Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board What type of boots...?

I have come to the realization that one pair of boots isn't enough. Last year in preperation for hiking Whitney I went out and bought a very nice pair of Asolo Powermatic 400 Goretex boots. I've put close to 75 miles on them and I still get hotspots. I think because the Goretex doesn't breath very well and my feet sweat too much. (yes I wear wool socks with liners). I love the boots, but I am concerned they may be too much boot for Whitney in the summer.

So I went out and bought a fairly cheap pair of Hi Tecs. They seem to be their top of the line boot for backapcking. They are called "V-Lite" and they are quite possibly the lightest boots I've ever worn. They are very comfy around the house and on short hikes but I am concerned they may not offer enough support on a 5 day hike. They are waterproof and breathable but just a little smaller than my Asolo's. I've never had problems with my feet but I am worried about the decents and my toes jamming into the toe box.

Does anyone have any experience with different types of boots. IE; Goretex vs other "waterproof" materials. I always thought of Hi Tec as a relatively cheap brand but these new boots seem more than adequate. We'll be hiking approx 45 miles over 4-5 days and I just want to make sure I have the right boots. Any feedback would be appreciated.

i only wear my sportiva ,nepal extreme, my ankles are WAY too weak for mountains so i solved this problem by buying too warm boots :-)

Zang,

I usually don't think of waterproof boots when backpacking in the Sierra in the Summer. I usually don't think of boots at all when backpacking on a trail. My decision is based on the terrain I'm on and how much weight I carry. If my pack is more than 40lbs and if I'm boulder hopping then I start thinking about boots. This also comes down to personal preference.

The two boots which have been working well for me are the Montrail Torre and La Sportiva Evo S. I've used them extensively in the Spring, Summer & Fall. They are on the high end of the boots spectrum but they are worth it.

Hope this helps.

I've been wearing a pair Kayland Contact 1000s for about a month and noticed right away the eVent liner was much more breathable than the Gore-Tex I've worn the last 10 years in products made by LaSportiva and Zamberlan.

Footwear is a marriage of your foot and the last the manufacturer chooses to use to form a boot. Sometimes it takes kissing a lot of frogs find something that works. What works for me may not necessarily work for you.

It's going to take lots and lots of trying on boots to find what works for you. I recently, unexpectedly grenaded my trail shoes (after 500ish miles), so I needed some new ones (not good 4 days before leaving for MR). Over a 2 day period I tried on well over 30 pair of shoes. I have narrow heels. Despite what the salewoman at REI (very good salesperson nonetheless)said about me not being able to wear Merrell's, I ended up with a pair of the Radius'. Why, because they fit like a glove.

Personally, I don't like wearing boots over the ankle unless there's snow on the ground. It seems I always have scabs and open sores on my ankle bones from climbing, so lowtops seem to always feel best.

Regarding waterproof. As stated above, I've never put much stock in "waterproof" during the summer in the Sierras. I really don't want water to stay inside my shoes either, which is what I figure would happen.

As to HiTec's. I've always like the ones that I've worn. If they fit you, support you, and are cheap: buy 3 pair!! When they are out of production you will be very happy that you stocked up.

HTH

I prefer just wearing trailrunners during the summer time. They are very light, quick drying, and easy to take off for river crossings or at rest stops. In my case I don't have ankle problems so they are the right choice for me.

I prefer salomons since they have a zip tie instead of shoelaces and are very quick to take on and off. I have gone on backpacking trips up to 5 days in these and was 10 times more comfortable than the people I was with that wore boots. Goretex is just too much for the summer in the Sierra in my opinion. I'd rather spend one day be in wet shoes that dry quickly than shoes that don't breathe well every day.

I have a pair of a few years old lightweight Nikes that I like. In the summer in the sierras I usually wear just trainers if the trail isn't too rocky. In getting older I discovered the padding on the bottom of my feet doesn't work as well so I usually wear insoles for extra padding. If there is going to be snow and I need crampons then I wear my old leather Pacific Mountain Sports. I just keep them in the sleeping bag if it's cold as they get really stiff when they freeze. I still use crampons with straps so they work even with old sloppy leather boots. I don't think much else is needed in the Sierras.

Back when goretex first came out, '80s I believe, I bought everything goretex that was available. I kept getting hypothermia as I was so wet all the time inside my clothes. I donated the goretex, hope they had better luck, and went back to fleece, down, and a poncho. Best decision I ever made. And goretex shoes/boots are totally intolerable. I tried sandals once, sunburnt the tops of my feet, forgot the sunblock there, ouch.

I'm probably with everyone else, lightest boots/shoes that work for your feet. And just like in everything else it's all about fitting and breaking in. I wear my shoes/boots until they literally fall apart, except for climbing shoes which I have the latest greatest most painful money can buy.

I usually wear a pir of Montrail Blue Ridge boots, which are very supportive, insulated, and waterproof (if a bit heavy). I arrived in Lone Pine last Sunday afternoon, and found that I had FORGOT to pack them! In a panic, I ran down to Elevation sporting goods store on Main Street. A lovely woman sold me a pair of La Sportiva boots, that turned out to be a godsend. They fit perfectly, were lighter than my Montrails, and I never had a problem in the four days I was out on the trail. We summitted Mt Whitney in a snow storm and my feet stayed plenty warm and dry. I am 50 and starting to have a bit of knee pain every once in a while - I think these lighter boots were much kinder to my "more mature joints".