There Are Pandas, and Then There Are Pandas.
And this isn't either of them! The Pandas we're talking about here, are watches, not bears. And what got me thinking about them (again) was a link posted this morning by @cm.rook who pointed a few of us to the very attractive (and not terribly priced) Yema "Rallygraph" Panda which, in it's most traditional arrangement, looks like the one on the left, but can also be had in the version on the right: The model on the left is a true Panda, while the model on the right is called a reverse Panda. The reason for that distinction is clear--Panda bears, only come in the first arrangement. Now at this point, everyone should be thinking about the most well-know Panda, The Rolex Panda, which is actually a Daytona, and among Rolex Daytonas, the most famous of which is the Paul Newman Daytona, which was famous first, because it was Paul's, and second because it sold at auction for $17.8 million (US Dollars). The story of that auction is well-known so I'll only...
Nov 8, 2019
What to Look For In a Shoe
Some attributes to look for in a good cross-functional trail shoe include non-slip rubber, ankle support, breathability, drainability, durability, and the ability to stay on your foot while swimming, stream crossing or navigating mud (high-top shoes are best).
Material
Most trail/hiking shoes are made of some combination of durable material; and are usually not waterproof in entirety. If you want to keep your feet dry and warm (for example in colder conditions), you might want to consider Gore-Tex socks, waterproof socks or adding an application of waterproofing to the shoe fabric before using. Shoes intended to use in water and on trail often are designed to drain water, versus to be entirely watertight and waterproof; this feature is helpful when needing to maintain the lightweight properties of the shoes while stream crossing or swimming in the footwear. You can supplement the insulation of these types of shoes by wearing insulating neoprene socks, which like a wetsuit, maintain warmth when wet, unlike a cotton sock that pulls warmth from the skin when wet.
Fit
Make sure to try your shoe on before purchasing, and to additionally spend time breaking in the shoe (with the socks or layers you plan to use with the shoe). A sure way to detract from the wonderful experience of a hike is getting blisters or pain in “hot-spots” early on in a hike if you have spent the time pre-trip to break in your new trail shoe.
Selecting Soles and Type of Rubber for Traction
Most trail and robust hiking shoes have stiffer soles, more stability, and better traction than typical running or walking shoes, but thick and rigid soles can be very slippery on wet, icy or rocky terrain. Shoes that have a thick enough sole to protect against rough terrain, but still allow for good flex at the balls of the feet are ideal for unstable and wet/slippery terrain.
What features do you find as “must-haves” in a cross-functional trail shoe?
These are just a few of the features that I find most useful in a cross functional shoe, and these features are by no means a comprehensive list. What features do you find most useful in a shoe for trail, off trail, mud, slick rocks, and wet conditions?