Columbia Men's Shasta Ridge Omni-Tech Mid Hiking Shoes

Good Morning Everyone,

This is the last post I have on hiking boots and shoes for awhile. I think we have covered a lot of ground (no pun intended) but I wanted to be sure and talk about this particular brand. As I stated in my previous post, Columbia is one of my favorite manufacturers. Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest, and Columbia being a local company, does have some bearing on my choice. That being said, let me tell you a little bit about the company.

Columbia was started  In 1938, by a pair of German immigrants who fled Nazi Germany. They found a new home in America, and with the  purchase of a small hat company, in Portland, their business was born. The name Columbia was taken from the river that flows nearby. When the immigrant's son Neil (who was by then running the company) suddenly passed away in 1970, his wife Gert went from housewife to Corporate executive overnight. With the help of her son Tim who was attending the U of O as a senior at that time, they rescued the company and the rest is history. In 1975, they were among the first to introduce Gore-Tex® in a parka.*  

Columbia has since introduced many of their own designs, Omni-Tech®: (1991) Columbia's proprietary waterproof-breathable technology, followed by Omni Dry®: (1997) A High-performance moisture management technology and finally,Omni-Shade® (2008) Columbia's proprietary sun protection technology. Gert still remains as Chairwoman and Tim is still their longtime CEO.  Why do I tell you all of this? To give you some idea as to the innovative, forward thinking nature of their decisions, designs and Ideas that inspire their products to this day.

So with that lead in, let's get to the Shasta Ridge Omni Tech Mid cut hiking boot. This is a boot that is made for hiker's who need versatility. No, it's not a snow boot this time, I just like it for it's many uses. I find it to be the ideal footwear regardless of whether it be camping, light hiking, biking or just plain perusing the local flea markets. 

For this design, Columbia beefed up the forefoot with an extended toe bumper made with durable non-marking Omni-Grip®rubber. The upper's are made with rugged leather and a durable textile, married to a mid height design. The higher side, you guessed it, keeps rocks and debris out as it protects your ankles from abrasions. The Omni-Tech™  membrane inside, is breathable and waterproof, keeping your feet dry on those early morning dew wet, meadow hikes. Another innovation, isTechlite®  which is specially formulated to provide impact-absorbing support, stability, and protection. Thus, enabling you to go the distance in comfort along with a decoupled heel design to absorb shock as well as provide a great fit.

Finally, we are down to the outsole. (tread) These boots feature: Omni-Grip® Advanced Traction, which is a multi-terrain traction system, matching specially formulated compounds and treads to specific environments, giving you sure-footed confidence for any activity. All said and done, for an all around, non insulated hiking boot, you can't go wrong with these boots.

This concludes (for now) my blogs on boots and shoes. I hope you have found some kernel of information to enable you to make an informed buying decision. As always, thanks for reading and I'll see you on the trail

  *Gore-Tex is a waterproof/breathable fabric, and a registered trademark of W. L. Gore and Associates. It was co-invented by Wilbert L. Gore, Rowena Taylor, and Gore's son, Robert W. Gore. Robert Gore was granted U.S. Patent 3,953,566 on April 27, 1976, for a porous form ofpolytetrafluoroethylene (the chemical constituent of Teflon) with a micro-structure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils. Robert Gore, Rowena Taylor, and Samuel Allen were granted U.S. Patent 4,194,041 on March 18, 1980 for a "waterproof laminate." For its invention, Robert W. Gore was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006

Hi-Tec Jackson Hole 400 Casual Boots

Hi-Tec Jackson Hole 400 Casual Boots

Good Morning! 

I hope you all are enjoying the fall weather we are starting to see. It gets me excited for a cool, crisp autumn hike. In keeping with the series I started, I want to talk about hiking boots, specifically, one more boot, in the "Insulated Boot" category. The boot that I am referring to is the Jackson Hole 400, sold by Hi-Tec. The company opened it's doors in England in 1974 and in the USA in 1978. They have not looked back since. Their own statement "We are Inspired by Life" tells you something of their commitment to the needs of the customer. A company driven to make sure people get the most out of life.  Inasmuch as winter is coming, I thought I would spend some time on insulated boots. I spoke earlier about liking insulated and waterproof boots for hiking in the snow, so, here goes.

First off, the name, Jackson Hole 400 'Casual' Boot. As we all know, Jackson Hole, Wyoming is renowned for it's winter snowfall. Are these boots named for that? After reading this, I'll let you make the call. The '400' in the name, as you can probably guess, stands for 400 G of Thinsulate insulation. (rated to -40 degrees)*  The word, 'Casual' though, doesn't seem to fit, or does it? Read on.

The uppers are made from a combination of waterproof suede leather and mesh,  for durability  and waterproofing. The boot upper and lower are fully seamed, featuring a Thermo-Dri® waterproof construction. This seals out the elements. Now, I told you earlier, that I like warm and dry----and these boots deliver. Whether you hike all day, or just wear them as work boots, they remain lightweight and comfortable. You have a removable comfort sock liner to keep your foot warm, plus a steel shank and a CMEVA  (Compression Molded Ethyl Vinyl Acetate ) mid sole to give you not only the best in comfort, but also cushioning and support.

What's left you say? The out sole (or tread) is the same as noted in many Hi-Tec products. The Siped, wide lug, carbon rubber sole construction, help maintain your grip on snow, slush or ice. The colder it get's outside, the better these soles work. These are the best, waterproof, insulated all around boot for the money.

Well hiker's, that's it for today, thanks for reading. Next up, one of my favorites for sure, Columbia Boots, a "local legend". Take care and I'll see you on the trail!  - Campingman

*

Temperature ratings are approximate. They are based on high activity levels and can be affected by many conditions. These condition include but are not limited to: weather, wearer's activity level, fitness, metabolism, perspiration, circulation, exposure time, clothing and cold sensitivity. Use accordingly.

North Face Back To Berkeley Hiking Boots

The North Face Back-To Berkeley Hiking Boots

As promised, we are going to continue our discussion of different types of hiking boots. Today's focus in on the North Face Back To Berkeley hiking boot. If any of you have experience with these boots, I would love to hear about them. Feel free to leave some comments after the post. 

So the basics....First off, it's a mid top boot and there are several variations to choose from. The uppers are made of combinations of waterproof suede, Nubuck leathers and/or PU coated ballistic mesh. Although these boots are modern day hi-tec, they still retain some of that "Old School" classic good looks. These are truly innovative, insulated and functional boots. Again, keep in mind, they come in a variety of colors. Plus North Face, is right here in the U.S.A. and THAT is a very important thing to consider in my book....but before I digress to far, I'll try to refocus on the topic at hand.

 

Has anyone besides me ever wondered,  how the name "North Face" came about in the first place?  Well, for those of you (like me) who didn't know, as the story goes, the company was founded by a couple of hiking enthusiast's, right there in San Francisco's North Beach. But, the "North" in their name is not from North Beach. Oh no, it's because: "In the Northern Hemisphere, the "north face" of a mountain, is generally the coldest, iciest, and most formidable to climb." Since their beginnings, their dedication to manufacturing nothing but the most high quality products is bar none, top of the game. They've focused on quality, and durability, matching the formidability of the north face of mountains from which they chose their name. Thus, one of my choices of hiking boots, the North Face Boots.

So, even though the Back to Berkeley boots are lighter in construction than some, they still retain those durable, waterproof, winter insulated qualities of other, heavier boots on the market. As an example, they have a die cut EVA mid sole and 100 G PrimaLoft® Eco Insulation. This allows for ventilation of your feet while maintaining foot comfort. After wearing a pair of these boots for hours, upon hours on those long winter days? You will appreciate what I mean.

The uppers utilize a combination of waterproof materials as I said the gusseted boot tongue keeps foreign elements out and the metal lace hardware provides long life and durability. Beyond the obvious hi-tec boot talk, these boots offer great cushioning and impact protection as you hike. They are waterproof and most of all, lightweight. I just can't say enough about them. Keep in mind, these are not made for carrying heavy loads. But your feet will love them for long casual hikes, even in the snow.

The outsole (tread) utilizes Long-lasting TNF Winter Grip™ rubber, with Ice Pick™ temperature sensitive lugs. Allowing for great traction, on almost any winter surface. Exclusive to footwear from The North Face, these rubber Ice Pick™ lugs actually harden in cold weather for improved traction on hard pack snow and icy walkways. Despite their namesake, "Back to Berkeley Boots" Berkeley, California doesn't really get snow.

Next up, the Hi-Tec Jackson Hole 400 Boot. Thanks for reading and I'll see you on the trail

Hi-Tec Yeti Hiking Boots

Hi-Tec Yeti 2 200 Hiking Boots

I thought that for the next few posts, I might write a bit further about hiking boots and shoes. I know we started talking about them the other day, but I felt as if I had not really given my reader's a broad spectrum to compare and/or choose from. I never try to persuade, just provide helpful information. There are so many out there, but I will speak only of the ones I have used or that friends have used. That being said, today's subject is going to start with a boot, well known for it's waterproof and ankle support capabilities. The Hi-Tec Yeti 2 200. First of all, this company is right here in the U.S. of A. This particular boot, though listed as a "casual boot" is anything but. Even the number 200 in the name is synonymous with it's design (a full 200 G of Thermolite insulation).

So, let's get to it. This is an insulated boot, but the inner liner is removable if needed. I start with an insulated boot, because winter is fast approaching and believe you me, winter does not slow my hiking unless it's a blizzard out there. The boot provides great ankle support, while giving you a good range of motion. (note the angling cut around the back ankle part of the boot) Something else to think about, the removable liner can be kept inside your sleeping bag overnight, so that it helps warm your boot in the morning.

The high cut look of these boots, utilizes a combination of Microfiber, Nylon and Nubuck leather for the uppers, with a molded heel and forefoot, to present you with not only durability, but comfort and insulation from the elements. The removable, waterproof bootie (is more of a sock really) is actually a memory liner and also helps reduce odors. The full seam sealed construction, is what keeps the weather out. Your feet will stay warm and dry.

The Outsole (tread)  of this boot is even hi-tec. By that, I mean it's made from siped ( small cuts across the rubber for added traction in ice and snow ) Anti-freeze MDT carbon rubber for an aggressive lug style tread. This combination, gives you improved footing in winter weather. Trust me, all the hi-tec stuff aside? These boots will keep your feet warm and dry whether you are climbing those mountain rocks or hiking the forest trails.

Next up in this series, a shot article on North Face's Back to Berkeley Boots. Thanks for reading and I'll see you on the trail