"For there are some people who can live without wild things about them and the earth beneath their feet, and some who cannot. To those of us who, in a city, are always aware of the abused and abased earth below the pavement, walking on the grass, watching the flight of birds, or finding the first spring dandelion are the rights as old and unalienable as the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We belong to no cult. We are not Nature Lovers. We don't love nature any more than we love breathing. Nature is simply something indispensable, like air and light and water, that we accept as necessary to living, and the nearer we can get to it the happier we are."
Louise Dickenson Rich
Check out this hiking boot guide, it has extensive information on boot selection
Keen Women's Targhee II Mid Hiking Boot
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Altrec
For wet hikes and damp camping trips, the Keen Women's Targhee II Mid Hiking Boot is a wonderful shoe to call upon. The waterproof and breathable eVENT® liner allows moisture vapor to move outward before condensing and turning to perspiration. Meanwhile it blocks raindrops and stream water from soaking inward. Wet environments require solid traction, and the Keen Targhee II Mid Hiking Boot delivers with aggressive 4mm lugs. The ESS shank receives credit for a big assist here as it provides torsional rigidity for traveling over rock-strewn paths and traversing loose slopes.
Vasque Blur XCR Trail Running Shoe - Women's
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Altrec
USOutdoorstore
Darling of the Gear of the Year circuit, Vasque's Blur is the go-to trail runner for runners who think they'll be dividing their time equally between trail and road, with stability for the trail and minimal trail shoe clatter on the roads. The mesh upper breathes well and the heel counter grips your heel like a gecko's paw
Part sturdy trail runner, part road shoe, the Vasque Women's Blur Trail Running Shoe is an adept set of wheels for both your neighborhood road routes and trail running adventures. In fact, the testers at Outside magazine were so impressed with how this shoe behaved on both road and trail that they singled it out as the 2006 Gear of the Year award winner in the trail runner category. Qualities that stood out for the Outside staff included a deep heel pocket that holds the heel in place, a roomy toe box that allows each digit to freely wriggle, and underfoot protection that doesn't feel clunky or tippy when road running. To give the women's Vasque Blur Trail Running Shoe the stability for trail use without an awkward feel on the road, Vasque uses a lightweight nylon textile plate above the outsole to provide rigidity on rough trails. They also use a sticky rubber outsole minus the deep lugs found on most other trail runners. The tread is still plenty aggressive and places the foot closer to the ground for a more stable feeling. That said, the Blur is best used for short to medium distance runs. For those training for an endurance run, however, the Vasque Velocity Trail Running Shoe for women is a worthy choice. The Vasque Blur uses a molded EVA midsole with soft crashpad underneath the heel for cushioning and greater stability. It works in combination with a dual density EVA footbed to support the foot. The footbed is removable in case the user prefers to insert their own insole. The Vasque Blur Trail Running Shoe for women also features a microfiber and airmesh upper for breathable comfort during fast-paced runs and warm weather workouts.
Footwear Companies
Altrec
Eastern Mountain Sports
Moosejaw
REI
USOutdoorStore
Backpacking Gear Sites
Eastern
Mountain Sports (EMS)
Sierra
Trading Post
Cabela's
Mountain
Equipment Co-op
REI
Altrec
Moosejaw
USOutdoorStore
Overton's
Gander Mountain
Patagonia
Paragon Sports
Orvis
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