This article is a contnuation from the week prior to get more details about The Great Shoe Hunt Part 1 of 3 check our blog. http://www.venturetree.net/

I am going to answer the above questions. I was struggling to narrow down the type of shoe. I first was focusing on day hikers but found that lots of them are really bulky and a little to stiff for my needs. They did have really strong leather and other features to keep the abusive trail from shredding them. I through out the approach shoes because I prefer to change into my climbing shoes at the climbing location. I also had a pair of approach shoes that really were uncomfortable to hike in no matter how loose I left the laces. This really narrows down the field of types of shoes to pick from. I thought about mulitsport for a time frame and found that a majority of them were too soft under the toe box area on the tread. I am a little heavy and tend to get stone bruised in this area. I need something with a little more toughness without the weight and this left me with the trail running shoes.

Like I stated from earlier, I like to stay with certain companies and brands that I have history with. I've tested and worn quite a few brands, and being an old weathered dog, it's difficult to show me new brands and companies.

The type of hiking I plan to do these days mostly consist of day hikes with a sprinkle of trail running. I like to venture out with the my hounds to find trails around my area and I usually carry around 25 pounds worth of gear that gets stowed in my trusty Camelbak. I tend to do a lot more base camping than I use to, and I found that my wife also enjoys coming with me on those little spur trails that are around most camping areas.

The features that I am looking for and must have are: durability, comfort, and support. I have had lots of injuries in the past any my left ankle is on the top of that list. I have to have support a in the ankle region of the shoe. I mentioned earlier that I tend to get stone bruised in the balls of my feet and this is something that adds to other injuries making a hike to be less desireable. My knees play a role in the type of shoe that I choose. I have found in order to keep my knees from hurting or spasming in certain terrain I need to have lateral movement as well as forward and backward movement in the design of the shoe. The durability is the biggest one for me. I am Captain Destructo! If there is mesh Iwill snag it, if the lining is oderless I will make it smell and so on. I want to have a shoe that will last me and the elements because, after all, it's not so cool when gear goes out on you on the trail.

The shoes that I am looking at are best represented in the list below:
Garmont Eclipse III
Montrail Hardrock 08
North Face Hedgehog GTX XCR
North Face Purgatory
North Face Rucky Chucky
Salomon 3D Fastpacker
Salomon Xt Wing
Salomon Xt wing Wp (waterproof)
Salomon Xa Pro 3D Ultra
Salomon Xa Pro 3D Ultra GTX (gore-tex)
Vasque Aether Tech SS
Vasque Velocity
Vasque Veocity VSD

Yes, I know, I have some shoes on the list that have Gore-Tex in them. I have them on the list because there were some features that I like and will explain those in a little bit. I tried on some Gore-Tex layered shoes to see how they fit. My reasoning to this is some shoe companies have similar shoes that have Gore-Tex and then make the same shoe without. Retailers only carry the Gore-Tex or vice versa. This is why I tried on some Gore-tex shoes on for fit and then later went looking for the same shoe without it. An example of this is the Salomon Xa Pro Ultra Gtx and Salomon Xt Wing Wp. The ultra has just a slight different and more durable tread pattern than the XT Wing WP, but besides that, they are basically the same shoe.

The best way to test for lateral movement is to find one of those big, hunky, hiking boots at the top of most displays. Hold the shoe in your hands and push in on the toe box as if you were squatting in the shoe. These hiking boots are mainly built for forward and backward movement only and they can be really stiff so bending them is hard to do by hand but you have to remember they are built to be carried with more than 30 plus pounds. Now go back to the display and pick up a North Face Hedgehog or Salomon Xt Wing and to the same test above. Can you see and feel the difference? Now the test for lateral movement begins, to test this twist the shoe as if you were trying to wring out a towel. This is how to show the difference between lateral and the traditional forward and backward movement. The only variations that you will encounter will depend on the shoe, sole, layering, and tread make up used by the shoe company. Some of the shoes in the same category witl lateral movement may be softer or stiffer in the lateral twist test. Now when I stated twist, I meant to bend the shoe from side to side as if you were side stepping.

Look for The Great Shoe Hunt Part 3 of 3 were I start to eliminate shoes from my long list of potentials and get down and dirty on what meets my standards.

Bentley - VentureTree Team