Montrail Namches

I'm one of three individuals who are in the process of testing these for BackpackGearTest.org. The field reports are due for editing today and should be posted on the site in the next week or so. They should definitely give you some insight into what to expect from the Namches.

I just got back from about 30 miles in 4 days in the Emigrant Wilderness in the Sierra with the Namches and a pack as heavy as 40 lbs. (carrying most of my wife's stuff when her tummy got upset and way too much food). Lots of hiking on granite and dusty trails up around 9k feet.

They performed very well. I also used trekking poles which helped with stability. I suffer from an ankle injured many times playing volleyball. The Namches with trekking poles satisfy my ankle worries, have awesome grip from the sole, very well padded and protecting insoles, breath well, seem durable, and fit OK.

Without trekking poles, and with a pack that heavy, I think my old higher boots might be needed to protect my ankles. The horses really wreck the trails up there and slipping is easy.

I had to use heavy bandages above my heal on my aciles tendon area because the edge of the shoes rubbed it raw. Other than that, I love them. Most importantly, they are lighter shoes (than boots) that protect your feet from hard rocky trails. Other brands of "shoes" I tried just don't do that. I had to get a full size larger to fit.

I've got mixed feelings about mine. Bought them two days after they hit my local store. They have probably around 350-400 miles on them and are close to being in need of replacement. My biggest gripe is durability. The loop on the back of the shoe pulled off one side pretty much immediately, poorly sewn on. The metal like mesh on the outside sucks. Stupid fabric has mostly torn. The toe bumpers are pretty rubbed raw (but I just did close to 50 miles cross country in rough terrain with them). Otherwise, I like the shoes. They did give me some small heel blisters, no biggie. Bigger problem seems similar to what previous poster described: the achilies tendon on my right heel can be worn raw by the shoes. That sucks majorly.

All in all, I'll be buying another pair because I need boots (to be covered by health insurance while hiking), and love them as they're the only trailrunner that I know of that is a boot. Plus, their stability and "platform" is solid. I hate trailrunners that are too much like running shoes. I've been meening to give feedback to Montrail about their poor durability though.

Oh yeah, and as for weight carried with these boots… I'm a maniac. I've hiked with them in ultralight style and with packs topping 90 pounds. Point being, uh, I don't know.

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Hi John,
I just got back from an 8 day hike in the central Sierra, about 30% in really rough off trail areas-Lamarck Col/Darwin Canyon/Davis Lakes-N.Goddard Creek/Reinstein Pass-Goddard Creek), the rest on trail. I used a pair of Namches that already had ~250 or so miles on them and was carrying 27#. They performed superbly, as they have all season. My only gripe is that the rand wore through in one spot on the left shoe due to a lot of talus abrasion, but then it wasn't designed as an off trail shoe(I think). I did pick up a blister on my left big toe from a lot of side shear while frictioning on angled talus, but can't blame that on the shoe as it would likely have occurred with just about any shoe I can think of in similar conditions. All in all a great shoe, IMHO. If they beefed up the rand, it would be a nearly perfect off trail shoe as well as on trail. Good support and excellent smearing capabilities on steeply sloped rock.

Well that is just real good to hear Tom. How’d you like climbing over all those boulder sized rocks from Darwin Canyon up to Lamarc Col? I am starting up the JMT next week and bought the Namches specifically for this trip. Thanks for the positive report.

Actually I was going West, down those boulders, sort of in-a-hurry as we were trying to get down to the lakes before a thunderstorm broke out above us. All I' can say is that I'd rather climb over them going up than down. But the Namches did fine, stable, supportive, and grippy, even in the light rain that developed about halfway down, just enough to slick the boulders. You should be just fine on the JMT. Best of luck!

We know a big slice (perhaps the majority) of the knowledgable LW, UL, and SUL hiking crowd now use trail runners because they're lightweight, breathable, and dry quick. But there is a significant portion of these same people who are concerned about their ankles. As someone mentioned earlier in this thread, the Namches seem to be the only pair of lightweight, fully synthetic boots out there. What gives?

If someone from Planet Shoe Design monitors this forum be advised that you're missing out on a good spot of market share.

Russell,
Someone's gotta be first.