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Reviews > Footwear > Trail Shoes > Dunham Waffle Stomper Nimble Shoes > Curt Peterson > Initial ReportDunham Waffle Stomper Nimble Shoes - Initial Report - Manufacturer: www.dunhamfits.com
Below you will find: 1. Dunham Waffle Stomper Nimble Specifications •Weight for pair of size US size 14 EEEE: 39.1ounces (1111
grams)
Description and Features Manufacturer description: "The Dunham Waffle Stomper Nimble is an outdoor performance shoe that is incredibly light and comfortable and ready for any outdoor challenge you can dream." Color: Gray with Black and Red or Orange with Black and Red (Ships with both red and dark gray laces) Weight: 15 oz. per shoe Shoe Last: SL1 - Straight Last, good for running and walking (considered the "standard" last used by Dunham in regards to Heel Width, Instep Height, Toe Box Depth, and Forefoot Width) Features & Benefits Also from manufacturer: Initial Impressions It has been said that footwear can make or break a backpacking trip. More than packs, sleeping bags, or shelters. Footwear that is not comfortable - or even worse, painful - can make every step of an otherwise wonderful journey into the wilderness an excruciating experience. In many ways, it is the most important piece of equipment we take into the backcountry. That said, it is the one piece of equipment I have struggled the most with to get right! I prefer a trail shoe to any other type of footwear for day hiking, backpacking, and even some light mountaineering. Yet, for all the incredible myriad of shoes on the market, I have yet to see even a single one that comes close to this wish list: 1) Highest on my wish list is, appropriately, FIT!! Of the countless hikers in this year's Backpacker Magazine Gear Guide, there is exactly ONE that is less than 2 pounds (0.9 kg) and comes in variable widths. That would be the Dunham Waffle Stomper Nimble. Long have I searched for a promising trail shoe that comes in widths, but have been unsuccessful. I have waited for YEARS for a shoe like this to come on the market, and am eager to find out if it is what I've been searching for. 2) A true hiking shoe - not a running shoe that finds its way onto the trail. My experience is that the soles on most running/hybrid shoes have little traction and even less longevity and that most deteriorate rather quickly. 3) A durable sole. Soft soled rubber shoes don't survive very long with my style of backpacking. I generally take the shoes wherever I would take boots, but the sharp volcanic rock and off-trail conditions I frequent eat up running shoe soles quickly. I prefer a tough Vibram sole, but this had proven difficult to find. 4) Synthetic uppers. Leather takes forever to dry, is hot in 3 of the 4 seasons, and requires more maintenance than most synthetic fibers do. It seems like more and more shoes now have a waterproof/breathable lining that leaves my feet hot and sweaty. When it rains hard or conditions are sloppy, my feet end up wet even with waterproof/breathable shoes, so I find the liners rarely useful. A pair of Gore-Tex or similar socks work better for me, allowing me to add warmth and wetness protection as I see fit – not imposing it on me 100% of the time. 5) A full rubber rand tall enough to take abuse on rock and keep shallow puddles and snow out, but short enough to not inhibit breathability or add too much weight. 6) A shoe with a light enough total weight that it's still a shoe and not simply a boot with the ankle portion removed. Under two and a half pounds (1.25 kg) is acceptable, under two pounds (0.9 kg) is ideal. The Dunham Waffle Stomper Nimble has 5 of the 6 wishes from my list (excepting only the full rand) – more than any other shoe I've ever searched for. Most importantly, it has number "1" – something I have never seen in a true backpacking shoe.
My normal shoe size is a 13 wide. Of course, as most people are well aware, every brand (and even sometimes models in the same brand) fits differently. I own pairs of shoes that are a US size 12 and fit roomy, and I own a pair of US size 14 that are tight and uncomfortable. For most shoes, however, a US 13 - wide if they have it - fit the best. I definitely have what can be considered a high volume foot shape. I have a wide forefoot, very high arches, thick ankles, and big toes. My heel is comparatively narrow, but I'm sure it still falls on the big end of the normal spectrum. My Brannock device measurement comes out right around a US 13EE or 13EEEE. Dunham shoes are built by New Balance, and in fact there are a couple places on the shoe that carry the New Balance logo. In my experience, however, they do not necessarily fit the same for those familiar with New Balance shoes. I own a pair of New Balance 700s trail shoes that are a size US 13EE and fit too snug (in both length and width) for trail use or anything requiring any extended wearing. Based on this and a current Brannock measurement, I ordered a US 14EEEE test pair of Nimbles - the next available larger and wider size. While the width on this pair was nearly perfect, the length was way too big. I had over an inch (2.5 cm) of space beyond my big toe - enough that the entire flex point of the shoe was altered. Dunham sent me a second test pair, this time a US 13 EE (I had asked for a 13 EEEE, which was apparently sold out at the time). This pair, while nearly perfect in length, is snug in the forefoot. While surely serviceable and not so snug so as to be painful, I am testing this product for fit and sizing as much as performance, so am currently awaiting the correct size from Dunham. My belief is that the most perfect blend of materials, design, and style don't matter much if the shoe just doesn't fit your foot. There are a couple models of Garmont and a few from La Sportiva that are nearly perfect for the type of trekking I do, but they simply do not fit my feet. As a gear purchaser seeking information on fit, I find accurate and comparative reviews invaluable. I hope to bring this same level of helpfulness to these reports. As a generalization based on my experience, I would say that the Dunham Waffle Stomper Nimbles fit a tad wider, definitely longer, and much roomier than "normal" New Balance trail shoes. I would not recommend guessing your Dunham size based on other shoes. In fact, if anything, I would say they are about the truest to a Brannock measurement as I have seen. Regardless of length or width sizing, the other noticeable characteristic of the Nimbles is the toe room. I have big toes, and I've never had a trail shoe with this much toe wiggle room – a great thing in my opinion.
My initial impressions of the Nimbles are very positive. This certainly looks like the shoe that could meet my needs. It appears to be well-ventilated with plenty of mesh in the upper. It also has a reinforced toe and heel that bodes well for durability. The lacing system (and 2 pair of laces – a nice touch) is typical and appears quite capable of fine-tuning fit. The real show-stopper, however, is the sole. It's almost as if someone has ripped the sole off a serious Vibram-soled boot and put it on the bottom of a trail runner. This is not simply a running shoe sole with deeper tread. This sole has the harder rubber that is characteristic of Vibram-soled footwear, and the tread is definitely not for the Leave-No-Trace crowd. It inspires grippy confidence from the outset. Of course, the proof is in the muddy slopes and wet logs, so field testing will discover if these soles are as promising as they seem. My only dislikes so far are purely cosmetic. While the grey shoes are subdued (particularly with the grey lacing), the orange shoes are downright ugly. As I'm walking down the trails, I have no doubt that oncoming backpackers will notice my almost neon-orange shoes well before they ever see the rest of me. Then again, maybe they'll save my life someday when I need a rescue and an airplane spots them from high above.
The vast majority of my usage of the Dunham Waffle Stomper Nimbles will be in the Central and North Cascades. Most of my summer season will be spent in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area and the Pasaytan Wilderness Area in northern Washington. I will also likely spend some time in the Goat Rocks Wilderness south of Mount Rainier. While some July backpacking in forested areas is likely, I hope to do most of my backpacking in alpine regions during the testing period. With an early snowmelt this year, hopefully access to the high country will be possible by August. The testing period for the Nimbles may run into early fall, so I will use the Nimbles on my fall trips to the high country as well. With late spring and summer snow - as well as possible early fall snow - I will surely get the chance to test the Nimbles in snowy and icy conditions. The Nimbles will see dayhike duty, intense backpacking duty, and possibly some light mountaineering work. My daypack loads are typically less than 10 pounds (4.5 kg), while backpacking loads range from 12 to 25 pounds (5.4 to 11.3 kg), depending on whether or not I'm going solo and light or with the family and a bit heavier. It is highly unlikely that I would exceed 30 pounds (13.6 kg) with the Nimbles. I plan on using them as my only trekking shoe during the testing period.
1) First and foremost, do they fit better than any shoe I've worn before? I realize that each shoe manufacturer uses different lasts and fit is a highly subjective thing in many cases, but this is the first backpacking shoe I've seen that comes in a variety of widths. That is what I will judge the fit on. Is it wider and more comfortable through the forefoot? 2) Is it durable? With normal trail and moderate off-trail use, do the Nimbles retain their integrity? Does stitching loosen and slowly unravel? This is something that happens to almost every pair of trail shoes I've owned. 3) How is the cushioning? After a long day of backpacking, are my dogs barking or eager for more? 4) Do the Nimbles breathe? Almost all of my trail shoes – even ones that employ partial mesh uppers – can get quite hot. The Nimbles claim to be highly breathable. Is this true? 5) Do they have superior traction to running shoes? Do they rival boots in this regard? Can they handle loose scree or shale? 6) Will the Nimbles take a crampon for light mountaineering use? While certainly not an expectation for a hiking shoe, this ability would certainly set the Nimbles apart and be a boon to summer lightweight climbing. 7) In the final analysis, is this a shoe that is a realistic hard-use trail shoe, or just another running shoe that is forced into duty off-road?
Name: Curt Peterson I live in Seattle and do the vast majority of my outdoor activities in Washington State. During the summer I try to head to the backcountry at least every other week, averaging 3 to 5 multi-day trips in July, August and September. In the fall and early winter, I usually do a couple day hikes a month and probably one overnight per month. In the winter, I ski 1 to 2 days per week, and backpack in the Central Washington steppe 1 to 2 times over the season. Spring and early summer I usually climb, most often on the Cascade volcanoes. I usually go to the coast in Olympic National Park at least once a year, and try to summit at least one big volcano a year, so the range of locations that I test gear is pretty broad. I also do a 3-mile walk each day with my dog, no matter what the conditions are, and I often evaluate gear during that time. I played football in college, and have been pretty active my entire life. I have been camping and backpacking as long as I can remember. First in Utah as a child, in Minnesota until I finished college, and here in Washington ever since. I served on the Product Test Committee for Seattle's biggest outdoor gear retailer for a two- year term in the mid-90s, then guided backpacking tours with my wife in Olympic National Park for a few summers. I've been interested in the most recent shift to lightweight thinking for the past few years and really enjoy checking out new ideas and approaches to backpacking. Read more reviews of Dunham gear Read more gear reviews by Curt Peterson Reviews > Footwear > Trail Shoes > Dunham Waffle Stomper Nimble Shoes > Curt Peterson > Initial Report | |||