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Hunting in hiking shoes.

Ckwilli said:
I use the Merrell Moab 2 hiking shoe that’s waterproof. I treat them with permethrin at the beginning of the season. I pretty much wear them the entire season unless it snows. Tried on a pair at bass pro to figure out the size and the bought them online for $50 less.
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I have them too. The treads wear out on them pretty quickly. I was out last week using them. Half way through a thorn made into my foot, then too add insult to injury, I slid on some mud and fell.

It is hard finding something nice in 13 wide that doesn’t cost a fortune.
 
I’ve
sojourner said:
I have them too. The treads wear out on them pretty quickly. I was out last week using them. Half way through a thorn made into my foot, then too add insult to injury, I slid on some mud and fell.

It is hard finding something nice in 13 wide that doesn’t cost a fortune.
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I’ve had mine about 3 years now. Hiked extensively with them and used them during hunting season also. My insoles wore out but that’s the only issue I’ve had. Maybe you got a bad pair.
 
I went yesterday and looked at some hiking shoes. They had Merrell Moad 3 in my size, and I tried them on. They seemed wide to me and were sort of inflexible in the sole and big, sort of clunky...best way to describe it. They had some Solomons in the store but none in my size. I liked the lighter weight of the Solomons and the flexibility of the sole. A lot of the shoes seemed big and clunky.

I bought a pair of Oboz Bridgers but climbing 2TC was difficult in them. I only tried it once, though so I need to go back and do that again. I routinely climb in tennis shoes and also in rubber boots. I think that the toe flex at the front of the shoe is important for getting traction on the tree with the climbing foot.

I guess what I am looking for is a small, lightweight pair of hiking shoes that have some flex in the toes. Man. I wish they had those Solomons in my size. Maybe I need some sort of trail running shoe?
 
NMSbowhunter said:
So many good responses...I have to get busy looking.
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Dude what’s wrong with the Obos Bridger? Thats what I hunt out of often times. Light weight and comfortable and plenty warm with a good wool sock in the south.

If you’re busting brush pair them with gaiters to keep ticks and sticks out as I say.
 
NMSbowhunter said:
I went yesterday and looked at some hiking shoes. They had Merrell Moad 3 in my size, and I tried them on. They seemed wide to me and were sort of inflexible in the sole and big, sort of clunky...best way to describe it. They had some Solomons in the store but none in my size. I liked the lighter weight of the Solomons and the flexibility of the sole. A lot of the shoes seemed big and clunky.

I bought a pair of Oboz Bridgers but climbing 2TC was difficult in them. I only tried it once, though so I need to go back and do that again. I routinely climb in tennis shoes and also in rubber boots. I think that the toe flex at the front of the shoe is important for getting traction on the tree with the climbing foot.

I guess what I am looking for is a small, lightweight pair of hiking shoes that have some flex in the toes. Man. I wish they had those Solomons in my size. Maybe I need some sort of trail running shoe?
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Since the Bridger is a full leather boot I’ll admit they have a little longer break in period but man they are so comfortable once they do break in. By break in I don’t mean comfort, they were comfortable out of the box for me, I just mean such that they soften up. They have great support, and I climb trees like a squirrel in them. What seems to be the problem?

The Bridger is a low hiking boot as well so you get a lot of mobility with them. I’m sold on them. After 5 years I’m about to buy my second pair. The first ones are still good to go but I have a trip coming up that I want to take them on.
 
gcr0003 said:
Dude what’s wrong with the Obos Bridger? Thats what I hunt out of often times. Light weight and comfortable and plenty warm with a good wool sock in the south.

If you’re busting brush pair them with gaiters to keep ticks and sticks out as I say.
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Nothing is wrong with them. I am breaking them in a little at a time. The issue I had with them was climbing 2TC in them. The really hard nose on them and the fact that they did not flex for me made getting a good purchase on the tree with my climbing foot difficult. I felt like i was having to really concentrate on it not slipping off to one side. I need to get out and try it again in them.
 
NMSbowhunter said:
Nothing is wrong with them. I am breaking them in a little at a time. The issue I had with them was climbing 2TC in them. The really hard nose on them and the fact that they did not flex for me made getting a good purchase on the tree with my climbing foot difficult. I felt like i was having to really concentrate on it not slipping off to one side. I need to get out and try it again in them.
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Hmm, ive climbed in mine a lot and haven’t had that experience. But yea the tow box is solid. I’ll try to climb in mine this afternoon and see what’s up.
 
I'll go give it another try soon and report back. I do want some smaller hiking shoes, though. I consider the Bridgers to be a boot.
 
Hiking boots / shoes for the win early season. I have some keen and they are awesome. Wearing Hunting boots early season make my feet sweat and ultimately make me hotter in the stand.
 
Ok, so I just tried out the Oboz Bridgers again and this time they had a few more days of break in on them and they seemed to work much better than the first try 2TC in them. I only went up about 8 feet off the ground for this test. To me, that toe needs to bend on the tree to get a good grip and they seemed to bend now. They were just new out of the box before. I feel like they will be fine. PS. standing on the rope is much easier in these.
 

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NMSbowhunter said:
Ok, so I just tried out the Oboz Bridgers again and this time they had a few more days of break in on them and they seemed to work much better than the first try 2TC in them. I only went up about 8 feet off the ground for this test. To me, that toe needs to bend on the tree to get a good grip and they seemed to bend now. They were just new out of the box before. I feel like they will be fine.
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them thangs look brand new. Go hiking or do some lunges to break them things in! They aren’t even close yet. Glad they’re a little better than they were before.
 
gcr0003 said:
them thangs look brand new. Go hiking or do some lunges to break them things in! They aren’t even close yet. Glad they’re a little better than they were before.
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Oh, yeah, they are basically new. I've been wearing them around the yard a few hours at a time. They are getting there. I plan to wear them next week on my speed scouting tour.
 
@NMSbowhunter i just got a new pair of Obos in after 5 years in my other ones and they are stiff! I remember it took about 20+ miles to break them in and it wasn’t fun but they’re a great boot so hoping they break in well like my old ones. I can definitely see now these making 2tc a little annoying while they’re so stiff.
 
gcr0003 said:
@NMSbowhunter i just got a new pair of Obos in after 5 years in my other ones and they are stiff! I remember it took about 20+ miles to break them in and it wasn’t fun but they’re a great boot so hoping they break in well like my old ones. I can definitely see now these making 2tc a little annoying while they’re so stiff.
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I've used them to 2TC a lot this past season and they are very comfortable now. I have no idea, but I bet I put at least 100 miles on them this season. They are a great boot. They really helped my ankles and most of all my knees.
 
NMSbowhunter said:
I've used them to 2TC a lot this past season and they are very comfortable now. I have no idea, but I bet I put at least 100 miles on them this season. They are a great boot. They really helped my ankles and most of all my knees.
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Glad they worked out for you. They’ve been a great boot for me which is why I got another pair. I’m sure they’ll get some miles in them this Turkey season. 31EA69DE-1A3B-4018-9093-1BE2A8573B25.jpeg
 
gcr0003 said:
Glad they worked out for you. They’ve been a great boot for me which is why I got another pair. I’m sure they’ll get some miles in them this Turkey season. View attachment 80881
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Oh yeah, I bet those still have the "new car smell", lol. I plan to have mine out again soon doing some serious post season scouting paired with a pair of hip waders in a backpack.
 
gcr0003 said:
@NMSbowhunter i just got a new pair of Obos in after 5 years in my other ones and they are stiff! I remember it took about 20+ miles to break them in and it wasn’t fun but they’re a great boot so hoping they break in well like my old ones. I can definitely see now these making 2tc a little annoying while they’re so stiff.
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Which model of Oboz?
 
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