Reviews > Footwear > Boots > Dunham Waffle Stomper Terrastryder-Mid > Shandra Hunt > Field Report

Field Report - Dunham Terrastryder women's mid hiking boots

Name: Shandra Hunt

Age: 26

Gender: Female

Height: 5' 3" (1.6 m)

Weight: 145 lb (66 kg)

Location: Ben Lomond, California

Email: jns170@yahoo.com

Date: 5/8/05

Biography:

            Growing up in the Santa Cruz mountains, I have always been an avid hiker and camper.  Only recently however, I have evolved into a backpacker. I started backpacking about three years ago. Since then I have done many trips throughout California and the Southwest. I spent five days packing in Grand Canyon, which fueled my love for the sport even more. I try to backpack as often as possible, I think I may be addicted, and I am constantly looking for more efficient and lightweight alternatives for the gear that I own.

Product Information: Dunham women's Terrastryder mid boots

URL: www.dunhambootmakers.com

Manufacturer: Dunham

Measured weight: 30 oz (850 g)

MSRP: N/A

Size: 8 D (wide) U.S. - 6 U.K. - 30 EUR.

Color: Laurel green/deep sea blue

Item number: WOW616GN

Product Description:

The Dunham Terrastryder boot is designed for performance and comfort. The Terrastryder features a Vibram® Supertrek compound rubber outsole that, according to the company, enhances grip on rocky surfaces. Dunham has equipped the Terrastryders with a rollbar that is a biomechanically positioned piece of graphite in the midsole. These boots have dual TPU plates sandwiched between the midsole and outsole. The rear plate provides stability and is supposed to help protect the heel from trail bruising. The front plate is intended to be flexible to provide mobility and protection. These boots have a stability web in the midfoot, which is intended to provide support while also reducing the overall weight of the shoe. These boots feature a patented Dryworks® moisture management membrane system, which is supposed to make the boots both waterproof and breathable.

There are several features present in the Terrastryder boots that are intended to make them more comfortable and a better fit. Dunham uses a molded EVA midsole they refer to as ABZORB® in the heel and forefoot. This is supposed to provide shock absorption and cushioning. The Terrastryder is offered in extended sizes and widths and has a 360° fit design that is intended to address foot volume. There is a gusseted tongue to keep sticks and stones out of the boots. These boots feature non-stretch stability wings that provide "a secure heel and forefoot cradle for lightweight lateral support and secure foothold."

Field Trial:

When I first got the Dunham boots, I replaced the insoles that came with the boots and put in a pair of backpacking specific insoles that I like. The insoles I put in have more cushioning than the insoles provided. I have really only worn these boots hiking and backpacking. I don't have an opportunity to wear hiking boots to work and I find most boots to be a little too much shoe for everyday wear. Most hiking boots I have owned tend to be on the bulky side but I think the Terrastryder boots don't fall into the same category. These boots are durable but not overly beefed up. I hiked 10 mi (16.1 km) in Nisene Marks State Park for my first test of the boots. An account of that hike can be read in my initial report. I have worn these boots on a few other day hikes and have tried different types of socks on each hike. I typically wear really thick, padded backpacking socks when I hike with a pack on. I like to wear socks that are thinner but still have some padding for day hiking. I have found that these boots are as comfortable with thick socks as they are with thin ones. The first backpacking trip I wore the Dunham Terrastryders on was to an area in the Los Padres National Forest, near Big Sur, Ca. This area is only about 1.5 mi (2.4 km) from the California coast, so it is very damp and there was quite a bit of fog, making it overcast, drizzly and gray both days that I was there. The hike was a fairly short one, about 3 mi (4.8 km) to the Old Coast camp but the terrain was difficult. There were many obstacles. There had been a lot of big storms that churned up the trail and brought down a lot of trees and brush, so I was bushwhacking for most of the hike. The Terrastryder boots stuck to the soggy, wet trail well and I felt sure - footed throughout the hike. There were a few areas of the trail that were very narrow, with a steep drop off, but I felt like I had stability and traction, even on the scariest parts. The Terrastryder boots have forefoot wings that are supposed to provide ankle rollovers. I felt like these forefoot wings really helped a few times when I would possibly have rolled my ankle.

I carried a 32 lb (14.5 kg) pack for that trip, which is about my average pack weight. I was concerned by the stiffness of the Dunham boots when I first tried them on, and had some soreness on this hike. My upper ankles were tender and sore after hiking to camp and then hiking around exploring and gathering wood. Some of the stiffness of these boots can be adjusted by how they are laced, but it has taken me a little while to figure out the best combination. I wore the boots with the socks I usually wear, my thick, padded Wigwam wool socks and didn't have any blisters in the usual places that I get them. I tend to have problems with my feet when I hike with added weight, so I was happy that I didn't have my usual array of blisters. The Dunham boots come in a variety of sizes and widths, which is great for someone like me that has wide feet. I walked through a few creeks and a lot of mud on the hike but the Terrastryders repelled the water and mud, staying clean and dry. A couple of times I stood in the creek so that the water covered the boots up to about mid ankle. One of my favorite things about these boots is how waterproof they are. I have purposely stood, and hiked through any mud and water that I have come across. I am amazed every time, how the water and mud bead off of these boots. Despite standing in water a few times, my feet were dry when I took the boots off. I really like the tread on the Terrastryders; it provides a lot of traction and doesn't cake with mud like other boots would. I did notice on this hike that one of the laces was beginning to fray already. The rest of the boots were in good condition at the end of the hike.

The next backpacking trip that I wore the Dunham boots on was to Point Reyes National Seashore. This area is on the coast, north of San Francisco Bay. The weather was beautiful for the weekend. There was quite a bit of thick fog every morning that soaked all of my stuff, but that was to be expected that close to the beach. This was a substantially longer and harder hike than the Old Coast camp hike. The hike to the camp is 6.3 mi (10.1 km) over varying terrain. About halfway on the hike in, I tripped myself when the laces of my right boot caught on the upper lace hook of my left boot. I wiped out pretty hard on a flat rocky spot and tore up my knee. I managed to pull the lower, metal lace hook out of the boot when I fell. It was not the one I use. I have found that these boots are more comfortable for me to wear if I only use the upper lace hook when tying them. I think that the laces that come with these boots are a little long and I would recommend either replacing them with shorter ones, tucking them inside the boots or tying them so there are no loops left. The latter, I did after I fell, which kept them from getting caught again. For the rest of the hike, I felt sure footed over the varying terrain. I carried a 48 lb (21.7 kg) pack on the hike in, and had a few blisters on each foot. I tend to get blisters on a couple of the pads of my toes. The balls of my feet were also pretty sore when I got to camp. The hike out was easier, and I only carried about 28 lb (12.7 kg). I had some residual soreness from the blisters I got on the hike in, but overall my feet felt pretty good. I didn't have the ankle soreness that I experienced on my other trip. There wasn't much mud or water on the trail, so the hike wasn't much for testing the water resistance of the boots.

So far I have noticed a few great features in the Dunham Terrastryders. There is a lot of ankle stability, and the forefoot wings add support to the rest of the foot. These boots are excellent in wet and muddy conditions. The water and mud beads on the boots and runs right off. This makes for clean, dry boots in the soggiest conditions. A few of the hikes I have worn the Dunham boots on, were some of the muddier hikes I've done. I haven't had to clean the boots at all, and they look pretty good, there isn't much caked on mud. The Terrastryder boots have really good traction and stability on many different types of terrain but they don't pack mud in the treads. It can be a hassle if you have to stop every so often on the trail and clean out the treads of your boots. The Dunham company has eliminated this problem, even though it looks like the waffle stomper design would pick up a lot of mud. I have hiked in these boots on steep embankments, through thick mud, creeks and loose terrain and have felt sure - footed and safe throughout.

My main complaint and concern about the Dunham boots is that they are really stiff when they are new. As I have worn them over about 30 mi (48.3 km) so far, I think they are starting to loosen up, break in, and become more comfortable. When I carry a heavy pack while wearing these boots, I have some blisters and soreness in my feet, but with a lighter pack, these boots are much more comfortable. The gusseted tongue is designed to prevent rocks and sticks and things from finding their way into the boots. The middle of the tongue is taller than normal. I think it makes the boots harder to tie because this part doesn't sit right against my upper ankle and tends to rub a little. Short of redesigning the tongue, I'm not sure there is a way to address this. As I mentioned before, I think that the laces are a little too long, but this could be remedied a few ways.

I will be hiking a lot more in these boots over the next few months. I day hike much more in the spring and summer and I have a few short and long backpacking trips coming up over the next few months. I look forward to putting the Dunham Terrastryders through the paces and the miles. Overall, I like these boots and hopefully the few minor concerns I have about them will be resolved as they break in more.

Good Things:

> Good ankle support

> Dryworks® moisture management membrane system, provides waterproof protection and breathable comfort.

> Vibram® Supertrek compound rubber outsole for enhanced grip on rocky surfaces.

Bad Things:

> Stiff when new.

> Laces are too long.

Reviews > Footwear > Boots > Dunham Waffle Stomper Terrastryder-Mid > Shandra Hunt > Field Report