Quote:
Originally posted by Surgicalcric
I dont know where you are, but most outdoor shops that carry extensive hiking, climbing, canoeing, and kayaking gear sell the Salomon brand.
I have a pair of Salomon Expert Mid's and can tell you they are the best hiking boot I have ever purchased.
HTH
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SC - i just picked up a pair of merrell sawtooths a few days ago. IMHO, they're a step above the salomon expert mids. i've been using the salomons almost daily for the past few months and they've been very comfy, but when they soften up from use they might be a bit too spongy for more serious hiking, especially with a load as they don't support the feet as well as a stiffer boot. they're still an excellent lightweight trail hiker though, with more support than cross trainers i've tried.
the merrell sawtooth is a more ruggedly built boot overall, with a much stiffer midsole. instead of the mesh fabric of the salomons, the sawtooth uses nubuck leather and cordura. i worried about the mesh on the salomons not holding up to sharp rocks. it's also a slightly taller boot than the expert mids (which had a tendency to get sand in them). the sawtooth is still in the lightweight hiker category, but built more like the 'serious' hiking boots which are a lot stiffer. i'll put pics up and a blurb on my site once i use them a bit more. worth a look, IMHO, if you're looking at those type of boots.
cheers,
MM