500grains
.416 member
Reged: 16/02/04
Posts: 4732
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
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I have had some trouble with footwear for REALLY fast walking on ele tracks. Although I have tried several boots from Cabelas, Courtneys, Russells, Vasque, Raichle and a variety of other makers, all cause me to shed skin when the pace gets really fast. The best I have found so far are New Balance running shoes. 
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mickey
.416 member
Reged: 05/01/03
Posts: 4647
Loc: Pend Oreille Valley, Idaho
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Try some Courtney Selous. They are made of material that seems to work well for Elephants. 
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Lovu Zdar
Mick
A Man of Pleasure, Enterprise, Wit and Spirit Rare Books, Big Game Hunting, English Rifles, Fishing, Explosives, Chauvinism, Insensitivity, Public Drunkenness and Sloth, Champion of Lost and Unpopular Causes.
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40681
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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What?! Old rubber tyres.
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John aka NitroX
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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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bonanza
.400 member
Reged: 17/05/04
Posts: 2335
Loc: South Carolina
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Check out these shoes/boots. Back in `97 I competed in the 3 peaks challenge in the UK where I covered 20+ miles and 12,000 feet in 24 hours. I was left without a single blister.
http://www.brasher.co.uk/index.cfm
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"Speak Precisely" G. Gordon Liddy.
"Life is absurd, chaotic and we must define its purpose with our actions" Abert Camus
"I''m the dude playing a dude disguised as another dude."
"Yo! Mr. White"
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AdamTayler
.375 member
Reged: 22/03/04
Posts: 688
Loc: B.C.
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Were the boots fitted to your feet or do you just take them out of the box and go hunting? I've never had a problem with my Meindl's, which were fitted when I bought them. They feel like slippers and I've never had a blister.
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It's the journey, not the destination.
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EricD
.416 member
Reged: 27/02/04
Posts: 4636
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In reply to:
which were fitted when I bought them
Adam,
What do you mean with your Meindl boots were "fitted"?
I used to use a pair of Meindl Army Pro boots, which I never ever got a blister from. Despite them being so stiff to begin with that it took ages to wear them in a bit, because the leather in these were a lot thicker than in the other Meindl products. But these were too heavy for use in Africa IMO, and I prefer lighter/cooler boots/shoes for African hunting.
I have even found the standard (light) Norwegian military boots to be heavier than I like down in Africa. Running type shoes have suited me better, even when climbing steep and rocky hills. I can't remember having seen many PHs use heavy boots either for that sake, and a lot of them use sandels. Using running shoes or sandels required strong ankles though...
Erik
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AdamTayler
.375 member
Reged: 22/03/04
Posts: 688
Loc: B.C.
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Erik
I put on the boot, and then walked in them, including up and down a ramp in the store. Different insoles and pads were put in the boot and under the heal until my foot did not move around but remained comfortable. It took three tries.
http://www.ajbrooks.com/qs/product/40/2352/139729/0/0
These are the boots I use.
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It's the journey, not the destination.
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larcher
.416 member
Reged: 11/01/05
Posts: 2655
Loc: Saverne, Alsace, France
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Dan
I don't like heavy cumbersome "army style" shoes. When hunting as far as one don't need to be parachuted or running or climbing boulders, high and heavy shoes are a discomfort. Let alone overheating of the feet, especially in Africa.
mephisto running shoes
Theses shoes changed my life. Extremely cumfortable and waterproof.
The grip is excellent and they seem to rock forward, pushing You when walking. As far as the terrain is not too rough and the ankles don t need to be hold, these are the best shoes I ever use and they are so padded that one feels like wearing slippers.
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"I don't want to create an encyclopedic atmosphere here when we might be having a beer instead" P H Capstick in "Safari the last adventure."
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ozhunter
.400 member
Reged: 18/08/04
Posts: 1692
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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For the long hot walking while tracking Buff, Lion and Ele in Africa I have found no better boot than the Courteny Safari BUT there is room for improvement.
Still get some blisters. 
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500grains
.416 member
Reged: 16/02/04
Posts: 4732
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
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Backpacking and fast tracking elephant are totally different. I can go long distances in the mountains with a pack and no blisters, but not so on ele tracks in any boot I have tried including Courtney Selous. I think the reason is the very rapid pace of the walking which is frequently just short of a jog. The only shoes I have used so far that did not cause problems were running shoes. On one hunt I used Meindl boots with the same problem. All boots I take hunting have at least 100 miles on them before the trip, and usually more.
Larcher, those are pricey running shoes! How do they differ from typical running shoes?
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Ndumo
.300 member
Reged: 21/12/03
Posts: 230
Loc: Namibia
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Dan, I use Hi-Tech's Altitude boots. They last about half a season, but I have never had blisters.
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Karl Stumpfe
Ndumo Hunting Safaris (Pty) Ltd.
karl@huntingsafaris.net
www.huntingsafaris.net
+264 811 285 416
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larcher
.416 member
Reged: 11/01/05
Posts: 2655
Loc: Saverne, Alsace, France
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Quote 500gr
"Larcher, those are pricey running shoes! How do they differ from typical running shoes? "
Yes Dan they are expensive.
In fact Mephiso is making shoes in Sarrebourg, just 10 miles from my home. All is made in France and they are using the best materials available. As the manpower is expensive too, the product cannot be cheap.
Mephisto is famous for their serious hunting and walking shoes. IMO they deserve this flattering reputation.
I haven't yet seen such comfortable running shoes. No kidding, they push You forward. Also, that means that You don't hurt your heels.
Lucky it remains some serious companies despite cheap Asian's that sell cheap rubbish.
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"I don't want to create an encyclopedic atmosphere here when we might be having a beer instead" P H Capstick in "Safari the last adventure."
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Scott
.275 member
Reged: 11/01/05
Posts: 89
Loc: Florida, USA
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I really like my New Balance running shoes to run in. Have you tried any of their trail shoes??? They might give you a little better support than just a standard running shoe.
For hunting, I am sticking with my Russells.
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Charles_Helm
.333 member
Reged: 09/11/05
Posts: 337
Loc: Dallas, Texas
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I take it that means the new Courtney's are not working out?
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Some pictures from Namibia
Some pictures from Zimbabwe
An Elephant Story
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Charles_Helm
.333 member
Reged: 09/11/05
Posts: 337
Loc: Dallas, Texas
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BTT -- did not order mine yet -- were you dissatisfied with the Courtneys?
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Some pictures from Namibia
Some pictures from Zimbabwe
An Elephant Story
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Bigfive
Sponsor
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 362
Loc: Freestate,South-Africa
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Hi 500grains,
Your NewBalance shoes will probably be your most comfortable bet. I often tell people to bring with a pair of good running shoes. They are a lot lighter than boots and they are more comfortable by far. Only one little problem. Going through heavy thorn bush might produce a thorn to go through the sole and that is a very unpleasant experiance.
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"Hunting is a way of life"
Bigfive,South Africa
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Charles_Helm
.333 member
Reged: 09/11/05
Posts: 337
Loc: Dallas, Texas
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Any reason the New Balance are favored? I have seen Dugaboy1 recommend them as well. I have Saucony shoes (Grid Stabil) because the running store (like I ever run!) recommended them for my arch shape.
I think I will try the Russells, but probably in a lower design, but will pack running shoes as well.
Time to get back to doing 3-5 miles a day since I look like the Pillsbury Dough Boy!
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Some pictures from Namibia
Some pictures from Zimbabwe
An Elephant Story
Edited by Charles_Helm (09/01/07 01:45 AM)
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