Gear

If your toes touch the front, and your heel is too loose 1/2 a size down, then try another manufacturer. The last on those obviously don't suit your feet.

Thats the **** problem with Montrail - they change their line up with dizzying speed.

Inov8 do seem to be much more rational that way.

Bruised toes are from stubbing toes on rocks not from poorly fitting shoes. Tops of the toes that is. Only happens with the big toe. Shoes always get that. I must be clumsy. The highlanders last were the closest to the shape of my feet that any shoe has ever been. The heel is tight but the forefoot is closer to medium width. I have a narrow heel with an average width forefoot so they were perfect in ways nothing has ever got close.

BTW I went on the Montrail FB page and commented about it. Got no reply so emailed them. Still got no reply. I have friends who also rate those shoes. I found one place that sold them but only the lasses version so I told a friend who also likes them to get her ass over there and buy all the shoes in her size. I hope she got some ok.

Montrail must be trying to become more a fashion shoe brand with technical products too. Sort of mass market approach to shoes and styles perhaps. Marketing men like excuses to make the company seem fresh even if the new shoe is nothing really new in technology wise only looks and marketing techno crap.

Also the highlander never did well anywhere but UK which is not big enough market for them to be continued. By all accounts they bombed in their most important market, USA, but they were perfect for the mixed trails, paths and cross country walking / running we do in our upland areas. Other countries the trails that the potential customers would use didn't need the tough characteristics of the highlander. Pretty much suited Lakes hills perfectly really.

Lost in Lancashire wrote (see)

Bruised toes are from stubbing toes on rocks not from poorly fitting shoes. Tops of the toes that is. Only happens with the big toe. Shoes always get that.

Wow! Instead of actually running in the hills for years, i should have just asked you!

I and my friends must have imagined losing our toenails. Not just the big one.

Maybe, although maybe some consqeuence from that Columbia takeover & sorting it out etc.

Its certainly not just the highlanders.

They can't keep anything in their line up unchanged for more than a year or two. Actually the spare pair of Streaks I got was a different colour scheme, something they apparently did half way through a season?!!?  And then the rubbish distribution, and coming back with quite different lasts etc.

Its utterly hopeless really But **** it, they do (mostly) fit me well.....

Mike fae Dundee wrote (see)

Lost in Lancashire wrote (see)

Bruised toes are from stubbing toes on rocks not from poorly fitting shoes. Tops of the toes that is. Only happens with the big toe. Shoes always get that.

Wow! Instead of actually running in the hills for years, i should have just asked you!

I and my friends must have imagined losing our toenails. Not just the big one.

Lost in Lancashire wrote (see)

Bruised toes are from stubbing toes on rocks not from poorly fitting shoes. Tops of the toes that is. Only happens with the big toe. Shoes always get that. I must be clumsy.

Quote a bit more Mike and you'll see I was talking about me not you or your mates. I really don't know why you have bruised toes or your friends too. I get them from stubbing my toes which is clumsy when it happens as much as it does to me.

One thing I really do when looking for footwear is take my time to make sure the fit is right. If I have any doubt I walk away. I do however go to other shops and try on the same shoes as it is quite possible that there are slight discrepancies between the same make, model and size of shoe. I have had three of the same make, model and size of shoe and they always feel different. Often have two of the same shoes on the go at the same time. Kind of allows the cushioning to recover if you give them time off between uses if what I read on a running site is true. Something about making them last longer if you can alternate between shoes if they were right.

Anyone noticed that outdoor walking shoes (not fell or trail shoes but the vibram soled walking ones) have kind of gone more distinctive in their design? What I mean is those types of shoes used to be brown or some other dull collour with very little in the way of logos and wording on them. Anyway now you see a lot of bright reds, blues and greens (pinks for the ladies). Plus there are shoes with the maker on the side in large lettering for example the Merrell shoes with the name almost the whole of the side of the shoe. Anyone think they add to the look of the shoes or a design mistake on their part?

I switched over from boots to shoes around 3 months ago when the bug to start running a bit off road bit me again after a 7/8 year gap. I admit I don't run all the time when out, I'm not fit enough yet, but I run what I can and walk up the steep stuff.

Initially I was using Asics trail shoes (Gel Trabusco) but found that in really rocky or really muddy conditions they were pretty useless, simply not up to the job, designed more for fireroads than Lakeland fells!

I'm quite limited to what shoes I can wear as I have very boxy feet, but I've tried the Walsh Spirit Peaks and I like them a lot.

 I was up in Eskdale at the weekend and it was very, very wet, but they handled the mud well and drained very quickly. The only weakness I found was on larger unavoidable wet rocks, where the grip was all but non existant, but on gravel, shale/dirt , peat, mud, wet grass etc they were brilliant and inspired a lot of confidence.

The fit for me is very good and I didn't have any sliding around inside at all, even when soaked through. The heels in particular were spot on and very snug and secure.

If they fit you comfortably I'd have no hesitation in recommending them as a walk/run offroader.

One further thought/question, has anyone found a fell shoe that does grip wet rock, or is that the holy grail?