Footwear

Table of Contents

Good shoes

  1. Keen
    1. KEEN Anchorage 3 WP Men’s Waterproof Insulated Winter Boot Brown 1017790 Size 9
  2. Wolverine
  3. Merrell
  4. Teva

Interesting boots to consider when shopping

  1. Oboz
    1. Oboz are quality boots, and if you have wide feet they are awesome.
    2. I’ve been using a set of oboz sawtooth for the past 6 months. Indoor, outdoor, through fields, etc. I really like them. More comfortable initially than Solomon or Lund, which I am still a big fan of. 10/10 will look at Oboz for my next pair of boots.
    3. I have a pair of Oboz Bridger mids that I really liked. Very comfortable and durable, and fairly stylish for hiking boots imo.
    4. Oboz have these qualities which is why I recommend them to many people:
      1. They have great support, especially arch support
      2. Their shoe shape is very well designed and fits many foot shapes well. Their heel runs slightly narrow, which means less risk of heel slippage.
      3. They’re a small company, and they definitely act like it. Their craftmanship is top notch, and the shoes are very durable. They plant trees for every pair of shoes that is purchased.
  2. La Sportiva
    1. La Sportiva Wildcats
      1. Great for serious hiking. They are tough as nails and easily take on rough terrain. If its cold or wet then you can just add some waterproof socks for warmth.
  3. Salomon
  4. Look for Wolverine boots before looking for Red Wing boots. The quality we get for the price is very good - compared to Red Wings.
  5. irishsetterboots.com/hunting-boots - MEN’S 10-INCH WATERPROOF LEATHER BOOT - ELK TRACKER
  6. Red Wing Iron Ranger in the Muleskinner
  7. Belleville
  8. Carolina, Georgia boot, or Rocky etc household names
  9. Rocky
    1. My coworker had a pair of rockys in her locker that were too small but never returned and let me have them. Needless to say, each pair of shoes I bought after that were rockys because they are actually comfy and durable.
    2. I’ve gotten a lot of enjoyment out of Rocky Alphaforce
  10. Scarpa
    1. Scarpa Cyrus Mid GTX walking boots
      1. The stitching gives out easily.
      2. Very comfortable, easy to break in, never got a blister. They lasted me about 2 years, 1200ish km walked, before the stitching gave out near where the toe bends.
      3. For a long last leather walking boot you want it to be a single piece rather than the stitched panels of the Cyrus.
    2. Scarpa GTX Terra
      1. One-piece leather rather than pieced nubuck like the Cyrus. Those lasted me over 2000km until the waterproofing gave out (they were still good for dry weather). Liked them so much I bought another pair.
    3. Scarpa SL Activ boots
      1. My Scarpa SL Activ boots have been truly used and abused for over 10 years and are only just starting to fail around the rubber seam but I’ve had/have synthetic fabric Scarpa boots that fail within a year or two because they really aren’t tough enough for sustained rough terrain.
  11. There are better brands out there (compared to Danners) for high-end boots, ones that don’t cut corners: Asolo, Scarpa, and Zamberlan are some of the best.
    1. I would try those brands out and see which one fits your feet the best.
    2. These are their best models …
    3. Full-grain leather …
      1. Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo
      2. Scarpa Kinesis or SL Active
      3. Zamberlan Vioz or Vioz Lux
    4. If you want synthetic …
      1. Asolo Fugitive GTX
      2. Scarpa Zodiac Plus GTX
    5. Those are some of the best boots out there.
    6. Research them to pick out the one that has the most features you like from every brand.
    7. Then, order a pair from all of them and see what brand fits your foot shape best.
    8. For me, Asolos in a wide fit the best, with Scarpa Zodiac coming in a very close second.

Stop looking for Red wings or Irish Setters

Even if they are banged up and completely worn out, the price that the sellers are asking for them seem way too high. This is probably just because of the hype. For the same price, we can probably get great boots made by other companies.

Red wings v Irish setters v Heritage

Heritage is USA made. Which boots are better for work/job sites? Would the USA made materials be better quality and longer lasting?

I wouldn’t recommend the heritage line for work. They are tough boots but they really aren’t “work boots”. I saw that you like the 877. So I would recommend the 10877, which is essentially the same boot, but in the work line. So it would have an EH rating, which I assume would be important working as an electrician. The redwing work line has many made in the USA boots and you should be able to filter that on their website! Another great option is the dynaforce line of boots and the Supersole 2.0 both super comfortable both made in the USA.

Irish Setter is a brand owned by redwing which are mostly made in Cambodia or Vietnam, will have a 6 month warranty and are decent boots. Redwing Work has a mix of made in the USA/Overseas and will all carry at least a rating of EH or SD among other safety features and will carry a 1 year warranty as well as a 30-Day Comfort guarantee so you can wear them at work and return them in the first 30 days for any reason. The heritage line is all made in the USA but have no safety ratings at all and will not have the 30-day comfort however they will have a 1 year warranty.

Do not buy

  1. Thourogoods
    1. The top by my toes came detached from my sole after a few months.
  2. LL Bean Vista Trekking Hiker Mid Mens Brown Hiking Shoes Boots Size 9/#508568
    1. I can feel that they are not as comfortable as Keens or Merrels.
  3. Hawx is a house brand, not a household nameplate. Nothing special about them. Fall apart easily.
  4. Danner
    1. Danners are quite honestly more “lifestyle” than practical hiking boots.
    2. They may work, but won’t be the best bang for your buck.
    3. There are a lot of other boots for the same price that will suit your needs, better.
    4. Danner boots are overrated and over priced.
      1. If you want a tennis shoe shaped like a boot, buy Danner. But beware, they are priced like Jordan’s. However, Jordan’s will probably give you more foot support.
      2. Wolverine is the better buy but the corporate mentality results in changing boot models all of the time. So I tried Danner. Big mistake.
    5. Danner 917’s belong to the cheaper part of Danner’s catalogue and are made in Asia using cheap construction methods and cheap materials.
      1. You should not confuse those with their more expensive made in the USA models.
      2. The Asia made models won’t last long with intensive use.
      3. They’re fine for occasional ‘fashion’ use, but not for real hiking or hard work.
      4. They are boots for the sneaker generation.
      5. They are glorified high-top sneakers
      6. The 917’s belong to the cheaper part of Danner’s catalogue and are made in Asia (probably Vietnam or Cambodia), using cheap construction methods and cheap materials (and, off course, cheap labour). You should not confuse those with their more expensive made in the USA models. The Asia made models won’t last long with intensive use. They’re fine for occasional ‘fashion’ use, but not for real hiking or hard work. Boots for the sneaker generation.
    6. Danner Mountain 600
      1. They’re super comfy out of the box, and have amazing traction. Not the most supportive, but more than adequate for day and overnight trips. They’re sort of midway between a sneaker and a traditional hiking boot, and I mean that in a good way.
      2. However, they’re awful in warm or hot weather: they don’t breathe and the leather+padding+lining keep my feet so hot that they are drenched in sweat by the end of the day.
      3. Personally, I like them for winter or fall hiking, and I use them as snow boots around town. I’d have reservations about hiking with them in warm weather, and for extended trips.

Leather boots

No leather boots breathe. Wear them elsewhere than high mountains. Leather boots are hot and fairly non-breathable. In 3-season conditions they’ll give you blisters and fungal issues. Only time they’re justified are when temps hover are consistently below freezing. They look great for walking the dogs or heading to the coffee shop. They’re probably fine for camping/light-hiking as well.

Serious hiking

Rather have Goretex and Mesh/Suede than the solid leather of the Danners - or any other boots. Something like La Sportiva Trango, or Salomon Quest 4D GTX are better.

Take a look at the La Sportiva TX5 https://www.sportiva.com/tx5-gtx.html

If they seem too much there’s the TX4 mid https://www.lasportiva.com/en/traverse-x-collection/tx4-mid-gtx

The TX5 has a more traditional hiking sole and the TX4 uses an approach shoe type sole. Both are up to the task of boulder hopping and scrambling. If mud or wet grass is likely I’d go with the TX5, it has better traction in soft/loose terrain. I use the 4’s for off trail alpine adventures and they’re fantastic, with amazing grip on rock.

Sizes

When it comes to buying boots/shoes, do not compromise on the size. If it doesn’t fit properly, the cheap deal is not worth it. The shoes will cause pain in the legs.

If you are thinking about buying boots that are a half-size up or down, remember the experience with Timberlands in NH. It was size 10. Just a 1/2 inch bigger. But the experience was terrible. The shoe doesn’t feel good on the heel. The wrong size causes pains. Its not worth it.

The next time you are shopping for boots, try both 8 and 9 1/2. Surprisingly, Keen boots of size 9 fit me well. But for Merrell, it seems to be 9 1/2.

The next time you are shopping for gym shoes, look for slip-ons. Not ones with laces.

Harsha footwear sizes:

Name Size
Keen 9 (Not 9.5)
Merrel 9.5
Georgia Boot 9M
Asics 9.5
Mizuno 9.5
Skechers 9.5
Jonsen Milan 9.5
L.L.Bean 9
Chippewa boot 9
Wolverine
Irish Setter
Red Wing
Danner
Thursday boot company
Thorogood

Teja footwear sizes:

Keen 10
Nike 10

Kids’ Shoe Sizes - Charts & How to Fit

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/understanding-kids-shoe-sizes.html

Toddlers’ sizes run from 0-13: The smallest sizes in this range are tiny baby shoes, but the larger sizes often fit kids who are 4 or 5 years old or even older. Important: These shoes are often marked with “T” for toddler up to size 7 (e.g., 4T, 5T, 6T, 7T). Sizes 8-13 are typically marked with “Kids” (e.g., 8 Kids, 9 Kids, 10 Kids, etc.).

Bigger kids’ sizes run from 1-7 (or up to 6 with some brands): Here’s where lots of parents get tripped up. Shoes for bigger kids start at size 1 and run up to 7, creating the confusing fact that a size 1 shoe (in big kids’ sizes) is the next size up from a size 13 shoe (in little kids’ sizes). Sometimes shoe brands will help you out by having their 1-7 toddler sizes marked with “T” and their other sizes designated as “Kids.” That’s how you tell little toddler shoes from kids’ shoes even if they have the same number. For example, if you see a shoe that’s available in size “5 Kids,” you know that’s the bigger kids’ 5, not a toddlers’ 5.

Not all brands and retailers use the same language: On top of the confusing overlap of toddlers’ and kids’ sizes, brands and retailers like to use different terms to describe toddlers’ and kids’ shoes, making it challenging to know exactly what you’re looking at. The variety of terms you’re likely to see include, baby, walker, toddler, little kid, big kid and youth. Terms like baby, walker, toddler and little kid usually apply to the toddlers’ sizes ranging from 0-13, while other terms, like big kid and youth, tend to apply to kids’ sizes 1-7. At REI, we generally stick to the terms toddlers (or tots) and kids.

Men’s sizes are a continuation of kids’ sizes: A men’s size 8 is the next full size up from a kids’ 7. This can be helpful to know if your child is outgrowing kids’ shoes. It can also be beneficial to know that there’s approximately a 1.5 size difference between men’s and women’s shoes, meaning a men’s 8 is roughly equal to a women’s 9.5.

Can men wear women’s shoes?

Don’t wear women’s pants… but shoes, they’re okay, as long as they’re the right size.

I bought a pair of Barricade IV women’s shoes in gray color to wear because it was cheap on half price clearance and the men’s shoes weren’t. I bought 1 size bigger than my men’s size and it worked fine for me. Your feet probably have to be medium width or less, however. I wouldn’t try to do it if I had wide feet. I also have a pair of Barricade IV men’s shoes and I can’t tell any difference compared to the women’s one. For $20 cheaper and you get the color you want, I’d say go for it.

It’s important to know that woman’s shoes are more narrow, even in the big sizes that a man would wear. Some men have narrow and long feet; so woman shoes are a better alternative than having to tie your shoes super tight and have a foot of extra lace flipping around. See it it is reasonable for your purpose. Woman have the best “white” combination of shoe colorways. Usually white/silver, white/white (just because and not specifically for wimbeldon), white/gold etc.. On top of that, the price is always right. You could probaly find the shoe you want at a local shop in your “woman” size for a rediculous price. You can find big size woman shoes at adidas or nike outlets and they are marked down about three times.

But my advice is: don’t be confused about why your are tempted. Color should not be the reason for it. How it looks is not the question. How it feels is more important. If you have discovered a better fit while playing in women’s shoes, I guess you’re going to get all the shoes you could want for cheap.

They are usually narrower but sometimes. If you can work with their narrow width, go for it.

If you buy a woman’s shoe, make sure you get 1.5 difference. for example a woman’s 12 is a men’s 10.5. Size difference is 1.5 between Men and women’s shoes. I wear 7.5 men’s Nike Vapors and 9 women’s Vapors. I have several women’s vapors and major difference is women’s vapors are slightly narrower than Men’s. Actually I don’t need wide size shoes so women’s vapor fits better for me.

On average, the arch would be higher on women’s shoes.

Mainly, it depends on the maker. Normally, womens shoes are based on B width instead of D. So they will be slightly narrower. Talking about .4 inch difference in width. Normally, easier for women to buy small mens shoes (slightly wider is normally not a major issue); than men to buy large womens shoes. But it really depends on the situation.

More than conversions. What’s funny is usually the only difference is size and proportions, but in some cases like dress shoes it’s arch placement and the amount of stress and weight the shoe is designed to widthstand. Men’s arches are generally more forward than womens and the areas that have more stress are in different places so as far as wearing mens versus womens or the other way around it’s not just size conversions and in some cases it’s not just a size and a half, in some cases it’s 1 or 2 sizes difference as well as womens shoes not being able to properly support a mans foot in the places he needs support.

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