Woodlands trekking boots

clawhammer

I was told at a Woodlands showroom, that all their "new arrival" trekking boots were water-proof.
Can anybody confirm whether this is true or not? Is it just a feature of the new ones? Were the older versions waterproof as well?
what about their performance and longevity?

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matt_the_hat_82

Just use Nikwax. you can get it as an aerosol now, spray in on non-waterproof boots and you're away - alternatively go for a boot with Gore-Tex: can't go wrong with Gore-Tex!

Musk

Woodland and trekking boots!! man they gotta be kidding!!!

himadventures

I agree with what Musk says.I used woodland years back and they were not trekking boots you require in himalayas.

I think-you can explore little bit in market in search of better shoe.

travel joy

I have used Woodlands shoes in all my treks and still using them.They have served well in scree zones, ankle deep mud and even slippery roads.The new one I bought last winter have also given me sound footing over soft snow. Waterproofing is pretty decent.Even the high ankle support of the model I use is good.But the soles erode after 2-3 treks and then u need to change them.

landoormama

whereas the woodland shoes are durable and last long ..they are heavy and can damage your knees ...

geeree

The older versions were waterproof as well. I used them while trekking in Sikkim last year. A friend of mine also has good things to say about their waterproofing. But Woodland is bad on performance and longevity. The ones I used in Sikkim lasted for just three months! And I lost two toe nails in that time!

Girish

gautam

I have the shoes that you can see here

These shoes are very very slippery in wet conditions. I would rather prefer to walk barefoot than in these shoes

In case people here are talking about different shoe models, please share.

Initially i thought these shoes were great, the woodland is a good product to buy but after buying these shoes, its all vice-versa

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himadventures

I think some of us were happy with them but some are not. I am sure this response will not confuse the orgional poster.

But those who had good experience should feel happy as at least their purchase was value for money but guys like me will never use WOODLAND again.

gautam

So what do you suggest himadventures, where can i find that shoe which is rugged, protects my feet, maintains its grip in slippery surface, good for trekking or outdoor activities

nilanjan_lahiri

I have purchased a Weinbrenner shoe today from a Bata outlet. According to the Bata sales person, they are getting sold like hot cakes and only 3 pairs were available. It comes with a rubber sole and the grip seems to be quite convincing to me (Though, I am absolutely a newbie in these)..... I hope it should go quite well.......

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clawhammer

Well .... guys ... thanks for the pros and cons ... it really helps.
The woodland site claims that their boots are waterproof ... i'm sure for the price that they charge, its not something of the standard of gore-tex.
Few months back, I was in Germany and inquired about the price of brands like North Face, Lowe etc. Their gore tex range start from about 100E to 250E+. I was told that for moderate treks, the sneaker style boots are comfortable. The high ankle ones would be too heavy. What I saw at the Woodland store were sneaker style boots and quite light.
Are boots that are still lighter and reliable enough available in India?
Other than Woodlands, what other options do we have in India?
I didn't know about weinbrenner ... thanks Nilanjan ... are they available in all Bata outlets or just in a few selected ones?
Considering the value for money how would you rate a Northface gore tex for 130Euro against a Rs2200 Woodlands boot that last for 3 difficult treks.

travel joy

I heard from a person who uses North Face in the mountains that these shoes have an excellent grip.But they are hardly avaliable in India.There are also some lighter models made by Adidas which can be used for treks.
Actually buying good trekking shoes in India is not that easy.In 2005, while coming down from Tapovan, I saw a guy on his way up, crossing the Gangotri glacier in flipflops .Mind that he was neither a hermit nor devotee.

nilanjan_lahiri

I have purchased it from one of the largest Bata outlet in Kolkata and I was lucky that there were only 2 pairs of Weinbrenner available out of which, one fitted rightly into my feet. According to the Bata sales person, the sale rate is very high and they are running out of stock......

kinky_lizzard

Can vouch for North Face Jasper Canyon, the best that i've used. Woodland sure they make u look like a trekker, but i guess thats all they do, weight and lack of cushioning - as pointed out is an issue, especially when going downhill.

Advice:
1. Boots are good if u are carrying heavy loads(18kg +) over bad trails/light snow, not otherwise. A pair of good fitting cross trainers will serve you well.
2. Always Carry a pair of sandals with ur regular trekking shoes(open type, lightweight) for river crossing and wearing around campsites.
4. buy shoes only aftre trying them with the socks that you will be using for trekking, for some this may be two pairs (i use a wicking synthetic inner with a old adidas pair outer), sure u may get laughed at the shoe shop but it will save u the blisters later.
5. Ensure that your toes have some wriggling space and heel sets in properly. Can also be achieved by using undersoles (dr Dr. Scholl's available at bata) on existing shoes.
6. Another lesson, make sure that they have abrasion protection on the toes, makes it easy when you stump tour toe againt a rock going downhill or over scree and thats the first place my shoes begin to tear.
7 No matter how well they fit, don't forget to break in your boots around the house or on some easy day hikes before you embark on that weeklong backpacking trip.
Boy this turned out to be long, hope it helps