I’ve used the same pair of shoes almost every day since my early 20s. I’ll be 35 in a few months. As with most “extreme” statistics, a pair of shoes older than 13 years outperforms normal expectations; Much like being able to retire in five years…or getting more than two pageviews for every blog visit
I don’t know how many recycles (heel solving only) I’ve done. I lost count of about 8. I know the entire sole was replaced once because I found an excellent cobbler in the town I live in. Vibram Skywalk. Don’t get anything less.
Shoes are Hanwag grunten. They come in men and women. If you live in Europe, you’re in luck. You can get it in most parts of Europe. I paid 1299kr for it when I bought it in the mid-late 90s. Today they cost 1,799 kroner. I would consider it a good way to hedge against inflation. Best tips! It seems to be better than the stock market, depending on which month you ask 
I’m seriously considering buying another couple. That should cover me for life. Hanwag sells these as the only pair of hiking boots you’ll ever need. I think since I use them every day, I’ll probably need more than one pair during my lifetime, but other than that, it’s pretty close.
I have taken these to many places. From the top of Mount Fuji to the Nevada desert to the train stations of Europe. It’s light enough for hiking but strong enough for light rock climbing. Right in a nice place in terms of walking. I just wish they made it black. This would make it possible to “pass” for dress shoes in a (very) tight space. It will also make it easier to find shoe polish in the right color. Matching the current color is almost impossible!
I also lost track of my walking commute and all that. A pair of running shoes is typically expected to last 1,000 kilometres. Modern hiking boots are good for about 1,500 kilometers before the lining starts to crack. These have traveled at least 10,000 km.
They are double stitched full grain leather boots with a Norwegian welt. This means that if you get a good coat of shoe polish and leather grease on them, they are as waterproof as modern shoes with a tex lining. The sole is actually stitched, so in theory, the entire sole is replaceable. Moreover, unlike glued insoles or modern shoes, where the upper is a stitched mixture of nubuck leather and nylon, good shoes have a few seams, where water can enter, when working off.
In fact, a few years ago I had used them so much that I was wearing out some of the padding at the heel. No problem, I sewed some skins on them which saved them from an early grave – hey, they were only about 10 years old at the time.
Over the years, I have been keeping an eye on Hanwag. At the turn of the millennium, it looked like they were downsizing the Norwegian bruisers. However, it seems to have made somewhat of a comeback.
I don’t think you can get Hanwag in the US. However, you can get a pair that looks equivalent: Wild Meryl. It costs up to $250 but is probably worth it. It also solves the color problem. Given a choice, I would still choose the Hanwag due to its more versatile use. The Merrill family accepts straps which means they are a little stiffer. The Hanwaj family doesn’t do that. If anyone has some Merrell products, I’d love to hear your thoughts on how they handle asphalt. We’re thinking about getting some for DW.
Note about purchasing shoes: Shoe size is slightly different from shoe size. What you should do is wear hiking socks. I greatly prefer the dual sock system to the technical hype that has become popular over the past 10 years. The inner sock will be a very thin sock that wicks away sweat. The outer sock is a seamless, absorbent wool sock. Now, put on your socks (or stockings) and tie your shoes halfway. Push the foot forward into the shoe. Now you should be able to push your index finger down behind your heel and the heel of the shoe. It should fit snugly without much wiggle room. If you can’t fit your toe in, the shoe is too small and you’ll get blisters on your toes. If you can shake it, it’s too big and you’ll get blisters on your heels. The reason is that when you walk too far, your feet flatten/swell, etc., and you want to leave room for that. The socks will also swell.
Copyright © 2007-2023 earlyretirementextreme.com
This feed is intended for personal, non-commercial use only.
Use of this feed on other sites violates copyright. If you see this notice anywhere other than your news reader, it makes the page you’re viewing infringing copyright. Some sites use random word replacement algorithms to hide the origin. Find the original, undamaged copy of this publication at earlyretirementextreme.com. (digital fingerprint: 47d7050e5790442c7fa8cab55461e9ce)
Originally published on 2010-08-15 11:16:34.
Source link
