Activities & Gear
Messages: 4,795 - Threads: 528
Hiking shoes: next question
Thanks to good advice from another thread, I need to get some new hiking shoes boots!
I would appreciate any thoughts / advice.
I currently have a pair of low Merrell Chameleon 4 Ventilator Gore-Tex. I've usually worn, and THINK I prefer the low cut boots. I also HATE getting wet, so having good waterproof shoes/boots are important to me. I'll be hiking Kili this summer and don't want to have wet boots after the first day, and unable to dry out. I bought the Merrell thinking they were good on the waterproof, but now, have read a number of reviews complaining that they are not! This weekend in Lake Placid, by the looks of the weather ...... I'll probably find out!
So, looking at buying new shoes/boots ...... it seems the really good waterproof shoes ..... are actually backpacking boots, so high tops and heavier than I'm used to ...... looking at Asolo Power matic, or sl...
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Hiking shoes
So, I have a pair of Merrell hiking shoes/low cut boots and when walking on level or up hill ground, they're great, and fit fine. But going downhill I get sore/irritated big toes (nails) with prolonged walking.
So, is this unavoidable going downhill, or do I need to check the way I lace them up, or should I be sizing up a 1/2?
If its the nature of the beast (downhill = sore toes) .... any solutions/tips. I walk in a zig-zag fashion downhill, which eases it somewhat.
Thanks
Budget Airline Hand Luggage
I have a leather men bag which exceeds the allowed measurements for hand luggage by 4-5 centimeters. Its a leather bag so it can be squeezed and pushed from all sides a little, and I am wondering if its safe to bring it with me as hand luggage or better pay for extra luggage online. I've seen people having to check in luggage once they arrive to the airport because the airline staff decide its too big, and they have to pay twice as much as they normally would if they checked it online. So, I am wondering how flexible airlines are (EasyJet, for instance), in this case?
Thanks
May 15, 2013 10:29 PM
endlessroad
last reply
May 18, 2013 12:52 PM
Nauta
2 replies
216 views
Good & Reasonably-priced Front-loading backpacks?
I'm going hitchhiking for a few weeks and am looking for a suitable backpack--probably around 50L to 60L. Anyone know any good front-loading (very important, as I don't like to unpack) backpacks I can buy online in the USA? I am trying to not go over USD150, and preferably below 100. Thank you! I have searched around a lot and there seems to be a huge dearth in front loaders, though they just seem to make so much more sense to me.
back pack 30-35l help needed
Hi guys
need your advice on a purchasing a new pack for my travels. since i'm a little guy and I usually pack lightly I'm thinking on a 30-35l which i believe is good enough for essentials and a few change of clothes.
for what i thought it would be a walk in the park turned into hours and hours of internet research :)
i started with a tnf recon, changed to berghaus remote 30, and then to patagonia fuego 32, to osprey manta 30 or atmos35, to mountain hardwear enterprise, to...
so... help! what im looking for is a light pack, with afew organizational pockets, waterproofing wouldb be a plus.
best
K2 Gondogoro Trek Footwear
Hello, Ill be trekking to K2 soon and am wondering about footwear. I have mountaineering boots which will be needed during parts of the trek. If youve done the trek did you also bring other lighter footwear along which you wore while trekking? The terrain looks rough so it looks like you may need the mountaineering boots on most days. I have lightweight shoes for camp.The mountaineering boots I have are good but they get uncomfortable by the end of a long day. If you've trekked this I'd appreciate any advice you can give.. Thx.
Edited by: avsfan
Best bag I've ever had!
Tis is a shameless plug for the bag I carried - or wheeled, rather - around Spain for three weeks.
Because, unlike some past trips, not once did I ever find myself complaining about distance to walk finding hostels, how many times I'd have to lug it between hostel, bus -plane home, even.
It was small enough to carry on the plane and easy to sling into luggage compartments, didn't impede anyone's progress on city buses, held up through rain, didn't skew sideways on cambered roads or pavements, etc. etc. etc.
No matter how tightly packed it was easy to pull along.
The zips and seams are strong, as is the fabric. And it has a five-year guarantee, which means the manufacturers expect it to last much longer. I think they're probably right.
I don't treat my bags like flowers; I expect them to be like me - a bit rugged and up for the odd spot of mountain walking if the urge ta...
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New Rucksack - advice pls - it used to be so easy!
Hi,
With a 7 week trip coming up to India, Burma and beyond, I need to buy a new pack but I have a fundamental point I need advice on.
(BTW - sharing cost with my dad so we can afford a decent one between us).
Seems there is a new style of pack, designed for adventure travel, which cost about the same, hold about the same, but seem to weigh MUCH less. Examples:
- Lowe Alpine Travel Trekker II
- Deuter Traveller 70+10
- Berghaus Jalan II 60+15
All three of these seem light, good quality and apparently designed more for travel than for trekking / hiking.
On the other hand, there is what I think of as a more "conventional" pack, which is also front-loading but might serve me better in future occasions for more traditional camping, hiking and trekking. My favourite in this class is:
- Lowe Alpine Cerro Torre 65:85
(but it weighs nearly 3kg!).
The size and even... more »
May 9, 2013 10:02 AM
lmgculley
last reply
May 9, 2013 11:51 AM
spa_trip_is_on_me
2 replies
524 views
NEWBIE posting another Gorilla Trekking thread
Hi Guys (and Gals) brand new to the forum. I have a question that has been asked before but after looking around I cant seem to find the answers I need. Im hoping someone here can help.
I am doing a Ugandan gorilla trek on 30th July 2013 and a Rwandan one on 1st Aug 2013. I am looking for boots that are going to be A. waterproof and B. supportive.
I have read a lot about 'just wear your trainers' etc but I am wanting a pair of boots so am really only looking for replies based around that.
I have a budget of £50-£100 and could really do with web links to products...
Looking forward to seeing if this gets any replies :)
Leon
May 6, 2013 11:01 AM
lauracollins93
last reply
May 8, 2013 10:43 AM
pia2am
4 replies
394 views
Womens question, Moon cup?
Hey I'm going travelling for a year and was thinking about getting a Moon Cup.
I've tried a different brands daily's and had issues getting it out but they are very different in design and im just wondering if anyone has used them and found them easy to use and useful?
I really want to give it a good go as in theory it would make things easier! But dont really want to get one if im never going to use it.
Im not particularly squeamish so that's not an issue.
Any help or opinions would be great ^^
Thanks.
May 3, 2013 7:26 AM
knockanorejohn
last reply
May 8, 2013 11:20 PM
Petrus
5 replies
725 views
Backpack - best brand quality wise
Hi
I have narrowed my search of backpack down to 3 brands: BERGHAUS, CARIBEE and KARRIMOR.
I hope you can advise me of which brand is the best quality from your own experience and if you would suggest another?
I'm looking into buying their 60 or 70 litre backpack with detachable day bag.
Thanks
John
Backpack advice
I'm going travelling for a year to New Zealand and Australia (might head over to Asia too while i'm there)
I've done a fair bit of research into backpacks and tried a few on but i'm struggling to find what i'm looking for.
I know that i definitely want a travel pack so the front zips open completely and the straps are packed away for plane use.
Ideally i would like it to be specifically for women as i am quite small framed (size 8, 5'5) and would like the straps to be quite padded to make it as comfortable as possible. I will not be doing any strenuous activity with my main pack however, just public transport to my hostels and around the airport. During the day i will use a daypack. I don't mind whether the backpack comes with a daypack or whether i have to buy one separately, as long as i can wear it on my front.
The Berghaus Jalan and the Osprey Farpoint appear to be the...
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May 1, 2013 8:38 PM
lanterns
last reply
May 10, 2013 1:57 PM
neverwinter
10 replies
792 views
Women's hiking boots for the tropics?
I'm going to be heading off on my first solo backpacking adventure in two months time and have just about everything sorted but for one thing; finding sensible hiking boots! I've found that a lot of hiking boots seem to be tailored for people trekking through the rocky mountains where keeping warm is important, which obviously doesn't apply to me. There also seem to be far fewer options for women (unless you love purple), which makes me sad. I also have the added need for boots with a really good tread and a thick sole as I will be spending a good chunk of my holiday scaling volcanoes and volcanic sand can be pretty brutal (last time the tour guide lent me some boots, which by the end of the hike had more sand than foot in them). However, I also feel I should point out that I'm not going to be hiking for anything more than 4 - 6 hours at a time (the volcanoes in this trip top out at... more »
Apr 29, 2013 11:30 PM
nickwilliams
last reply
May 7, 2013 9:09 PM
Petrus
4 replies
481 views
Backpack for travelling and the rest!
Hi
I am going to be travelling for 3 months at the end of the year through south east Asia and am looking at buying one of these as per recommendation from a mate, he uses it for hikes and a bit of military stuff. I am in the Australian defence force and do a fair bit of short 2-3 day hikes as well with fairly minimalist gear, so thats another reason i want to buy it.
http://news.goruck.com/gear-explained/gr2-travels-explained-by-jason/
Just wondering if anyone else has used one or would be able to help me make my mind up. I am aware it is quite an expensive piece of kit but i will have a lot of uses for it.
I have been to south east asia so know roughly what im planning on taking, my main concern is that the pack might be just a little bit too small.
cheers
more »
Good outdoor gear shops in LA
Hi - in Los Angeles, where is a good place to buy a Bear Vault bear canister and an insulated cooking pot cosy?
Thanks!
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