sticky hiking strap / boots

has anyone tried the new boots / strap that supposedly adhere to eachother and make hiking easier?
thoughts? comments?

I take it it is the Zhik hiking system. Check it out here http://www.zhik.com/Team.aspx?element=222&category=3

I have it set up on my boat and it works really nicely. The grip isn't super strong like velcro, but just tight and comfortable.

i have a Zhik strap aswell, wouldnt reccomend it if you are going to go bare foot, nice thick strap but im considering mounting mine upside down. I hate wearing boots and this strap hurts your feet unless you tape

On the website they list "barefoot" booties whick look like ankle support things. That might be a reasonable compromise between boots and going barefoot. Buying their strap and turning it upside down seems like it is defeating the purpose of the thing, especially since there are lots of other straps out there that are good for going barefoot. On my old boat I had one made by Seitech (from the same stuff as the dolly strap) that was very comfortable for barefoot.

that sounds cool, I will have to look into that

tcross.au said:

i have a Zhik strap aswell, wouldnt reccomend it if you are going to go bare foot, nice thick strap but im considering mounting mine upside down. I hate wearing boots and this strap hurts your feet unless you tape

Click to expand...

I developed "Hiking Sores" on my ankles over the summer from the Zhik strap. These became infected and my whole ankles swelled up. It made sailing impossible and walking very difficult. A trip to the doctor and a course of antibiotics and anti inflametries fixed them over about a week.

I would never use the Zhik strap with low cut boots or barefoot again.

ouch

rock steady said:

I developed "Hiking Sores" on my ankles over the summer from the Zhik strap. These became infected and my whole ankles swelled up. It made sailing impossible and walking very difficult. A trip to the doctor and a course of antibiotics and anti inflametries fixed them over about a week.

I would never use the Zhik strap with low cut boots or barefoot again.

Click to expand...

moral of the story: always wear boots

not to hijack the thread, but i went for a breezy summer sail a while back barefoot and when i got back i'd rubbed all the skin off and ended up with HUGE weeping abrasions on the top of my feet... now i drive a desk for a living so i'm looking at socks and thinking i'm screwed and then... the g/f's mini pads to the rescue! large, absorbent, don't stick to the wound, and an adhesive back to keep them in place inside my socks!