Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Shopping for Boots
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flynn |
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mjmkjun |
KarlBAndersen1: "I have just upgraded my Chota Quetico Trekkers to the new Hybrid High-top portage boot. I tried them on at Canoecopia and was very impressed with their construction and support." Thanks for mentioning this Chota hybrid. Sounds like my idea of wet-footing trekking footwear. Ordered a pair from Piragis early this morning. 50 days countdown till trekking with 'em in the BW. |
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deerfoot |
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Pilgrimpaddler |
I gave up on Keen Newport water shoes because they seemed to collect rocks and debris between my foot and the inner soles of the shoes and I got tired of having to take them off and clean the debris out every 5-10 minutes. |
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rtallent |
For dry camp shoes, I just took sandals that could fit a sock to keep the bugs off. Rob Kesselring canoe-treks in sandals, but he is one tough bird. |
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Ausable |
I own a pair of Chota Quetico Trekkers. I'll tell you how they fit for me in case it helps you to decide what to do. I bought a size 10 because my normal shoe size varies between 9 1/2 to 10. If I check my foot size in one of those old metal gadgets with the top and side sliders, I come out to roughly a 9 1/2 C. I use two insoles in each boot, a flat insole and a cupped-heel insole. At this point I do not remember whether the boots came with two insoles or just the shaped insole. I wear a thin liner sock under a medium-weight wool sock. The combination of insoles and socks helps the boots to fit me properly. I had to put the flat insole on top of the shaped insole because the shaped insole kept shifting sideways and up (probably because the underside of the shaped insole isn't sticky). Maybe I should try gluing the two insoles together. |
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Jackfish |
anthonyp007: "If you find you like the Chota Trekkers, and you wear a size 12, I might be able to sell you my brand new pair. " Hey Tony... I'm not the first in line, but if no one else is interested, I'd buy them from you. |
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anthonyp007 |
Jackfish: "anthonyp007: "If you find you like the Chota Trekkers, and you wear a size 12, I might be able to sell you my brand new pair. " Is $75 a fair price for you? I think I paid $100 brand new last year. Let me know if that works for you and we can make arrangements. Tony |
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Jackfish |
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analyzer |
flynn: "Check out the TR1 Mesh M from Astral Designs. They are trail runners/water shoes but holy smokes they are excellent. I have a pair and they are super grippy, which is what Astral shoes are all about - grip. Perfect for slick rocks at portages. Mine didn't fail me during 2 trips last year and they will be going with me on 2 more trips this year at a minimum. They have a wide toebox (fits your request) but I can't say if I think the heel is exactly narrow. They will ship you two sizes with a return label and you can send back the pair that doesn't fit right, just give them a call. I have found mine to be supremely comfy and I do have wide feet. Looks like Mesh ones aren't available until the end of July. I think I might try the Trek M's |
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A1t2o |
flynn: "Check out the TR1 Mesh M from Astral Designs. They are trail runners/water shoes but holy smokes they are excellent." The thing about the lower cut shoes is that it is 10 times easier for rocks and other crap to get in there because the top of the shoe is so much lower. Plus the ankle support pulls the boot closed tight to your sock and there is no room for anything to really get in. I feel like these would fill with mud and gunk quickly rather than just water. I just saw the Voyagers after digging a bit deeper, and they interest me. I think that might be my best choice if I decide to wet foot. Alternatively the waterproof boot, I forget the name but I tried it on last night, might work if I continue to use the rocks to get in and out of the canoe. Plus they would last longer and I could use them for other hiking as well. I'm a bit torn between wet footing and dry footing at this point. |
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KarlBAndersen1 |
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minnmike |
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straighthairedcurly |
Blatz: "I have the same problem with wide feet. I would stay with Keen and pick up a pair of Voyagers. They're very light and dry out almost completely over night. I use a good pair of Smartwool socks with them. Highly recommended" +1 This is exactly my experience. |
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BuckFlicks |
Same here - does that mean "get wet feet and live with wet feet for the whole trip" or "wear sandals/water shoes, get wet feet, then let them dry in the boat." Glad I know now. It was never an issue for me - my first trip I wet footed and was miserable the entire time. Next time, I got the 10 inch Bean Boots and have never had a wet foot since. They've never let me down. |
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flynn |
BuckFlicks: "Thanks, Flynn. At my job, the people in my office to quality assurance for 911 calls and PD/FD dispatch radio traffic, so we're usually wearing headphones or earbuds. My co-workers, when they want to ask me a question, ask if I "have my ears on." - to me, that means "can you hear me?" - ala CB lingo. But to them, it means, "do you have headphones on?" - which is a weird question, because if I did, I wouldn't hear you ask. But it took me a long time to figure out what they were saying because it could mean more than one thing. I understand! I definitely don't want to have wet feet the entire trip which is why I'm glad my shoes (and thin socks) dry out quickly. My friend had some thick Danner boots that got wet about halfway into day 1 (we tried to help him stay dry) and they never dried out despite him staying dry for a lot of the trip. On about day 5 he decided to just get wet, and at the end of it (day 9) he said he would definitely just wetfoot it next time, as it was so much easier and safer. This was at the beginning of June - water was cold, but not just-above-freezing cold. If it was an early spring trip, I would probably wear tall boots to keep my feet dry. Wally13: "I tried the Astral shoe by the toe box was too narrow. I wish the Astral had a wider and spacious toe box ... I think Astral makes a great water shoe," You must have extremely wide feet, as I have wide feet and I still have room in my Meshes. I will say though I tried a pair of Loyaks and they were a lot more narrow. Those are definitely designed to be casual, fashionable shoes, and they were very uncomfortable when walking (due to the way they bent near the toe) so I returned them. The Meshes are a completely different story and I believe the toebox is the same on those and the Treks, and possible the Merges as well. I have not seen many shoes with as wide a toebox as my Meshes. |
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Blatz |
BuckFlicks: "Thanks, Flynn. At my job, the people in my office to quality assurance for 911 calls and PD/FD dispatch radio traffic, so we're usually wearing headphones or earbuds. My co-workers, when they want to ask me a question, ask if I "have my ears on." - to me, that means "can you hear me?" - ala CB lingo. But to them, it means, "do you have headphones on?" - which is a weird question, because if I did, I wouldn't hear you ask. But it took me a long time to figure out what they were saying because it could mean more than one thing. You would want to change into dry socks and footwear at camp. Wet footing is done while traveling. |
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A1t2o |
I might end up picking up a pair of draining boots for wet footing at some point, but I'll put that decision off for at least one more year. |
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BuckFlicks |
Blatz: "BuckFlicks: "Thanks, Flynn. At my job, the people in my office to quality assurance for 911 calls and PD/FD dispatch radio traffic, so we're usually wearing headphones or earbuds. My co-workers, when they want to ask me a question, ask if I "have my ears on." - to me, that means "can you hear me?" - ala CB lingo. But to them, it means, "do you have headphones on?" - which is a weird question, because if I did, I wouldn't hear you ask. But it took me a long time to figure out what they were saying because it could mean more than one thing. Blatz - I had dry socks for camp. But my boots were Merrell mountaineering boots. Poor choice. They never dried out. I threw them away at the hotel in Duluth instead of packing them home to Dallas. If I were to wetfoot in the future, I'd get a quick draining boot and thin socks for sure. |
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straighthairedcurly |
My feet thank me! |
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anthonyp007 |
Tony |
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BuckFlicks |
I do have some advice for people who need a wide toe box: Asolo boots are the most comfortable hiking boots I've ever had. I used to love my Merrell boots, but too many times I came back from a backpacking trip with toenails I knew I was going to lose in a matter of days. I finally realized that while I don't have wide feet, my toes are wide and I needed a normal width shoe with a wide toe box. I bought my Asolo boots over 10 years ago and they've been a godsend. They don't make my model any more, but they have lots of options on their website that would probably suit the needs you're describing. Chota also has a wide variety of wading boots, even if they don't have the Quetico Trekkers anymore. |
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GickFirk22 |
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flynn |
I also used them on a 3 day hike on the SHT. My feet were sore at the end of that trip but my buddies were far worse off, one with a conventional pair of hiking boots and the other with a pair of TR1 Merge Ms. I thought the TR1 Mesh did a great job. If you are going to wetfoot, avoid boots that would take a long time to dry. If you are worried about ankle support, well, that depends on whether you've rolled your ankles before. I prefer to be able to articulate my ankles fully and in this way, shoes are so much better than even quartered boots. I can't recommend these more highly. Give 'em a call! Astral Designs P.S. Yes the reviews are real, from what I can tell (mine got added). There are that few displeased people! |
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butthead |
A1t2o: "I've checked the search tool, but my feet are a little odd with the wide toes and regular to narrow heel." I hear ya loudly! I have 8 1/2 EEEE size and all that ball of foot to toes. After many years sloshing around in oversized foot ware to obtain needed width I finally went with custom crafted boot. Specifically Russell Moccasin Minimalist Thula Thula formed on Munson Army Last's. If you look for Munson Last boots several custom and a few factory makers are listed, Redwing and Chippewa in specific models come to mind. Absolutely the most comfortable boots I own. And I do wetfoot in them since purchasing in 2014. You spend that much you take good care of them and they will last for a very long time. My fist pair of custom Mohican Stalkers are over 20 years old and still in fine condition with a single sole replacement. I speced mine unlined all leather chrome tanned. Use thin wool socks, change out at camp they are dry the next morning. butthead |
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thistlekicker |
Simms RipRap wading shoe I wear OTB Abyss boots on trips where I want more ankle support. If and when the OTBs wear out, I'll be looking at the Intruder wading boot as a replacement. Simms Intruder wading boot |
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BuckFlicks |
I do have some advice for people who need a wide toe box: Asolo boots are the most comfortable hiking boots I've ever had. I used to love my Merrell boots, but too many times I came back from a backpacking trip with toenails I knew I was going to lose in a matter of days. I finally realized that while I don't have wide feet, my toes are wide and I needed a normal width shoe with a wide toe box. I bought my Asolo boots over 10 years ago and they've been a godsend. They don't make my model any more, but they have lots of options on their website that would probably suit the needs you're describing. Chota also has a wide variety of wading boots that look like something I'd consider, given a fast draining capability... even if they don't have the Quetico Trekkers anymore. |
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Nozzelnut |
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flynn |
A1t2o: "flynn: "Check out the TR1 Mesh M from Astral Designs. They are trail runners/water shoes but holy smokes they are excellent." I occasionally got little rocks and some sand in there, but they come out almost just as easily... it was so infrequent and so much of a non-issue that I just took the shoe off on the rare occasion that it was an issue. If you are wet-footing, who cares if something gets in? Just dump it out. There were sections of my trip to Knife Lake, including the landing on the Knife Lake side from Seed, where the water was too shallow even in June, with a gradual dropoff with tons of boulders, to find a shallow spot to get in that was still deep enough that you wouldn't beach the canoe. I believe the portage from Carp to Melon was also the same, too shallow to paddle but nowhere to get out without getting your feet wet. Maybe if you went all the way to shore you could try to get out, but it would have been a hassle compared to just getting your feet wet. My friends and I all agreed that wetfooting is the safest way to get in and out of a canoe. People trying to keep their shoes try, perched on wobbly rocks, using a paddle for stability, is just asking for trouble. All it takes is for the rock to give way and you could roll an ankle or worse, and at the end of it, more than just your foot or calf is gonna be wet. If you truly don't want your feet to be wet if the water is going to be really cold or something, wear knee-high or thigh-high boots at least for landings. But for the foreseeable future, I will always be preparing to get wet. I mean, I'm surrounded by water... I still think you should give the Astrals a shot. Their returns are simple and easy. |
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A1t2o |
Where can I try on some of these boots? I know my feet fit a little weird so I don't want to just order online. I know where Keens are, that's not my issue, I just mentioned them because they are my alternative if I just decide to keep dry footing it. Any suggestions for a portaging boot that fits wide in the toe box and a little more snug (than a wide) in the heel, I would appreciate that too. I've checked the search tool, but my feet are a little odd with the wide toes and regular to narrow heel. |
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Blatz |
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A1t2o |
Jackfish: "anthonyp007: "If you find you like the Chota Trekkers, and you wear a size 12, I might be able to sell you my brand new pair. " I'm a 9.5 so I'd have to wear quite a few layers to get those to fit. |
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ParkerMag |
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Wally13 |
Now I wish I could find a Xtra Large toe box in a sneaker? I tried the Astral shoe by the toe box was too narrow. I wish the Astral had a wider and spacious toe box ... I think Astral makes a great water shoe, |
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Blatz |
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