I have 43 years of hiking, backpacking and peak bagging experience. In recent years I migrated, like most people, from all-leather European-style mountain boots to lighter fabric/leather combination boots. They seemed to work well for a while but two years ago I started experiencing significant pain in my toes, instep and heel. I concluded that my lightweight boots from a well known outdoor supplier were a contributing factor, if not the root of the problem because they didn't provide sufficient torsional (side-to-side) rigidity.
Danner's advertisement for the "Terra Force" boot support system convinced me to buy the Radical GTX two years ago.
The first thing I liked about the Radicals was the roomy box toe area that eliminated occasional rubbing problems caused by my prior boots' smaller toe box. There was also plenty of instep space for my high arch. Unlike many boots that now come in a single width the Radical's multiple widths allow a wider fit in the ball of the foot while retaining the snug heel fit that prevents blisters.
The Terra Force torsional support has not diminished after 250+ miles of hiking. Besides day hikes and 2-3 day backpacks I've used the Radicals with good results on off-trail scrambles to summits in the High Sierra and North Cascades, occasionally crossing snow steep enough to require an ice axe. Despite offering much more support than my prior lightweight boots the Radicals are hardly heavier (my size 10.5-EE's weigh 52 ounces). Best of all, after switching to the Radicals my toe and instep problems ceased almost immediately, and my heel problems have gradually diminished substantially, all of which I attribute to the superior support of the Terra Force system.
In my opinion these boots have too many seams and different pieces of leather and fabric, but I'm not marking down my rating because that's how virtually all lightweight, relatively inexpensive boots are made these days.
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I am very active and have very flat feet & weak anckles. I need a very Supporting/Flexible/Well made shoe. This is the only shoe I have worn for the past 6 years (except for my tennis shoes @ the gym). Water proof, breathable and soft/tough leather.
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I bought these boots in dark brown 6 years ago direct from Danner for $132 shipped. Initially, I thought that I would use them for day hikes and such. While they are definitely rugged enough for hiking and have miles of trails on them at this point, they are not too bulky for everyday use. In fact, I wear these things all the time and after more than 6 years of use, you can hardly tell. I wear them to work, in the yard, out and about, basically everywhere. They have taken the punishment of the trails, the snow, ice, mud, etc. and still look good enough to wear to the office. They are extremely comfortable, light, completely waterproof, and have required no maintenance--not even new laces. I'm a huge believer in Danner boots, I have worn them daily for years at work, but never believed that these lightweight Danners would deliver the way their stitch down leather boots do. I was wrong. While this type of sole cannot be replaced making them in essence disposable boots, with the way they have stood up over the past 6 years, I expect to get more than my money's worth. Take it from someone who is really, really particular about footwear, these are great boots.
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I wear these for work -an average of 10 hrs. per day picking up recyclables for a major metropolitan contract. This job is extremely tough on footwear. I get in & out of a right-side-drive truck over 1000 times per shift in all types of weather -everything from 90 degrees down to 20 ( below that, I wear boots ), from sun to downpours, from dry pavement to sandy, cracked & uneven pavement. If there is a flaw, it will become evident very quickly. I've been using these since the beginning of August '08 ( so just over 3 months ). So far, they have proven to be very durable for an item made in China. Construction is solid. The 2 flaws that I have found are the soles themselves & water resistance. My soles are bald already, but these are used exclusively on pavement/concrete/sand. My right foot is the first to touch ground & is bent due to pressing on the gas or brake pedal, thus bears the brunt of abuse. My right foot gets soaked in the rain, while my left just gets damp. In all fairness, I must say that in 5 years of this job, I have only had one pair of footwear that kept my feet totally dry for an entire shift. I should be able to get a solid year out of these, if the soles do not wear completely through -that is definitely the weakest point of these shoes. I have had workboots in the past that lasted over a year, which is impressive in this business. Next August '09, I'll try & remember to post an update.
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I've just worn out my second pair of these boots, and I'm ordering my third pair. I wear these boots almost every day and they are comfortable and dry. They feel good right out of the box.
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