Camping And Hiking Gear

Sonny answers:

Salomon is probably the best brand of hiking shoe.

Http://www.salomonsports.com/us/#

Sonny answers:

Hi....First thing. Saving Iceland. Shocked when I first heard what was happening. Signed up.

Second thing ... Horace Dall.....great guy, a friend when I was a teenager and he was already retired.

He was the first person to cross Iceland with a wheeled vehicle, getting a bike across from the south coast to the north across Sprengisandur and he wore polished leather shoes and a jacket and tie.

He had no tent, and he used an old sturdy three speed bicycle which he pushed most of the way.

See half way down the last paragraph on mine on the second link . His Icelandic pictures from 1933 are on the first link...click on each to get a bigger picture.

Http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1909711 . . . . .

Http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100424113341AAUcaS0 . . . .

Laces

....The band for tying shoes or boots is called a lace in English, either a shoelace or a bootlace normally in one word as in ...

"My bootlaces have come undone"..."Two pairs of brown shoelaces please"

Separate words can also be used...."Two pairs of long flat boot laces please"

There are two main styles of woven laces ...flat or round.

You can also get leather laces in a square section which are used by the military for boots but not normally for shoes and are popular with hikers and climbers for their strength and durability and because they stay fastened with just a simple hitch instead of a full knot.

We ran in Army boots with just that simple hitch on cross country runs

We used it every day for our normal working boots.

The friction of leather laces keeps it tight but other materials won't hold so well with a clove hitch.

Http://www.netknots.com/html/clove_hitch.html

Long boots like cowboy boots normally also have leather laces.

Leather laces can be made with a square, flat, triangular, or round section.

Very long laces for particular sports are sometimes called by the name of the sport.

"One pair of red flat football laces please. And two pairs of running laces for my running shoes"

Footballs with air bladders are laced also and the laces for those are also called football laces so when buying for football boots it's best to say football boot laces or you might get laces for a football instead.

Here is a neatly laced football in the standard lacing pattern

http://www.hayfc.org/Football_LacesII.jpg . . . .

This site has many styles of laces

http://www.shoelacesexpress.com/ . . . .

Boots

The top two brands in the world for many generations now have been Scarpa and Meindl.

There are many others and the important thing is not the name on them but whether they fit you.

Many boots now have eVent or Goretex breathable waterproof linings.

The alternative is normal leather boots and then use dubbin for waterproofing, which in Iceland with it's rugged landscape and many wet places to cross is the best solution.

There is only one good way to buy shoes and boots. Go to an outdoor shop and try some.

Nearly all hiking or trail shoes and boots now are light and comfortable and strong enough for many seasons of hard walking.

Budget price boots need not be bad.

Neither are expensive ones necessarily the best, if you don't find some that fit well and are comfortable and suited to your own feet.

I go mountain running in some cheap Eurohike low-cut boots which are better than trainers on the wet grass and rock of my island home ( our Alþingi is Tynwald) and in Scotland Ireland and Wales which are just as wet.

They have lasted five years , will last another few yet, and cost very little compared to the expensive brands.

Some brands to know are the Scarpa and Meindl mentioned above from Italy and Austria, the British firm Karrimor who have good boots at budget to medium price , another British firm Brasher whose Hillmaster boots are the standard now in UK and which were introduced to have an affordable alternative to the expensive Austrian and Italian boots.

(Yes...those Scarpa and Meindl again, the only ones then available of any worth)

Merrel, Eurohike, and HiTech also do some decent boots, trail shoes, trainers, and sandals,

Whichever fits best, has a style you like, and is within your price range is the one to get.

Boots are normally worn with thick woollen walking socks so wear a pair when you try the boots on so you get the right fit.

I have Brasher and Karrimor boots for different uses, and those running boots. Other people will have what is best for them.

There is no best boot...only what is the best for you for the purpose you want them for.

The best for a record runtur along Laugavegur ...if the bank vaults can hold enough cash for that....won't be much use for a walk over Esja.

For river walks and the mountains strong leather boots with lots of dubbin soaked in before you wear them are the best way to go.

More boot details on a long answer here, but your local outdoor shop is the place to decide which boots to buy....when they are on your feet.

Http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090731165717AA2khrY . . . . .

Caring for boots is on here with some details for a particular brand of boot which can be ignored.

How to use dubbin is in the last paragraph starting...For normal leather boots.

Http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100718172725AAGn39v . . . . .

Aigh vie....good luck.... Gangi þér vel

Sonny answers:

I agree with Marc H.

I also have a pair of Merrell Chameleon Wrap Stretch Gore-Tex XCR.

They fit so well that you don't feel like you are putting on a shoe, but wrapping your foot in some flexible armor; similar to a sock with aggressive tread that is insanely flexible and comfortable. I bought a pair to wear constantly, not just for hiking although they are very, very suitable for the most avid hiker. The Gore-Tex keeps your feet just the right temperature and lets your foot breath without sweating as to avoid blisters or your feet sweating then freezing in the winter.

Also during the winter months as people were slowing down to go on sidewalks, or crossing parking lots because of ice, I could easily keep a steady pace without fear of losing my footing.

The only negative thing about the shoes that I've noticed is that they will let water in pretty easily, and are low top, as some people prefer a high top hiking boot.

These shoes are also worn by the famous Bear Grylls who hosts Man V.S. Wild show, and an Ex British SAS Special Forces.

Http://www.merrellboot.com/Shop/Detail.aspx?NavID=FT-O-CHM&PID=11492

Sonny answers:

Merrell. Extermly well made and comfortable

Sonny answers:

You need trail shoes or hiking boots. Both come in lightweight designs, hard wearing, good on the feet.

I go mountain running in trail shoes when it's wet. Trainers for dry weather.

Here are some ideas, lots of types of shoes and boots...find plenty in your local outdoor shop or sports store.

Loads of makers. Get what fits.Your feet matter more than the name on the shoe.

Http://www.sonomaoutfitters.com/shop/shoes_main.html . . . ..

Walking trails....boots, clothes.

Http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiN.Ig3URbNP_L3zJNmd46MhBgx.;_ylv=3?qid=20100704125838AAOUFkW&show=7#profile-info-xLvQjvLJaa . . . . .

Have a great time.