Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/773724
Soles of the boots are properly flexible as for that type of fo- otwear, which – as I have already mentioned – contributes to comfort and certainty I have when getting through diver- sified areas. Materials, which the main parts of the coating and upper are made from, are pleasantly soft and look good, but – unfortunately, I must point out some shortcomings – they easily get dirty, especially in their sand variation, and you may notice the first signs of wear already after half a year of using them. Unfortunately, the cleaning attempts I made resulted in a specific „patina" of toil. Meanwhile, I wear, lace them, and walk in them with pleasure. Nothing in those bo- ots is annoying and, in my opinion, that is how well-fitting boots should behave. My overall opinion – Reliable things are reliable. królik'S review A lighter version of Meindl Desert Fox, this can be noticed at first glance. It is even more obvious due to the purpose of Equators, which are desert footwear. So when I saw those bo- ots and when I heard that they are desert boots with a Gore- Tex membrane, I thought to myself: You must be kidding, desert footwear with a membrane? Yes, I knew there was Gore-Tex Extended Comfort, but it still was a membrane and I was peculiar what sane person would insert a membrane into desert boots? But, still, when I got the Equators, at the very beginning of summer, I put them on immediately because I could not wait to check that new invention on my own feet. I must admit that after the first several days of using those bo- ots, I experienced something you would call a „dropped jaw". It really worked! The idea behind the new membrane is to get rid of the Gore- Tex socks (inserts sewn in the boots). The new membrane is laminated together with the material boots are made from. Thanks to that, there is not airbag between the membrane and the outer layer, which results in increased breathability, transport of moisture, and thermal comfort (there is not insu- lating air layer). Equators are much lighter than Desert Fox boots – at US9.5 it is 625 grams per boot vs 800 grams per boot.. The stiffness of the sole is similar, which results from using a nylon insert. In my opinion, the amortization is slightly too low, but it is pro- bably due to the fact that I got spoiled by using boots like LOWA Zephyr and Innox. In general, shock absorbtion is nice, but adding some foam here and there would make the boots even better. I had been using Equators for several months as my everyday footwear, for visits to the shooting range and outdoor acti- vities. The boots are good for all those applications, but they perform better outdoors than on concrete. The sole provides good grip and does not wear on hard surfaces. The comfort – like that in the case of Desert Fox footwear, with some differences. The first difference is of thermal properties– that membrane really does its job well! Seriously. A hot su- mmer, Equators, socks (interchangeably Thorlo Combat and Merino ones I received with the boots), a dozen-kilometer- -long march with about 10 kilograms on my back, and feet were still dry. Well, they were slightly wet, but not sweaty. A stream, sea waves, dew? Not a problem, you just go on wal- king, boots get damp, but feet stay dry. Nubuck will get some water, there is no solution for that, even with impregnation. However, moisture will not get inside the boots. Driving – without even the slightest problems. A 600-kilome- ter travel (with air-conditioning, I confess) and my feet stayed weariless, dry, and comfortable. Usage of the pedals is witho- ut reservations. At high temperatures, the thermal comfort is wonderful. I so- metimes felt as if streams of wind in the boots, but it must have been my imagination. One must remember that Equators DO NOT have an internal layer like in the case of, e.g. Zephyr or Salomon footwear. That is why good socks and proper lacing is of key significance. Those boots are just slightly looser than similar boots of the same size. I had no problems with maintaining the boots. You use a soft brush, warm water, and when the boots dry up – preparation for cleaning and impregnation, and that's all. Of course, those won't look like „newly-bought", but they will be clean. It is a matter of experience with nubuck boots. Summing up: it is a lean version of Desert Fox with a similar range of applications and outstanding ther- mal comfort and waterproof properties. BOOTS