[pct-l] Hiking Shoe recommendation for thru-hike

[Thomas Jamrog]

New Balance were junk for me .
   New Balance was following my 2007 AT thru hike via my  
Trailjournal , due to my brother being an executive with the company.   
They contacted me and offered to supply me with shoes for the rest of  
the hike.  They were using the angle that "Why are you hiking in  
British shoes when we have US shoes that are just a good?  How about  
supporting the US industry?"  Ok, I said, but I promised to be honest  
with them.  They told me they had a super strong model that would  
stand up like the Inov8's did.  I received the shoes in Harper's Ferry.
Both soles delaminated after just 200 miles, just two weeks!.  I  was  
eventually using shoe goo to keep large chunks of the sole from  
flapping as I walked.  When asked what they had  as an option that  
were as sturdy, they replied that they had nothing they could offer me  
as a backup.    I went back to the Inov8 Terr Roc 330's, which had  
served me well for 700 miles.  Not many know of the company, but no  
one shoe fits all, they say.  Inov8 worked well for me, mostly.  It is  
what I hike in now, and I get no free shoes from them.  There was no  
comparison about the quality between the two shoes I am talking about.
On the other hand, there are folks that do well with New Balance , but  
you asked the question about dominance and I replied.   I really  
wanted the New Balance offer to work, but no way.  By the way I am 200  
pounds and a pretty vigorous hiker.
Uncle Tom

On Jan 24, 2009, at 1:22 AM, Postholer wrote:

> New Balance.
>
> Would anyone argue that New Balance are not the dominant trail  
> runner out
> there?
>
> There is a reason why so many hikers choose them.
>
> Abuser of 801,804,805,806,807
> -postholer
>
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