Buy salomon wings sky GTX?

zappos only has em in a size 6.5 for males right now, but im sure they will carry more soon. This always happens after the backpacker gear guide comes out. They name 1 boot as their favorite and it instantly sells out everywhere. The same thing happened with the kayland zephyr, which ultimately turned out to be a pretty mediocre/bad boot according to many reviews. The XT sky wings look like a ramped up boot version of their xt wings, and if that is the case, then be prepared for a narrow toebox. Im a 9.5 medium, and I've always worn a 9.5 medium…my xt wings were the first time I ever felt that a toebox might be on the narrower side.

If you want trailrunner lightness, but with ankle support, look into the inov8 roclite 390s and 370s. Lot of people swear by them, just watch out on sizing. Theres a bunch of threads on this forum about which models need to be sized up vs which run true to size.

these things are great. i got my local blue ridge store to get them in for me and had them within a week (blue ridge rocks!)
The sky toe box is much larger than the shoe version – which is narrow like the other poster reported (i returned the shoes because of that reason). i have just started to wear mine and so far no issues at all – great feel on my feet.

i am using smart wool socks right now.

i would say go for it!

I too have the new Wings Sky GTX, and I can at least attest to their comfort while I've been wearing them just around town and at work to get used to them. They're lightweight for a boot at 1060g average per pair, and the high-top feature helps keep my low-volume foot in place. I work at an outdoor retailer so I was able to get mine direct from Salomon, so I can't really help with where to get them. If you can find them somewhere, though, I'd definitely get them or at least try them on.

–edited for accuracy, haha–

Thanks guys- yeah I've been asking local retailers and they don't know what I'm talking about! Called REI directly and they have no product number in the computer yet so no telling if they'll carry them ever. I tried to find a contact on the salomon site and can't find anything. I'm hiking up in the upper peninsula of Michigan at the end of May and may not be able to get into them in time.

Nicholas,

Can you comment on why you need ankle support? Some of us may convince you that ankle support is marketing to get us to buy more expensive, and higher profit margin footwear.

Certainly Nick… Simply put I'm a notorious ankle roller. Whether backpacking or dayhiking with or without a pack I have a nasty habit of rolling my ankles, even on flat ground. I have however started using trekking poles after a particularly difficult hike at Isle Royale last year. I haven't used them backpacking, just a couple of times in recent weeks on day hikes. I suppose that would make a difference. Please feel free to convince away, I'm eager to hear people's thoughts.

I tried a pair on while looking for trail shoes, and was pretty impressed; much more boot-like than shoe-like, though. I'll probably wait until a more subdued color variation comes out, though. That orange is REALLY something in person, and this is coming from a Tennessee Vol, no less!

They do come in a black/grey color… I'm a touring musician by profession and have a couple of gigs in April in Knoxville/Nashville, is that near you? Maybe I'll take a side trip and try them on down there.

There isn't enough money in the world to get me to wear burnt orange shoes.

backcountry.com has 4 left…

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Salomon-Wings-Sky-GTX-Hiking-Boot-Mens/SAL1859M.html

I'd love a pair, but wow – they are seriously orange.

I usually don't mind orange, but those have to be some of the ugliest shoes I've ever seen.

Didn't require much thinking at all. No, thanks.

$200! Yikes, that is a lot of cash for a pair of trail boots. Those sure look like boots the Backpacker.com staff would use on some exotic trek with "heinous" conditions. I don't think I'll ever understand why Salomon charges such steep prices on all their gear. I think that "sale" on The Clymb.com last week confirmed that.

Mitchell- can you comment on the sizing of these particular boots? I have a normal to narrow foot, size 9.

If you're medium to narrow sizing, then these "might" not be the shoes for you. They have a pretty spacious toe box and are mid-volume across the instep. Now, I have pretty low foot-volume, but my feet are able to fit the width of the toe-box (they definitely aren't narrow like the usual Salomons, as one of the above posters mentioned). Across the instep I can comfortably tighten the laces to fit snug around my feet. If you can get them from someplace you can return them to for a full refund then I would say maybe try them. As for the size, my left foot measures just about at 9.5 (right is 9) so I went with the 9.5 and I have just the right amount of toe room. If you have tried on Salomons before, you should go with the size that fit you best when you were trying them on, just be aware that the Wings Sky is wider in the toe-box.

Nick, the store is River Sports Outfitters in Knoxville.

Thanks, Matt. That might work out great. I have to admit I'm getting interested in the Inov8 shoe/boots. I've been looking at some past posts, I guess proper etiquette would be to start a new post to discuss those.

"They're lightweight for a boot at 1060g average per pair"

I think nearly 2.5 pounds is not light for a pair of boots. I realize you can get much heavier, but you can get much lighter as well. Inov8 Roclite 288 GTX boots are a touch over 20 oz. for the pair. The X-Talon 240s are even lighter, 17 oz for a pair. Never used the X-Talon, but I used the 288s all winter long. Great boot.

I was a notorious ankle roller, like you. Couldn't do a hike without rolling my fricking ankle. Had a pair of Scarpa Kailash GTXs (because Backpacker mag said they were the best a couple of years ago, still have 'em, happy to sell 'em to you cheap!). Came across this site. Reluctantly started wearing plain old trail runners to backpack in. Other than winter, won't hike in anything else now. I rarely roll my ankle now (perhaps I've strengthened it?). Can't remember the last time I did it. And not having to lift those heavy boots with each and every step has increased my enjoyment of backpacking immensely!

So from a former ankle roller, you should give it a try. A real try (not just one trip). You just might be surprised. And quite pleasantly so.

Thanks Douglas-

I'm worried about the sizing with the Inov8s. I'm a normal to slightly narrow size 9 so what I've read so far indicates a half size bigger I guess? I usually wear a light hiking sock and a liner. I know I can go Zappos etc but the less back and forth shipping the better.

I have one more concern that I'm embarrassed to bring up but since you all have been so nice I'll take whatever teasing it might entail . . . I'm afraid to buy a boot that isn't waterproof.

Oops! I guess those 288 GTX are waterproof! You know, I think I'm going to go for these. I hope I can get the sizing right.

Thanks, Douglas!

Nicholas, very few of us, including me, hike in waterproof boots most of the year (some not at all). I only use the GTX in winter. The rest of the time I'm in trail runners, non waterproof, of various kinds (right now, Inov8s). Waterproof boots/shoes in warmer weather simply don't make sense — your feet are gonna sweat in 'em so you'll get wet anyway, only your boots/shoes won't dry out. With good mesh trailrunners, even if you walk through water (which I do all the time) the shoes will dry out pretty quickly. Highly recommend not getting goretex boots/shoes for the upcoming season.

As far as fit, I think the 288s run a to the narrow size, but fit correctly length wise. I'd try your normal size instead of sizing up. But I'd instead recommend Roclite 295s or Flyroc 310s, something like that, for the rest of this year.

Thanks, Douglas. Pretty much what I expected to hear. There are very few things transitioning into UL that have been major shifts. I've always carried minimal and fairly light gear, single wall shelter and frameless packs are the biggies.

I guess I've held steadfast to the idea of keeping my feet dry via waterproof boots. But I think I can be convinced to take a chance. I always think about what the first UL packer I ever talked at length to said while we were waiting for our plane to Isle Royale, "gore-tex is Bull S**T" . . . Nick

Looks like REI finally has these in stock..