The Disappointing Face (The North Face hiking boots fail)
I took time off work to go solo backpacking in the Big Horns. Was going to climb cloud peak, but 8 miles in this happened...These are brand new. I broke them in but that's about it. They are The North Face Hedgehog 3 Mid WP - So no one else has my experience. I ended up gathering a bunch of pitch/pine sap and slathering it on the sole, then haphazardly tied up with paracord. It actually worked great until my second moose sighting. The first moose encounter, a bull and cow, they were indifferent of me. The second sighting was a cow and a calf, they were right on the trail...and she was not happy I was there. I didn't want to test them so I went WAY around through a marsh. When I did that it rendered my pine sap useless and stretched out the paracord. So that point on I had to stop every half a mile to mile and re-tie.
I contacted The North Face, they wanted me to fill out a warranty claim but it looks like all they'd do is an exchange or a return. I can do that at the retailer that I bought them from so I won't be doing that. I don't think I will ever buy their boots again. I didn't notice but they aren't even stitched, it's literally just glue holding them together. I hadn't even gotten them wet yet! I got a TNF pack and I love it, hasn't failed me yet, I've had other gear of theirs and seems to last a long time so this was comparing enough for me to make this post cause it severely limited me; honestly could have broke my ankle or worse.
I had a hell of a harrowing trip as it was. I got sick on the drive out, and I ended up shooting right up to the trailhead and out very fast. Got a bit of altitude sickness on top of whatever cold I already had. I had a crazy adventure by myself though, I would love to document and write about it if anyone is interested, not sure if this is the place to do that or not. It was a lot of overcoming adversity. An amazing trip regardless, I was the only one out there for MILES. And that's what I sought, solitude.