The One Thing I Spare NO Expense For

The old saying “you get what you pay for” does not apply unilaterally to every situation and circumstance, after all I’ve had a $15 steak that was just as delicious than a $50 steak occasionally (external factors at play beyond the quality of the cut of meat).  Yet it often rings true that if you are willing to spend a bit more you’ll often get a more quality product.  In the prepper world this resonates for many of the things we hold dear, weapons (fancy a $200 CZ pistol….I think not) or outdoor gear and supplies.  I’m a middle of the road sort of person when it comes to most things, I like to look for bargains but sometimes I’ll shell out some coin for what I believe to be exceptionally high ROI items. There is however one category that I unilaterally spare no expense for, items I will never go cheap on because it has been my experience in every instance that the more you pay the better.  Any ideas as to what I’m referring to?

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It’s my paws! Aka the feet.

It’s my feet!  I’ve written this over and over again but I’ve seen grown (strong) men brought to their knees by nickle sized blisters or chafing, feet and care of them are of the utmost importance!  Heck a couple months ago I managed to tear off a significant amount of skin training on the mat (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) and I was quite hobbled because of it!  I couldn’t even wear a shoe when driving because the pressure would cause my foot to throb, it was awful.

I don’t consider myself a wealthy sort of chap but I do know how to save for large purchases or stockpile in moderation.  I buy good quality socks (Smartwool being one) every paycheck or so and am a big fan of Keen shoes for the trail.  Today I made the big jump and dropped some coin on some hiking boots I’ve had my eye on for quite a while, the Salomon Quest 4D 2 GTX.

Salomon Quest 4d 2 GTX

These Are SWEET.

Look, I’m that guy who might have a surplus ALICE pack on his back, $15 Wrangler pants and a beat up T shirt but you’d better believe there are some quality socks and shoes on my feet.  Initial impressions of the Salomon’s tell me they are quite possibly the best boot that I’ve ever slipped my feet into, they feel that good.  Yet only time will tell after I’ve taken them out on the trail and broken them in properly.  However there are other reviews out there which highlight just how good the Salomon’s are, check one of them out here at this link.  Here is their overview:

The Salomon Quest 4D II GTX, our Top Pick for Fastpacking, exemplifies the latest design innovations in hiking boots. Salomon has built a midweight hiking boot that remains true to the comfort and function of their award winning trail runners, while providing the support and ankle stability that hikers and backpackers expect from a boot. “Fastpacking” applies the modern alpinist’s light and fast approach to backpacking. By carefully selecting the minimum amount of lightweight equipment necessary for self-sufficiency, fastpackers cover long distances quickly. Sometimes breaking into a run when terrain allows, they may cover 20 miles in a day, often many more. It’s not uncommon to cover 150 miles in a week when fastpacking, a term used interchangeably with ultralight hiking.

From the ground up, this is a high-performance boot. Nimble enough for running, and stable enough for harsh terrain, it eats up the miles. The Contagrip sole provides excellent traction across a range of surfaces on the trail and off. The 4D Advanced Chassis gives foot support and great torsional stability. The uppers combine several materials that are flexible and supportive at the same time. The lacing system was our favorite, and the comfortable ankle collar gave us peace of mind when bombing down steep grades. Does it sound like we like this boot? WE LOVE IT!

FWIW, here is a nice video review of the Salomon’s.

Go Cheap At Your Own Risk!

To each his own, a phrase echoed over many forums when it comes to gear choices.  Yet what I can tell you is that going cheap on the feet is a gamble which has a high probability of ending in tears.  For those of you old enough to remember the knock off jungle boots with the plastic type sole, fancy a long roadmarch on those anytime soon?  Heck no!  I can state with 100% confidence that all the bugout gear in the world will do you no good if you can’t take a step without wincing in pain.  If you can spend the money on good socks and even better boots your feet will thank you!  FWIW I purchased mine locally at an REI, at $230 they weren’t cheap but quality never is.

Update: 7/21/15:  Just wanted to add an update as to the waterproof capabilities of this boot.  This past weekend I rode (motorcycle) all day Sunday, most of it in a very strong thunderstorm.  Luckily my suit kept me dry but I was getting blown all over the road and it was raining VERY hard, for a LONG time.  I was wearing the Salomon boots during this adventure and my feet stayed completely dry.