[philmont] Recommendations on Boots?

Is that the opinion of the Orthopedic Surgeon? Or of a scout dad fearing blisters?

Eric D. Maes
Brother of the Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
Scoutmaster - Troop 290
Ypsilanti, MI
Isle Royale NP '82, '00, '06
Philmont '03 & 6/26/08

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: kirk maes
  To: philmont List Member
  Sent: Friday, December 07, 2007 6:45 PM
  Subject: [philmont] Recommendations on Boots?

  Don't get me wrong. I firmly believe that CROCS SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A SHOE ON THE TRAIL .........NO MATTER WHAT!!!!! ESPECIALLY WHILE CARRYING A BACKPACK.

  Kirk Maes, MD
  Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
  Troop 503
  Vero Beach FL
  phil 6/26/08

  On Dec 7, 2007 1:06 PM, Guinn Unger <mlistsfiltered@ungertech.com> wrote:

    The problem with asking this kind of question to the list is that you get an awful lot of opinions that may or may not help you make a decision. This past summer was my first Philmont trek, so perhaps some observations from someone who was in your position a year ago would be helpful.

    I had purchased some boots from REI a couple of years ago to go on another hiking trip. The boots felt fine in the store, and seemed to be OK on shorter outings. However, on the days where we hiked 9 or 10 miles they became very uncomfortable. I had hoped that they would "break in", but they never did. When I found out we were going to Philmont I decided those boots just would not cut it. So I took them back to REI and they gave me full credit towards another pair of boots. (Listers, don't even start about how I should not have returned something after such a long time. REI is a cooperative and exists for the benefit of its members, including me. In my opinion, their lifetime guarantee exists for exactly this type of situation.) The boots I upgraded to were the most expensive in the store, Asolo brand. I wore those on the training hikes and they were great! (I did not buy them because they were the most expensive, but because they felt the most comfortable on my feet.)

    It is my opinion that you really cannot judge boots in the store. This is why I would never consider buying boots from anyone except a company like REI where you can bring them back if they don't work well. It may take you months to decide that they just are not working, so you need the ability to return them after wearing them quite a bit. Do not, under any circumstances, go to Philmont with boots that do not work well hiking 10 miles with a full pack, because that is what you will be doing there!

    I had also considered getting a pair of Crocs to wear as camp shoes. However, after looking into this, I found that my current running shoes were quite lightweight, not much heavier than a pair of Crocs. So, I took the running shoes and changed into those when we got to camp. The lighter weight and openness of the running shoes made my feet feel much better after a long day on the trail. I also think that if I had a boot blowout on the trail, the running shoes would have been a much better substitute than Crocs. So I would recommend taking something comfortable to put on your feet at camp.

    Good luck to you!

    Guinn Unger

    From: philmont@troop47.com [mailto:philmont@troop47.com] On Behalf Of Jim Zeszutek
    Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 11:19 PM
    To: philmont List Member
    Subject: [philmont] Recommendations on Boots?

    Hello all,

    I am leading a crew in August of 08.

    Any recommendations on boots and footwear from the group?

          Yours In Scouting Service,

          Jim Zeszutek

          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

          Gateway Boy Scout Assistant District Commissioner

          Southeast Wisconsin Council

          Boy Scouts Of America
         

         Wreath Of Service

          Please, God, Grant me

               The spark to imagine

                     The daring to innovate

                             The discipline to plan

                                      The skill to do

                                                The will to achieve

          The commitment to be responsible

          The leadership to motivate.
         
         

-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
-------------------------------------------------------
Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------
To Unsubscribe send text email to:

     To: listserv@troop47.com
     Subject: unsubscribe
     Body: unsubscribe philmont@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------

As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
-------------------------------------------------------
Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------
To Unsubscribe send text email to:

     To: listserv@troop47.com
     Subject: unsubscribe
     Body: unsubscribe philmont@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------

As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Fri Dec 7 19:19:49 2007