I am looking for recommendations for new portage boots. The factors I am interested in are: 1) comfort, 2) traction on wet granite, mud, the typical stuff found on Q portages. I am looking for MAXIMUM TRACTION. 3) Durability. I'd like to get a few canoe trips out of them. 4) Ankle/foot support/protection.

I am not interested in sandals, so don't try to sell me any. I also wet-foot, so I don't care if it's waterproof or not. Fast-drying would be a plus. Tell me what works for you. Keep in mind, I'm looking for portage boots, not camp comfy footwear. Thanks in advance!

OS 

OS,
i've had good luck with the TEVA brand water shoes, not to be confused with there sandals
i check the web and get a deal on the last year model.
I got 3 yrs on first pair, still look good, but sole has lost some grip.
this year i got the Gamma pro for $30 on sale.
Only drawback, is there only ankle height, same as running shoes??
Something, you may or may not know??
WHEN people talk about ankle support, what there really telling you is they have WEAKNESS" in there supporting muscles around the foot area.
IF you have that problem and want to fix it and not just hide it with high boots and restrictive lacing techniques, you can go to a running store and buy a balance trainer and that will fix you right up!
its basically a circular piece of wood with a central pivot point that you can adjust for angle.
The idea is to strengthen the weak muscles by balancing yourself on it a few minutes each day.
In over 25 yrs of exercise classes, aerobics,step and outdoor pursuits, i've never worn a shoe higher than ankle height and never had a problem??
TEVA shoes are also sticky as all get out, so that helps with the bashing your feet can endure, if your slipping and sliding down the portage trail!!
I know your a gore-tex sock guy, so if worse comes to worse, you have a camp fishing day shoe that will double as portage shoe if you need it

OS, I like my Chota Quetico Trekkers also. I've used them  6 trips and will be wearing them this year.

solotripper wrote on Mar 12^th, 2007 at 9:08pm:

Hey.  That's good to know.  Here I thought it was the result of broken bones (helicoptered one ankle skiing in the rockies), ankle sprains that turned blue to my knee (that happens when you play basketball and you go up for a rebound and the first thing that contacts the floor on the way down is your knee) and strained ligaments that didn't return "home" after the injury healed (that popping sound you hear when I walk is one of those).

OS -

You may still loose traction, even with Chota Mukluks.  (One of my recent ankle sprains was when wearing the Nunavut II models and stepped up on a wet granite rock with a canoe over my head.  That one was on Keats Lake headed to PP.  That one only turned blue to about mid-calf, but I had a wonderfully diverse set of colors from one toe to the next.)  But that aside, I'm still wearing them for spring trips where I'm not interested in wet footing.  I do wear elastic ankle supports on both ankles when wearing the boots.  The pattern is sock liner (usually UltraMax), ankle support, cushion (wool) sock, then boot, then snug up with the lacing system.  They may seem a bit loose still, but you'll be able to pull your foot up with the boot still on when in boot sucking mud over the top of the boot.  (My boots also have a cinch at the top to minimize the amount of water that gets down inside from the top.  I've had them submerged more than once and the result was just damp socks.)

For warmer weather, I wear something called Play Boots from Patagonia.  I'm not sure they are still in production, but db and tripper turned me on to them a couple of years ago and they work well--good traction and drainage.  However, if you suffer from "tender feet" you may want to add some padding in the foot bed ... you know what you are stepping on.

dd

Quote:

Old, beat up and crotchety would be more like it.  After all, I didn't get by 'copia fix this year! 

dd

I used the trekkers for a 16 day trip last year and thought they worked great.  As much support as a pair of lightweight hiking boots, with the combination of the best traction I have felt in a shoe. But a couple seams and the sole up by the toe on one boot is starting to come loose. I might be able to glue it down and hope that works.

I wasn't all that impressed with the Quetico Trekkers.  As BrownTrout
mentioned. my boots started comeing unglued after on thier first trip, and the bungee style shoelaces blew out on the third or fourth day.
I sent the boots back to Chota, and they reglued them, and I switched out the bungee cord for paracord, so they are ready for thier second trip.  Hope they do better.  They were comfortable enough- didn't have any issues there.I guess the traction was OK, but I remember slipping on wet rocks a few times when I didn't expect to.  As far as quick drying - mine weren't.    Boots stayed wet and "clammy".  Not saying that they are bad boots, just not worth what they cost - obviously, my opinion seems to be in the minority regarding these boots, but I would not buy another pair (nor would I throw out the ones I have)

I also have a pair of those Play Boots that db recommended, and they are really comfortable.   I've only worn them once or twice though, and not in Quetico.  With limtited experieces, I like them so far.  

I will probably give one of the NRS boots a try for my next last great solution to the great portage boot question.  Or maybe just a pair of non-waterproof lightweight hikers with nylon uppers and vibram soles, if I could find them.

The first year we went into Quetico we had the calf high LLBean boots and they killed our feet and we roasted in them so we have switched to sandals. From my experience TEVA has the best traction in water that exists as far as I know. I have just switched from the TEVA Universal Guide to the Chaco Z series sandal because the TEVAs where breaking down on me but I am still skeptical on the Chacos because I just loved that Spider Rubber on the Teva. I could jump on a wet rock with a loaded pack or 2 on and not worry about slipping and falling nearly like I have with the other foot wear options. I know Old Salt that you don't want sandals but I am sharing this and it may be helpful if you go with on of TEVAs shoes.

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

I recently bought a pair of Merrell Chameleons
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Traction is excellent (except on slippery rocks). They make both low shoes like I got or even above the ankle hikers.  I've really been happy with my purchase, which when it comes to my gear I get pretty picky.

-Shane

I too have always worn low end light hikers when portaging.  I've been against sandals both from the support aspect, but also worry about exposed toes meeting rocks.  Has anyone tried those H2's by Keen?  Look like they would solve some of the above problems.  What's been your experience ?  Thanks

,

I GUESS i should of paraphrased my WEAKNESS, comment to say that unless you have orthopedic type injuries, the problem can be corrected.
With some of the injuries posted, I don't think ANY shoe/sandal can get you back to normal
I'm amazed your still portaging at all

That was my issue with the Keen's, as well.  It was too hard to shake loose and annoying pebble or stick while portaging.  The leeches loved the toe-cup, too.  I found a few in there over the season.  Depending on which side of the portage I found them, they were either very happy, or very, very unhappy.

Jimbo may want to wait on product review until AFTER he has done the bushwack in them (assuming he opts to return to civilization and share his findings). However, I find his discernment impeccable, and based on his recommendation, have just ordered a pair of the NRS Storm boots. I will test them on my upcoming trip in late June/early July. 

jdrocks -

Hey, I only just returned to this thread to see your question... sorry.  OS is exactly right.  While I DO wear my NRS boots around the neighborhood each weekend, walking the dog, etc., & they DO remain comfortable, I really haven't put them to the acid test of Quetico, yet.  I still can't get over how light they are, though.  They look like they'd be so much heavier given all that rubber tread they have.  Anyway, I have high expectations for them.

Also, OS... you had PM'ed about "sizing".  I believe NRS has a very liberal return policy.  If what you order doesn't fit, simply send the boots back until you get the size right.  My oldest son is an avid kayaker (kayaking this week over in New Zealand) & has bought LOTS of stuff from these folks.  He's never had an issue with returns, etc..  fyi

Jimbo   

I just placed an order for these (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links). I plan on still bringing my Chota Trekers, just incase the Karmas don't work out.

flp

make sure you bring the trekkers flpaddler.  i have Keens very similar to the karmas you just ordered....and if you wetfoot, i can almost guarantee you wont be happy with them.   sorry.  gravel and sand get sucked in like you wouldnt believe!   mine are now my camp shoes.  infact, they are my "slippers" at home right now.   i thought they would be the answer...but for me, they werent.

my ankles are still good, so my portage/canoeing boots are cheapa** rubber slop boots from the mans mall.  15" height.  have to admit tho.....i cant wait to take them off when camp is reached!!!!  which, im sure...is the same feeling you neoprene chota owners feel!   $19 FF slop boots....$90 trekkers.   same ankle support.  i think i made a good decision.  and mine dont stink......much.   lol

Jan

Old Salt wrote on Mar 13^th, 2007 at 4:11am:


Footwear for the Q has always been an issue...until this spring, when I purchased Muck boots for the trip. We were expecting wet conditions and cold water, so I figured I'd go for dry feet!! I do believe mine are the field boot model, and Muck is the brand name. You can order direct, but I found
mine at a local Tractor Supply chain store. The one in my town didn't carry them, but after hunting a bit I located a store in nearby Wilmington that did. Lucky me!!! They offer great traction, good ankle support...and best of all....DRYNESS!!!   It's amazing, and sounds too good to be true, but they work like a charm. Rubber bottoms, with neoprene that has an inner waterproof membrane for the upper part. These are just below knee height, I'd say 15 " probably. The only downside would be hot weather, for they don't breathe real great, but can be rolled down (think fireman boot) to almost the ankles to allow for ventilation and comfort while paddling, resting, etc. But, for the 90 bucks I spent, they certainly can't be beat.

manufacturer's website (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Zach

P.S. I looked, and they're Muck Boots Wetland™ Premium Field Boot...picture attached...they also have a few other similar but slightly different variations...lower height, heavier or lighter insulation, different treads... best of luck

Chota Quetico Trekkers teamed with Smartwool socks - Summer - same set-up with Brookie waders early and late season.  Every combination is a compromise - this one offers;

Traction 6.5
Ankle support 7
Comfort 8.5
Quick draining 9
Protection for feet from pebbles, roots and muck 10
durability 9 (I've worn for the past 4 years trips - no significant wear)
Warmth - with Brookies early and late season 10
Weight - 10 These are really quite light.

To make my NRS Storm boots easier to pull on, I added key rings and tabs to the rear pull tabs. I also found that they mate well with Coolmax liner socks. The neoprene slides over it easier than other materials.

Good ideas, folks.  I had forgotten about talcum powder--used to use it with a neoprene knee brace back in my misspent athletic youth.  I tried a sock liner (just the reg polypro--have to try the coolmax) but I love the keyring and tab idea!
Cheers,
gp

for wet footing in the canoe I wear NRS Attack Shoes which are neoprene booties with an insole that provides arch support and an outer sole that refuses to slip on wet rocks. For dry footing I wear Chota breatables. As soon as I disembark at the landing I switch to high cut hiking shoes that have my orthotic arch supports. This gives my feet a rest while around the landing and around camp, and keeps my feet from hurting on the portage or while hiking. The high cut hikers I have are Merrill and HiTech, either pair only weighs 2.5 pounds. I keep them in a lightweight dry bag attached to the outside of my pack. Sometimes I bring my Keen Newport sandals with the toe cups for lounging around camp. They pick up gravel between the foot and footbed if worn in the water. Wearing wool socks with the sandals helps, but not as effective as the NRS Attack shoes. I tie the NRS Attack river shoes to a canoe thwart or my pfd when I'm not wearing them. I also use the river shoes for swimming where it is rocky or mucky. I've never had sand or grit get inside. They are lightweight and supportive enough for short portages unless the terrain is terrible, at which point dedicated hikers are a necessity in my opinion. The attack shoes have a leather patch on both sides of the ankle to help prevent bruising when wading in rocks. The soles are narrow so they don't tend to wedge in rocks the way bulky sandals or hiking boots do.

I'm a BIG fan of TEVA brand water shoes
IF you don't have ankle-issues, the sticky sole on the TEVA shoes is pretty hard to beat!
I look for discontinued models, CAMPMOR usually has some for half price. I get 2-3 trips out of a pair before the stitching starts wearing from the abrasion on the rocky portages.
Used a Gamma Pro on my trip this May thru some pretty tough portages in the rain and NEVER slipped a bit
 I like that they are light/drain well/ and unlike some of the sandal/water shoe type footwear, they don't fill with sand and irritate you feet.
I wear with Brookie Knee Highs in spring but if I went in warmer weather I think a low cut wool sock would be a fine alternative

Has anyone used a set of waterproof gaiters over boots? For an in and out I think they would work fine.

butthead

I've always worn a $15 pair of knee high swampers. They dry fast when you do fill them and they have good traction on muddy trails. I wear wool blend hikin socks as they insulate both from cold but also heat. Only draw back I've had is on very warm sunny days they can get hot. The fix is to step out of the boat in the water and they cool off fast. They also keep my pants clean longer as I useally wear them with the pant legs tucked in. I also wear the pants with the zip off legs that double as shorts. Just one less thing to pack. $0.02

also have NRS storms. great wet footer boot except for durability issues. mine lasted only one rugged trip and i'll have to contact NRS and give their return/echange policy a test.

side vents on both boots came loose. left boot pvc material cracked at foot flex area. right boot pvc stitching came apart at the heel area. i like the boots, i just want them to stay together. they are light, portage much better than you might think just looking at them, do have the non slip tread as advertized, and are comfortable for all day wear. i can see why they say they are favorites for river rescue guys, as i had occasion to swim for my life while wearing them.

Holy Crud, Batman!

For $225 they should tie themselves, clean themselves, and fix breakfast. 

Wif

I bought a pair of the OTB boots.  Haven't used them yet, but they look to be well made, and I hope will be a good choice for a portage boot - hopefully will stick together better than the Chota Trekkers I was disappointed with.  Did some research on the Canyoneer boots - I looked at them also, but seemed to be finding reviews that said they were starting to fall apart fairly quickly, after only one or two trips.

For slick streambed travel, probably your best choices would be a wading boot designed for fly fishing.  I've used a couple of differt pairs, but never with the felt soles - they seem to work well enough for the river use I have been using them for.

Stealth rubber is sticky on dry rock, but slick on wet rock, by the way, though my climbing shoes don't have any tread on them - that might make a difference.

Smooth pink granite (when wet) is something to respect as well. Wet logs? Good luck w/that. Wood sensing studs would be cool eh? 

The problem with thick hard soles is you can't feel what you're stepping on and the sole can't wrap the surface.

The problem with really soft rubber soles (and maybe felt?) is sticks will puncture the sole. That's happened to me twice. Once w/ tennies n once w/ Tevas - real wake up calls for me. Never wore either of those or anything like 'em on a trip since the second time.

The soles of my boots are 1/8" (maybe 3/16") thick and I often go w/o the insoles. The tread depth is 1/16". I feel they give me the best footing I've found plus they don't rip up the campsites as much and they're lighter. They are very puncture resistant as I've tested them. The big drawback with them is they're not made anymore.

Solus, I've been using some old Northern "Muck" boots for  my spring /fall trips. They're too warm for summer. Plus if you slip and go over the top you get a "full booter". The nice thing about muck boots is they don't retain moisture on the outside, i.e. less evaporative cooling.

Mad_Mat, OTB says they aren't suppose to retain much water in their material. Let me know how the evaporative cooling is in cold weather. Plus MM, I'd sent you a message with my email address, but I spelled out "at" and "dot" to keep spammers from picking it up. Hope that didn't throw you.

I ordered some Vasque mid-high hikers and a pair of Chaco's, both with the stealth sole. Also have a pair of Chota Quick-Lace mukluk's coming for local winter paddling. I feel they may be too light for portage work. Anybody try the Chota Q-L or breathable mukluks on real portage trails? (I'll scan back through the pages) Wish Chota hadn't discontinued the Nuvavut. I would have liked to try that one. When my new stuff comes I write a review.

Muck Boots are pretty much just a more comfortable version of the traditional high rubber boots. They will still give you the "full booter" if you go over the top (so far I haven't managed to sink that far). Good for cold water conditions or wet portages, if used in the summer I think you'd want to slip them off while paddling. Probably not very good for wading in rapids, "full booter" + strong current = bad combo.

On the plus side they are really comfortable, durable and easy to get in and out of. Oh yeah, they float too.

GSP wrote on Dec 16^th, 2007 at 5:08pm:




Too lazy to paddle them out and dispose of them properly?

and I don't think if you knew me, you wouldn't put me in the lazy category.  In 54 trips I have carried out more than taken in, always left firewood for the next, helped groups across portages, shared my food and knowledge to keep newbies safe.

Maybe you could of asked what happened instead.

Shucks, I thought I would be the 1st one to mention snake boots but GSP beat me too it!!!!
I picked up a set at "Sports Authority" in Anchorage when I was in town last year.  They had them on closeout.  Started at around $100 I think & they were down to $19!  I guess they forgot there are no snakes in Alaska when they ordered them. BUT, being 15", Gortex, & only $19 (Lacrosse brand) I figured I'd give them a try on an upcoming trip.
Have to say I was impressed.  When these wear out I'll get another set, even at full price.  Very light & ankle support is great on rough portages.

GSP, I'd like to hear the storry on your "swim".

I think the "swim" test isn't a bad idea for portage boot criteria
Depending on water temp and wave conditions you might NOT have time to get your foot gear off if you can't at least dog paddle with them on? I changed my thoughts on footwear after reading Jimbo's story regarding the guy who's hip style boots almost drowned him!
Coming a shore with bare or stocking feet could be tough depending on the shore conditions.
I tested my PFD and shoes by wading out at my local lake and trying to swim parallel to the shore for a ways.
You want your PFD to fit well enough its not floating off you or hindering your swim stroke.
Better to find out in conditions you pick rather than the worse case scenario

bumped this old portage boot thread...

i sent back my second pair of NRS Storm boots. i really like these boots, but they simply will not hold together. the NRS guy that handles this account said they seem to be having QC problems on the manufacturing end and are not going to offer them again until it's corrected. too bad, this was by far the best wet footer portage boot out there. NRS stands by their gear warranty, and issued a full refund.

jdrocks wrote on Sep 25^th, 2008 at 8:31pm:



Geez, this has got to be a "hit or miss" thing.  I am notoriously rough on footwear & have put my NRS Storm Boots through horrors.  They've held up fine for 2-3 years.  One thing I've done that might be helping is treating them fairly regularly with ArmorAll & other protectants. 

I hope they get a handle on their manufacturing quality issues.  I really like the boots & they would be 1st choice in the future... unless I hear more of these reports!

Jimbo   

solotripper wrote on Mar 12^th, 2007 at 9:08pm:


st... I'd have to strongly disagree with you on this one.

Why do you think the Marines don't make a habit of wearing sneakers? Nor the Army, nor any Ranger I've met in the parks... while on a serious expedition.  Ankle support eh?... and I doubt they have weak ankles.  

I myself have been wearing chotta trekkers for several years.. and am now opting for something that does not self drain...and perhaps with more ankle support as it is just plain smart.

I also have come to the conclucsion that self draining boots low cut or with booties on may not always be wise as the draining action creates wet rocks which creates more slippage.



k

Kawishiway wrote on Sep 26^th, 2008 at 3:17am:


I think support isn't the same as "protection"?
Higher boots will protect you from abrasions/sharp objects etc, AND if you have "weak" ankles they'll help in that aspect as well. You can't really know if the Marines/Rangers have weak ankles unless you could see them wearing low cut shoes in the same conditions. Ever see all those National Geographic expeditions, other than the Arctic ones. The Native guides are carrying the majority of the load and most of the time there wearing some sandal type shoe or in warm areas, Bare feet??
 They can do that because from childhood they've conditioned those "ankle/tendons" to handle the stress and strain. Wearing boots wouldn't help them in the support aspect, protection is a separate issue.
 I never wear high boots/athletic sneakers and have never had a issue with my ankles.  My close friend who is a personal trainer and has his Masters in Exercise science went to a workshop for athletes taught by Chiropractors and Podiatrists. It was all about learning how to analyze an athletes gait and how feet and ankle alignment determined if you would have knee/hip/lower back problems. One of the things they discussed was so called "weak ankles". Barring injury, if your experiencing pain, its because your feet/ankle muscles/tendons are not "in shape" for whatever you may be doing. Remember the old school basketball shoes? They were all high tops, it was believed that they offed the best ankle support. Modern era players wear low cuts for the most part or maybe mid-height. Modern training methods/drills/machines allow them to build there ankle/foot strength and avoid problems from normal wear and tear.
My friend used to teach group exercise classes, aerobics/step/spinning.
I averaged 5 days a week for about 12 years and all that twisting, turning, jumping has really strengthen my ankles/tendons.
 Would I wear low shoes in all conditions? Probably not, if I was hiking/hunting in real rocky terrain, I would wear maybe a 6" boot for protection, but not for the support.
 Ever see those guy's in the gym wearing the big leather back support belts? I'm not talking about the big power lifters moving massive weights, just average guy's/gals trying to stay in shape.
 Assuming they don't have disk problems, wearing that belt can actually do more harm than good, believe it or not. Any Chiropractor/MD will tell you that the best way to help a bad back is to lose your gut and strengthen your abdominals. Wearing that belt, allows you to lift weights that your core muscles wouldn't normally be able to control. It gives you a false sense of security. You'll see a lot of guys with big guts wearing those belts, when they should be working on losing there belly's and building core strength which is the foundation for all athletics, especially strength based sports. These are the people who will tell you how much they can lift in the gym and then while doing a seemingly easy chore at home without the "girdle", blow there backs out and can't understand why?
 IF wearing high boots keeps you injury free, then by all means you should do that. If you have ankle weakness, you can do exercises to strength that area, just like any other one. If you've been injured and have damage/pins your probably not going to be able to gain muscle/tendon strength and the higher boots would be the way to go in that case.

OK I can't resist any longer!

Speaking from an over weight, 30 year construction battered roof and ladder beaten ankles I'll tell you, I have to have the high tops to make it through a trip.  
I have even had issues in the woods where it may take an hour before I can actually put weigh on my ankles without the pain or the feeling they might pop out of socket.  
My preferred boots are the Rocky Bear Claw.  I almost always wear the insulated boot year round.  
st
I can grasp the idea of training and getting this under control, especially working one into a better tone of physic.  You younger guys take his advise and get in shape    Myself I'm sticking to the big gut, bad ankles, and wise cracks.   Kinda like trying to teach an old dog a new trick.  Can it be done? Possibly!  But then I wouldn't be able to come home from a trip and get all that pampered attention I so desire from Mrs. qp  

I do however wonder about this conditioning issue.  Is it possible to go bare foot in the cold temps and condition my feet to say warm?    I get a lot of attention upon my return from the Q, but getting my stinky feet rubbed is NOT one of them.  

Further more in my Boot Garden, yes you are reading this correctly.  When the boots wear out it’s hard for me to part with all the memories I cherished trekking in the woods.  Filling the boots with dirt, you can grow a wide variety of flowers or vegetables.  Esp. the veggies dry them and eat them on your next trip in the woods.  It’s almost like taking 2 pairs of boots on a trip, less the weight of one pair.  The high top boots do remarkably well growing carrots. Hey, what can I say, I got good eye sight as long as I can find my glasses.  

qp

a dry boot, even if knee high, just doesn't work for me. wet footing i'd be over the tops every day and would have to deal with boots full of water. having your feet in water inside a non draining boot every day is a whole different story than having wet feet with a draining boot.

i think i'll try the NRS work boot if new Storms aren't available until 8/09 like i was told the other day.

fwiw:
Used  a pair of 'Altma 3LC', (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
jungle boots going up Stuart River and out Horse River/Mudro. Wet footed all landings and waded thru several rapids. Some long portages and the climb from Sandpit to Mudro.
Lots of traction on all surfaces except moss/slime covered rocks underwater. Full shank meant walking over sharp pointy rocks and such was no trouble. Good protection over and above the ankle. Drained well. Worn with Smartwool socks. Good fit, I take 8 1/2 EEE size, bought 9 wide. Had room for liner socks and heavy hiking socks. Dried out overnite, faster than the wool socks.
A bit heavy, but are now my paddling boots of choice.

butthead

Having not had a chance to read all of the above (though I read the first few pages last year) here is some of my two cents:

Chota's Breathable Mukluks:  I got a pair of these two years ago for a fall trip into Quetico (9 days).  My then girlfriend got a pair as well (hers have held up better than mine, but she uses them less and weighs 80-100# less than me).  On the second day, one of the laces tore through one of the loops.  On closer examination later, it turned out that the loop is made of one piece of tough nylon covered with a second piece of cosmetic fabric.  The actual loop that the shock cord was supposed to go through had been epoxied closed and the cord simply ran through the cosmetic stuff.   I later fixed this.  I wore them again the next spring on an 8 day trip.  By the end of the second trip, the soles were worn almost smooth and had almost no traction on many surfaces--I slid out a couple of times (to be fair, I am a big guy and have a bit of a limp, so between Q granite and my weight I put a lot of stress on boot soles--still I would have hoped the soles would have lasted longer).  Another friend who was wearing the same boots (for the first time) wiped out on a rock race and was badly hurt (we got lucky and were able to air-evac him thanks to some other canoeists with a SAT phone).  Granted he was moving too fast on a slippery surface.  I had a local cobbler put a material called Aqua Stealth on the soles for this spring.  It's a rock-climbing sole material.  This stuff was awesome and gave me better grip than almost anything I have ever worn and seems to have held up well to a fair bit of abuse this past year.  My right boot has leaked since mid-way through the second trip.  Not terribly, but the whole point of these things is that you are going for dry feet.  This fall, an entire lace loop tore out of one side of the boot when I was lacing up.  The boots have very little arch support so I found it necessary to us a pair of Super Feet insoles.   
All in all I am unimpressed.  Considering that the boots cost over $100 initially I found the construction to be somewhat shoddy.  With resoling and inserts, they cost me about $70 more.  Not enough bang for the buck.  The only real plus is having (mostly) dry feet and warmth.

NRS Storm boots:  I am generally a wet-footer except for the serious cold water season.  Because I am usually paddling solo, I find it very advantageous to be able to get wet to the thighs if need be at difficult landings, etc.  The Storm boots have worked very well for me.  Traction is good, as is ankle support.  I did use a better insole (again, the Super Feet) which I think helps.  I also had the local cobbler add an additional loop on the back of the neoprene booty and reinforce the stitching between the booty and the back of the boot to prevent the booty from tearing away from the boot itself when pulling it on.  I would recommend this.  Used with a polypro or silk sock liner they are pretty comfortable, though after a long day in them I'm usually looking forward to getting them off and de-pruning the feet.  A bad rock/root snag did catch and tear one boot above the toe (a dumped me headlong--pack, canoe and all) which will need a repair, but they held up admirably otherwise.  They've stood up to 70-80 days of use in the lake country since last fall and will take a lot more.
 
That is my (long-winded) opinion.  Probably more like a dime than two cents.
Cheers and happy portaging,
GP

solotripper wrote on Mar 12^th, 2007 at 9:08pm:


ST,

I know we've already discussed this this concept of strengthening your ankles, and I took the side of high tops aiding in support...

Though I have to stand back a moment and tell you I was at a friends place the other day and he was showing his house to a few of us.  Well wouldn't you know, he had one of these ankle rockers you speak of.  I asked him what this odd contraption was.. he informed me of what it was,  and that he attests to it's value.  I'm not saying I'm going to run out and purchase one today.. but may eventualy.  I stay fairly active and ankle conditoning is not at a high priority today... though things change.

Turns out you had a good point.

k

To strengthen your ankles - here's what a Physical Therapist told my son to do after a high-ankle sprain:

balance on each foot (lifting the other off the ground) as long as you can.
repeat.

The wobble board adds additional range of motion, but just balancing on 1 foot strengthens all the muscles involved in balancing. 

If you're a wet-footer, look for rubber soled wading boots or boots for wet-foot fishing on coral. The original Patagonia 'marlwalkers' are what I use - and I don't just use them canoeing - I wet wade for smallmouth in them.

The chota mukluk soles are horrible on every surface, wet or dry. Like the warm feet when the waters cold, but they are slippery on everything.

I'll second the Maine Hunting Shoe as a good canoe boot.  I have the 14", but wish I would have bought the 16".  They aren't for everyone as your feet do get wet if you stand in the water for prolonged periods, but as the previous post stated it usually isn't a soaking.  You also need a little patience to tie the laces to the top!  They are excellent for wading rapids; the high leather tops protect your ankles and legs when your feet slip between rocks.  In addition, they won't flood with water like rubber boots, so they would be relatively safe if you dump in moving water.  The bottoms are resolable so they aren't throwaway footware like just about every other shoe today.  The bottoms feel like almost like moccasins resulting in a surprisingly nimble boot.  They also can be used for other activities like hunting, hiking or just walking around the town.  I also use mine in the winter with heavy wool socks when the temps aren't too low.

i was on the phone with NRS this past wednesday checking on the credit for the OTB boots i sent back after they fell apart. the customer service guy said the new storms were in the online catalog but not print catalog. he said it's too new for feedback on the durability issues that plagued this boot previously. price is up 40%.

still my first choice.

+$50 !!

It sounds like the redesigned Storm boot is alot more like their Workboot which is priced far less.

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outdoors-if you liked the old storms but wore them out in 15 days, you will also wear out the OTB in the same time but won't like the boot while you do so. if they eliminated the drainage mesh, they were trying to solve one of the wear issues. the mesh on the old storms would wear right through in short order.

kingfisher-the old storms were not at all like the work boot, so if the new ones are, that's going the wrong direction. the NRS work boot looks and feels like it should be priced at $14.99/pair.

magicpaddler-i never had a problem with the storms holding water.

Mister_Bubble wrote on Nov 3^rd, 2008 at 2:57pm:


All,

Re-reading this thread, I noticed Mr. Bubble's comments on "ankle-strengthening".  The exercise he mentions targets the muscles around the ankle.  I have a few additional comments re: strengthening the all-too-important ligaments & tendons around the ankle.

First of all, I am a former world-class professional in the world of broken & sprained ankles.  Way too much basketball as a youth.  Way too much basketball while favoring one ankle... just to go ahead & sprain/break the other one.  Many, many casts on my ankles.  MANY other times there SHOULD have been casts on my ankles.  I was way too slow to learn; way too impatient to wait for full recoveries.  Ultimately, when I couldn't go on in the same mode any longer, a doc sat me down & pointed out how I had three quarters-of-an-inch too much "play" with ligaments on one foot and nearly the same on the other.  That's when he started me on a therapy to tighten them up.

Listen, Grasshopper, to the wisdom of "Duck Walking", a real pearl of wisdom to be snatched from my hand in our temple of QJ lore!

Essentially, this wobbling gait/art form involves walking on the sides of your feet.  You start by walking around on your insteps with outer edges of your feet tipped up (left edge of left foot tipped up; right edge of right foot tipped up).  Okay, so you do that for 5 minutes, then proceed to go another 5 minutes walking on the outer edges of your feet (previously tipped up) while your insteps are now turned up towards your crotch.  Then you switch back & forth for about 20 minutes.  Do it a couple times a day, at least.  Quacking like a duck is deemed both holistic & therapeutic but, actually, I found it to be completely optional with respect to the efficacy of the exercise.

Grasshopper, I heartily recommend performing this exercise while NO ONE is around.  Verily, you shall look pretty _________  stupid throughout the duration of the exercise.

Doc says the exercise tightens up loose ligaments & tendons... which are, 9 out of 10 times, the true culprit of most ankle sprains & breaks.  Doc is either right-on, gets strange pleasures out of asking his patients to do weird stuff... or both.  Anyway, I haven't had major ankle issues in decades.

So, after you do Mr. Bubble's exercise for your muscles (think "Karate Kid" doing the "preying mantis" thing on the solitary wooden pylon out there off the California coast), you can complete your Kwai Chang ankle-warrior training by following through with the Jimbo Duck Walk regimen.

Such is the path of wisdom to healthier ankles, Grasshopper!  

Enough wise quacks for now.  

Jimbo (QJ Shaolin Master) 

Jimbo wrote on Mar 12^th, 2007 at 11:40pm:


Well Jimbo, now that the WCPP is behind you, what did you think of your new boots?  BTW, the link you provided says they're not available, so I have no idea what they look like.

I'm in the market for boots this year, and will probably get another pair of Chotas...unless I hear of something better.

Looks like I'll be making my second WCPP trip at the end of the summer.  And THANK YOU for your kind reference to my BWJ article in your piece!  Nice article BTW!

prouboy

Jimbo wrote on Jan 5^th, 2010 at 3:02am:


Okay Jimbo, FORGET about boots.  Solitude and walleyes that have never seen a fishing lure before...

Let's talk!  PM me!  I'm dying!

prouboy

Orb boots almost half off on their site. Green only.