Page 2 of 5 FirstFirst 12345 LastLast
Results 26 to 50 of 111
  1. #26
    Thailand Expat
    Troy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Last Online
    Today @ 03:07 PM
    Location
    In the EU
    Posts
    12,213
    Apologies, I forgot to report on my findings...

    I had the chance to try several different brands (but no Merrell). Many were on 25%-40% off sale and wife was wanting to go elsewhere, but I managed 3 hours of trying different boots, from full down through mid to low cut. I had to find something for a walk that was planned this week-end and I wanted to trial something against my current boots. I was also looking for something that might be for Thailand but without any pressure to buy.

    I really can't remember the names of everything I tried, nor the market niche for which they were designed. I say this because sometimes something that wasn't designed specifically for a climate can end up being perfect.

    I decided that my current pair of Meindl boots were going to be back-up regardless and took the 2-pair and 3-pair sock combinations I use for them. I have a ritual cream/powder/sock combination that I prefer for my feet and bollox to anyone that wants to change that combination..it's seen me happily through 40 years.

    After a great deal of deliberation, I decided to procrastinate further over a tropical boot, with preference to the ones I already have. Meanwhile, I would test a pair of Meindl low cut shoes (not sure the name since each of them were the same bar colour in my view when fitting in the shop)...In the end I chose the green grey ones, a 1/2 size bigger than normal, with a name like Ohio...wife has a pair of pink/grey Vegas that she likes (in Germany, never tried in Thailand)

    Saturday we went for a 10 hour walk with light packs during warm weather and heavy showers. I wore a 2 sock combination (thin wool inside, thick wool outside) to keep the heel solid in the shoe. We walked on easy tracks, consisting of tarmac, forest path and sand under warm, wet and warm, dry conditions and my feet looked pretty damn good at the end of the day....hot and softened but not bad at all.

    Sunday, they were on after shower + talc treatment (no savlon or other foot cream treatments) and they were on for another 10 hours, although only 6hrs for walking. Overall, the lightness of the shoe, together with less than 10Kg pack meant that I didn't tire quite so much during the trip...but I am bloody knackered now...Feet felt sore but on inspection nothing wrong with them and pretty much the same as the previous day.

    The shoes were not too bad at all but I would only ever consider them over my boots for light walking over easy terrain. I don't think they would be suitable for walking in Thailand in preference to my current boots. The lack of ankle protection didn't affect me but I would be weary of anything heavier than a light pack.

    I tried Mindl Borneo 2 MFS and thought they were too waterproof for humis conditions and too expensive to prove me wrong.

    I am going to stick to my stitched leather boots with plenty of room for water to pass each way...and stick to my double wool (summer) combination. I don't think anything I have seen is worth the extra money unless you are walking from Chiang-Mai to Pi-Pi or something similar....

  2. #27
    Thailand Expat
    Troy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Last Online
    Today @ 03:07 PM
    Location
    In the EU
    Posts
    12,213
    Quote Originally Posted by Troy
    Meanwhile, I would test a pair of Meindl low cut shoes (not sure the name since each of them were the same bar colour in my view when fitting in the shop)...In the end I chose the green grey ones, a 1/2 size bigger than normal, with a name like Ohio...wife has a pair of pink/grey Vegas that she likes (in Germany, never tried in Thailand)
    Several months later and they are far better than I was expecting. Pressured into buying in the end by the wife because I had spent too long looking and the sale saw too many bargains. I ignored them all and bought a week later with similar bargain the meindl nebraska (or similar US state) ...

    Excellent for day-to-day use and wearing after a long hike with main boots. Good for soft (woodland) trails in cold and warm weather (I have worrn from -10C to +35C with no discomfort over 20 mile++/day hikes but ONLY light pack (<10Kg) due to lack of ankle protection. Absolutely NO use for prolonged road use due to thin sole (even with triple socks). Good in medium and heavy rain but not prolonged waterlogged muddy terrain.

    Main thing though was the lacing system allowed for anything between no socks and 3X socks depending on conditions so I can wear anywhere, any time and I have since I bought them...digging in the garden in Isaan in the monsoon season and walking through sno w in Bavaria during the winter....so a great all rounder...

    Not heavy duty and never meant to be...but definitely better than a trainer or Oxfords or Derby's or a heavy boot in deepest Isaan....

  3. #28
    Thailand Expat
    jimbobs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last Online
    29-07-2017 @ 04:31 AM
    Location
    Phon Thong (Roi et)
    Posts
    1,937
    Timberlands for me mate
    I've had a pair in los for a while
    Still not stinking

  4. #29
    Thailand Expat
    reddog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Last Online
    Yesterday @ 08:42 PM
    Posts
    1,424
    The best work and trainer footwear are made from kangaroo leather,light and hard wearing,but animal right activists put pressure on makers to stop using it.
    The best football boots were roo leather nice and light,hard to get now.
    The stupid thing is there are millions of roos,just try driving on out back country roads in OZ at night.
    without a roo bar on car you are going to come to grief.
    Most of the licensed roo shooters sell the meat for dog food and leather is exported,
    then the stupid greenies buy dog food without knowing it is roo.

  5. #30
    Thailand Expat
    kmart's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Last Online
    03-10-2022 @ 11:24 AM
    Location
    Rayong.
    Posts
    11,498
    ^Had a pair of 'Roo leather cricket boots when I was a promising youngster. My Grandad bought them for me, about 40 years ago in the UK. Dunno how much he paid for them, never seen anything like them since.

  6. #31
    Thailand Expat Fondles's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Chonburi, Thailand
    Posts
    7,861
    My boot of choice, Reebok combats.

    light weight, breath well and composite toe.




  7. #32
    R.I.P.
    crackerjack101's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Last Online
    15-11-2020 @ 07:58 PM
    Posts
    5,574
    If you can get a pair of British Army issue desert boots, a bit similar to those above you'll not go wrong.

  8. #33
    Thailand Expat VocalNeal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Last Online
    Today @ 02:03 PM
    Location
    The Kingdom of Lanna
    Posts
    12,991
    ^ I just wear good running shoes. Oh and nothing between shoes and shorts. OK can get scratched up but not if careful. I do have some leg gaiters but find them to be too hot.
    That being said I am not going snake hunting. Just walking 10-12km in the bush, exploring. If it gets too impassable I find a different route and carry on.
    Better to think inside the pub, than outside the box?
    I apologize if any offence was caused. unless it was intended.
    You people, you think I know feck nothing; I tell you: I know feck all
    Those who cannot change their mind, cannot change anything.

  9. #34
    Thailand Expat Fondles's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Chonburi, Thailand
    Posts
    7,861
    Quote Originally Posted by crackerjack101 View Post
    If you can get a pair of British Army issue desert boots, a bit similar to those above you'll not go wrong.
    The reeboks in my post cost me Bt.7,000 delivered from the USA and last me 2 years of wearing them 14 hours a day 5 days a week.

    Thats less than 15b per day for nice light comfortable boots that protect my toes at work.

  10. #35
    Thailand Expat VocalNeal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Last Online
    Today @ 02:03 PM
    Location
    The Kingdom of Lanna
    Posts
    12,991
    Quote Originally Posted by crackerjack101 View Post
    If you can get a pair of British Army issue desert boots, a bit similar to those above you'll not go wrong.
    Yep and Miendl ones are only 35 quid!

  11. #36
    5 4 Knoll
    david44's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    At Large
    Posts
    21,084
    Got some great roo boots A$49 at a army store in Gateshead NSW never seen any quality workboots here so wellies or pay a bloke

  12. #37
    . Neverna's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    21,241
    Your feet swill sweat bucket-loads in wellies. That's why God invented desert wellies.

  13. #38
    Member
    bindog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Last Online
    09-11-2020 @ 05:24 AM
    Location
    Sydney / Buriram
    Posts
    228
    I wear 'Bates C3 Military Side Zip Jungle boots' when we're working on our land in Thailand. Bought them second hand on eBay for AUD $35 including delivery, just a few blood stains and a bit of bone fragment in them , but apart from that almost as good as new. Bought them after my feet, my Japanese flying boots, and a protruding bit of shrub stump had an unfortunate coming together. But mostly I bought them with King Cobras in mind.

    Bates is an American brand - aside from regular combat boots they make 'jungle', 'desert', and 'hot weather' varieties. New ones retails for around USD $150.

    The Thai locals recognise them - I hear them calling me 'Master Bates' all the time!

    I have a black full-leather pair of Bates Delta-6 zip sided work boots too. Too hot for Thailand, I wear those in Oz. So comfortable I am considering taking these instead of my Blundstone 510s for a trip to Europe next year. It's only the extra weight that bothers me, with all the walking we will do in Europe. (But the C3s are nowhere near as heavy as the Delta-6.)

    Bates C3 jungle boots:


    Japanese Flying Boots:


  14. #39
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Here
    Posts
    13,577
    Danner boots are extremely well made and comfortable. I have 3 different styles here.

  15. #40
    Newbie

    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Last Online
    22-02-2017 @ 10:33 AM
    Posts
    6
    too hot to wear boots in thailand

  16. #41
    Thailand Expat
    Headworx's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Jomtien
    Posts
    7,981
    Quote Originally Posted by woohoo123 View Post
    too hot to wear boots in thailand
    It is, unless you're doing some trekking or hiking sort of activity though in which case they're needed.

    For work I've always used Red Wing Safety boots, on some sites there's no choice but to wear them and if you don't have a pair they supply them (which may not work out too well for guys with a size 12-13 EEE boot size because the HSE departments often don't stock that size)


    But for a pair of boots to pull on with jeans and a decent shirt before going out, these have served well for many years

  17. #42
    Thailand Expat
    Troy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Last Online
    Today @ 03:07 PM
    Location
    In the EU
    Posts
    12,213
    The soles have worn out on the Meindl's I bought (the name was Ontario GTX). The soles managed to outlast the laces by about a month! The rest of the shoe is okay but the sole was always too thin and even on soft trails the wear has been much more than I expected. They were simply too lightweight and fit for shopping mall use only.

    After several trips to stores and trying on many different pairs of low cut shoes/boots I have found a pair I like. I tried several different Merrell hiking shoes but found them less sturdy and the sole was thin on them as well. I have opted for a shoe that will be good in Bavaria and probably completely useless in Thailand but will give them a workout there anyway.

    So I have gone for a Salewa mtn trainer approach shoe:



    Rock solid feel and durable as hell but they are only a few grammes less weight than my main boots (540g cf 680g). I am off into the mountains tomorrow to try them out!

  18. #43
    Banned

    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last Online
    09-05-2021 @ 03:25 AM
    Posts
    33,644
    The mountain rescue team shouldnt find it too hard to spot you

  19. #44
    Thailand Expat
    Troy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Last Online
    Today @ 03:07 PM
    Location
    In the EU
    Posts
    12,213
    ^ To be honest, I think the Salewa is way too heavy for an approach shoe and way too expensive for occasional use. However, when discounted to cost similar to summer hiking shoes, they have to be taken seriously. I tried them on without any intention of buying them, as I did with all the others. These shoes just fitted so well for my feet that I ignored the Thailand hot weather aspect and decided I could get something else if the need arises.

    I have read reports that they need a while to break in but I found them pretty much okay today with a 4 hour trek on road, loose stone and dense woodland. It was 28C, which worried me a little and I wouldn't want to walk much more than 6 hours in hot conditions. I doubt I will wear my boots for most of this winter though as these shoes are good enough for pretty much anything I am likely to encounter. I don't mind the weight and hardly noticed them during my walk.

    I will let you know at the end of the year just how bad they are in Thailand.

  20. #45
    Thailand Expat
    Troy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Last Online
    Today @ 03:07 PM
    Location
    In the EU
    Posts
    12,213
    Three years later...

    ...The Salewa trainers were too hot for summer use and never made it to Thailand. I only wear them September - March in Germany. They are great at supporting the feet and will last a few more years.

    My main Meindl boots fell apart last winter. The soles came unstuck at the heel and I had to flap around in them for a few miles to get back to the car. I expected them to last a while longer than they did for the money.

    I've been through several lightweight walking shoes but the soles are too thin (in order to make them lightweight) and they last less than 9 months.

    I had two pairs of cheap boots that simply fell apart in Thailand. Again, it was the sole that came off...

  21. #46
    Thailand Expat Backspin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    11,251
    I prefer some low top sleazy kicks

  22. #47
    Thailand Expat Backspin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    11,251
    Quote Originally Posted by Headworx View Post
    It is, unless you're doing some trekking or hiking sort of activity though in which case they're needed.

    For work I've always used Red Wing Safety boots, on some sites there's no choice but to wear them and if you don't have a pair they supply them (which may not work out too well for guys with a size 12-13 EEE boot size because the HSE departments often don't stock that size)


    But for a pair of boots to pull on with jeans and a decent shirt before going out, these have served well for many years
    Every hipster and their dog has something like those. Granted yours have a tinge of Boomer

  23. #48
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Home
    Posts
    33,533
    Quote Originally Posted by Backspin View Post
    I prefer some low top sleazy kicks
    Very dainty.

  24. #49
    Thailand Expat
    Lantern's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Last Online
    Yesterday @ 06:29 AM
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    1,158

  25. #50
    Thailand Expat
    PAG's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Last Online
    19-01-2024 @ 11:31 PM
    Location
    Chalong, Phuket
    Posts
    5,123
    Always wear leather shoes when outside (other than flip flops around the outside of the house), with my go-to choice being Timberlands, either deck shoes or walking shoes which I find have a life of at least 5+ years so worth the money. Saddle leather which I apply wax to once a week to maintain their waterproofing. All shoes that just have adhesive to fix their soles to the uppers are going to have issues of 'peeling off' in our (Thai) climatic environment. A cobbler in Phuket Town that I've used a couple of times when I've had that problem, re-glues the sole, then stitches the sole to the upper as a failsafe.


Page 2 of 5 FirstFirst 12345 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •