There's no place like dome
Written: Jan 31 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: great looks, very tall, cushioning, quality materials
Cons: very tall, not for real hiking, suede inserts?, no pull tabs, heavy
The Bottom Line: A good shoe, not a great boot. Stylish, good cushioning, but no pull tabs, suede, and the height limits this to looking good, not good looking from any "domes"
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| rookshark's Full Review: Nike Air Max Goadome Gore Tex Shoes for Men |
I must start by confessing that most of my boot purchases are because of my aversion to dress shoes, rather than trail hiking or the like. Some are purchased just for working, but these were not primarily intended for that, at least by me, but as you will see, I do not think by Nike either, especially with the colorway I bought including olive green suede inserts. Suede does not conjure images of walking in mud, rocks, etc. to me. I take the name “goadome” to reflect that, since one would be walking under domed roofs rather than on top of them. But, that could be just me.
Keeping that in mind, I still do find myself in what many could consider hiking conditions, since I live in the mountains, and routinely am walking, sometimes quite a bit, where there are no roads or trails, just through the brush, gravel, rocks, etc. Yes, while wearing them as “dress shoes”.
These boot definitely have a look about them that reminds you they are, quite honestly, pretty expensive shoes. Sure, there are more expensive boots and shoes out there, but with a retail price of $150, you are certainly expecting good quality and durability. And the full length visible air helps in this look. Ah, but again, it makes me wonder how many of these “boots” are going to be used for hiking or work since the visible air is more, uh, visible and vulnerable than, well, just about any other form of cushioning.
Ah, but when do we let function rule? Actually wearing these in varied conditions has not proved to give any hardships this boot could not handle. I try not to wade through water (or even wear these when raining) to test the water proof nature of the leather (which in case you were not aware, is stitched inside the shoe to remind you what it is for which you paid). Although not exactly overly flexible, they provide good protection, and cushioning (no surprise there). Even with the good protection, you definitely feel higher in these boots (as opposed to others that I own), and that can put your ankles slightly tending more towards a roll, but the boots come up pretty high above the ankle, and if laced properly, protect pretty well, even in circumstances that could make you lose your footing. Let me stress again that you will feel the height of these boots. Even compared to my other boots, you definitely feel taller with these. Just something to keep in mind.
The upper materials have held up extremely well so far. Only a little scuffing near the toe (hey, I do actually walk places while dressed up sometimes!) from rocks and what have you. Otherwise, the leather not only looks good, but is obviously pretty durable. The outsole as well has held up well, almost looking new (with a cleaning). The full length air has suffered no punctures or even close calls, as although they are visible, they are fairly well hidden by the outsole below which protrudes, as well as the midsole above, which does the same.
One complaint is the lack of a pull tab at the back of the shoe. Getting the boots on is not terribly difficult, but a pull tab would seem to make sense on what is a high top boot. Even my nicer goapaths have these. Seems like a glaring omission to me in a $150 boot.
Another complaint is the weight. These, even for boots, are heavy. Another reason for just casual use versus doing some serious walking/hiking. Trying on another pair of my other three boots on, and the weight difference is more than noticeable. Why? I am not sure, but I assume it has to do with a thicker midsole (again, here comes that height…uh, advantage).
I have two recommendations if you are considering these boots. One recommendation I would have is to definitely try these on before buying. I bought a size 15, which is my normal size, but in these boots I think a 14 would have probably been better. The second would be to try a replacement insole for these, as I found they add a great amount to the already good cushioning.
Ventilation in this shoe is on par for the other boots I own (all Nike). While my feet never feel overly warm, even when the rest of me is, I do notice when I take them off that my socks are usually a bit humid. Overall, I have been pleased with the balance.
I would recommend these boots if you are going to primarily use them for casual wear, or if you are weird like me and use them for dressier occasions. If you want a serious boot for what boots used to be for, then seek elsewhere, even another Nike, but not this boot. Make no mistake though, if you want something that just looks good, then by all means, go for it.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
rookshark
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Location: Honduras
Reviews written: 54
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
missionary living in Honduras
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