Great shoes for photography...

[Roger Hicks]

Doc Martens. They've got the most comfortable soles I've ever worn.

Soles, yes. Uppers, no. I used to love Brasher walking boots until they started making them in China. My wife swears by Mephistos but when I bought a pair of their walking boots I was deeply underwhelmed and the stitching soon parted. Currently I'm wearing Scarpa (honestly!). The history of the company is weird -- http://www.scarpa.net/en/story.html -- and although they drone on about being Italian I seem to recall that my boots were actually made in Eastern Europe (I bought them a couple of years ago so I'm not sure).

Cheers,

R.

 

[ray*j*gun]

I just ordered a pair of the Skydex....I have flat feet and always looking for good walking shoes.

Thanks

 

[rhl-oregon]

rshe te

rshe te

Dan, one of the most sensible things I've done is to buy Birkenstock inserts. $60/pair. I shift them from my Salomon trail shoes to Merrell slip ons to Josef Seibel mocs, and everything is easier. I shoot in the Salomons a fair amount; the others are work/evening shoes.

Anything you have or buy with insoles included, take those out and try the Birkies in their place. They're likely to make any long walk far easier.

Some would of course say, Go buy Birkenstock sandals. But the climate may not work for those in NY winter.

 

[stet]

Aargh, this brings back an old obsession: finding another pair of all-black Nucbuck Adidas Rod Lavers. An AP videojournalist put me onto these as being the perfect all-assignment shoe, whether covering government or run 'n' gun situations. I had a pair and loved them. Their slow death started by getting stuck in a soft, muddy bank on the Mekong River in northern Cambodia, where it picked up a smell that never came out. Now I can't find them at all, on any web/mailorder site.

 

[emraphoto]

so many variables. never seemed a good idea to wear anything military looking. in some regions removing your shoes entering homes is considered good form, blundstones are genius for that. i have a black pair that i wear to this day. the sole of the right shoe is slightly melted from standing on a smouldering T-72.

in a few places i have worked it has been 100% humidity all day long. you are soaked from start to finish and wet feet plus walking don't mix well. waterproof all the way there. i carry flip flops for when the rains come and streets flood.

in Canada, the past few months it has been insulated boots. long, cold winter. summer days in the hood? converse

 

[aizan]

gokey sauvage hikers. not too expensive and made in the usa.

 

[ampguy]

Fantastic reading from the best book I read last year:

"One day I went to a different store and got some real good leather boots instead of those hiking high-tops I had been getting for years. These new leather boots kick ass. No more problems. Now I have really good boots and can walk a long way again! Fantastic. Maybe I should call this book The Shoe Chronicles."

 

[fireblade]

R.M. Williams....craftsman
kangaroos are good for leather 😉
http://www.rmwilliams.com.au/e-Sale...onkey=2OR9-DGL2-1N3W-AC3S-2JTT-1H76-L7IQ-YGDT

 

[Harry S.]

Clark's Desert Boots.

Style to boot.

/pun.

 

[Doug]

I mostly wear sandals... I've 5 pairs that I rotate through in sequence once a week. Rockport, Clark, a Clark knock-off, two styles of Merrells. And a couple pairs of New Balance athletic shoes for rain or snow. Starting this winter I've been walking a mile or two every day, and the sandals have been fine.

My wife got a pair of custom-fitted leather sandals from The Sandal Maker in Lahaina on Maui. The artisan there had some interesting things to say about the benefits of leather (over man-made materials), wicking sweat away, and urged regular use of saddlesoap for leather care.

 

[Ezzie]

For everyday use, Scarpa Mojito, love them and have several pairs. For hiking in the mountains (60% of the country is nothing but rock) Meindl or Salomon mountain hiking boots. But I have maybe 20-25 pairs of shoes, we have every sort of weather you can imagine, one needs to have options.

But one of my all-time favourite shoes for hiking are a pair of hand made Veldskoen from Namibia. Kudu leather upper, leather and real rubber sole. Supple and tough at the same time. Still have them after 16 years (of sporadic use)

 

[Chris101]

Very boring here: New Balance lace-up sneakers. Been wearing them for more than 40 years now - well, not the same pair - I get a new pair every 3 or 4 years. I flirted with other "walking" shoes, but I keep coming back to NB.

 

[__jc]

My gal is a bit of a fashionista and she goes nuts over the vintage stores and gets into those crazy luxury brands. Check out these stores called "Ina."
Cal

Hi Cal - if you should run into Ina in any of her stores please tell her Phil from Melbourne said to say "gooday". As well as running those great stores she's a wonderful and keen street photographer.

I'm pretty lucky in that I live only a kilometer or so from a very good New Balance outlet. If I tackle anything a bit rockier or off the beaten track generally then a pair of Karrimor boots with Vibram soles does the job nicely.

 

[Bob Wilson]

Steger Mukluks for me- Canvas uppers to the knee, moose skin bottoms with crepe rubber soles that never freeze stiff and grip well on ice. Felt liners. Good all day at -40C.

 

[JWilder]

Clarks WaveWalks for me. A new pair of Nike walking sneakers feel nice.

 

[ktmrider]

Chaco scandals. Have done backpacking trips in them.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Alden 405 or 403. The number difference is the color and the sole.
I've walked over a thousand miles in one pair, had them resoled and bought another pair. They are amazing. They are handmade in the US and offer the most support you can get from a boot without going to a rigid orthopaedic upper.

I have chronic back pain from an injury I sustained in Iraq in 2004 and after getting a fantastic pair of boots made for hard use, my back pain lessened and is completely gone, for the most part.

I've walked from 207th St all the way to the WTC PATH station in these boots. Walked all over Philadelphia. Hiked over the continental divide in Colorado.

I absolutely love these boots and as long as Alden is making them, I'll be wearing a pair.

Phil Forrest

 

[Frontman]

I'm always on the lookout for shoes that will help me survive those long long walks when I'm out shooting. As I get older I need this more than ever. My Merrell shoes are okay, but they're not great. And when I tried the shoes my son recommended - Clark Dessert Boots -- I looked so stylish but ended up with blisters. A few years ago I bought an anti-fatigue mat from a company called Skydex -- and the mat was fantastic in every way. Really saved my legs. So when they e-mailed me about their new Battle Trainers and provided a coupon code SPRINGSHOES -- I had to give them a try. They arrived 2 days ago, and I love them so much I bought a second pair today. Here's the link: https://www.skydex.com/store/shoes Skydex manufactures for the military and to spec -- the fit, finish, and details are great. These shoes only come in a dessert tan camouflage -- I thought my wife who is a shoe-aficionado would hate them, but she doesn't -- she thought they were cool 🙂

Here's a link for more info and specs: https://www.skydex.com/news/military-technology-company-skydex%E2%80%99s-battle-trainer-athletic-shoe-fit-boot-camp-workouts

I have no affiliation with the company whatsoever. And if anyone else has shoe recommendations I'm all feet - error, ears.

Having been in the Army, and also being an avid hiker, I recommend Danner boots. I like the all-leather Mountain light, which is probably the best boot anyone has ever made. It is light, durable, and comfortable. For the best comfort, I get boots which are a bit large, and use thick Merino wool socks. The wool socks absorb odors, and keep the boots more fresh. Make absolutely sure to try out several pairs of shoes/boots and socks until you find the right combination. I have used Danner boots around the world, and in every environment, and they have never let me down. I have tried other brands like Scarpa and Vasque, and even Prada, and though they are very good, Danner is better.

Never trust the size written on the box, no two pairs of shoes or boots will fit the same, even if they are supposed to be the same size. Use shoe trees when you are not wearing your shoes or boots, this will keep them from shrinking.

 

[Bob Michaels]

Chaco scandals. Have done backpacking trips in them.

I have worn nothing but Chaco sandals since I retired from a real job a few years back. I use wool socks when the temperature gets down close to freezing.

Only exception was a photo story I did about religion. I did resort to wearing leather shoes when in churches out of respect. Otherwise, I have done university lectures, exhibit openings, semi-formal parties, and everything else wearing them.

I find the support great when on my feet walking for 6-8 hours at a time while photographing.

Bonus: sometimes the ideal spot for a photo happens to be where the water is a foot deep. I know I can wade in, shoot, and just continue on for the rest of the day.

 

[Rodchenko]

I always wear hiking boots - formerly Scarpas and Berghaus, but now Vegetarian Shoes' Snowdon:

http://www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk/hiking_boots___safety_boots/snowdon_boot_black/11534_p.html

Very comfortable. Could wear them all day every day.