Mike Asimos - New Shoes for Christmas?

It is coming up on the holiday season and as usual I am filling up my list of requests for Christmas. I learned in high school that the best thing to do in my family was to give a list over and leave the element of surprise out of it.

This year I need a new pair of trail shoes. Currently scattered around between boxes and my closets I have:

Waterproof sandals:

Keene Waterproof Sandals

Keen makes great shoes for outdoor wear, from very tonka like sturdy to lightweight. They take a little longer than I'd like to dry if the air is damp but I can usually make it work by putting them into a stream of sunshine for a few hours.







Winter Boots: Lowa Renegade

The Mike Asimos Top Choice - Lowa Renegade

I have always trusted Lowa boots. I got my first pair in jr high and have continued to buy them when they wear out. They are warm and stay dry. It doesn't get too cold here in South Carolina, but that doesn't mean the warmth is not needed when doing overnights in late fall and into winter.
My only complaint is that they are not resoleable which means that when the boot starts to separate from the sole, a new pair will be in order.

They are affordable though, and with the speed laces have always been easy to get on and off quickly.


Every day trail shoes:

Merrell Moab Trail Shoes

I have had this pair of Merrell shoes for the past two years and they have done me alright. The ventilation aspect works when it isn't too warm out, but I suppose not much can withstand the dampness of our climate.

It is a comfortable shoe and does well on rocks as well as sand. They are also surprisingly easy to clean.











I am asking for a pair of Ecco trail shoes this year.

I have gotten to try on some eccos before and found them to be really comfortable. At $190 they are not the most affordable, but they aren't the most expensive either. Top of my Christmas list - are you reading this, Big Mike? 

So these are my favorites of my current inventory. Do you have a favorite trail shoe or boot? I am always lookin for recommendations. 

Travel Towels - Get One

Maybe I am the only one who has seen a sham wow commercial and wanted one for camping, but they are heavy. I have invested in some REI multitowels and gotten way more than my money's worth out of them. The 36X16.5" is 4.3oz. I also got a PackTowl Ultralight which is only 1.8oz for the 36X20.


The REI multitowel feels more like a shamwow would - it's soft and absorbent, vs the PackTowl which is more like a squeegee on my skin. That said, the PackTowl dries much faster hanging from a tree branch or across my tent or even hanging from the corner of a bunkbed in a hostel!

Travel towels are an important part of my hiking and camping pack for several reasons. Listed below are just a few:
1. While couch surfing you don't need to dirty someone else's towels for a shower or quick rinse
2. If you come across a stream/lake/river on the trail you can dry quickly
3. Most campgrounds don't have towels
4. You can dry yourself and gear off before settling into your tent
5. If it is long enough you can use it to secure bulky gear atop your pack
6. It can double as a pillow
7. With a quick swipe of your knife you have tourniquet strips

I tend to go light and take the Ultralight with me and I have just the large, not the XL or XXL.

Travel towels vary in cost but a good one will last you several years and many adventures (if you're livin right!)

I also posted on my other blog about hang drums. I suppose that a travel towel large enough could provide some travel cushion for the drum.