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Hiking boots..

wooly

By wooly,
in Camping and Hiking

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wooly Newbie

wooly

Posted
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What's a good brand hiking boot to start looking at?

I don't want hunting boots or work boots.

I need a good pair of mid to high ankle hikers for spring and summer. I was buying those $30 Wally World specials, but it was costing me $1/day before I have to toss them in the trash after a month.

Hoping to find something I can at least get through the summer with.

 

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t_barb Newbie

t_barb

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I have found the Keen shoes and boots to be great..  Comfortable and a lot of support.  I am a big fan..  I usually look for them to go on sale at Cabelas and then try to take advantage of one of their promos (save $30 if you spend $150)...

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wooly Newbie

wooly

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Asolo is suppose to be awesome but they're too rich for my blood.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

I've never heard of these Asolo's before but they sure do look like a real solidly constructed boot that's competitively priced to some of the other brands mentioned.

Anything will be better than what I've been using after the snow clears, but I think I'm gonna give these some serious consideration when I'm done checking them all out.

I was thinking somewhere in the $150 range would be my limit, but it looks like I'll have some good options to choose from with that budget even going a little over or under.

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adkbuck Newbie

adkbuck

Posted
Posted (edited)

Wooly,  I've had my best luck with Irish Setter boots.  They even make a special shed tracker boot:  http://hunt.irishsetterboots.com/irishsetter-shoe/2845-irish-setter/2845-irish-setter-hunt-mens-hiker-greentan      I have difficult feet to fit but the people selling irish setters at there smaller dealers have literally taken up to an hour to make sure I got boots that fit right and supported my feet properly.  Stay away from the big box stores and go to a small local Irish Setter dealer and you will be happy with the results.  Some of their hiking boots are made entirely in the USA but I think all of  their leather uppers are still made in the US. 

Edited by adkbuck
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wooly Newbie

wooly

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Last time I put this much energy into researching and comparing different boots, I ended up very disappointed with my final decision in the end.

I'll never understand why women like shoe shopping so much!

I'm already overwhelmed by all of the options and I haven't even thought about what color I want yet. :rolleyes:

 

I appreciate all the suggestions though. I would have been lost from the start.

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Dinsdale Community Regular

Dinsdale

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Try some on.

Every company uses different lasts to build boots on.

I'm light and lucky.....just about every boot works for me, but for example Scarpa's don't. What I wear depends on use, brand is not as important as fit and type of construction.

My hiking buddy has a difficult time finding a good fit, even with aftermarket foot bed.

Some of what I use; each desgn/model picked for task;

General hiking and light backpacking Salomon gtx.

For a stiffer sole and more pack weight, Keen or Vasque.

Heavy pack, Asolo.

Tip; wear socks you'll be using for test fits.

Edited by Dinsdale
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Lawdwaz Grand Master

Lawdwaz

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Good stuff Dan-O...........

 

I can't add much (rare I know...... :) ) but if you are going to do mail order........pick a seller that offers free returns like Zappos.  Probably others but I sure don't know who they are..........

 

On a similar note, late in archery season this year (November 13) I noticed my pack boots were ready to implode after ONLY 20 years of use......bummer I know!!  Well I panicked and drove over to Canadagaiua looking for a replacement, I hit three stores and found out that leather uppers/rubber bottoms are kind of a thing of the past.  All the stores had were Muck type boots and they weren't/aren't in the same league as pack boots for me.

 

That Friday night I decided to order a pair of Schnee's Extreme boots.  I have some foot issues and wear prescription orthotics and didn't want a cheaper pair of boots with poor support.  Due to the horrible snow storm and 4-5 days that UPS was not getting trucks it took darn near two weeks to get them but I've been exceptionally pleased with them.  They are rebuild-able and the traction they afford is amazing.  I'm pretty sure I'll still need to use chemical heaters in them but at least my feet will be happy.

 

Yes, they aren't cheap but if I can scrounge 20 years out of them with a rebuild or two I'll be tickled.

 

Good luck wooly.......keep us posted.

 

Happy New Year.

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growalot Newbie

growalot

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I'm pretty hard on my hiking boots...I have tried several brands and Irish setters were great for water proof..but heel blisters were a problem...Merrells weren't dry..felt good but didn't hold up vasque were the same.

For me it was a pair of me leather wolverines hands down...but they discontinued that particular boot...figures

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Doc Experienced

Doc

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I'm pretty hard on my hiking boots...I have tried several brands and Irish setters were great for water proof..but heel blisters were a problem...Merrells weren't dry..felt good but didn't hold up vasque were the same.

For me it was a pair of me leather wolverines hands down...but they discontinued that particular boot...figures

That's the problem.... when you finally find the perfect boot, they go out of production and you have to start all over.

 

Footwear is kind of an individualized kind of thing, that is why I will never "mail-order" shoes or boots. I have to try them on. There will be a lot of hours spent in them and they had better fit absolutely perfectly.

 

When it comes to hiking or work boots, I always look for real solid leather that can be doped up to be waterproof. I also want real stitching (Not molded rubber that "looks" like stitching). My choices for hiking boots may run considerably heavier than others prefer, but when I pay well over $100 for footwear, durability and longevity are very high on my priorities. I have a pair of hiking/work boots that are going into something like their 10th - 15th year with no sign of breaking down at all.  I wear them constantly, and the only sign of their age is that the tread is now about 3/4 of what it was when they were new. They have been broken in now to fit my feet perfectly. That is a level of comfort that can't be bought in a new boot. That's why I won't buy any new ones.

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Daveboone Proficient

Daveboone

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Don't get sold on one brand by reputation: every foot is different, and what is perfect for me could be horrible for you. Asolo, Merrill, other brands mentioned here are all great boots (I am an active hiker, backbacker, and sold shoes/boots for many years), but you must try them on. Go to a store with a good variety (Gander, Eastern Mountain Sports, etc) where you can try them on with the sock you would wear (don't want to start a sub thread, but NEVER cotton), and wear them while walking around the store. EMS is especially comfortable with this, other stores less so...

Let the foot be the judge, don't shop by fashion!

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wooly Newbie

wooly

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Well, I appreciate all the suggestions fellas, but I decided to go with my gut and NOT listen to any of you,lol

Nah, I honestly looked at them ALL and it helped me realize some features I really wanted in a hiker, and which I could do without.  I decided to try a relatively new company that I'd never heard of in "OBOZ" sight unseen. A couple other brands I was looking at were AKU and Lowa which I don't think anyone mentioned here, but if anyone is in the market for new hikers, they are worth a look as well.

 

Instead I went with the "Oboz Yellowstone II BDry" I found for $150.

I think these should do what I'm expecting of them, it'll just be a matter of how long they hold up to my careless high mileage abuse and punishment through the woods and water this spring and summer.

They seem like they'll fit like a glove..... even though they're a boot! ;)

 

http://obozfootwear.com/mens/mid-hiking/yellowstone-ii-bdry

 

post-233-0-23601400-1420247220_thumb.jpg

 

 

 

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First-light Grand Master

First-light

Posted
Posted

Rocky makes a good sturdy hiking boot that is also very comfortable. Mine are three years old and still going strong. And I've put a lot of miles on them in the woods behind the house. Got them on sale for about a hundred bucks.

100 bucks and they are real comfortable, can't beat it.

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