Flash me with those Garmont Hiking Boots
Written: Mar 25 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fantastic design and construction. Supportive and stylish; waterproof as well.
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: Fantastic hiking boots. They allow my foot to breath yet give amazing support.
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| jo.com's Full Review: Garmont Flash XCR Womens Hiking Boot |
My long introduction:
Last summer I bought Merrell Eagle Hiking Boots and in that review I commented that I thought it was a good idea to own two pair of boots. My Merrells are great for light hiking. I was diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome in November and my feet are taking the brunt of the disease. I asked my Rheumatologist what kind of shoes she would recommend and she said anything with a super supportive sole. She even suggested a hiking boot for day use. (I have bought a pair of Dansko shoes, which are beyond amazingly comfortable just as an aside.) So off I went on my search for another pair of boots. Money was no object. I was willing to spend whatever it took. Since I am so hard to fit, though, it is helpful to me to buy them somewhere that allows returns. So off I went to Eastern Mountain Sports. I had two amazing salespeople who taught me everything I ever needed to know about hiking boots. I was willing to spend hundreds on the very nice brand, Asolo, but didn’t and I will tell you why. My feet swell. Most people’s feet will swell after a day of hiking (It is suggested that you try on hiking boots at the end of the day and please have on hiking socks.) but mine swell even more. Given this they told me I did not want all leather boots, which is what they had in the Asolo brand.
They told me I needed a pair of boots that would breath and that were flexible in the boot part but barely flexible in the sole part. I also told them I didn’t want them made in China. (This is not an easy request – most are.) I tried on 3 pairs of boots. My Garmont boots were the second ones I tried on. I was told I would either love them or hate them and most likely I would know right away. EMS has a convenient ramp that acts as a hill so you can simulate walk up and down, which was very helpful. I bought the Garmont Flash XCR, which are made in Italy.
About my Garmont Hiking boots:
These are considered day hikers but I wouldn’t consider them light day hikers as I would my Merrells. They can handle more rugged terrain for a longer period of time although again for the money, the Merrells are wonderful.
They are the color sand and are really pretty. I'm glad the picture is showing up. You may not care about looks and I never did but I am now finding that I wear them a lot. If I’m not working or not wearing my Danskos you’ll find me in my Garmont hiking boots. Although my Merrell boots are considered low hiking boots, my Garmont boots are even lower.
I never imagined they would give me the support they do. And they do! My ankle doesn’t move in them. The young man explained that they are made so my foot won’t turn in or out but I really only believed him until I wore them and found out for myself. They dip a bit lower in the back so they don’t hit any uncomfortable places.
One other concern I had was traction. I tend to slip. I need a lot of traction and these have them. The treads are deep and what I look for is traction on the bottom heel of the foot, which acts as a brake. These have that as well. Actually what is really helping me is that the sole is made of Vibram lugs configured in an opposing pattern to help me go up and down.
The upper part of the boot that isn’t part of the sole is made of leather and nylon. So I have the best of both worlds. There is a strip of nylon on each side and the tongue is all nylon. The suede/leather is beautiful and soft but durable. They still look brand new- almost. Part of the back is made of black suede. They have a bit of a design: a loop in the back and their logo on the side and the back in two shades of orange. This is not a neon light and you may not even notice this at first.
A label telling us that they have Gore-Tex is on the side. The Gore-Tex membrane keeps rain and snow away “while purging away interior moisture build up.” This is all true. I don’t go hiking in the snow but I live in Massachusetts and wear them in the snow. They are waterproof. “Gore-Tex: One of the first and probably the most famous of the high-tech athletic clothing fabrics. Gore-Tex is waterproof and breathable. It is a membrane attached to outer and liner fabrics that prevents large drops, such as rain, from penetrating but allows tiny droplets, such as perspiration, to pass through and evaporate." http://www.runningnetworkarchives.com/runwashington/resources/hitech.html
If you want people to know you are wearing Garmont boots don’t worry they will because the name is neatly imprinted on the side of the boot as well as along the tongue of the boot in a "flash for nighttime strip."
If you read my Merrell review you will see I didn’t like the tongue. Not so with my Garmonts. The tongue is part of the boot except at the very top. There is no folding in of the tongue, which I really dislike. They lace in traditional holes at the top and then the following 4 holes are designed so that the laces go through them rather than in and under. It is a great design and allows for easy adjusting. I can tighten and loosen them depending on the time of the day and what type of hiking we are doing. The tongue holes are traditional ones making this a 6 hole on each side boot.
The front of the boot has an additional toe protector. There is a strip of black suede with part of the sole coming up onto it. This really helps when I inevitably trip over a rock or stub my toe.
The have compression-molded EVA midsoles. EVA is “Short for Expanded Vinyl Acetate. This is the closed-cell foam in the midsole of many athletic, trail running and hiking shoes. EVA is used for its cushioning qualities since it is lighter and softer than the other major midsole ingredient -- polyurethane, or PU.
www.adventurenetwork.com/Glossary/Outdoorglos.html. Garmont claims to have great cushioning and it does. Although not my Dansko shoes, they are very comfortable.
The support is amazing. There is a 3-zone shank system for lateral support. Truly I cannot bend the sole of this boot, yet I can bend the boot at the top which allows it to be flexible while hiking yet so supportive because the sole doesn’t move at the same time. These really have a fantastic construction.
More of Jo’s thoughts and experiences:
Remember these are still considered a day hiker. What that means is they could withstand hiking for 3 days non-stop but they aren’t meant to be worn with a 50 pound backpack on your back. There are specific boots for that type of hiking. I am not usually the “mule” but even when I am we don’t carry more than 20 pounds and that number is about what these will handle- perhaps a bit more.
These aren’t as lightweight as my Merrells but that is fine. They do what the Merrill’s don’t, which I will quote in a moment. Like the Merrells, though they look good if you are concerned about style. I can wear them with shorts, for example. In fact with 6 eyelets rather than 7 they look more like a sneaker than a hiking boot but don’t worry, they don’t feel like a sneaker. I prefer wearing my Garmont boots to wearing my Reebok Walking Sneakers.
I would like to add what I wrote in my review of my Merrell boots. "It is possible that at the end of one 7 hour hike, no boot on earth would have made my feet burn less, but I do know that when we travel cross country next year I will buy a $200 boot as was first suggested to me." I didn’t spend $200 but I now know that $200 would probably get me all leather in most brands and for me all leather boots will not work.
I love these boots. I can recommend them without any reservations keeping in mind that a hiking boot is a very personal buying experience and everyone’s foot is a bit different. Make sure you can either return what you buy or you are an easy fit. Walk around the store, go up the stairs do whatever you need before you shell out this kind of money only to find that you have blisters even after breaking them in. I have had no blisters. My feet are as comfortable as they ever will be unless Dansko makes hiking boots! Please feel free to leave me a comment or question.
Thanks to openroads for adding my products quickly and efficiently.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 129
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Member: Jo
Location: On a bluff overlooking the ocean.
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Spent one glorious day on the beach. The sun came out!
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