Posts Tagged travel shoes
GoLite Lime Lite Shoes Put Paws on Your Feet
I try out a lot of travel shoes (and wear out a lot of travel shoes) in my search for what will work when the rubber hits the road. Or the cobblestones. Or the trail rocks. The best shoes can perform well in all these circumstances, and still look good at happy hour. Like these new Lime Lite shoes from GoLite Footwear.
“Now those are cool,” was the comment from my jaded other half when I came back from the Outdoor Retailers show and pulled these out. Like many women, she’d rather tool around in uncomfortable shoes that look fab than to wear performance shoes that are too clunky. These GoLite shoes manage to turn heads, putting them in a different league than most boring brown cross trainers, but they’ve also got some impressive innovations going on under the hood.
The first one is how the sole is set up, with pyramid-style rubber lugs on the bottom on top of a soft sole that gives easily. This is supposedly modeled after how an animal’s paws work, a trait we lost long ago in our evolutionary development. I don’t know what this softness means in the long term after months or years of solid use, but for now anyway I’m loving it. To test these out in real world conditions I took them on a three-mile hike through the woods, over rocks, over roots, and through the mud. I also wore them around the mean city streets and even spent a day on a convention hall floor with them.
The flatter the surface, the less difference I could feel between these and any other shoes. In hiking trail conditions though, they excelled. I’m sure they’d be great on cobblestones as well, but I haven’t been to the right spot yet to try that theory out in person. The lugs move around independently, providing great traction but also great comfort in varied trail conditions. In the middle layer of the shoe though is a stable chassis. The idea is that the sole absorbs the shock, without these being all flexible and unsupportive.
The other welcome feature differentiating GoLite is that they seem to be one of the few companies understanding that we don’t all have the same foot shape. I must have toured 20 shoe booths at the Outdoor Retailers show and only found two companies marketing shoes in different widths. To me that’s as crazy as selling bras in only one cup size. Yeah I know, shoes take up more room than bras, so it’s not as practical to sell them in different widths, but “D for everyone” is not a good situation for either product.
GoLite has come up with a serviceable solution though. They make their shoes a bit wider than the norm, but then provide a customizable insert for the footbed. Plus on this model anyway, they feature tongue-to-toe lacing so you can then make them narrower if needed at different parts of the foot. If your feet swell up, adjust the insole and loosen the laces. Brilliant!
These Lime Light shoes are like the drop-dead gorgeous date who is also smart and has a great personality. The whole package, no compromises.
GoLite footwear generally runs for $60 to $120 and this model is at the higher end. The shoes are available at specialty retail stores or online at PlanetShoes.com and Amazon.
Get the women’s Lime Lite at Amazon.
Get the men’s version pictured at the top at PlanetShoes.
Posted by Tim in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on March 3rd, 2010
OSPOP Shoes: Rugged, Practical, and Cool
“Made in China” is not a phrase that inspires warm fuzzy feelings in consumers. With 40% of the product recalls in the U.S. being Chinese-made products in a typical year, from lead paint toys to poisonous drywall to tainted milk, it takes a ballsy company to embrace its Chinese manufacturing origins. OSPOP has the goods to back it up, however, so they’ve managed to build a whole mystique around a revamped Chinese work boot.
OSPOP stands for One Small Point of Pride and the company’s products celebrate the worker. Call it Maoist or call it Dirty Jobs-ist, but we could probably all use a little more celebration of the people making all the stuff we use on a regular basis. The splash page of the OSPOP website shows a bunch of Chinese construction workers heading to work in the snow. The shoes on offer are modified (and more comfortable) versions of the “liberation shoe” that workers there have been using for 60+ years. (Here’s a video on how they are made.)
But enough on the back story, how well do these cool shoes actually work in practice? I’m pleased to report that the clever marketing does not overshadow the product. As I’ve worn a pair of the OSPOP Steppe Series versions (pictured at the top) around town, I’ve gotten compliments from both guys and gals. They’re amazingly comfortable too—some of the nicest-feeling shoes I’ve worn ever.
Often that’s a bad sign, the old problem of feeling great in the store and then the pillowy cushion wearing down a few weeks later. These seem to be holding up very well though, even after I’ve walked for miles at a time in them. The company obviously didn’t make the footbed part an afterthought, as so many others seem to do. It’s ergonomic too, not flat like a pair of Chuck Taylors. These shoes are rugged enough to work for long-term travel, with wool-lined water-resistant canvas uppers and serious (workboot serious) rubber outsoles. These are perfect-built to be the kind of double-duty shoes travelers need, without screaming, “I’m a traveler!” in the process. These can easily make the transition from city streets to light hiking. They’re better for cooler climates though with the lining, so you might not want to pack these for a trip to Thailand.
The Steppe Series comes in six different colors, from the basic black pictured at the top to a bright orange color called “caution.” There are two other styles as well, Skywolf and Departure, that are different variations on the theme, with other color choices and thinner lining. The photo to the right shows the most basic option.
There are a lot of nice touches when you order OSPOP footwear, from the two sets of laces in different colors to the authentic Chinese packaging on the outside and inside: the box these shoes came in is pictured at the bottom. As for that little logo over the ankle, it’s the Chinese symbol for labor. Feel free to wear these when you’re laboring, but at $76 to $93 a pair, you may want to save them for those times when you’re enjoying the fruit of your labor instead.
Get more info and order the shoes at OSPOP.com
Posted by Tim in General Gear, Travel Light on February 25th, 2010
Best and Worst Travel Gear of 2009
We’ve been cranking out first-person reviews of travel gear on a daily basis and trying out lots of things as we hike, backpack, explore new cities, and navigate airports. Some items disappoint, some thrill, some defy expectations, so here’s a list of what worked and what didn’t in 2009.
Kara Williams
Item I used on the most trips this year
These Lucy capris pictured above are comfortable and stylish—they can go from the hiking trail to the dinner table. I wore them on the top of the Continental Divide in Colorado, to Maya ruins in Belize, to an ecological preserve in Mexico, and eating lobster in New Hampshire.
Worst piece of crap I gave up on
This battery-operated mosquito repellent is a travel-gear don’t. The blue plastic fan looks like a toy, so it’s dangerous to young children. Plus, it’s dorky and doesn’t work.
Most useful item for $20 or less
The Flip & Tumble bag. A reusable shopping bag that compacts into a tiny, squishy, 3-inch ball is a must-have for any traveler. Use it to tote items to the pool, buy groceries at the local market, or protect packed clothing from dirty shoes on the return trip.
John Gordon
Item I now cannot live without
It took a long time, but I’ve finally found a Bluetooth headset I can love. Motorola’s Endeavor HX1 (pictured at the top) offers excellent audio quality for normal conversations and true bone-conduction technology, like special forces use, to knock out extreme noise. Voice prompts make it easy to use.
Worst “Do we really need this?” item
Some things I just don’t understand, like Planesheets for covering airline seats. Besides the dubious claims of cleanliness, I’d just feel a little weird being the only passenger on the plane sitting in a zebra-stripe seat.
Most questionable travel app
iPhone and iPod users are familiar with the marketing line, “There’s an app for that.” Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Without Fear app is supposed to calm white-knuckled flyers. There’s a screen that says, “This is natural. We know you’re scared. You’re going to be OK.” Like that’s going to help.
Never leave home without it
My AT&T Tilt 2 smartphone (same as the HTC Touch Pro2) lets me keep in touch with friends and clients whether I’m at the neighborhood store or in another part of the world. Sure, AT&T sells a lot more iPhones than this model. When the iPhone gets a real keyboard, can tether to my laptop and lets me swap out the battery, I’ll consider it.
Tim Leffel
Worst Case of Greenwashing
There was plenty of greenwashing to go around this year and the “green gear” tag keeps making its way onto things that really aren’t. I debunked plenty of these, but the most obvious one was this Altus Lumen LED light that burns through four AA batteries in an hour. Decent product otherwise, but the bombastic claim of being “the world’s first sustainable portable LED light” turned out to be based on one factor: the shell is 75% recyclable—provided you pry it all apart and separate the pieces when the thing dies.
What I used the most this year
There were plenty of items I tried out and then put on a shelf. The new things I tried that became a permanent part of my ensemble included the Tom Bihn Aeronaut carry-on bag (pictured at the top), my Teva Omnium sandal shoes, and pretty much everything I put on from ExOfficio—including their underwear. And I almost never pack my bags without a pair of Tifosi Optics sunglasses and some kind of Keen Footwear shoes.
Item that caused the most mixed feelings
I have to admit the Starbucks Via instant coffee tastes ten times better than Sanka or Folgers, but at $1 a serving, it sure better! If you already like the over-roasted, burnt taste of Starbucks, you’ll like this stuff. Even if you don’t, instant coffee that’s drinkable would be worth packing on a camping trip or when staying any place where hot water is more readily available than real coffee.
Honorable Mention – Past year’s standout that keeps coming back:
Travel gear item I would gladly do infomercials for
Only real travelers who have used it believe this $99 SteriPEN Traveler is for real. It looks fishy, I’ll admit: you stick this in the water you’re going to drink, the light kills everything, then you can drink away. But I, my wife, and my daughter have used this daily in 9, 6, and 4 countries respectively without getting sick. ‘Nuff said.
Posted by Tim in Adventure Gear, Business Gear, Kids and Family, Travel Light on January 1st, 2010
My 5 Favorite Travel Gear Items of 2009
I just took a little walk down memory lane, browsing through all the posts I’ve written since PracticalTravelGear.com launched in May. I’ve written more than 50 reviews of items ranging from hiking shoes and backpacks to mosquito repellent and instant coffee (having a ball along the way).
Here are five items I wrote about this year — all things that I absolutely love. Looking back, I may not have gushed about them enough in their original posts; these are all pieces I keep in my own personal arsenal of travel gear, and will continue to use in the months to come (except for those great shades… keep reading):
Mountiainsmith Modular Hauler 3 Deluxe: This durable bag and organizing system has a permanent place in my minivan these days. I actually use it to keep grocery bags upright in my trunk, and having three sturdy tote bags (aka packing cubes) in my car has come in handy to hold wet towels, dirty shoes and other miscellaneous items. One served as a cooler for an impromptu picnic. The entire system will certainly be used to haul random gear for our lengthy family road trip over the holidays.
Teva Westwater Sandals: These shoes got a ton of use this summer, and I’ve brought them to warm-weather destinations, too. They’re perfect for city sightseeing as well as casual off-road walks, and can be worn to the beach or river, too, since they’re made with quick-drying mesh. The colors — a subtle spring green with brown — go with just about everything I own. Including…
Lucy Activewear Solaris Crop Pants: I love these capris. Cannot stress that enough. They’ve come with me to New Hampshire, California, Mexico, Belize and just about every weekend trip I took in Colorado this summer. The slightly stretchy, lightweight material is forgiving, and the cargo style is casual and hip. I love these pants. Did you catch that?
Julbo Angel Sunglasses: I didn’t expect to like these shades as much as I did, but they absolutely became my go-to glasses this summer and fall. I wore them with shorts while hiking and with a cocktail dress out to dinner. Unfortunately, on my trip home from Belize last month, I foolishly tossed them in my carry on bag with out a case — and one of the “arms” (temples in glasses-speak) broke off. I even tried super-gluing it back on (it busted in the corner near the joint screw) and for a while I wore the glasses without being able to shut one side fully (yes, even traveling to Cancun like that). The other day, I was carrying them and bumped into a door frame, breaking them again. I’m very sad about that.
Enfold Travel Snorkel by Body Glove: I’ve now brought this convenient, bendable travel snorkel to Belize and Mexico, and it hasn’t let me down. The mask skirt is comfortable on my face, and the snorkel mouthpiece is malleable for comfort, too. I love that it takes up such little room in my suitcase. For me, the casual snorkeler who might be near an ocean three or four times a year, this set is perfect.
Okay, so I can’t name just five. Here are five more items I’ve reviewed that I think are especially great (and are used regularly in my house and on the road):
- Black Rhino Laptop-Holding Backpack from Eco Gear
- Otterbox BlackBerry Commuter Case
- Briggs & Riley Large Shopping Tote
- Stanley Ultra Bright 5 Watt LED Spotlight
- Overland Equipment Donner Bag
Finally, I’ve got to give a shout out to Tom Bihn and the Seattle company’s quality backpacks, messenger bags and luggage. I’ve not reviewed any Tom Bihn items here at Practical Travel Gear (I save those for The Vacation Gals, since Tom Bihn provides us with products specifically to review there), but my colleagues Tim and John here have given rave reviews to Tom Bihn bags this year.
I look forward to learning about new great travel items in 2010!
Posted by Kara in General Gear on December 22nd, 2009
Women’s Hiking Shoes: Dalea eVent by Teva
My Teva Westwater sandals were my go-to shoe for casual footwear this summer — at home and on the road. Now that the snow has begun to fly where I live in Colorado, I’m finding that my go-to shoe for winter hikes is the Dalea eVent low-cut hiking shoe from Teva. While I haven’t traveled with these shoes yet, I wouldn’t hesitate to pack the low-cut style in my luggage; they are much more compact than traditional mid- or high-cut boots, and more-than-adequate for the casual hiker.
I like that the Dalea style is waterproof out of the box, thanks to the eVent waterproof membrane. Indeed, when I’ve worn the shoes along packed-down trails or plowed dirt roads, snow doesn’t stick to the exterior — which means my foot stays dry. The nubuck and suede leather is also protected with Scotchguard, so they should remain looking good through plenty of wear.
Another highlight: the rugged rubber sole offers plenty of traction; the toe and heel are fully protected. The “chocolate chip” color (see photo) goes with just about any hiking clothes I’ve got, and I appreciate the cute little flower-petal design cut into the side of the shoe (where the rubber sole also extends for even more protection).
Still one more little touch that makes me happy: the shoelaces are plenty long to double-tie.
I do find that this show runs a little narrow — or at least it fits snugly on my wide-ish foot. Also, the removable insole is pretty flimsy and doesn’t offer a lot of arch support on its own. Since I always use soft, custom-made orthodics in my hiking shoes (and running shoes), I just swapped my orthodics out of my old hiking boots and into these new ones no problem. That definitely helped with my comfort level. However, note that these are fairly stiff all around — they are definitely not “extra cushy” like some hiking boots I’ve owned.
The women’s Dalea eVent from Teva also comes in a great hunter green (”laurel wreath”). Pick your color and purchase for $125 at Teva.com.
(There’s also a kids’ version for $65: Teva Kid’s K Dalea Hiking Shoe in Walnut)
Posted by Kara in Adventure Gear on December 15th, 2009
Subscribe in a reader
| Crocs Shoes
Shop a Large Selection of Crocs Shoes at ShoeMall® |
