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machine23

I just figured out where you are. Man you'll are about to get hit by a wopper of a storm on Friday! A friend of mine lives up at Lake Arrowhead and they are batting down the hatches.

On a boot, merrel is OK, but it is mainly a trail boot. La Sportiva, Asolo is a better bet. Get something with Gore-tex and a half-shank or three quarter shank. The shank just make the boot stiffer and less like you'll hurt your instep if you step on a sharp rock.
Makalu (La Sportiva) is a great overall boot and you can find them in ebay for under a hundred and they last for a very long time. Aka Good luck wearing them out

Hey Evan.
I know you know your gear, so while we're on the subject.. Do you have any opnion on Alico brand boots? Just got a pair of the Tahoe backpackers this week from STP. They seem well made, but I've never heard much about them.

Evan wrote:I don't prescribe to the one boot fit alls occasions. I have a whole quiver of them about 22 in all. Can you say boot (y?) fetish!!

No - one boot will not fit all occasions. You need a pair!

Seriously, I always (and fellow cavers I cave with) use wellies. Even with a reasonable walk-in. Even when caving abroad in hot climates (Italy, Thailand, etc.)

Scott McCrea wrote:You have more shoes than my wife.

I used to make snide comments about the stereotypical numbers of shoes that women had. Then I counted the number of pairs of boots I had and stopped. Still, nowhere near the number that Evan has.

JoeyS wrote:Hey Evan.
I know you know your gear, so while we're on the subject.. Do you have any opnion on Alico brand boots? Just got a pair of the Tahoe backpackers this week from STP. They seem well made, but I've never heard much about them.

Hey JoeyS, How is NashVegas?

Yes, I do know Alico boots! I think when Donner and Merrel start going to "trendy", Alico made their market in the US. They are an Italian made boot. Like the both I have mentioned before; Alico are made in the "classic" style of a General Trail boot. These boots would be great for general outdoor activity. All around they are a good buy. When you clean and waterproof them use Nikwax: http://www.nikwax-usa.com/en-us/activity/index.php?activity=OUTDOORS Nikwax is BY FAR the best waterproofing, Biwell leather conditioner is second best.

paul wrote:No - one boot will not fit all occasions. You need a pair!

Seriously, I always (and fellow cavers I cave with) use wellies. Even with a reasonable walk-in. Even when caving abroad in hot climates (Italy, Thailand, etc.)

Reasonable walk-in? Now your taking the allllll the fun out of it!

cavedoc wrote:I used to make snide comments about the stereotypical numbers of shoes that women had. Then I counted the number of pairs of boots I had and stopped. Still, nowhere near the number that Evan has.

Someday, I going to have build a gear closet or storeroom. BTW- This is my next purchase if I get the money to be on the project :

Evan wrote:machine23

I just figured out where you are. Man you'll are about to get hit by a wopper of a storm on Friday! A friend of mine lives up at Lake Arrowhead and they are batting down the hatches.

haha.. how right you were. its monday nite and we got hit by a rather nasty windy/rainy/snow storm that lasted like 4 days. it started thursday or friday. my power went out friday. and was out for 2-3 days. but being the newbie caver i am....i have never been so prepared for a power outtage in my life. i just whipped out my sweet caving lights and i was set. i also stocked up on batteries a few weeks ago so i had no problems. i work at kragen auto and we were selling 50 generators a day easy, it was insane. its funny how completely unprepared my town was for it. every store ran out of d-cell batteries for all the hefty maglites people keep around.

as for the boots, when i have the cash (or credit), i will probably invest in a pair of gore-tex merrells. they seem to be the right ones for me for now.