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Everyday shoe recommendations

LeftyJason

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  • Mar 8, 2017
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    Kaysville Utah
    I've been wearing Merrell Moab shoes for the last few years. They are my everyday shoes for work, errands, occasional hiking, lawn/ snow stuff(with an old pair) basically everything except for church.

    I've had 4 pairs over the last 4 years or so. All but 1 were mids. Had a 2 waterproofs, a vent, and a goretex (gores were too hot/pruney). All in 9.5 standard width. No breaking in really needed. They just fit really well.

    They've been great. Except I wish they would last longer in the ball area of the sole and didn't get torn up in the toe area.

    Here is previous pair that I've been using for snowblowing with yaktrak pro traction (they sucked). The wear is typical of all the ones that I've retired.
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    Here is the pair that I've been wearing since August. They've already started to get thin in the ball area with the weird sound they sometimes make when the rubber pulls away (the bubble moves).
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    Anybody have any other shoes that they'd recommend I try out? Maybe something that is a little stiffer across the width? I've liked the vibram soles they just wear too thin in the middle.
     
    Try Oboz. I had a pair and they outlasted any pair of Merrells I've ever owned by maybe a factor of 2-3x. The downside is that they don't fit me as well as the Moab, but your experience may be different.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: eddie102870
    another vote for Salmomon's.

    Have been wearing mine to matches and general use for 3 years, running around and hiking and aside from being a little dirty look good as new.

    super comfortable as well.
     
    Sounds like I might have to make a run to rei. There's one just 3 miles away. They have Salomon, lowa, and oboz.
     
    I switched from Merrell to Salomon, Merrell's used to be good and lasted awhile, not anymore.. I get about 2 yrs out of Salomon and 6 months out of Merrell's.. go figure.
     
    Same experience with Merrell for me too. I switched to Salomon and keen. Can’t say enough good things about switching.
     
    Agreed on the Salomon suggestions... It's what I live in... They come in widths and have several options with car tire studs in the sole for winter traction.
    As with everything else apparel and footwear related, fit should trump all else. Give them a try. Purchase them from a vendor with a decent return policy.
    I have bought direct from Solomon.com, REI and Midway...
     
    Salomon XA Pro, XA Pro 3D “Gortex”, Speed Cross, Hoka Spead Goat & Hoka M Toa GTX. I wear all of these at any given time depending on the conditions. I am in the HVAC business and on my feet all day long. I go through a pair a year. I hike as well spend time on the gun range and farm. Only time I wear something else is for hunting purposes.
     
    If I need actual shoes I wear Salomons or 5.10s
    I’ve had several pairs of Merrels and they all broke down and wore our way to fast
    Mostly just wear Birkenstock’s or Simms or OluKai flip flops...
     
    Yeah. When you work a comfy desk job.

    Hey carpal tunnel is no joke okay.....
    It its a very real and very dangerous thing alright....

    Claims over 3 million casualties a year...you think that's easy living on that kind of edge day in day out working from the comfort of your own home with a mini fridge under your desk stocked full of sugar free monsters and a shiatsu massage office chair and every once in awhile maybe you pop up to the private shooting range 2 minutes from your house at lunch?

    I'm a little partial to the soft insulated slippers myself....

    When you coming down to shoot again!?😁

    20210210_224038.jpg
     
    Hey carpal tunnel is no joke okay.....
    It its a very real and very dangerous thing alright....

    Claims over 3 million casualties a year...you think that's easy living on that kind of edge day in day out working from the comfort of your own home with a mini fridge under your desk stocked full of sugar free monsters and a shiatsu massage office chair and every once in awhile maybe you pop up to the shooting range 2 minutes your house at lunch?

    I'm a little partial to the soft insulated slippers myself....

    When you coming down to shoot again!?😁

    View attachment 7552979
    TCCC Tactical Carpal Casualty Care
     
    • Haha
    Reactions: Huskydriver
    Oboz are my everyday footwear. They fit well and are built well.

    But as I have stated on multiple footwear threads, measure your feet and find what fits you. Shoes and boots that fit well last longer, and a goid fit is better for your feet.

    Danner, Vasque, Salamon, .... depends on what you need. Good luck.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: clcustom1911
    Keens and Brooks have been my go to shoes for the last several years. Im thinking about trying Salomon again. Last two pairs have felt like I’m in between sizes 11.5-11 either felt too big or too small.
     
    Another vote for Salomon x Ultra Mid GTX. I've worn them for years with good results.
     
    I went from Merell to Vasque. Havent looked back and boy have my feet been happy. Can work in those shoes for those long grueling 24 plus hour shifts and not have my feet the most sore thing on my body. I wear the Mantra 2.0s but apparently theyve lasted so long they dont make that model anymore.
     
    Oboz for me, I’ve been wearing the Sawtooth Mid waterproof for about a year now I think. Great shoes and will be getting another pair when these are wore out.
     
    I had a shoe issue while going through the white mountains on the Appalachian trail. Anyone who knows this section knows it’s one of the hardest. Had 4 days of wearing my camp shoes/crocks with socks to get to a town to get new shoes. Besides no traction they were freekin awesome, very comfy on some sore feet. I got the most hilarious looks from other hikers with the quite often question “are you really doing the trail in crocks?” I’ll never look at them the same again.
     
    • Haha
    Reactions: Huskydriver
    Also to answer the op, keen venture goretex is an awesome everyday low top shoe. Keen taurgee will make your merrels look like garbage every day of the week. Can’t go wrong with Salomon also.
     
    Bought the Salomon x ultra 3 mids today. Hard to find in stock in my size. Yesterday I tried on at rei (good for looking not buying), tried cabelas, called the mall Salomon store, and went to Scheels. Finally found them at the Salomon outlet store today.
    20210211_143542.jpg

    Tried on the new x ultra 4 mids and they fit differently. Toe area is bigger. They didn't fit me well. Also the 4's colors suck. At least the ones Scheels had in stock. White.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Huskydriver
    Agree except the keens are a 100 times better quality then merrel 😉
     
    I won’t ever buy another pair of Merrel’s. I’ve owned 3 pair all waterproof Moab’s and they have all started leaking inside the first year. Basically they were only worn during winter months and hunting season. One pair the sole pulled apart. Can’t say I ever abused them either. But I gave them a chance since I did think they were comfortable. But after having 3 waterproof hikers fail, I’m done with them.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Simonsza1
    I live in my Teva Terra-Fis. Winter? Wool socks and Tevas.

    When I need a full shoe I have Merrell and Oboz to wear. I admit, I’m thinking about the Salomon shoes, though.
     

    old natural shoes and best of all no child labor used in its construction and not taxable , not to mention when they wear out they cost nothing to replace Vines they literately grow almost anywhere .
     
    I have these GTX? Solomon's that are supportive & comfortable.......pretty ticked off @ China of late.....won't be buying a 2nd pair anytime soon. I have some USA mfg.Danner's on the radar purchase screen.

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    I bought these just to hunt and hike and I catch myself trying to wear them everywhere. They’ve got that not gonna wear out feeling I don’t care where they’re made.
     

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    For those not wanting “Made in China” check out the Italian boot maker Zamberlan. Tried these boots on at BPS and loved them, but ended up grabbing a pair of Merrels as I wanted more of an everyday boot and the Lynx are more of a purpose built trekking boot, but after reading everything above thinking again about the Z’s

     
    I have or had most of the shoes listed above. My most comfortable shoes are a pair of light weight foam sole nike. Its like walking on clouds. Before you say anything, I didnt buy them, they were a gift.