new boots

“I just got back from REI with a new pair of Sundowner II's!! A few weeks ago the sole of my beloved 9 year old boots split while on a hike. It was between the sundowners and a pair of Asolo's, but the Sundowner's felt better. I can't wait to break 'em in and try them out!”

“I love my Vasque Sky walks”

“I think the Sundowners will be my next boots to get.”

“I'm looking for a new pair. After business meeting in Madison tomorrow, I'm scoping a couple gear stores (already checked the Madison REI a couple weeks ago and they didn't have squat).

Lowas seem awful nice, but Asolos have fit me in the past. I've beaten a pair of Asolo scrambling shoes to death after 3 or 4 years of almost daily wear.”

“I'll let you know how I like 'em”

“I just got a pair of Sundowners. I'd better go break them in now! No more blisters for me. No sir.”

“Boot Fit Synopsis:
Asolo-kinda narrow
Lowa-wider toe box
Garmont-high volume
La Sportiva-narrow
Raichlie-narrow heel
Vasque-narrow, med.,wide available
This list is based on my very subjective experience.”

“Mr. X, a pretty good summation, though I find the Asolo leather/fabric models' width about medium, especially compared to brands such as Nike, even Technica. The Asolo all leather boots were definitely narrower through the ball of the foot area. The Lowa toe box is very roomy. As I noted on the new gear thread, I settled yesterday on a pair of Asolo Fusion 95 GTX yesterday. Now comes the fun of getting them dirty.”

“Stopped at Reyer's Outlet in Sharon, PA today while driving home from the Holidays. Reyer's proclaims they're the "world's largest shoe store" and they have an outlet for those leftover pairs of shoes.

I went in looking for running shoes and walked out with a pair of Rockport casual boots. I put them on and they had a good feel, and by now they feelin' goooooood!

They're supposed to be dress shoes cause their half-ankle high as opposed to traditional hiking boots and have a casual shoe-like look. But they have lugged Vibram soles, anti-fungal anti-bacterial insert, waterproof Hydro-Shield liner. I could use them for hiking.

They-re like $150 shoes,but they must've sat on the shelf for a very long time because by the time I got to them they had been marked down to $39.95.”

“Does having that insert mean ya can't grow mushrooms in 'em?

Darn.”

“I've had a single pair of Sundowners for so long I've forgotten what I can compare them too. They're not just my hikers either, they're my "sh!t, the fence blew down in a storm and I gotta fix it" boots; "the dogs don't care how hard its raining they're either gonna get out or eat the couch" boots, etc. Sundowners rule!”

“I understand that there are a number of the new boots with the exploding heels available real cheap on e-Bay right now.

Apparently it was an innovative design but the manufacturer didn't take all environmental factors into account.”

“lol Violin, have you seen the Boob Bomb thread?”