Nevados Scout-Lo

Okay, first of all...who is stupid enough to submit a review on these "cheapos"?

Here's the deal. I bought a pair of these while out of town because I forgot my walking shoes. I figured at $20, it didn't even matter if I left them in the hotel. I had been training for an upcoming hike in a pair of Asolos (leather with gore-tex, $200) that I purchased on the recommendation of the outfitter. I was preparing for a week-long backcountry trip in the Grand Canyon (late May) and was too inexperienced to realize that leather and gore-tex were not the best solutions to hiking in an environment with temperatures in excess of 110 deg F. But hey, how many useless artifacts is my wife going to tolerate me buying?

I liked the Scout-Los so well I started using them for all my training (50 lb. pack). Admittedly, I did enhance them with a pair of insoles that cost about the same as the boots. Ready for the bottom-line... I liked them a lot and bought a second pair right before the GCNP trip. Even on the morning we started our descent I was still feeling trepidation about going off for a week with $20 boots (had the Asolos ready in the trunk of the rental car right up to the last minute). Lightweight and ventilation won out. I ventured off in the cheapos with only "flip-flops" and duct tape as a backup. The shoes withstood a week of the inner canyon with pack loads up to 65 lbs. They also delivered me safely to the North Kaibab TH... and still have a lot of use in them for yardwork, etc.

Maybe I'll write a book...the "ultra-cheap" backpacker. Hey, I just thought people should know.