Discussion: Shoes

I'd be interested to hear how you like the grip on the ORocs vs the X-talons. I've been wearing the ORocs for orienteering for over a year now and I have this feeling that they provide more traction generally. But they also seem to cause violent slipping on semi-steep to steep rock surfaces, leading to bloodshed and swearing. I'm not sure that metal dobbs >> sticky rubber in all cases, but it also doesn't seem to be an easy question. I'm not sure I understand the passion for metal dobbs.

AliC met my enthusiastic endorsement of dobb-less shoes with scorn, so I feel compelled to try the Orocs. I have been quite happy with the performance of my X-talons in all orienteering settings, though I haven't tried any other notable shoes.

I only wore dobbless shoes for many years, and then last year in Trondheim I switched. When the woods are wet ALL the time the dobbs save me from sliding down on wet branches. Now that I'm in Sweden, with moss covered bare rock and constantly wet woods, I orienteer only in shoes with dobbs. My current problem is that my icebugs are giving me a strange bump below my big toe that doesn't go away... they are deforming my feet, which is a bit worrisome, although no longer painful.

I don't understand not using dobbed shoes except for specialized applications like sprints, where Salomons are the preferred option.

hehe I save Sam

@ j-man: my new Salomon Spikecross 3 shoes made it just fine through the Highlander. My only hesitation is that they seem to have a little too much padding in the upper, which translates to 'hold too much water.' If you like non-dobbed Salomons, you might want to give these a try.

I was going to say Cristina, I'm surprised that after rainy Norway days you're not hooked on dobs! Tours in two weeks of rain on wet rock were what switched me for good!

I like the X-talons, because of their lightness, but they don't fit my feet super well - apparently my foot is too high volume or something. The beef with them is that they don't feel sturdy enough in the uppers to last long orienteering in the woods, and it seems like a waste to only get one season out of a $100+ pair of shoes, or even less than that. So now I save them for city sprints and road races.

Maybe the O-rocs are made to last a bit better.

As for metal studs vs not, I really like the studs on leaf-covered steep uphills. They don't seem to slip as much. I haven't had major issues on bare rock, but I also haven't run that much on bare rock, in a relative sense.

Nothing compares with metal for traction on wet wood or wet rock.

That depends on the type of rock.

I must be doing something wrong. Today my only fall was after sliding down some dry rock. I feel like I slip a lot on rock with metal dobbs and now I have little confidence running on rock unless it is close to flat. Maybe I need suction cups.

When it's bare rock, I feel like the metal dobbs slip. But when the moss is completely covered with moss (like everything here) then I like the dobbs.

Yes, I think the metal is grippier through all the soft stuff over here. I can almost here the bits of plants shrieking as they are smashed and torn through.

I don't usually think about it that way...

Try not to visualize. That'll help you avoid the nightmares.

If your feet have too high a volume ( like mine) for the X-talons, try switching from the 6mm footbed to a 3mm footbed. Made a big difference.

That being said, my last pair of X-talons only made it about 3 or 4 months before getting torn up.

I think it's worth it to pay money for a good pair of shoes, but perhaps there should be an incentive to find someone to give us shoes discounted or free!

If you give me $200 I'll find you a free pair of shoes.