Hit 10,000 trail miles on my old hiking boots last weekend and they finally gave out

I crossed the 10,000 mile mark on a pair of Merrell Moabs I bought back in 2018. Took them through the Smoky Mountains, the Ozarks, and every local trail near my place in Nashville. The soles are completely smooth now and the right boot has a hole near the pinky toe. Anyone else track their gear mileage or am I just weird about this?

3 comments

3 Comments

lily_torres311mo ago

Those 10,000 mile Moabs are a badge of honor for sure. I've noticed this thing where people get weirdly attached to tools or gear that's been through the wringer with em, like a favorite spatula that's all scratched up or a car with 200k miles that still starts every time. It's not just about the item itself, it's like every scratch and worn spot is a memory you can feel. Your boots probably have stories from every single one of those miles, and a new pair just doesn't have that yet. It's like the whole "life is about the journey" thing but you can literally see it in the soles.

jamie_webb671mo ago

Nah @lily_torres31, I'd rather have gear that works than gear that's full of memories...

shane_hayes1mo ago

Is this really about the memories though? I get being attached to stuff you've been through a lot with, but boots that are shot through aren't telling stories to your feet. They're just giving you blisters and bad support. There's a reason we don't drive cars with bald tires, you know? The memories live in your head, not in the worn-out treads.