don’t want trail runners

not sure what you mean by solid?

I have solomons that i've done over 500mi between 2 different pair that keep my feet happy.

yea, you will probably have to go to a dedicated outdoor or running type store to find better selection of trail shoes. REI garage sales are great places to find shoes cheaper.

It shouldn't surprise you that any shoe reveiw has both positive and negative comments. There are so many variations in feet that it would be impossible for one shoe to meet even the majority of people's needs. The key is to understand what YOU need and try to figure out the characteristics that match. As far as Solomon's. I have gone through at least five pairs of two style Solomon's and at least eight pairs of LaSportiva Wildcats and Brooks Cascadias in the last three years. I likely won't go back to the Salomons because I prefer a wider shoe with a roomy toe box. But don't rule out a shoe or Brand based on mine or anyone else's opinion regarding fit because it may be the ideal fit for you.

Exactly. For me, the Salomons are perfect. I have very narrow feet with high, stiff arches and the Salomons are great for me.

I see this all the time with runners: most good running stores won't even let you pick out your own shoes. The one I use here in Chicago makes you wait for a salesperson, they talk to you first…and if you've never bought shoes there before they do a whole analysis of your foot before THEY choose a few pair for you to try.

My favorite shoes may give you the worst blisters you've ever had.

and it can even change between models too. the Solomon gore tex model fits me perfect and the non goretex slips on my heel even a half size smaller.

i would like to try some Sportivas since that is what all of my climbing shoes are. Will be my next try when my solomons wear out.

The Brooks Cascadia is my current choice, since I trail run daily in them and am used to them. I have wondered about whether there might be an advantage to something else for backpacking, but I am not all that inclined to experiment since I am happy with the Cascadias.

Thats generally what I've read about the Solomans. Then I read about broken lugs, lamination problems, and rapid tread wear.
By solid, I mean, something that will protect my foot when bushwacking. Also something that doesn't let the sand in.
I've been wearing Chaco Ponsul. While actually a water shoe, it makes a good trail shoe. Not really the best water shoe as they tend to hold water. After 4 months, the tread is wearing thin and they're getting holes. They're also noted for delamination.
I'm looking to replace the Chacos as well as my old heavy Asolo boots. I actually need 2 pairs.Solomon Cosmics may fit the bill. The Vasque Feather weights look decent as well except for the insulite.
My main problem with REI is that they are always in the wrong direction. You have to head towards the city. I'm afraid I'm stuck with the internet.

Runningwarehouse.com and Zappos.com were great for me. Free shipping on orders and returns, and neither have balked that I return at least two shoes for every one I've bought. Despite doing my best research beforehand, nothing compares to just trying a shoe on.

All of our local gear shops ascribe to the heavy boot philosophy, and every REI I've tried has a limited selection (though, my wife found a pair that fit her beautifully). So the Internet has been my only source of good shoes. The sizing info and fit on Runningwarehouse.com is really fantastic if you take the time to understand it. It's the closest thing to an Internet fit guide that I've seen.

Oh, and trail runners for all three season stuff for me, on or off trail.

well softer sole rubber will wear faster but have better grip. that is the compromise you need to find.. For the White mountains where I hike there is more rock than dirt so having softer soles helps with grip. unlike western trails where it's mostly dirt/sand where you'd want more luggy traction and durability.

contact points will always be personal.

"Then I read about broken lugs, lamination problems, and rapid tread wear."

After how many miles, in what kind of terrain, with what weight?

"By solid, I mean, something that will protect my foot when bushwacking."

Do you mean chaparral, scree fields, or boulder fields?

"Also something that doesn't let the sand in."

Do you also want the mesh to be open, light, and fast draining?

"My main problem with REI is that they are always in the wrong direction."

Perhaps if you wait for a few years REI will build a store along your most used road.

"don't want trail runners"

Well, that solves the problem right there.

"My favorite shoes may give you the worst blisters you've ever had."

My "favorite" shoe reviews (I see them all the time on amazon, and sometimes even a few here) are the ones that go "I just want everyone to know that these shoes fit my feet great (or terrible)". LOL Sometimes that is pretty much the whole review.

For me the Salomons are the "cruel shoes" – the hair shirt of the shoe world. I have very wide feet and if I'm not wearing 4Es I have to size up to clown shoe territory even in "normal shaped" shoes.

My only advice to the OP is to try out trail runners. There are a lot of people, including myself, on here that started with a prejudice againts using them as opposed to "more protective" footwear, and switched to the trail runners as being in the end both more comfortable and safer.

If you *really* care about the issues and aren't just expressing your uninformed prejudice against the idea, then you can probably spend many hours reading posts on this site where people break it down in great detail (for the 10,000th time) as to why trail runners are better for UL.

But in the end use what works for you, and what are comfortable for you. Just because the majority here have one opinion doesn't mean you aren't one of the people where something more works better.

I don't want trail runners either. Get something lighter, like racing flats.

Nick, you might try a thin layer of tar applied directly to your feet will provide the perfect solution.

When I first switched years ago I thought trail runners weren't for be because my feet would hurt after I hiked. I could feel every little rock. I was looking for a meshy upper but with a 'solid' sole. During my search I just wore the TRs I had.

Well during that time my feet toughened up and I realized it wasn't that my shoes were soft- it was my FEET that were soft.

What brand I was wearing doesn't matter because fit is so personal. My suggestion is get a good fitting pair. (I size up a whole size- feels weird at first, then you hike a few miles and it feels right) Then wear that pair on a bunch of hikes. Your feet may hurt for a while (months?) but then they will strengthen and everything comes around. By that time you'll probably have formed an opinion of your TRs and either be happy with them or try a different fit.

Its amazing how 'solid' TRs can feel when you have strong feet.

My feet rarely hurt anymore… ever. – even after my longest day of 25 miles of the Timberline trail- I hiked the other 17 miles the next day and my feet didn't even cross my mind.

http://m.zappos.com/scarpa-epic?zfcTest=fcl%3A0

I love these shoes, sort of a mix between a trail running shoe and an approach shoe. They remind me of my beloved worn out Montrail Hardrocks. I wish they would dry a little faster.

Very stable with grippy soles, I've climbed low level class 5 with the Hardrocks and class 3 with the Epics and they feel very similar.

"Then I read about broken lugs, lamination problems, and rapid tread wear."

After how many miles, in what kind of terrain, with what weight?

New, out of the box.

"By solid, I mean, something that will protect my foot when bushwacking."

Do you mean chaparral, scree fields, or boulder fields?

Yes

"Also something that doesn't let the sand in."

Do you also want the mesh to be open, light, and fast draining?

I know, good luck with that one, huh?

"My main problem with REI is that they are always in the wrong direction."

Perhaps if you wait for a few years REI will build a store along your most used road.

I just avoid the cities. If I have 3 hours to drive , I'd rather be out walking.

"don't want trail runners"

Well, that solves the problem right there.

I don't run, I walk.

"When I first switched years ago I thought trail runners weren't for be because my feet would hurt after I hiked."

I understand the ankle thing…I'm wearing neoprene lined sandals now. I can walk in the water, walk on wet granite, hike in sand, and they offer decent protection from cuts and bruises.. My ankles are still exposed and do get pretty beat up sometimes. There are times that boots do offer more protection.

Scree,

Yeah you get what I'm saying but i was more talking about my actual foot. Tarsals?

My arch and foot muscles had to get stronger due to all the warping that non-stiff soles induce. My whole foot would be swollen and sore and it took probably a year/ a hundred miles over that year to strengthen.

http://www.bellevilleboot.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=97

Light and solid. Is there such a thing? Yes, for me there is.

I have a closet full of the latest and greatest light hiking boots and trail runners and I keep going back to the Salomon XT Wings. I still have the originals also the XT Wings 2 and in January I picked up the XT Wings 3. Feels like a light tennis shoe but supports like a solid boot. Luv them all.

I have the inov-8 Roclite 288. It was my first footwear after I decided to lighten up, but I didn´t quite dare to get low shoes. They are light, comfortable and grippy. Just recently there is a puncture in the membrane, but I have used them a lot over 3 years. They have a narrow last (which is a reason why I won´t get a new pair), but that seems to fit the OP.

I think the newer version is a few grams lighter (is it called the 286? I think so.) There are other roclite boots as well. Might be worth a look!

Waiting for a pair of trailroc 150s now, and hoping my feet cope with a minimalist shoe for backpacking! I´ve done a lot of walking and some running (all my running, but that ain´t a lot… ) on road, but different on trail! Well, here we go!

Seems there are enough Salomon fans to discard the disgruntled few. The Scarpas and the Brooks were nice shoes as well, though leather and water always worries me.
Found the Geckos on Amazon for $60 with free shipping both ways. A pair of gators for ankle protection and it should be like driving a convertible except I'm walking..