Nearly 2 years on from my original post about trail shoes -- latest update

bought a new pair of Altberg boots in November 2010.
These are now just about hanging together. The leather of the right boot is badly cracked and the left boot seams are coming apart. Someone told me I hadn't creamed the leather enough while someone else tried to explain that I had applied too much.
The lack of rubber on the left heel leaves me wondering if the base material will survive much longer but we keep on going.
Disappointed that these boots have only managed about 1700 miles (16months)when my first pair did over 2000.
Never tried trail shoes again after my first bad experience and it looks like its going to be boots again.

Yes, a great day out sweeping Capability's Overview in the depths of the Wolds. Disappointing turn-out but I suppose there are lots of other attractions over this weekend. Strange how we get 450 plus for Rudolphs in December but fewer than 100 for this Spring event over equally super vistas.

From previous postings and not knowing Ian, I half expected to find my sweeping partner in a dishevelled heap in a corner of the village hall! But no, no sign of a hole or repair in the £5 trainers (circa 1993), and not, as favoured by older folks, a fluorescent orange. Trousers met shoes too, so obviously an attempt at a good fit.

I own up to wearing Brashers and as the rear wheel drive BMW, totally useless in heavy snow and ice.

Enjoyed it Ian, must check out your Geograph activities (when you have time to fit them in between pints of Sammy Smiths)

Well I'm back from sweeping with John. First let me say, what a great day out we had and thankyou John for your good company.


But lets get down to the nitty gritty how did my tatty trainers fair against John's good one's. Well looking at John he does look the part where I don't. The amount of stuff he was wearing and carrying must have cost more then my house is worth and yes he's every bodies idea of a walker and yes a very good walker. Where me the most expensive thing I was carrying or wearing was the Mars bar in my cheapo rucksack.

Seeing we was sweeping we could not have a real test of our footwear, but I have to say John's BMW type trainers at times seemed to be over revving in top gear at times where my Lada type trainers where purring away and hardly getting out of first gear all day.


So to conclude who's trainers where the best. Well to be honest I don't think that is the issue. What I think is important it how good the feet are that you put in the trainers.

Thanks again John and I hope we do walk together again soon.

ian.

I've just been asked to sweep on a walk this Sunday with John, So my tatty and cheapo trainers will be going head to head (or is it foot to foot) with John's good and highly expensive one's. I'll be taking some glue with me as one of the sole's is starting to come off.

So it's John's BMW type trainers against my Lada type trainers, Only one winner then. ;-).

ian.

By hell John, you must be in the know. Never knew poundland sold Y-fronts, is that where you buy yours?

Re colour of socks. It dos'nt matter what colour I buy. After the misses as washed them ever thing turns grey anyway.

ian

Also Ian, what colour are these 25 pairs of socks? if black you might get away with it, but if beige you would be seriously compromised and not cool with any colour of leg covering

But would you feel confident disrobing, wearing a pair of Primark socks coupled with Poundland Y-Fronts?

Paul, you failed to mention that for once I splashed on a deluxe model. It came with indicators and a heater. How I miss that heater, it was build for Russian winters.

I have to defend the quality of the Primark socks that I bought. I got £5 worth that's 25 pairs all the same colour around 10 years ago and I still got a draw full. Plus I don't have problems with odd coloured socks.

Re sweat shops. Does anybody know where their trainer are made? Just because you pay over the odds for your trainers does it guarantee that they are not made in sweat shops?

ian.

Yes John, I quite agree.
Not only did Ian buy cheap trainers, but he also used to drive a Lada Riva !
Despite these handicaps he still managed to travel to and complete over 30 Events a year.

Usually false economy to buy the cheap stuff, disintegrates and is produced in Sweatshops for Primark. It's like buying a BMW or Porsche compared to a Ford or Kia, you pays your money and takes your choice, it's a feel good factor of getting quality.

I found Brasher the best footwear and most comfortable, after trying various trainers, boots, including Karrimor with blisters from some. Merrell trainer types are good.

I was crossing Rombald’s Moor with Ian, many years ago. The glutinous mud pulled off the sole from one of his trainers. What a disaster I thought . Ian however was well prepared. He opened up his pack, calmly pulled out a spare trainer, put it on and completed the event in odd footware.
No doubt , he was soon off to his favourite market stall soon afterwards. (I wonder if they sold single shoes?)

Funnily enough I've had the opposite experience with Karrimor. I've had 3 pairs of Karrimor KSB boots and each pair has been very comfortable. Strange how different users have totally contrasting results.

All this talk about spending money on fancy trainer's is making my head spin. Me I usually go to a market stall or a cheap shoe shop to buy mine. The best pair I ever had cost me less then £5 from a market stall. Mind you I do go overboard with my socks. 5 pair for a £1 from Primark.

ian.

My advice is also not to touch anything from Karrimor.

A few years ago, I bought some Karrimor trail shoes for walking to/from work. After some 50miles of use I developed achilles problems which I did not initially connect with the shoes (I thought my running habit was to blame). Eventually I realised that the whole of the midsole had disintegrated with really very little use, causing myfoot to collapse and pronate thus pulling my achilles out of line.

I entered into an extended email exchange with the owners of the Karrimor brand only to be told that Karrimor shoes are not aimed at the specialist ourdoor market rather they are 'leisure' shoes. What an admission!. Their 'trail' shoes had not been constructed to survive even a few weeks of gentle road walking. I'm surprised they were allowed to call them 'shoes', I can only assume I was supposed to wear them as a substitute for carpet slippers.

im interested in buying a pair of inov 8 shoes for my winter walking. The range is huge and confusing, can anybody offer any advice or have any experience in using any of the range

Simon: I agree. Karrimor used to be on a par with Berghaus. Now the brand name is almost totally eroded: to me, anyway, though others still seem happy with the design and build qualities.

Bill: Others seem to have this lace wear problem too. The secret seems to be to tighten the laces by pulling them as usual through the eyelets, then, when they are at the desired tension, holding them at that tension by looping them around the metal hooks. This works well and causes little wear. It is the pulling around the hooks that causes the wear, as these have sharp edges (as they are designed to restrain, and not to allow sliding).

Elton

Remember that the Karrimor stuff of the last few years is nothing like the Karrimor gear of years gone by when it was run by Mike Parsons.

Matt,

Which Innov8s do do find work well for you?. I'm always confused when I look at their range and the stated overlap in what usage they're designed for.

I've always got on well with the North Face range of shoes. Currently wearing a pair of the Hi-Tec 'Fasthike II Low' for everyday long walks. They're waterproof and comfortable now, but took a while to bed in to the shape of my feet. Also, the laces wear quickly on the metal eyelets.

Bill.

I've found that all boots/trainers for walking/running are a bit trial and error. I'm very much a trainer man, for everything, what I've always worn and am happy in them over any ground. But finding the right pair that suit me and lasts isn't always easy, and quite frankly I go through them prety quick - have broad feet and simply split the outside edges. Currently wearing some Innov8s which I like, but other models of Innov8 are a disaster on me.
Only advice I have is, if you find a model that fits, go on t'net and buy up a ruck of them as cheap as possible and you are sorted for a while. Matt.

See the KSB thread below. My first pair of Karrimors lasted three years. I'm wearing another pair now and I bought a thrid pair today in the sales.

I would try a different brand in my humble opinion :) I have personally had trouble with karrimor shoes falling apart which has put me off the brand for shoes, although my regular daysack has been, up to recently, karrimor.
I've bought a pair of salomon trail shoes which I feel are a much better construction and support for the foot and would wholly reccomend. Try a different brand before giving up on trail shoes just yet, that said, they're not for everyone and some people just prefer boots. Each to their own :)

Having worn boots for many years I decided to try a pair of trail shoes for summer walking. I bought a pair of karrimor trail shoes (waterproof and breathable with "eVent lining). These were relatively cheap compared to the last pair of boots and I did not expect them to give me the same level of performance as my last boots (ALT BERG boots -- leather cracked in various places after 2500 miles + 200000ft of climbing which I think is reasonably good)).
After only 2.5 months (257 miles) I found that I could no longer walk in them as the heel construction seemed to have collapsed on the inside causing my ankles to bend as though I was about to "go over" on them
I did get my money back but wondered if anyone else had had similar experiences with these or shoes in general?
Could the change from boots to shoes with less ankle support have contributed to the problem?
I wear Superfeet inner soles with boots and have found them excellent but could wearing these in shoes have created the problem?