soon to be first-time hiker - shopping advice

[yodiggah]

Hello,

I'm setting off at the end of August for an open-ended hiking trip and am currently doing research on gear. Do any of you know good stores in New York City in which to buy or try gear? I've been told that EMS and Paragon will charge me through the nose, but I don't know other places in the city to check out---especially places that might have knowledgeable and helpful staff.


Thanks,

Y.

[natchez]

The North Face
2101 Broadway
Upper West Side
High-end outdoor gear and high-fashion apparel for hiking, camping, and urban sports.
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Eastern Mountain Sports
591 Broadway
Soho
Would-be adventurers in need of sports and outdoor apparel will find everything they need here.
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Eastern Mountain Sports
20 W. 61st St.
Upper West Side
Would-be adventurers in need of sports and outdoor apparel will find everything they need here.
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Tent & Trails
21 Park Pl.
Financial/Battery Pk
You’ll find the appropriate tents, parkas, ropes, backpacks, and more here.
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Patagonia
101 Wooster St.
Soho
426 Columbus Ave.
Upper West Side
Whether you’re headed for the Great Outdoors or the city streets, a prime source for apparel to brave the elements.
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These are a few I found on google. Mind you, I'm not familiar with these shops since I don't live in NY (or the States even) - but maybe you want to try them out ;)

[yodiggah]

Thanks for the info

[brendang]

Big fan of Campmor here in NJ... great stuff huge shop.
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810 Route 17 North
Paramus, New Jersey 07652
also at campmor.com
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Make sure you hit as many day hikes and weekend jaunts as you can before heading off on a substantially longer trip. And besides goo boots/hiking shoes make sure you get some serious hiking socks.

I've seen folks drop $200 on mad boots, but pull on some cotton Walmart specials. Then after a 10+ mile day say the boots chewed up their feet. Some great brands are the obvious Smartwool, Darn Tough Vermont and Dahlgren, but also check out Lorpen and Bridgedale.

Good luck & enjoy
B.B)

[yodiggah]

Thanks for the thoughts. I've been checking campmor's website and finding good prices.

As far as socks, I'm kind of screwed. I wear 15 EEEE shoes and finding socks is always very difficult. Finding good synthetic hiking socks in my size is proving quite an adventure. I'll search for the brands you mention. Hopefully some of them have king-size options.

Best,

M.

[brendang]

Wow...

Those are some serious tootsies you got there, Yodiggah
I'll see if I can do a little research for ya. Who doesn't love a challenge?

B.B)

[yodiggah]

Thanks a lot. I certainly appreciate it.

Your other advice is sound as well. My trip is open-ended. I'm basically looking to hike all over North America in the next year or so and I have very limited experience. Maybe once I get my gear together, I might find a trail upstate to prep. Yeah, actually, I think I'll put a posting in the "trails" section for local recommendations.

M.

[brendang]

Howdy Mike, Got a specific tip for some terrific NY area hiking you may want to try, but I'll put it in the other post.

I just checked the brands we carry and I think you may want to try some hiking socks from Lorpen. The XL size from 13-15+ and the quality is stunning. You're welcome to try a pair or two and if they ain't doing it for ya, send `em back. The Light Hikers rock as well as the CoolmaxFX w/Modal Hiking socks.

I love Darn Tough Vermont and Bridgedale socks as well, but the DT XLs goes up to 13.5 and Bridgdales' 12.5.

Funny, my wife has the opposite problem, here foot is a size 5.5 getting shoes to fit is a nightmare.

Brendan B)

[natchez]

yodiggah wrote:

....... Finding good synthetic hiking socks in my size is proving quite an adventure...............

synthetic socks are better than natural cotton ones? :ohmy:

[brendang]

natchez wrote:

synthetic socks are better than natural cotton ones? :ohmy:

Oh yeah... to put it mildly. Fabric tech and sock structure developed in the past few years is miles ahead of what I grew up hiking in.

Take a perennial favorite like Smartwool's Adrenalin Hiker w/ med cushioning, a hiking classic. Nice rich Mernio wool blend, just enough cushioning that you don't feel like you're on one of those balloon 'moon-walk' rides...lol

Or something like Injinji's Tetratsoks; like a glove for your feet-n-toes. Their Outdoor Series is comfortable cool and antiblister, but offer minimal cushioning. When matched with good trail shoe, they'd make a lethal(in a good way),combination for shorter jaunts.

Brendan B)

[yodiggah]

Brendan,

Thanks a lot, Lorpen sounds good. I'll order a pair to check them out (nice site design, btw). Do you know about how long they last on a trail? They're a bit of a hefty investment for a pauper like myself. Are most good hiking socks priced in this ballpark? I'm not sure how many pairs I'm going to need for the trip, but this could get tricky.

Best,

M.

PS. If you want a good schadenfreude chuckle, imagine this: it's harder for me to find hats and sunglasses that fit than shoes and socks.

[brendang]

yodiggah wrote:

PS. If you want a good schadenfreude chuckle, imagine this: it's harder for me to find hats and sunglasses that fit than shoes and socks.
Mike,what did they feed you in your youth?;)
Glad you enjoyed the store, I sent you a PM.

B.

[natchez]

brendang wrote:

natchez wrote:

synthetic socks are better than natural cotton ones? :ohmy:

Oh yeah... to put it mildly. Fabric tech and sock structure developed in the past few years is miles ahead of what I grew up hiking in.

Take a perennial favorite like Smartwool's Adrenalin Hiker w/ med cushioning, a hiking classic. Nice rich Mernio wool blend, just enough cushioning that you don't feel like you're on one of those balloon 'moon-walk' rides...lol

Or something like Injinji's Tetratsoks; like a glove for your feet-n-toes. Their Outdoor Series is comfortable cool and antiblister, but offer minimal cushioning. When matched with good trail shoe, they'd make a lethal(in a good way),combination for shorter jaunts.

Brendan B)

Okay, so they're comfortable. But, how are they for the skin? (I am a 'nature-addict' - so am very 'suspicious' about anything artificial :blush: )

[brendang]

Most of the socks we've been chatting about are a blend of natural and synth. Even Smartwool is a blend of well, wool and synthetics that provide elasticity to keep them from bunching up or sliding down your ankle, arch support, or temperature/moisture control.

As far as natural vs. synthetics, technology simply makes it more comfy to explore wild and inclement places. Consider climbing an 8k elevation in winter without Gortex or a good micro fleece. Or life before wicking skivvies?

Take one our brands, Dahlgren, they produce some terrific socks with a Merino wool and Alpaca blend. They're soft, tough and comfy, but what makes them superior to au-natural socks is the addition of strategically knitted nylon zones for flexibility and snug fit, and their patented 'Wickspun' yarns that can draw moisture more efficiently.

In the end, it's personal choice. Getting out and having a good, safe, comfortable hike or backpacking trip is what you're after. What I usual tell folks who haven't tried some of the brands we carry is get a couple of pair, give `em hell and if you don't like `em, send them back.

When you invest in gear that is about personal comfort and fit, be it a pack, boots or rain gear, it's impossible to simply read a review and know. You got to field test them.

Brendan B)
killersocks.com

[natchez]

Yeah, I agree with that. Certainly personally trying something out prevails over reading reviews or ads. Some people though, like me, have instinctive (or so it looks like to me) objections against synthetics. They (me :P ) need an extra push trying to overcome that :blush:

[TheNomad]

Gotta say, coming from a a guy who likes to call himself a squirrel squeezer as well... I love those synthetic blend socks. They provide padding, have long life, let your feet breath, dry quicker, and are plain comfortable.

Don't let the "synthetic" name scare ya. Science can some times make something for the good guys.<br><br>Post edited by: TheNomad, at: 2007/07/30 19:47

[natchez]

Alrighty then B)

"let your feet breath" - the reason I'm 'natural material-addictive' is probably because nature also provides all its 'materials' like this... (think about the animals living with those materials, they are fully optimized materials in my view).

But if you say your feet breath with synthetics as well, I must try it out too :)