I need somthing slightly more rugged than trail runners. Reccomendaitions?

Being a svelte 200lbs and a fierce supinator I crush the EVA foam that makes up the mid sole of trail runners.

I need a shoe that does not have the EVA midsole. My supinated stride forces the foam to compress on the outside very quickly.


So I am looking for a slightly more durable shoe for bony NH trails. I have a pair of Lowa Laurin which are sold as low cut mountaineering shoes. The Lowas have a pretty stiff mostly solid rubber mid and outsole. I like them for work and very steep and bony trails. Not so much for rambling.

My ideal would be a low cut, low profile, low drop, fabric not leather, with a PU midsole shoe. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Spiny Norman said:

Being a svelte 200lbs and a fierce supinator I crush the EVA foam that makes up the mid sole of trail runners.


So I am looking for a slightly more durable shoe for bony NH trails. I have a pair of Lowa Laurin which are sold as low cut mountaineering shoes. The Lowas have a pretty stiff mostly solid rubber mid and outsole. I like them for work and very steep and bony trails. Not so much for rambling.

My ideal would be a low cut, low profile, low drop, fabric not leather, with a PU midsole shoe. Any suggestions?

Thanks

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I tip the scales at an even less svelt 235 lbs (before gear) and switched to La Sportiva Ultra Raptors last year. Can't recommend highly enough. Done massive loops on Presidentials, mud runs, talus and pretty much everything the Whites can throw at you and they've been great. I also have wide feet and the toe box is pretty reasonable, unlike many other models I tried. Only complaint I would have (which I guess is not unique to this model but to all trail runners) is that the soft and grippy soles wears pretty fast. Based on what I did with them last year buying these will probably be an annual thing in late Spring. I did about 120 miles in them last year and the amount of wear to the soles is very noticeable. Still just as comfortable though so I suspect the midsole will still be just fine at the point I'd be tossing them because the tread was shot.

Recommend ultra-raptors as well. Concur that they need to be replaced annually.

Spiny Norman said:

Being a svelte 200lbs and a fierce supinator I crush the EVA foam that makes up the mid sole of trail runners.


So I am looking for a slightly more durable shoe for bony NH trails. I have a pair of Lowa Laurin which are sold as low cut mountaineering shoes. The Lowas have a pretty stiff mostly solid rubber mid and outsole. I like them for work and very steep and bony trails. Not so much for rambling.

My ideal would be a low cut, low profile, low drop, fabric not leather, with a PU midsole shoe. Any suggestions?

Thanks

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I use the Merrill Moab for what you describe. I don't fit into Keen anything. The Merrill last is much bettef for my foot.

dave.m said:

I use the Merrill Moab for what you describe. I don't fit into Keen anything. The Merrill last is much bettef for my foot.

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Ditto, at a very svelte 285. I use them with SOLE inserts (thick, red ones). I get about 400 miles out of a pair and they are comfortable enough to use with my snowshoes too. I have some friends that also have the same experience with their raptors.

I use standard New Balances with montrail heat moldable insoles. The insoles last a lot longer than the runners which are good for one season. I buy a pair of runners ahead and keep an eye out for sales. Unfortunately us folks with 13EEEEs tend to buy their limited production so I usually end up with paying the list cost as they rarely make close out in that size.

Thanks guys they look like great shoes. However, I was not clear enough in my original post, I need something other than an EVA midsole which all the suggestions have.

Much as I love the light weight and flexibility of runners they simply break down too quickly. I am looking for the lightest, most agile shoe with a Pulyurethane (PU) or rubber midsole.

Thanks

peakbagger said:

I use standard New Balances with montrail heat moldable insoles. The insoles last a lot longer than the runners which are good for one season. I buy a pair of runners ahead and keep an eye out for sales. Unfortunately us folks with 13EEEEs tend to buy their limited production so I usually end up with paying the list cost as they rarely make close out in that size.

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NB does have a factory outlet in Boston (Allston) where you can sometimes nab great deals on shoes with cosmetic defects or returns. It's a crap-shoot though as sometimes they don't have anything.

Spiny Norman said:

Thanks guys they look like great shoes. However, I was not clear enough in my original post, I need something other than an EVA midsole which all the suggestions have.

Much as I love the light weight and flexibility of runners they simply break down too quickly. I am looking for the lightest, most agile shoe with a Pulyurethane (PU) or rubber midsole.

Thanks

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Got it. Sorry, I missed that by reading too fast.

I have the exact opposite problem. Hyper pronation along with a bunch of related issues such as 3 neuromas (1 removed) and sesmoiditis. Painful feet suck.

I've given up durability as a goal in footwear to a point. Fit and compatibility with my custom orthodics are, for me, paramount.

I spent about 15 years of expensive trial and error with custom orthodics. I would have long given up on the quest except for the fact that the pronation related injuries were utterly debilitating for me. I'm glad I persevered. I have a pair of orthodics that really do work for me and have for about 15 years. This frees me to move from shoe to shoe, so long as my orthodic system is compatible.

You've not mentioned what, if anything, you're using for support, but if you're regularly trashing shoes due to your gait and you aren't using custom or semi-custom orthodics to help manage your supination, it might be something to look into. It's a long, frustrating and expensive road though. At least it was for me. There's a lot of voodoo, snake oil and blind trial and error.

If you're looking for plastic or rubber shanks or midsoles, I would be looking at "approach shoes" as a category. This review doesn't get into shank and midsole info... you'll have to dig into the manufacturers sights... but that's where I would start.

http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Approach-Shoes-Reviews/Buying-Advice

Good luck and keep us posted!

dave.m said:

If you're looking for plastic or rubber shanks or midsoles, I would be looking at "approach shoes" as a category.

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It seems to me that his existing Lowa Laurin shoes are approach shoes. Similar to my Mammut Ridge Low shoes (which have EVA midsoles and leather uppers).

Looks like Lowa has other choices that may work: https://www.lowaboots.com/mens/speed-hiking/innox-evo?color=Gray/Orange

jfb said:

It seems to me that his existing Lowa Laurin shoes are approach shoes. Similar to my Mammut Ridge Low shoes (which have EVA midsoles and leather uppers).

Looks like Lowa has other choices that may work: https://www.lowaboots.com/mens/speed-hiking/innox-evo?color=Gray/Orange

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I agree. Riffing on that scene from Casino Royale, there are approach shoes and then there are approach shoes. Those are the latter.

Might be the trick is finding the goldlilocks amount of stiffness within that category? He's described a tough problem and I'm curious to see what other options the thread turns up. Hopefully there's a softer, less harsh approach shoe out there more suitable for rambling?

dave.m said:

He's described a tough problem and I'm curious to see what other options the thread turns up.

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In an effort to make my approach shoes more comfortable for long hikes, I bought them a half size large and wear a thicker sock.

DayTrip said:

I tip the scales at an even less svelt 235 lbs (before gear) and switched to La Sportiva Ultra Raptors last year. Can't recommend highly enough. Done massive loops on Presidentials, mud runs, talus and pretty much everything the Whites can throw at you and they've been great. I also have wide feet and the toe box is pretty reasonable, unlike many other models I tried. Only complaint I would have (which I guess is not unique to this model but to all trail runners) is that the soft and grippy soles wears pretty fast. Based on what I did with them last year buying these will probably be an annual thing in late Spring. I did about 120 miles in them last year and the amount of wear to the soles is very noticeable. Still just as comfortable though so I suspect the midsole will still be just fine at the point I'd be tossing them because the tread was shot.

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I'm making the leap to TR's this summer. Those raptors look awesome. I buy wide shoes, you say they have a roomy toe box? Think I can use them?

Thanks all.

I have tried orthodics but they mess with my knees and hips pretty bad.

The Lowa laurins have a fairly stiff sole. Stiffer than my Bean Cresta boots and they stayed stiffer longer too. Kinda clunky but nice for working in a tree nursery, trails like the Bridal Path, and edging on very packed snow. not so much for milage.

The problem for me is the compression set of EVA foam. Since I walk on the outside of my feet I pack the midsole out reaaly quickly. Since I live 20 mins from a Nike outlet I haven't much minded getting new sneaks every month or so. But either my feet are getting wider or Nikes are getting narrower thru the toe box. Or both.


All of sudden Lowa has a ton of low cut offerings.

Cheers

sierra said:

. . . Those raptors look awesome. I buy wide shoes, you say they have a roomy toe box?

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A quick caution: The Ultra Raptor and the Raptor are two different (though related) shoes. They share the same really nice, sticky but short-lived outsoles. The Ultra's, which came out after the Raptors, are aimed at folks who want enough cushioning to support a really long day -- in short, their max endurance trail runner. While a number of wide-footed friends of mine like them, their interiors are lower volume (they fit my average-width, low-volume feet well) than the Raptors, which don't work with my feet. From a quick look at the LaSportiva site, it appears that the Raptor has been retired -- you're only likely to find it as a closeout.

alexmtn said:

A quick caution: The Ultra Raptor and the Raptor are two different (though related) shoes. They share the same really nice, sticky but short-lived outsoles. The Ultra's, which came out after the Raptors, are aimed at folks who want enough cushioning to support a really long day -- in short, their max endurance trail runner. While a number of wide-footed friends of mine like them, their interiors are lower volume (they fit my average-width, low-volume feet well) than the Raptors, which don't work with my feet. From a quick look at the LaSportiva site, it appears that the Raptor has been retired -- you're only likely to find it as a closeout.

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Thanks Alex. Truth be told, I've been trying on various TR's that claim to have wide toe boxes. None have cut it, I need a wide shoe/boot. I might end up in a lighter boot.

sierra said:

Thanks Alex. Truth be told, I've been trying on various TR's that claim to have wide toe boxes. None have cut it, I need a wide shoe/boot. I might end up in a lighter boot.

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Makes sense. But hey, if you do happen upon the Raptor on closeout somewhere, give it a shot!

Another recently retired shoe in the [very light] hiking boot category that has wide-footed fans: the Salomon Fastpacker.

Alex

sierra said:

Thanks Alex. Truth be told, I've been trying on various TR's that claim to have wide toe boxes. None have cut it, I need a wide shoe/boot. I might end up in a lighter boot.

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The Merrell Moabs have worked well for my very wide foot. I use their 14W, combined with some lacing techniques and a good insole they've been great.