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I'm preparing for my second trip up Whitney, the first in many years. I've been getting everything ready and trying out all the equipment to make sure I don't have anything fall apart on the trip.
I noticed that my boots are breaking. The soul is separating at the ball of the foot. The separation is pretty serious but the soul is intact. The material connecting the two is turning into powder (10 year old boots in pretty good condition except otherwise). They are nicely broken in and quite comfortable.
Shoe Goo is not doing the trick and I think the hole will allow water or rocks inside my boot. A bad thing...
Do I go out and buy new boots with only 2 days before the trip?
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Before you run out to get new boots, You should see if you could find a cobbler in your area that can make the repairs in time for your departure.
Here is a link to Vibram authorized shoe repair shops (if your shoes happen to have Vibram sole). Just type your zip and Go!
Good Luck
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Not a Vibram sole. Boots are Vasque Clarion Gore-Tex http://www.rei.com/product/629096The "midsole" is polyurethane foam and is falling apart at the place of the hole.
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Most of the repair shops listed on the Vibram site can probably fix your shoes, the question is can they fix them in time.
Last edited by southswell; 09/24/08 08:11 PM.
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One blister and you're done. Personally, I would go with the old Duct Tape fix, although, I bought a new pair of boots last year in Lone Pine, hiked a few miles up the MT w/no problems or blisters.
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The guy I ran into on my last trip had a really good fix... something about webbing.. straps.. first aid tape.. and duct tape... sorry.. I didn't get the exact recipe!
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." -Marcel Proust
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new boots "do not need break in"... although... all of us are nervous about starting off in new boots without a trial run.
if they fit correctly, and you are wearing both liner socks and thick hiking socks, preferably wool, and have enough space for all of that in the boots, then you should not need break-in of new boots. Maybe so for old style stiff Army boots with 1 inch thick rhinoceros leather soles, but modern boots are more flexible, even heavier back-packing boots.
Key is finding the perfect fit and if needed, looser lacing on way up, and tighter lacing on way down. Harvey
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new boots "do not need break in"... although... all of us are nervous about starting off in new boots without a trial run.
if they fit correctly, and you are wearing both liner socks and thick hiking socks, preferably wool, and have enough space for all of that in the boots, then you should not need break-in of new boots. Maybe so for old style stiff Army boots with 1 inch thick rhinoceros leather soles, but modern boots are more flexible, even heavier back-packing boots.
Key is finding the perfect fit and if needed, looser lacing on way up, and tighter lacing on way down. Harvey I agree - with my La Sports - I take them out of the box and am not afraid to do 20 mile hike - the key was finding the right boot for me - narrow foot. Recommend get shopping
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I have a pair of La Sportiva Trangos worn once that are too narrow for me if anyone is interested.
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I had a similar problem. My Vasque Clarions...which would be ~11 years old today, sole split just before a day hike to Mt. Whitney. I had a pair of Zamberlan Civetta I was breaking in but I went with the Clarions.
There are some good suggestions here, duct tape, shoe goo and a cobbler. To me, a new pair is the least good idea, even if they fit supper out of the box. Most footwear will do a decent job going up but down is the issue...in this case 11 miles and -6,100' down.
BTW, I had a 3 pairs of La Sportiva and my current pair of Kayland's which fit right out of the box but I took them on short hikes the first couple to trips to be absolutely sure there were no hot spots.
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what size foot do you have ? i bought a pair of Raichle Eiger boots in size 8 1/2 about 3 years ago and I never wore them. I'll sell very cheap if interested.
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Freesole is far superior to ShoeGoo, but that likely won't solve your problem given your limited time to allow it to cure.
Chris
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Can't you take both a new pair of shoes and your old shoes patched up? For the cost of carrying some extra weight, you will be able to have some redundancy.
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Well, I went out and bought a new pair of Merrell's last night. They feel pretty good and I'm doing my best to break them in in 24 hours...
I wore them to the gym this morning, I'm wearing them at work right now (with backup shoes in the car). So far so good.
The Clarion's would be covered with duct tape if I took them. I'll just big a fond adeu to an old friend and get to know a new one. No scuff marks on them yet... Leaving tomorrow.
Thanks!
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Mike,
Good luck on your hike!
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Just came back from our hike. The summit was wonderful and the new boots worked like a champ. Not a blister.
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"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." -Marcel Proust
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