Dave
2005-08-13 18:36:38 UTC
I'll try resending this again. I just saw it got bounced back to me.
----- Original Message -----
From: Dave Hjelmar
To: ChiefModerator-Bq0Odxl9YKAqq5yyNUB18mD2FQJk+8+***@public.gmane.org;BackpackGearTest
Cc: Chuck Carnes
Sent: 8/5/2005 11:33:25 PM
Subject: REPOST: OR - Merrell Pulse II Boots - Dave Hjelmar
First to answer your question, we're within a mile of St. Stephen's Lane North on Homestead Rd. near the top of Spring Rd.
I made all of the specific edits, but I have a question on the first part of your "overall edit":
EDIT: It would be good (as per the OR requirements) to see just a bit more detail about how many times, where, and under what general conditions you've used these boots. A summary of areas, a range of elevations, trail conditions (rocky, dirt, snowy, muddy?), and weather conditions would suffice.
RESPONSE: I think I have the summary info you're looking for in the field information section. The original (and current) version of the field info contains the following:
" ...miles through mud, puddles, dry ground, and snow throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons in both warm (up to 85F/29C) and cold (down to 25F/-4C) weather... Buck Mountain in NY....Dix Mountain in the high peaks of NY. We went in August and, at the 4857 (1480 m) peak, were treated to rain and then snow flurries..........14 mile (22.5 km) round trip"
I could list other hikes like the Tounge Mt. Range near Lake George, Cascade Mt. in the Adirondacks, and the Escarpment in the Catskills but there is nopecial extra info I think those hikes (or others) would bring to the review that the ones I mentioned do not already bring to the review.
Merrell Hiking Boot - Pulse II Gore-Tex Mid
OWNER REVIEW dated July 25, 2005
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table of Contents
Product_Information <#Product_Information>
Field_Information <#Field_Information>
Miscellaneous Thoughts (Likes and Dislikes <#Miscellaneous>)
Summary <#Summary>
Biographical Information <#Biographical>
<#Experience_and_style>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product Information
Specs
Manufacturer: Merrell
Year of Manufacture: 2004
URL: http://www.merrell.com
<http://www.merrell.com/>
Weight, listed: 2 lb 7 oz (1.11 kg) per pair for men's
size 9
Weight, measured: 2 lb 10 oz (1.19 kg) per pair for men's size 13
Size: Shoe size 13 US measures to be 13"
long, 4.75" wide at ball, 7" high
(Shoe size 48 EUR measures to be
0.33 m long, 0.12 m wide at ball, 0.18 m high)
Description
Merrell's Pulse II Gore-Tex Mid is characterized by Merrell as a "Trail
/ Multi-Sport" boot rather than a "Hiking" boot. The important points to
me are that they are very light and waterproof thanks to Gore-Tex® XCR®.
The uppers are made from Nubuck and pigskin leather. The inside is soft
and heavily padded especially around the ankles. The sole is Vibram®
and has a 0.2" (5 mm) deep tread. Pictures of the boots from various
angles are shown below.
I wear size 11? US (45.5 EUR) sneakers and shoes but bought a size 13 US
(48 EUR) boot. I like the extra size and a half to make room for bulky
wool socks and to ensure I don't hit the front on steep descents. The
picture below shows a blue insole I added. I also kept the flimsy
original orange insole underneath since I had room in the boot and it
provides a little more cushion.
Front view of hiking boot Side view of hiking boot
Tread of hiking boot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Field Information
Since their purchase in early 2004, they have logged miles through mud,
puddles, dry ground, and snow throughout the spring, summer, and fall
seasons in both warm (up to 85F/29C) and cold (down to 25F/-4C) weather.
However, I've also found the boots comfortable enough that I wear them
on snowy days all day long in the office. The boots have also doubled as
snow boots in the winter with the addition of gaiters when the snow has
been too high. However, I haven't used them in this capacity for hiking
since they are only mid-height.
In addition to their light weight, my favorite thing about these boots
is that they were instantly comfortable. I took my first hike with them
the week after they were bought. I had worn them around the block a
couple times and they seemed comfortable, but the only hill they were
previously tested on was the inclined plane at the EMS store where I
purchased them. At the end of the day (only 5 miles / 8 km) after
walking up and down Buck Mountain in NY (New York) my feet were still
comfortable. My last pair of boots had refused to break in after a year
of hiking and I eventually gave up on them.
The longest and wettest hike the boots have seen so far was up Dix
Mountain in the high peaks of NY. We went in August and, at the 4857'
(1480 m) peak, were treated to rain and then snow flurries. The walk
into Dix at times seemed more like a standing stream than a path and
required, in some locations, large steps from rock to rock. With the
help of a walking stick and the Vibram® soles, I managed to keep out of
everything over ankle deep but did walk through a number of puddles that
wet my laces. At the end of our 14 mile (22.5 km) round trip, I had sore
muscles and was ready to sit in the car for the ride home. However, my
feet were dry and had no blisters.
Most of the hikes I have taken wearing the boots have been on
established trails with a light daypack (less than 10 lb / 4.5 kg). I
feel the rocks through the soles more than with other boots I have
owned, but the Merrells have still been very comfortable. With a heavier
backpack (still under 30 lb / 13.6 kg) but for shorter distances (less
than 5 miles / 8 km), I feel the rocks a little more but not enough to
make me go back to stiffer boots.
My only complaint with the Merrells is that more trail debris finds its
way into them than I'm used to. This is most likely due to their low
profile and thick padding around the ankles which acts like a funnel for
small stones and twigs. I most always hike in shorts, and I'm sure that
does not help with this issue.
The only visible wear on the boots has been on some of the stitching
where I have likely brushed too hard and too many times against rocks on
the trail. In both locations a short piece of stitching has been cut but
neither seam has started to unravel adjacent stitch holes. This is
likely because each seam is double stitched and only one of the two
stitches in each location has been cut.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miscellaneous Thoughts
Things I Like
1. They are light.
2. They are as comfortable for wearing to the store as on a hike.
3. They were broken in right from the day they were bought.
4. The treads grip pretty much anything wet or dry.
Things I Don't Like
1. The loops that hold the laces are a woven material that I worry
will fray and break before the rest of the boots give out. So far
there is no visible wear on the loops, but I'd rather have metal
eye holes.
The loops and hooks for the laces
2. The top hooks for the laces seem to work fine, but I don't like
hooks. Around camp (and around the house), I like to wear my boots
loosely tied. With the laces loose, they fall out of the hooks and
could catch on the hook on the other boot.
3. The insoles provided with the boots are thin and flimsy but easily
replaced.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
I have been very pleased with Merrell's Pulse II Gore-Tex Mid boots.
They are light, comfortable, and have provided enough support for me for
both hiking and light backpacking.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Biographical Information
Stats
Name: Dave Hjelmar
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Height: 6' 2" (1.88 m)
Weight: 170 lb (77 kg)
Email address: myemail-***@public.gmane.org <mailto:raml5-***@public.gmane.org>
Location: Glenville, New York, USA
Experience and Style
I started hiking and backpacking in the mid 70's. I travel light in
these and similar activities. I use a small fanny pack for mountain
biking and cross-country skiing, an oversized fanny pack for day hiking,
and a light external frame backpack for longer trips. I use a mid-height
trail shoe rather than a traditional hiking boot. To help with both
weight and comfort, I partially retired my Eureka Timberline tent last
year for a Hennessy Hammock.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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----- Original Message -----
From: Dave Hjelmar
To: ChiefModerator-Bq0Odxl9YKAqq5yyNUB18mD2FQJk+8+***@public.gmane.org;BackpackGearTest
Cc: Chuck Carnes
Sent: 8/5/2005 11:33:25 PM
Subject: REPOST: OR - Merrell Pulse II Boots - Dave Hjelmar
First to answer your question, we're within a mile of St. Stephen's Lane North on Homestead Rd. near the top of Spring Rd.
I made all of the specific edits, but I have a question on the first part of your "overall edit":
EDIT: It would be good (as per the OR requirements) to see just a bit more detail about how many times, where, and under what general conditions you've used these boots. A summary of areas, a range of elevations, trail conditions (rocky, dirt, snowy, muddy?), and weather conditions would suffice.
RESPONSE: I think I have the summary info you're looking for in the field information section. The original (and current) version of the field info contains the following:
" ...miles through mud, puddles, dry ground, and snow throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons in both warm (up to 85F/29C) and cold (down to 25F/-4C) weather... Buck Mountain in NY....Dix Mountain in the high peaks of NY. We went in August and, at the 4857 (1480 m) peak, were treated to rain and then snow flurries..........14 mile (22.5 km) round trip"
I could list other hikes like the Tounge Mt. Range near Lake George, Cascade Mt. in the Adirondacks, and the Escarpment in the Catskills but there is nopecial extra info I think those hikes (or others) would bring to the review that the ones I mentioned do not already bring to the review.
Merrell Hiking Boot - Pulse II Gore-Tex Mid
OWNER REVIEW dated July 25, 2005
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table of Contents
Product_Information <#Product_Information>
Field_Information <#Field_Information>
Miscellaneous Thoughts (Likes and Dislikes <#Miscellaneous>)
Summary <#Summary>
Biographical Information <#Biographical>
<#Experience_and_style>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product Information
Specs
Manufacturer: Merrell
Year of Manufacture: 2004
URL: http://www.merrell.com
<http://www.merrell.com/>
Weight, listed: 2 lb 7 oz (1.11 kg) per pair for men's
size 9
Weight, measured: 2 lb 10 oz (1.19 kg) per pair for men's size 13
Size: Shoe size 13 US measures to be 13"
long, 4.75" wide at ball, 7" high
(Shoe size 48 EUR measures to be
0.33 m long, 0.12 m wide at ball, 0.18 m high)
Description
Merrell's Pulse II Gore-Tex Mid is characterized by Merrell as a "Trail
/ Multi-Sport" boot rather than a "Hiking" boot. The important points to
me are that they are very light and waterproof thanks to Gore-Tex® XCR®.
The uppers are made from Nubuck and pigskin leather. The inside is soft
and heavily padded especially around the ankles. The sole is Vibram®
and has a 0.2" (5 mm) deep tread. Pictures of the boots from various
angles are shown below.
I wear size 11? US (45.5 EUR) sneakers and shoes but bought a size 13 US
(48 EUR) boot. I like the extra size and a half to make room for bulky
wool socks and to ensure I don't hit the front on steep descents. The
picture below shows a blue insole I added. I also kept the flimsy
original orange insole underneath since I had room in the boot and it
provides a little more cushion.
Front view of hiking boot Side view of hiking boot
Tread of hiking boot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Field Information
Since their purchase in early 2004, they have logged miles through mud,
puddles, dry ground, and snow throughout the spring, summer, and fall
seasons in both warm (up to 85F/29C) and cold (down to 25F/-4C) weather.
However, I've also found the boots comfortable enough that I wear them
on snowy days all day long in the office. The boots have also doubled as
snow boots in the winter with the addition of gaiters when the snow has
been too high. However, I haven't used them in this capacity for hiking
since they are only mid-height.
In addition to their light weight, my favorite thing about these boots
is that they were instantly comfortable. I took my first hike with them
the week after they were bought. I had worn them around the block a
couple times and they seemed comfortable, but the only hill they were
previously tested on was the inclined plane at the EMS store where I
purchased them. At the end of the day (only 5 miles / 8 km) after
walking up and down Buck Mountain in NY (New York) my feet were still
comfortable. My last pair of boots had refused to break in after a year
of hiking and I eventually gave up on them.
The longest and wettest hike the boots have seen so far was up Dix
Mountain in the high peaks of NY. We went in August and, at the 4857'
(1480 m) peak, were treated to rain and then snow flurries. The walk
into Dix at times seemed more like a standing stream than a path and
required, in some locations, large steps from rock to rock. With the
help of a walking stick and the Vibram® soles, I managed to keep out of
everything over ankle deep but did walk through a number of puddles that
wet my laces. At the end of our 14 mile (22.5 km) round trip, I had sore
muscles and was ready to sit in the car for the ride home. However, my
feet were dry and had no blisters.
Most of the hikes I have taken wearing the boots have been on
established trails with a light daypack (less than 10 lb / 4.5 kg). I
feel the rocks through the soles more than with other boots I have
owned, but the Merrells have still been very comfortable. With a heavier
backpack (still under 30 lb / 13.6 kg) but for shorter distances (less
than 5 miles / 8 km), I feel the rocks a little more but not enough to
make me go back to stiffer boots.
My only complaint with the Merrells is that more trail debris finds its
way into them than I'm used to. This is most likely due to their low
profile and thick padding around the ankles which acts like a funnel for
small stones and twigs. I most always hike in shorts, and I'm sure that
does not help with this issue.
The only visible wear on the boots has been on some of the stitching
where I have likely brushed too hard and too many times against rocks on
the trail. In both locations a short piece of stitching has been cut but
neither seam has started to unravel adjacent stitch holes. This is
likely because each seam is double stitched and only one of the two
stitches in each location has been cut.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miscellaneous Thoughts
Things I Like
1. They are light.
2. They are as comfortable for wearing to the store as on a hike.
3. They were broken in right from the day they were bought.
4. The treads grip pretty much anything wet or dry.
Things I Don't Like
1. The loops that hold the laces are a woven material that I worry
will fray and break before the rest of the boots give out. So far
there is no visible wear on the loops, but I'd rather have metal
eye holes.
The loops and hooks for the laces
2. The top hooks for the laces seem to work fine, but I don't like
hooks. Around camp (and around the house), I like to wear my boots
loosely tied. With the laces loose, they fall out of the hooks and
could catch on the hook on the other boot.
3. The insoles provided with the boots are thin and flimsy but easily
replaced.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
I have been very pleased with Merrell's Pulse II Gore-Tex Mid boots.
They are light, comfortable, and have provided enough support for me for
both hiking and light backpacking.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Biographical Information
Stats
Name: Dave Hjelmar
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Height: 6' 2" (1.88 m)
Weight: 170 lb (77 kg)
Email address: myemail-***@public.gmane.org <mailto:raml5-***@public.gmane.org>
Location: Glenville, New York, USA
Experience and Style
I started hiking and backpacking in the mid 70's. I travel light in
these and similar activities. I use a small fanny pack for mountain
biking and cross-country skiing, an oversized fanny pack for day hiking,
and a light external frame backpack for longer trips. I use a mid-height
trail shoe rather than a traditional hiking boot. To help with both
weight and comfort, I partially retired my Eureka Timberline tent last
year for a Hennessy Hammock.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page
http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/V4TolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
To read our reviews, please visit http://www.backpackgeartest.org/
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BackpackGearTest/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
BackpackGearTest-unsubscribe-***@public.gmane.org
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/