hi

with spring approaching and me making plans for a 6 day trip in May, i was going through my gear and trying to decide what to take, and what not to take.

turns out my Merrel low top trail shoes i usually wear are in pretty rough shape. i am sure they will get me through at least one more season but i figured i better start the hunt for replacements.

usually for me, that means weeks of research and shopping etc but i ran across a random sale at one of my local outdoor stores and stopped in the try on a couple of options.

i am not the kinda guy who is willing to spend crazy amounts of money on gear so i was looking at something for 100 or less. (yes i am a cheap a** lol)

i thought i would like to get a mid hi boot and they did have some awesome Keen choices but they were well over 200cad.

i tried a pair of Keen Circadia mid hi shoes that were on sale for 100. but they were horribly uncomfortable. not sure of anyone uses these. they look like a great option but there was no way i could see myself wearing these. plus they were waterproof and i would rather not have waterproof.

then i saw a brand i never heard of before. they were a La Sportiva Bushido 2. made in Italy i believe.

i tried on a grey and orange pair. small fitting. similar to Salomon. but a larger then usual size seemed to feel pretty good. they were a low cut shoe (was hoping for a mid hi) but that is what i usually wear so i am sure that would be fine. super light. NOT waterproof. and most importantly they seem to have a very "grippy" sole.

so i took the plunge and will be trying these out this year. not your typical shoe you would see in the bush but we will see how they work out.

how can you go wrong with orange shoes right? now they match my new orange tarp. thats all that really matters. lol

shoe link

I use very similar North Face trail running shoes and love them. Looks like those should dry out pretty effectively.

I’ve had 4 pair of La Sportiva Wildcat trail runners. One of the best shoes for me. The sole is one of the stickiest I’ve found for wet rocky trail conditions.

Finnboy: "I’ve had 4 pair of La Sportiva Wildcat trail runners. One of the best shoes for me. The sole is one of the stickiest I’ve found for wet rocky trail conditions. "

good to know. the bottom of the shoe was the main reason i decided to try these. i have a pair of solomons that i refuse to use anymore in the bush due to them feeling like rollers skates on wet rock.

just back from a trip. shoes worked out great. love them. the neoprene socks i wore with them....epic fail.
bought a pair last year. one leaked. fought to get a replacement pair. one leaked. tested all four before the trip to make sure i brought the two that didnt leak. that lasted one day. they both leaked.

I've never heard of waterproof neoprene socks . . . ? Neoprene is a wetsuit material. I've never had luck with socks that claimed to be waterproof either.

Thanks for the report, traction is my biggest factor with shoes.

T

boonie: "I've never heard of waterproof neoprene socks . . . ? Neoprene is a wetsuit material. I've never had luck with socks that claimed to be waterproof either. "

correct. wet suits are made from neoprene.
the neoprene is a waterproof material. the trick is how they sew and/or glue them together. leaks happen either at the seams, or if you puncture the neoprene.
a well made wet suit will have the seems double glued and blind stitched (meaning the needle never punctures the neoprene all the way through) and it will be 100% waterproof.
sealskins is a popular example of socks but there are others.
i found less expensive ones i wanted to try before spending a lot on a more popular brand name.
the ones i got were high top socks that came to just below my knee.
they seemed to be made quite well.
the first test was awesome. 100% dry when getting in/out of the canoe. this is what i wanted for spring or late fall trips.
i only wore them a couple of times and then made the mistake of wearing them with crocs and scouting about an 800 meter portage. so i walked about 1 1/2 kms on trail.
i ended up having a long pine needle penetrate one of the socks. so it leaked.
the company eventually sent me a second pair.
i used them only a couple of times (with proper shoes) and one started leaking.
so on this trip i leak tested all 4 and took the two that did not leak. they both started leaking early in the trip.
i am not sure why they leaked exactly. perhaps all the portaging while getting sand etc in the shoes may have damaged them.
only way to protect them i guess would be to wear them only in the boat and then change into regular socks for the trail, but that would be annoying.
my first few days were hot temps so it didnt bother me, but when it dropped to below 10c i knew it could be an issue.
the neoprene should provide some thermal protection even when the inside is wet but obviously not as well as when dry. but i wont be wearing these anymore.
i have used my hip waders (4mm neoprene built in socks) with rubber boots. this combo is great to keep you warm and dry but at the cost of the added weight and bulk.
i may look into getting some knee high neoprene boots like the NRS or Muck ones. i want to compare the weight of those to my wader/boot combo.

boonie: "I've never heard of waterproof neoprene socks . . . ? Neoprene is a wetsuit material. I've never had luck with socks that claimed to be waterproof either. "

There is no such thing as a waterproof sock. Your feet will get wet. Lake water or sweat, it doesn't matter where the water comes from. Anything that would be that water tight would not be breathable, so it really doesn't matter if the neoprene leaks a little, all it's doing is keeping your feet warm.

Contrary to what some folks have posted, have been using neoprene socks for a LONG time and they work great. Use them wetfooting with old canvas running shoes or just old running shoes. The socks keep my feet dry and warm. Have never had puncture issues even when sometimes wearing them on bare ground at campsites. Neoprene socks are for me one of the top items to have along with good rainwear, sleeping bag, and tent or tarp. The one thing about the BWCA is you are going to get your feet wet unless you run your canoe up on landings like a tourist. Having warm, dry feet is crucial.

OldGuide2: "Contrary to what some folks have posted, have been using neoprene socks for a LONG time and they work great. Use them wetfooting with old canvas running shoes or just old running shoes. The socks keep my feet dry and warm. Have never had puncture issues even when sometimes wearing them on bare ground at campsites. Neoprene socks are for me one of the top items to have along with good rainwear, sleeping bag, and tent or tarp. The one thing about the BWCA is you are going to get your feet wet unless you run your canoe up on landings like a tourist. Having warm, dry feet is crucial."

which brand have you had such success with?

For people who are true cheapskates like myself, I recommend the Avia 5000 running shoe sold at Walmart in the U.S. for $23. Yup, $23. They are better than the flimsy shoes I see in running shoe stores these days. I bought some Avias at Walmart a year and a half ago, still going strong. Bought two pairs of the Avia 5000 recently ahead of the forecast rise in shoe prices. I like them because they fit a wide forefoot.

LilyPond: "For people who are true cheapskates like myself, I recommend the Avia 5000 running shoe sold at Walmart in the U.S. for $23. Yup, $23. They are better than the flimsy shoes I see in running shoe stores these days. I bought some Avias at Walmart a year and a half ago, still going strong. Bought two pairs of the Avia 5000 recently ahead of the forecast rise in shoe prices. I like them because they fit a wide forefoot."

+1

Seems like a decent enough shoe, very comfortable and good tread.