I’ve used the identical pair of shoes nearly each day since my early 20s. I’ll be 35 in a couple of months. Like with most “excessive” stats, a pair of shoes that are 13+ years outdated blow the traditional expectation values out of the water; very like having the ability to retire in 5 years… or having greater than 2 web page views per weblog go to 
I don’t know what number of reheelings (resoling the heel solely) I’ve had executed on them. I misplaced depend round 8. I do know the complete sole has been changed as soon as as a result of I discovered a superb cobbler within the metropolis I stay in. Vibram Skywalk. Don’t get something much less.
The boots are Hanwag’s Grunten. They arrive in males’s and ladies’s. Should you stay in Europe, you’re in luck. You may get them over most of Europe. I paid 1299 kroner for mine once I purchased them within the mid-late Nineteen Nineties. As we speak they price 1799 kroner. I’d think about them a reasonably good inflation hedge. Higher than TIPS! Higher than the inventory market, it appears relying on which month you ask 
I’m significantly contemplating shopping for one other 2 pairs. That ought to cowl me for all times. Hanwag sells these boots as the one pair of mountain climbing boots you’ll ever want. I determine that since I exploit them each day, I’ll in all probability want multiple pair throughout my lifetime, however in any other case, fairly shut.
I’ve taken these to many locations. From the highest of Mt. Fuji to Nevada’s desert to the practice stations of Europe. They’re gentle sufficient to hike in however robust sufficient for gentle rock “climbing”. Proper within the candy spot by way of strolling. I solely want they’d make them in black. This is able to make it doable to “move” for costume sneakers in a (very) tight spot. It might additionally make it simpler to search out shoe polish in the suitable shade. Matching the present shade is close to inconceivable!
I’ve additionally misplaced observe of how far I’ve walked in them with my strolling commutes and all that. Usually a pair of trainers can be anticipated to final 1000 km. Trendy mountain climbing boots are good for about 1500 km earlier than the liner will start to crack. These have gone at the least 10,000 km.
They’re double stitched full grain leather-based boots with a Norwegian welt. Because of this if get coat of shoe polish and leather-based fats on them, they’re as waterproof as trendy boots with a tex-liner. The only is definitely sewn on so in concept, the complete sole may very well be changed. Moreover, in contrast to glued soles or trendy boots, the place the higher are a stitched mish-mash of nubuck and nylon, good boots have few seams, the place water can get in, when the work aside.
Truly, a couple of years in the past I had used them a lot that I had worn down a number of the liner on the heel. No drawback, I had a cobbler sew some leather-based on which rescued them from an early grave—hey, they had been solely about 10 years outdated on the time.
Through the years, I’ve been conserving my eye on Hanwag. Across the flip of the millennium it regarded like they had been scaling again on the Norwegian welts. Nonetheless, it appears to have made considerably of a comeback.
I don’t assume you may get Hanwag within the US. Nonetheless, you may get a pair which look equal: Merrell Wilderness. They price someplace north of $250 however they’re in all probability value it. Additionally they remedy the colour drawback. Given a alternative, I’d nonetheless take the Hanwag’s given their barely extra versatile utilization. The Merrell’s settle for crampons which ought to imply they’re barely stiffer. The Hanwag’s don’t. If anybody personal’s some Merrell’s I’d like to listen to your tackle how they’re on asphalt. We’re considering of getting some for DW.
A word on shopping for boots: Sizing boots is barely completely different than sizing sneakers. What it’s best to do is to put on your mountain climbing socks. I vastly favor the 2 sock system over the technical brouhaha that has grow to be in style over the previous 10 years. The interior sock shall be a skinny extremely sweat transporting sock. The outer sock is an absorbing wool sock with no seams. Now, get your socks (or sock) on and lace the boot midway up. Push the foot ahead within the boot. Now it’s best to be capable to shove an index finger down behind your heel and the heel of the boot. It ought to match snugly with out wiggle-room. Should you can’t get a finger in, the boot is simply too small and also you’ll get blisters in your toes. Should you can wiggle, it’s too giant and also you’ll get blisters in your heel.The reason being that while you stroll far, your foot flattens/swell, and many others. and also you wish to depart room for that. The socks will swell too.
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Initially posted 2010-08-15 11:16:34.