Finally admitted my old boots were shot after a slip on the Ozark Trail

I've been wearing the same pair of Merrells for nearly 6 years, thinking they just needed breaking in again. Took a wet rock crossing outside Ponca last weekend and my foot slid clean out the back - tore the heel stitching right open. Anybody else hang onto gear way past its prime just because it's comfortable?

2 comments

2 Comments

evan_wilson1817d ago

Werent you babying them with waterproofing sprays or something that softened the glue over time? What made you finally decide to check the soles before that slip happened?

eric72316d ago

You really think the waterproofing sprays were doing that? I used to be one of those guys who sprayed everything and called it a day, figured it was protecting the shoe. But then I saw a buddy's pair separate mid-walk, and he showed me the glue was basically powder. That changed my whole view, man. Now I check the soles every few weeks, especially on shoes I wear a lot. It's not perfect but it beats slipping and eating concrete.