plays in wild places a lot, the cost of a stitchdown boot is spread over years and may be less costly than a synthetic boot in the long run.
It is important to note that there are lighter and lower options available. You can usually get a custom height, softer leather, and choice of outsole from companies like Nick's
Once you wear boots like these, it is very hard to part with $170.00 for a boot that will fail in a year or less, presuming that you are very active.
Just my two bits from the trenches.
Cheers!
Wear Meindls, never need another hiking boot as long as you live
@@StephenMcGregor1986pu midsole rots in meindls get eva midsole altbergs used by the army. meindl plastic foam junk
You should do a hiking boot series including the alpine boots like Velasca and the moccasin boots and such.
I wrote a comment some videos ago which got a lot of likes, that hiking boots comparison would be awesome. I would love to see Keen vs Meindl vs Zamberlan vs Stelvio vs Scarpa, etc, etc...
@@deXXXXter2Would love to see the Perfekt and SuperPerfekt by Meindl getting reviewed!
same, I thj k a lot of people are interested or would be since it's a different type of boot
Please do a whole hiking boot/shoe series! Definitely have to hit the italian brands like la sportiva, scarpa, salewa
I've been using hiking sandals and I find these are the best hiking shoes in most situations.
@@lolilollolilol7773 your "most situations" don't sound like my "most situations", no offense.
@@alex_ottomano it sounds like you're never met a serious hiking sandal acolyte. They are crazy, and to be fair after a while they are wearing thick leather on their feet- thick living human leather.
@@zackstewart4109 haha I mean similar to the hardcore barefoot shoe people I'd imagine. I like to run very rocky, jagged, steep trails so I'm staying far away from sandals and go for grip and stability. All the power to them though!
I'd love to see this
Nothing beats my Meindl Gufferts, nothing
I think the two biggest cons about a leather boot is weight and waterproofing. 3mm thick leather and a big giant slab of veg tan underfoot is not going to dry for several days, whereas a fast and light hiking boot can get wet and dry much easier.
Never had wet feet in my Hanwag leather lined boots including the double stitched Berglers.
@@emty9668 but those are purpose-built hiking boots. Big difference between those and these workboots from the video that have a huge thick heap of leather underfoot that does take forever and ever to dry out.
@@_bats_That’s why you buy yourself a Peet Shoe Dryer. Almost 20 years ago I worked a winter as a skilift mechanic, pulling up to 17 hour days and having a few beers in the lodge after work. The Peet had my Sorels dry and warm every morning.
@@philsmith2444 you don't have access to Peet Shoe Dryers when hiking in bogs in foreign countries
Do they have beeswax in those foreign countries? Or knee-high rubber boots (Bog, Muck, etc) that are more suitable for those conditions?
Average minimum wage in Vietnam is $1.25/hr and they're still charging over $150 for basically a tennis shoe.
*Nike enters the chat*
Those white collars gotta make some money
I mean......not to rain on your parade but its 2023 and pretty much most decent sneakers run around $100 - $150 these days on average. Everything is over priced, no exceptions
What of the design team? The logistics surrounding export from said country? Marketing? Materials? Research and development of said materials? There’s so many things aside from labor that factor into cost, that being said as with any big company, there are overpaid CEOs and senior staff as well as shareholders that establish price and increase cost
I work in a hospital, middle upper level mgmt always makes most of the profit from the actual employees that perform the care/task. Ethics are are cheaper to deal with some good shell game advertisements and brochures essentially marketing. Business models ?
JK boots ❤ I like not the typical business model. Totally upfront on a consistent higher level.
IMO, neither of these are hiking boots. The Keens are light, high-top trail runners. They are meant to be comfortable, but disposable - like 500 miles or so. The Nick's are work boots. They offer great support and durability for long days working in harsh conditions. But are not ideal for moving long distances, just too heavy and not breathable.
Well said. He picked the far ends of the spectrum.
These two are near the extreme ends of hiking boots. Tough and leather vs. light and cushy. Somewhere in between is where I head for. But as was said, where, when and weather determine the best hiking boot. No two places or seasons are the same.
These are really light duty hiking boots. It would be great to se some medium to heavy duty ones. Some of them are made of leather and have good Vibram soles so I think they would take away even more advantages from the traditional hiking boots.
My circa 2009 Keens finally gave out last summer! Best pair of general walking/hiking/work shoes I've ever had. Been on the lookout for another pair similarly styled without the WP treatment since that's too hot for my feet, but either way Keen is a great company and so glad they were in to helping you with this video!
Funner IS a word if enough of us use it!!!
It's the expert English Language purists whose feathers ruffle when they listen to made up words like funner ( more fun than fun ) or y'all, kinda, lika, sorta n'stuff, fortunately we don't have to pay attention to them.
@@raulgutierrezconstante8119Unless you're an English student
@@justsomeguy5470 you're studying English, aren't you ? Well there ain't no point in you studying the language if you ain't gonna have an ample vocabulary, btw, ain't is the contraction of are not.
I love my PNW boots and on mixed terrain, they can be great for walking all day. For walking all day on paved/hard surfaces, the lack of shock absorption really starts to make itself known. However, for actual offroad hiking, they're really not ideal. I've been up and down a fair number of mountains in my White's and the cons are pretty serious: the weight really, really gets to you after a lot of miles, the lack of shock absorption is hell on your knees on downhills, and the ridiculously thick leather underfoot takes forever to dry. I wore a pair of White's Bounty Hunters through a bunch of bogs and crap in heavy rain and they took nearly a week to completely dry out.
For light day hikes, boots like the Keens are fine. But when I do serious hiking, I have a pair of ripple-soled Italian Fracap hikers that are my go-to. They weigh probably a quarter of what my White's do but are wholecut leather with a fully gusseted tongue so do well in wet conditions, and the foam wedge between my heel and the outsole gives them great shock absorption. I'm sure more hiking and less fashion-oriented boots with similar patterns by other makers are even better.
tl;dr even if you want traditional, get hiking boots, not work boots.
One of the biggest problems with the traditional boots is how long leather takes to dry out. If it pours one day and your boots get soaked it'll suck the next day to walk in wet boots and wet socks, and you can really easily get athlete's foot. The hard outsole isn't ideal too, especially on steep slopes where they'll slip a ton. I spent 3 weeks on the catamount trail in a pair of Red Wings and I wouldn't do it again.
Red Wings are basically just boots for men on the registry
Heat up some rocks, wrap them in paper towels. Put in boots.
Isn’t that what shoe trees are for, to dry out your footwear if they’re wet.
Take out your insoles at night and put crinkled up newspaper in the toes of your boots… it’s not 100% overnight but it helps a lot.
How many of yall are carrying paper towels or shoe trees with you on the trail ?
Please do a high end hunting/hiking series testing zamberlan, kenetrek, crispi, asolo, etc etc.
I would love to see some of what could be considered more specialty hiking brands boots that may include leather. These could be from Salewa, La Sportiva, or Scarpa. There's a lot of brands that are really well made but not seen as often in the general stores.
Probably going to be a lot of comments in this vein. For traditional I was assuming we'd see a Danner or Jim Green. Not a lineman/work boot.
It's been about 10 years that I use a pair of hiking sandals for hiking. I find that these are the most comfortable shoes for long walks, even with a backpack. I've walked hundreds of km in sandals on all sorts of terrains, including mountain.
The pros are:
- the most breathable shoes
- don't smell
- the feet never get hot or tired even after 5 straight hours of walk
- they don't need to be waterproof, as the feet dry up pretty quickly. In fact I don't remove them when crossing streams, I simply go through the streams and enjoy the refreshing water.
- zero maintenance
- inexpensive and small footprint in the luggage
The cons:
- don't maintain the ankles, so if you have fragile ankles, wear boots instead
- not suitable for very cold regions or temperatures approaching 0°C
- sometimes, a stone can get under your foot, but it's easy to remove
Make sure you choose hiking shoes that are 3/4 inch longer than your toes, protecting them.
I got my first pair of Keen boots about a year ago. I'm never going to buy a different brand again. I even just ordered a pair of sandles for at home. Love'em.
Most hiking boots dont have a spring plate for propulsion.
Its usually a rock plate for protection
I was hiking at the weekend wore my jimmy greens razorback with an upgraded insole and they were fantastic no sweaty feet or wet feet great boots for hiking
If you can get your hands on a pair, seeing a video about urban shepherd boots would be cool!
But You are not comparing hiking boot to hiking boot. Leather hiking boot is made from one peace of leather, no stitches, more waterproof than any plastic membrane, it also has soft midsole, but the boot is rigid to support the foot on rugged terrain. Hiking sneakers are only for well established trails.
FUNNER is a word, means more fun than fun, perfectly and completely understandable, something lika y'all.
Made in Vietnam clothes are top notch quality now days 😊
Funner plays fine in Scrabble dude
Dozens of brands other than Keen are available as much better comparisons regarding hiking boots/shoes.
Right lol I get that it’s a sponsored video but why put “best hiking boot” in a video when you’ll literally never see anyone who spends time on trail using them 😂 just cut a pair of Solomon’s in half
Or altras
I have two pairs of Lowas hiking boots - one taller and brown and the other black and not as tall. I also have a pair of Lowa sneakers which are waterproof (I was told that all Lowas are waterproof), the sneakers can get a little hotter as they are not as breathable.
I've worked at several outdoor stores selling hiking boots of aal types, but have never seen any boot close to the nicks leather boot being sols as a hiking shoe. The type B mountain boots come closest, but are still much more modern in terms of contruction and materials.
Another thing to consider about a super soft foamy shoe is weight. It is comfortable because it molds to your foor and steps, but for the same reason the foam will collapse under your foot if you're a heavy person, and/or are carrying a heavy pack. Your feet are not used to carrying and stabalizing the extra weight of a backpack, so a soft shoe will make a twisted ankle and tired feet more likely. That why lots of foam is popular in trailrunners and sturdier heavier materials are better for mountain trekking.
I used to wear "performance" synthetic hiking boots and then changed to leather for the durability for off trail stuff. The upgrade in comfort was next level. When leather breaks in it fits the foot so well. I've also started walking barefoot a lot too and the "shock" of hitting the ground just seems to be because people heel strike way too much when they walk. So I call bullshit on "comfort vs leather".
My Lowa Camino GTX are so comfortable on my feet - more comfortable than any hiking shoe or trail runner I’ve tried - that the weight compared to trail runners doesn’t matter. It’s a lot like my 4+lb Osprey pack vs a
During my times of section hiking the AT , i saw not a single person wearing big heavy leather boots. Trail runner shoes wear everywhere though.
wouldnt thursday tabacco lug sole captains be a better comparison?
Yay hiking shoe vids! The scary thing is I think you were light on the break-in for leather boots. It takes 200hours to get them softened up, but it takes months of daily wear to get that custom glove fit on full leather workboots.
Maybe a couple years actually!
Apple’s and oranges honestly. I wouldn’t call the ND2 a hiking boot. It’s a logger/lineman boot.
Toe box rubber started to come off after 2 weeks. Returned to REI and i talked to Keen they seemed interested
I like that he didn't just hate on the Keens and gave a really even and quality comparison for someone who may not know a lot about either of these types of boots
Also I think Weston's favorite word is juxtaposition
Of course he didn't hate on the Keens, they sponsored him.
Unrelated request: I’ve seen a lot of Brunt marketing on social media lately and they’ve really taken aim at Thorogood and Redwing in their ads. Could we get a revisit or a wider look at Brunt in the context of their ads? I recently rewatched your tear down on the mic toe and my main takeaway was that they were mediocre but not terrible at the price point but for 50-60 more the Thorogood was a better option and at the Brunt price point a Rock Rooster or Carolina was a good option.
Is that still true? Has Brunt improved is their marketing BS?
I recently purchased a new wallet from Rose Anvil and it's very high quality at a great price.
I’ve had combat boots that didn’t require breaking in. The outsole was also designed to not collect mud.
KEENs are nice but the soles wear out pretty fast and the quality is hit or miss. I am curious about the traditional though and how they truly compare. Probably put in an order in a few months.
Ive owned 6-8 pair of Keens in the last 10 years. About half have been casual sandals/hikers i typically wear on vacation (one was actually made in the USA), the others have been work boots/shoes I've worn at my warehouse job, on my feet for 8+ hours a day, typically get 2-3 years out of a pair, previously wore Timberlands at my job, but quality went downhill.
The Meindl Perfect….. that is a classic hiking boot.
The ND are (beautifull and superb) working boots!
Perfekt and SuperPerfekt too - I was hoping for a review of those by R&A since a long time!
Never thought of that style of leather boot "hiking" at all. Work boot, or military boot yes. Hiking, no.
I bought a pair of Ridgemont heritage boots. I didn't have super high expectations. On sale on preorder(l (they do the pre order sales every so often) they were like $90. These have exceed expectations. Going on 2 years of semi regular wear and they are just starting to come apart. For a "disposable" hiking boot they are woth a look.
Very helpful and informative. One aspect I'm interested in is how fire-resistant the boots are . It may seem obvious, but the light boots could be fireproof to a certain degree as well.
They'll go up if they catch fire, they're made of recycled plastic bottles remember
Still waiting for that Yeezy 500 quality test !!!!!!!!!!!!
Really though, love your videos and you taught me alot about shoe quality! and boots, even though i dont use those xD
Forgive me if you’ve already done some of these, but I would love to see a traditional hiker shootout with things like the Eddie Bauer K6, Danner Light (I and II), Danner Grouse, and Russell Mocs. I need a new pair of boots for hiking and don’t want to go back to my chunky Merrell Moab’s. They ugly. Also, doing a breakdown of the Nicks Ridgeline would be cool.
A key factor for me is how well do they keep your toes from being mashed on mountain downhills? With my Nick's, built to my fit, Ridgeline hiking boots I haven't experienced mashed toes yet... the boot's arch and sturdy vamp hold my foot in place in the boot. This compared to "modern" hiking boots that left me all but crippled from my toes being mashed.
I used to hike with my dad doing the GR Long Distance Footpaths (Europe) and both my dad and me never would go for synthetic materials; we always prefer full leather boots. Yes, it takes a while to break them in but then they're super comfortable, durable and safe (when you come across big stones and rocks you want some protection). However, these Keens seem fine for people doing few hour long walks.
I think modern synthetic outdoor clothes outperform anything traditional by a large margin. You want to be as light and dry as possible even at the cost of some durability.
It just depends what you're doing. If you're in the field for months or in harsh terrain you have to strongly consider the durability of your footwear. No shoe is good if it falls apart on you in the bush.
the nd2 is pretty stretch for this comparison
HI Anvil! Can you cut Collegium Shoes please?
Red Wing Roughneck is a great hiking boots for me. I wear it without socks.
I kind of agree, but that lug sole is so stiff and wide it makes them a liability on even so much as a 2" rock. Your ankle has to just twist, which is an injury waiting to happen.
Excellent for lowland tracks and soft ground, but I'd never take them up a mountain.
Would love to see you do more Keens, love my Newports, Howsers, and Pyrenees
Looks like it will be a joy to walk through all the fox tails we have in the north west
This is the only channel I would trust a video like this from.bc you are quite literally making it impossoble for them to hide any tricks...
Digging the Charlie Crocket shirt.
A unique sounding singer for sure. One of the best "new country" singers
Neither of these two footwear options would be my choice for hiking.
Can Columbia hiking boots get some love?
I'd love to see some specialty hiking boots cut in half. Like Zamberlan, Bestard (Mountaineering and hiking shoes from Spain), Meindl etc. In order to be able to see how they differ from PNW boots (which are very hard to come by in Europe).
Hey Weston, if I'm repairing my boots at home, what kind of cement is best that's available to the public
I have similar shoes Merrell moab speed and they are super comfertable .. but only for 3 or 4 hours. after that its like my legs go to jello. its like it takes more effort to walk in them? I think it is the lack of arch support. there is arch support in the shoe but its just squishy foam and i have high arches and i guess it is not enough support. I like how the Keen has that "spring board" shank in the sole that would make a big difference to my feet!
Try some aftermarket insoles - Superfeet, Sole, FP, etc. Both FP and Sole have heat-moldable ones that you can shape to your feet and footwear, FP can be re-molded for different shoes but Sole can’t.
@@philsmith2444 i'll check those out. i'm thinking i'm just using these shoes past their intended purpose like these are made for short light duty and i'm on concrete all day and using step ladders a lot working in IT. I think the ladders are what is doing the most damage and i need to get something more rugged just hard finding something that is both rugged like a work boot and also light weight.
I love Keen boots! Thanks for the review, will you be doing more Keen boot reviews? Was that a true Center Cut Score?
You should do a series on skate shoes, I’d love to hear what your take on a pair of fallens would be
Waterproofness is a bit of a myth. If you cross streams or if there's heavy downpour the water will get in anyway. What matters to me is whether the shoe can dry quickly after I'm done with the hike. Ironically, those heavier waterproof shoes take longer to dry.
My GTX Lowas are completely waterproof unless I get into water over the top. I beeswax them, but that’s so the leather doesn’t wet out and freeze when I wear them snowshoeing (down to maybe 15F/-10C), not to keep my feet dry.
Soft and very comfortable shoes... leading cause of Osteoporosis.
I aim to get YOUR boots.
And yes, I only watched this to see more about your boots ;)
Complete nonsense.
Wide toe box on keen? I swore them off after getting a pair of st boots from them that made my big toe go numb.
Purchased keen hiking boots last September $185, 3 months later the side split, pro bass gave me another, 4 months later leaking , pro bass said, no way, had to file warranty claim with keen, im getting tired. Keen gave me credit to spend in keen store online, added $35 to purchase $200 hiking boots made in US, warranty 3o days.
Yes keen makes many different styles, YOU CAN KEEP THEM.
Most Hiking and Mountaineering boots are hybrids. Many have thick, full grain leather (Scarpa SL1 = 2.8mm thick) but have foam midsoles (usually PU foam) and aggressive outsoles. The midsole and outsole are normally combined into a single unit but these can usually still be re-soled.
That means you gain cushioning and support with less weight than traditional boots but still get the benefits of a thick leather upper.
Unfortunately most use Goretex as marketing makes this desirable.
I don't really know of any "outdoor activity " brands that make an all traditional boot any more.
I'll add that these boots are often used for mountaineering off trail and over very rough ground and with crampons in snow and ice.
Lowa, Meindl and Hanwag have the option of leather lined or goretex on some of their boots, at least in Europe.
@@1maico1 Yes and so do Meindl, Zamberlan and Scarpa . Unfortunately there are fewer models available and in the UK often the importers don't bother with them. Yu seem to have a better choice in Europe ( from viewing the big German internet sites).
Something that should be noted.
With mass produced shoes, you'll have massive problems when you have special feet, if their a super wide, narrow, big instep and so on. Next to impossible for my duck footed family to really find much that fits us well.
A handmade boot can customise the last, thus you can solve all these issues.
The problem has gotten worse in recent years with the elimination of different widths.
@@debluetailfly 100%
Tried countless "wide" shoes that are not even wide.
Heck some brands have wider "normal" widths on some models compared to another models wide one.
It's actual hell and what has made me begin making my own shoes.
US are lucky for having many classical bout makers in JK boots, Nicks and so on. For they can change the lasts to fit your foot properly.
Sadly a bit too expensive to import over to here in the EU. Did it once. Which meant 275-ish dollars in import and shipping fees.
Found like two shoes that are "acceptable", one normal work Boot and one minimal one. But they are still, not wide enough for true comfort.
@@WolfMimirMori If you are trying making your own shoes, check out www.youtube.com/@harryrogers\
He did a series on making shoes. I think he also wrote a book about it. He hasn't made a video in 5 months, hope he is ok. He is in England. He was already a leather worker, so he had a lot of tools already. Shoemaking was a new adventure for him.
What I really don’t get is how I’ll need to wear different sizes between boot manufacturers and even among models by the same mfr. What’s the sense of making sizes if they’re not standard? Widths are a little more of a grey area, but still vary more than I think they should.
@@philsmith2444 The issue is lasts. There are so many lasts, many manufacturers have their own patented lasts and so on.
So it becomes like clothes, no real universal system as everything do their thing differently.
I hope you do more hiking boot videos, I'd really like to see a breakdown of some higher end boots like Lowa and Solomon (particularly the Quest line)
I love leather boots, though they are not designed for long hiking trips or backpacking. These Keens look great for that.
Keen Cincinnati is the best work boot I've ever worn.
An in depth video about proper hiking boots would be much appreciated, would be very interresting seeing your perspective as a shoe maker. I had my sole practically disintegrate on my Lowas after 10 years. While I got a lot of use out of them, I still would be curious where corners were cut.
If they went 10 years before self-destructing I doubt it was because corners were cut. As good as Lowas are (I have a 6 y/o pair that’s in almost perfect shape) they’re not traditionally-constructed boots like Limmer or Pivetta.
How often did you wear them and how did you store the shoes? The PU cushion is damaged by hydrolysis over time. Actually not using the boots speeds up this process...
Lowa boots can be resoled- had mine repaired a year ago and I was quite happy with the result
@@size1985 In hindsight I'm totally ok with 10 years. They werent the most expensive Lowas, and resoling would have cost half the price of the boot. I regret not doing it. They were a perfect fit and were adequate for the hiking I do (sub 3000m in the swiss alps). Now I've got more expensive boots, but they dont fit as snug. Guess you never know what you've got, until you havent got it anymore..
@@stefanoberli5920When I got the boots back from resoling, I discovered that they actually refurbish them as well. They looked like new from the outside but were already worn in of course.
They saw extensive use since then (also swiss and austrian alps) and held up fine.
You should do video for the Best boot for landscapers I'm a landscaper and I been look for the best boot for my job but still have found mabe you could thank for reading
I would call the Jim green African Rangers fast light hiking boots.
I have a nice Idea about a boot series for you. I was thinking, maybe you look into traditional european hiking boots and thier Brands like the series you did about dr. Martens. Featuring brands like Lundhags, Hanwang, Meindl, Haix, Haglöfs. I would like to see them cut open.
Would like to see a review of the Eddie Bauer K6 boot
You should check out Hondo boots, really interested to see a cut in half, and leather rating, they’re traditionally made cowboy boots and made in the USA 🇺🇸
Asolo makes an extremely high quality hiking boot!
Is it possible to pair a traditional boot with a foam insole or heel for the best of both worlds?
Top HIKING BOOTS SERIES!!!
I'd love to see you cover a pair of Lundhags, Swedish shell hiking boots.
The holes in the sole that expose the foam on the bottom is an immediate no go for me. I learned long ago that hiking in the woods of the PNW will have small twigs poking through in to the bottoms of my feet in no time.
It also wears down way faster
I like my Keen hiking because they are good on average trails. They’re not for intense hikes and that’s not what they are for. They are really supportive and comfortable. They aren’t expensive and often can be found on sale. As for buying ethically, it’s something worth trying, but even I have Nike and designer goods made in Asian countries. It’s impossible to not face that. Im sure many men would love ethically made shoes, but when you realize how much those cost, very few can afford them. Loro Piana soft shoes start at $900, Italy isn’t cheap.
Do another tactical boot video with Solomon Quest 4Ds and Danner Reckonings
Used to love Keens (uneek, koven) but their foam soles thread wear down so quickly (maybe good for a season ot two, after that it gets slippery). Tried NXIS (quite similar looking to these in the video) and the plasticy layer reinforcing WP around the toe area cracked in many places after a year (4-5 months of actual wear). They approved a warranty claim, but beware their warranty policy on their website: they will provide store credit for the full price of the shoe, no matter at what price point you bought them, but stire credit will only enable you to buy product at full price - no matter what price you bought them at originally and no matter their current sale. In my case the sales taxes on the full price 'killed' the original sale i had gotten them at. (Regular price is 210, I purchased them for 159, had I used the store credit to buy a replacement, I would have paid 195, all the while their current sale price is 126, much closer to the actual value of this shoe, i might say.) As you can tell, I find this way of making me pay for the replacement unfair. They could have just asked for shipping cost so something.
On another note... Have you ever compared the quality of footwear between gendered models? It's really hard to get good winter boots (good slip resistance) for women. Ive come across models (muck) where the men's version is actually decent, but the women's is less wuality for more money. Just a suggestion.
I want to purchase Hanwag boots for hiking and bushcrafting in the woods though 🥾
I would love to see a hiking boot series with more models from Keen, Merrel, Vasque, Asolo etc
Meindl also comes to mind
Hiking boot series. ❤️
Like backpacking / camping. Appalachian trail or the Gr5 in Europe.
It would be nice to see some tear downs of some of the European hiking brands like Grisport. It is hard to find videos comparing North American brands to European ones.
this is kind of a silly comparison since they're not in the same price bracket and most people don't use logger style boots for heavy hiking. You made valid points with the keens, but it makes it look like the keens are far more superior than other, more traditional boots, than they actually are (the sponsor does give me an extra bias to that).
Thanks for another great video! Been wondering about the Zionic! Their product page has a video that indicates full-length plate, but the product details makes no mention of it. Keen's new WK400 rocker walking shoes reportedly use a full-length nylon plate. What was the material for the Zionic plate, Nylon, or TPU perhaps?🧐
Love my quests, I have the same pair since 2015, altough they are a bit on the heavier side. My latest affair is with Aku Spiders - really good boots, made in Italy too, cheers
I would like to see modern light hiking shoes compared, Keen, Merrell, Danner, they all make low top hiking shoes with some claiming interesting things, like Merrells air cushioned heel on their Moab 3. Be nice to see if its just marketing
Nicks make a hiking boot, why not review that? It’s more of a traditional hiking boot than the lineman boots.
For trail running I’m using the salmon braze x , very good shoe , not as crazy aggressive as one of salmons comparable offerings but the benefit is that they are water proof
If I needed an hiking boot now I would have picked the Lowa Z-6 s , best boot I’ve tried yet,
Btw a review of it would be nice to see
I'd like to see a video on the Danner Lights's. I think they're a great middle ground between these 2 boots. They have gotten ridiculously over priced recently (I think after covid). I have a pair and there are a few things I'd like different. One thing I love is the gortex lining. I know people say it wears out but my dad has had a pair for 25 years and it hasn't so...
You say that the Keens will wear out your leg muscles, but it will make them stronger over time. Unlike the leather boots that will keep them compressed so you don’t use them hardly at all.