LONG TERM REPORT

Kamik Chase Trail Shoes
Richard Lyon
November 27, 2006

PERSONAL DETAILS AND BACKPACKING BACKGROUND

Male, 60 years old
Height: 6' 4" (1.93 m)
Weight: 200 lb (91 kg)
Email address: rlyon AT gibsondunn DOT com
Home: Dallas, Texas USA

I've been backpacking for 45 years on and off, and regularly in the Rockies since 1986.  I do a week long trip every summer, and often take three-day trips.  I'm usually camping in alpine terrain, at altitudes 5000 to 13000 ft (1500 - 4000 m).  I prefer base camp backpacking, a long hike in with day trips from camp, but I do my share of forced marches too.  Though always looking for ways to reduce weight, I'm not yet a lightweight hiker and I usually choose a bit of extra weight over foregoing camp conveniences I've come to expect.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Manufacturer: Kamik (http: //www. kamik.com). 

Features: "Combination Suede & Nylon Leather; Upper Moisture Wicking Lining Elastic Gore Tongue; Thermoplastic Heel Counter & Toe Box; Integrated Stablility Shank; Antibacterial Footbed; Strobel Lasted Construction; Compression Molded EVA Midsole 'HORIZON' Non-Marking Rubber Outsole." 

My Initial Report contains a more detailed description of these trail shoes.

TEST RESULTS

Since filing my Field Report I have worn the Chases on about half a dozen day hikes around Dallas, in fair weather at temperatures ranging from 50-90 F (10-32 C).  Over the Thanksgiving weekend I did a short day hike in the Wissahickon Valley Park near Philadelphia, including a few rock scrambles.  Though the weather was good it had rained earlier in the week and there were a number of puddles, muddy spots, and damp mossy rocks.   Because I've had the good fortune always to find fine weather on my hiking days during the testing period, I've tried to wear the Chases when walking my dogs on the few occasions that it's rained over the last two months, to test these shoes for waterproofing and traction on wet surfaces.  I also wore the Chases frequently when walking through the "nature area" (a city park) adjacent to my house – supposed to be what the North Texas prairie would look like if there were no people.  It's a mixture of trees, scrub brush, wildflowers in spring, rocks, weeds, prairie grass, and a rough trail along the nearby creek.  And a good spot for field testing trail shoes.  All testing venues were at or near sea level. 

Here are my findings (in italics and bold) against my original test criteria:

Fit. If a shoe doesn't fit properly, my feet start to hurt, and if my feet hurt I'm soon miserable all over.  Will these shoes, which come in only one width, accommodate my narrow feet?  Is the fit comfortable with (a) liner and socks, (b) one pair of socks, and (c) lightweight ankle socks?  Will I need a custom footbed or other orthotic for a secure and comfortable fit? As I noted in my Initial Report, the Chases are somewhat narrower than most athletic shoes that I have worn.  At any rate they suit my feet when wearing either lightweight hiker socks or even lighter ankle socks.  This may be due to the fact that the size 12s I have tested are perhaps a half-size too small for me, but I'm not complaining and I haven't had any foot problems after my hikes, or after days when I've worn the Chases around town.  I haven't needed a custom footbed or orthotic – a pleasant surprise.  I have used ENGO Blister Prevention Patches on the heels, and haven't developed any blisters.

Protection. Are these shoes waterproof? Water resistant? Water resistant is technically more accurate, but doesn't entirely do justice to the Chases' performance.  After one session in a downpour the shoes were only slightly damp on the inside, and that was after the dogs dragged me through a couple of puddles.  Much better than a mere passing grade, I'd say.  In light rain my feet have stayed dry.  With or without a waterproofing treatment (and, if treatment is advisable, what's the right one)? I haven't used any treatment, but I'll contact Kamik to inquire what's appropriate.  How quickly will the shoes dry? Nothing special, neither remarkably quickly nor remarkably slowly.  Will they retain proper fit when they are wet? Will they chafe when wet? Do they become waterlogged and heavy when wet?   I hesitate to comment here since my experience with water was so limited.  Certainly no problems on the few occasions when they got wet.  Is the leather strong enough to protect my feet from injury during rock scrambles and bushwhacks? I had limited experience here too, but again no problems.  If anything, the Chases feel more rigid than other trail shoes that I've worn, and they have certainly held their shape throughout the testing period.

Comfort. How breathable are these shoes when worn during normal hiking, with and without a backpack? This will be especially important for summer hikes in Texas.  The Chases breathe very well.  They (and my feet) have not been soaked in sweat after hikes at temperatures close to 100 F (38 C). 

Capacity.  I'm not a lightweight hiker.  How much arch support do these shoes provide when used on backpacks? This will be a closely watched (closely felt?) test when I wear the Chases with a heavier backpacking load.  Do these shoes have enough support for me to hike with a 35-pound (16 kg) pack? I believe they do, as I had no problem on several contrived hikes (hiking around home with a new pack, testing the Chases and getting the feel of the pack) and on one occasion when I carried fishing gear, including boots and waders, for three to a remote angling spot. I won't be afraid to wear them on an overnighter with a full pack.

Durability.  Are the stitching, sealing, and materials robust enough to withstand trail rocks, scree scrambles, and bushwhacking? The Chases have been quite stout.  No ill effects on the shoes or my feet from rocks, brush, weeds, or briars.  I have seen no loose stitching or deterioration in the tread.  How long will the anti-microbial treatment in the footbed remain effective?  It has lasted four months now with no noticeable diminution in effectiveness.  No shoe odor even after I left them in the back of my sport utility vehicle (American marketing term for station wagon or estate wagon) for several hours immediately after a hike on a near-100 F (38 C) sunny day.  Impressive!

Functionality.  What kind of traction do these shoes provide on pavement, dry trails, mud, dry and wet rocks, and streambeds? I am unfamiliar with the "Horizon" outsole so this will be fun to test. When the Chases were already wet from my walk with the hounds, I took a walk along the rocky bed of the creek behind my house, and then tried some climbing back on to the large rocks along the shore.  There and on my Wissahickon walk I found the Chases to provide excellent traction, better than expected.  Throughout the testing period, on paved and dirt trails and in the nature area at home, I haven't slipped or slid excessively, even with a 100+ pound (45 kg) dog trying to drag me after a squirrel.  

Care.  How easy is it, at home or in the field, to clean these shoes thoroughly – enough to eliminate all grease and dirt, or at least enough to avoid extra weight or discomfort?  What's the appropriate cleaning agent or agents? Will cleaning adversely affect fit, protection, or durability? The Chases are easy to clean.  I've not had to do more than brush off surface dirt or mud with a stiff brush, then wipe off any spot soiling with a damp cloth.  They look almost as good as new.  After four months I haven't found the need to clean the footbed.

SUMMARY

The Chases are excellent trail shoes for me.  They have performed well without the need of an orthotic and with minimal maintenance; that alone makes them a worthwhile addition to my shoe locker.  They are handsome enough to wear on business-casual days at work.  There's the much-appreciated bonus of a narrower-than-usual width that's allowed me to hike without the heavy socks I usually need for blister prevention.  And (again unlike most shoemakers) the Chases are available in half sizes up to 13, should I decide to get a slightly larger one next time.  But I expect to be wearing the pair I now have for a good long time.

Thanks again to Kamik and BackpackGearTest.org for the testing opportunity.