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New Bates Boots - two thumbs way way way up!
Another transplant from a different forum, what can I say - I'm lazy :D
Picked these bates up at the shot show. I don't know if they are still in the development mode or final production - but they felt great right out of the box. I strapped them on the morning of the 1st day of the shot and wore them every day (and night) for the whole thing. Not a pinch, rub or hotspot. Super grippy but not squishy sole - Great ankle support while being flexible. I took them out into the mountains around Vegas a few days ago. 6 mile round trip up to Turtlehead peak. 1900 foot gain in elevation the last 1/3 of it. Mostly scree and gravel with big sandstone boulders and a 40ft wall to climb. Went up with a 55lb Kifaru Zulu on. After getting back down went for a 2 mile run with the pack on. From the trailhead http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...o-far-away.jpg Getting a bit closer http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...most-there.jpg The way up http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...last-third.jpg Me - not hungover in Vegas (a rare sight) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...r/So-tired.jpg The final goal http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ing-closer.jpg AND......the boots http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ates-boots.jpg Yup - I won't put the oakleys on again as long as I have these. Dan |
OK - day 2.
Did about 14 miles (I think a litle more but no GPS to verify). Wore the boots - the same socks (ullfrotte - more on these later) and a 45lb pack - yup, I wussed out and had to go lighter for this hump. The route was through gravel, rocky washes, dirt, rock and snow. The elevation gain was 2,694 feet with a peak of 7,094 feet above sea level. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ittle-walk.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...great-gear.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ose-enough.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...nowy-trail.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/top-sign.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...g-way-down.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/Altitude.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...hat-a-view.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...per-Zulu-2.jpg Our goal http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...final-peak.jpg Check this closeup - so close yet so far away. Footprints should help give an idea of the scale http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ak-closeup.jpg AND - the boots after getting off the mountain and back to the hotel http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...walk-boots.jpg Again - not a pinch, rub or hotspot. The boots felt great the entire way - up and down the mountain. Excellent anke support without compromising the abbility to clime extremly steep piches. Scaled some big rocks and I felt like a damn billygoat with these on. Would not want to wear any other boots than these. Oh yeah - I used to make fun of hikers that used those ski pole looking hiking sticks - not any more. Those things are the HEAT!!!!! Dan |
I know this is about the boots, but...beautiful pictures!
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ah, the new M-9
I have good experience with Bates boots as well. I wear the M-9 predecessor; the 8" Gore-Tex Enforcer with Vibram Eagle outsole. I've used it for running, hiking, rock climbing, stretching (swimming next). The sole does "self-clean" as advertised and provide excellent traction outdoor (had no problem jogging outside last Sat when ATL was frozen), while indoor... well, when it's raining outside I was up for some squeaky "ice skating" as I entered my dept building. Tested it when car broke down and had to hike/run 8 miles up from Tallulah Falls to the nearest town along US 441. The boot + Thorlo combat socks gave flawless performance. I was really thankful of the ankle-support after the sun sets down and the only light came from incoming cars: There were holes, trash, tree trunks etc. along the highway that caused my friends to stumble in their tennis shoes and hurt their ankles. I'm going to have to ditch the pair in exchange with jungle boots for better conditioning, though Questions, Sir: - Does the boot sole squeaks when wet on the floor (esp. marble floor)? - Did you take out the Gore-tex plate from the lace or did yours come without it? - Does the protruding lace-holes/hooks lacerate the lace cord over time? |
great review and pics, java - thanks for taking the time. good to see you here.
cheers, MM |
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Holy geeze! Don't call me sir - I respond just fine to "hey you" but Dan is OK also :cool: I don't know about the wet sole but I'll try to find some wet and tile to play with today. Gore Tex plate??? I guess mine did ot come with that. I've only had the boots for a week so I don't know how the laces will hold up. These boots are designed so damn well that I can't imagine that the lace holes would be any less well made. Couple more things. The Bates folks said these were made of pigskin. I asked if that had anything to do with the ongoing conflicts overseas and delivering good solid head kicks but they denied that and said it was because the pigskin breathes better - dries quickes and will dry soft as opposed to cow hide drying stiff. Also - the 4th set of eyelets up from the tow are self locking ones - meaning you can pull your laces as tight as you want and they will stay that way - leaving the top 3 to be tied however tight you want 'em. Great little innovation. MM - great to be here man! DF - nice pic! Dan |
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Dan,
I called you Sir out of respect, age difference, and the prospect that I might have to salute you one day anyway, so I'd better get used to it. The picture should show the location for the supposed Gore tex plate, or Bates website should show it better: http://www.batesfootwear.com/Catalog...OIID=&StyleID= Seems you got the "special edition." May I know how much you spent for those? That self-locking feature is a great innovation IMHO. Roller skates (esp. Hypno) have had that feature for years, 'bout time for the boot industry to catch up. |
Not that I know anything, but I think this may be the greatest gear review posted here. Not because the gear itself was reviewed so thoroughly, but because its performance was documented without direct reference to the gear. Great pix, and great posts.
Welcome again to the Board. |
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Ha ha - buddy, handshakes work just fine for me. OK - I see what you mean by the plate. These boots are not Gore-Tex boots, they are meant to be used in the desert and jungle and are extremly breathable and quick drying. How much did I spend - OK, you may feel bad about this one. They were giving them away to us at the Shot Show - we just had to promise to beat them up and evaluate them for Bates. Yeah - in reality that's why I went SF, for the chick and gear :D Dan |
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Hmmm - "greatest" is a strong word but I think my ego is inflated enough to handle it :cool: If y'all trat me nice I just may post my Hennessy hammock and Jetboil/Dragonfly reviews here. Dan |
Hey Dan,
Thanks for the report on the shoes and the great tour. It's pretty unheard of, in my experience, for shoes (boots) to wear that good on the first outings. I wish those were around, with caulked soles, when I was logging. Speaking of logging, it looks like they got it all done in the hills around there. |
Sergeant:
Where can I buy a pair of these boots? (Link?) (Earn your free boots!) LOL RL |
Tell ya what - I have never had boots feel this good right off the bat.
Well - I don't know if you can but them yet but I got 'em from this guy........ Onder Ors Vice President & General Manager Bates Uniform Footwear PH - 616-863-3810 orson@wwwinc.com Ask him your silly questions :D Dan |
Hey Bill, what did you do as a logger? I was a chokersetter for about 6 years. I got out of the woods a little over 3 years ago when I hooked up with Kifaru. The little woman said 53 was too damn old to be settin' chokers. It was good fun while it lasted. Sorry about the thread hijack Java. :)
Mel |
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