Backpacking Europe

[denis]

i plan to do both. We will be hitting some cities like rome, london etc. but I also really want to go skiing and do some climbs. Probebly too much to ask from one pair of boots.

I used to have a pair of salomon boots -full leather style- that I used just about everyday for walking to school, working, hiking in the summer as well as in the winter. Once broken in they were absolutely awesome all the time and lasted incredibly long. If memory serves me right I must have kept the for 9 years, during about 6 of which they were used on a daily basis 300+ days a year. I guess that would make an automotive equivalent of 2 million miles If I could find a similar pair today I'd pay big money.

 

[haystax]

I recently picked up a Lowe Alpine pack from Sierra Trading Post online for $50 - you might try there. Vasque has always been my favorite brand of shoes both light and heavy hikers...I currently wear some North Face Gore-Tex trail runners that are pretty nice though, most new TNF stuff isn't all that great. When I was in Scandinavia and CZ last fall, my most used layers were a ArcTeryx Paclight shell and Mountain Hardwear pullover 100 weight fleece. November is fawkin' cold in Sweden, damn ocean breeze and humidity.