Scarpa Terra GTX - Advice Required

[digitalgiraffe]

Hi guys,

So I have come to the conclusion that I need some footwear that is a bit tougher than my 5Ten Downhill downhill mountain biking shoes. The further I venture into the wilderness for more interesting photo content the less these shoes like it.

I'm looking for some affordable yet durable (yep probably wishful thinking) boots for general rock hopping, bush bashing, stream crossing day missions on Mount Wellington but with a few more substantial walks in mind (Weld area and Walls of Jerusalem).

Everyone I know has recommended Scarpa and full grain leather and they appear to get good reviews everywhere. I know it depends on the fit of your foot but I'd like to know what you think of these for $220 (top of my budget).

http://www.macpac.com.au/shop/en_au/gear-and-clothing/footwear/mens-footwear
http://en.scarpa.net/products/lite-trek/terra-gtx/

Also are there any special brands of waterproofing product I should be applying? What kind of socks would you recommend? One or two pairs? Sorry about all the questions but I am completely new to this and feel a little overwhelmed by all the options.

Hope you can help.

Cheers,

Paul

[Maelgwn]

I can't really comment on the boots but boot choice is about fit. Try on as many as you can and choose the best fitting pair. A word of warning about leather boots, they may take a long time to wear in and you may have to persevere with them for quite a while before they stop giving you blisters. You might be lucky and they fit well from the start.

You should apply either a normal wax (eg nikwax - available from where you buy the boots) or if you find them too stiff, you can use snoseal, which will soften the leather a bit and help it to conform to the shape of your feet. Semi regular waxing of leather boots is required to stop them drying out and cracking etc (and loosing their waterproofness).

Socks are a personal choice. I use a single pair of thick socks, with a thicker heal and toe areas than the rest of the sock. I would suggest you get some thick wool blend hiking specific socks. If you are getting blisters and thin liner pair of socks can help a little to reduce this. (Provides an extra point for slipping to occur that is not your skin). I know many people always use two pairs.

[Maelgwn]

O and boots are heavy, are you sure you need boots and would not be better off with walking shoes?

[digitalgiraffe]

Thanks for the info Maelgwn.

I'd like to get boots so I'm able to do more substantial walks, less rolled ankles while bush bashing and climbing streams and just general protections for my feet.

Weight isn't really an issue as my downhill mountainbiking shoes are fairly heavy.

[gayet]

Hi
You may find some conflicting advice re boots vs shoes in regard to rolled ankles. I am about to give some. I don't wear boots because they are more likely to break my ankle than prevent injury. Not all ankles are the same! If you have walked in boots - even just work boots, it will give you an indication if boots suit or not. I have a pair of Scarpa boots, goretex and all. I think I have worn them on 1 3 day walk and swore never again. They fit as well as any boot I have tried but.....

[ULWalkingPhil]

Boots can be a nightmare. I've purchased a pair of Zamberland boots about 4 months ago and there still not fully broken into my feet. Boots are heavier as well. Research say one pound on your feet is equivalent to 6 pounds on your back, it may not sound like much, 6 pounds. Six pounds is a lot at the end of a 20km hike.

Boots do have some advantage. I wore my Zamberlands last weekend on a off trail hike, there was lots of rock hopping and the last 3 km was along a creek surrounded with rocks, the creek was no deeper than about 6 inches, I walked the whole way back through the creek and came out with dry feet. While the others had to go rock hopping in there shoes.

[pazzar]

Buying boots is definately all about trying your options to see what fits best. I walk in Zamberlan Vioz and Baffin, which I find both are great for what they are designed for. I think the biggest trick for trying boots is wearing good, supportive socks. The best I can recommend is something with a medium/heavy cushioned sole, with a good rib across the arches for greater support. Explorer style sock don't really cut it IMHO. You will be surprised how much a good sock can improve the comfort of a boot.

As far the boot itself, do not fear so much with looking at leather boots. They are a hell of a lot lighter than they used to be, and if you find a good fitting pair they won't take long to break in. I broke in my Baffin's over a 4 day, 10 hour per day walk, with no issues at all. The technologies in the leather boots have changed a lot over the last few years. My old Scarpa Trek Pro's took a long time for me to break in when I bought them 7 years ago. Getting them wet is the key.

If you are only looking to spend around $220, you are probably not going to find much in the leather range anyway, they generally start around $280. I can recommend the Zamberlan brand, as I have had success with it personally, but I understand that every foot is different and it comes down to what is comfortable. You could look at models such as the Zenith GTX or Zephir GTX, or if you were willing to spend a little more, the Mammut Impact GTX. Other ones to look at would be the Scarpa Trek, Asolo Advance, Merrell, Keen and Garmont have some good intermediate synthetic boots also.

I hope this helps you in your search for a boot.

Cheers,

Jared

[ULWalkingPhil]

Another advantage with the boots. They're multipurpose - you won't have to carry anything else to store your water in. When your thirsty just take off your boot and take a drink from the funky cup.

[gecko]

This is all good advice...just want to make sure you are aware of the particular Scarpa issue. They're Italian and designed for a narrow European foot. If you have an average broad, flattish Aussie foot, the result of years of going without shoes, then you might never find a pair of Scarpa's that fit you. I have the opposite problem with top quality casual shoes; so many are only available in C-fittings, in which my little, narrow, high-arched feet swim about.

[digitalgiraffe]

Thanks for all the advice guys. Especially now I know that I can use boots as a way to drink

I'll be trying on the scarpa's tomorrow and fingers crossed they fit my feet otherwise it will be several lunchtime missions around Hobart hunting down that perfect/budget boot.

Cheers,

Paul