Topic: Boots

[Nomad]

 Would like to have your opinion on a good pair of boots that would hold up in Idaho back country and high desert country.....
 Hiking and hunting, this year used a pair of work boots and was hard on my feet.
 Would like your advise on a a couple of brands  that have worked well for you......
 

[egress81]

I have a pair of the cabelas iron ridge leather boots for the last 3 years and they have held up to hunting and hiking and general yard work.

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=748572&destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fproduct.jsp%3FproductId%3D748571&WTz_l=YMAL%3BIK-811927

[neby98]

I'm a big fan of Danners. I'd look in the bargain cave at cabelas. I found a 250 dollar pair of danners there once for 150.

[J Mack]

I'm liking my Danners so far.


http://www.danner.com/boots/desert-acadiar-mens-womens-400g-military-boots.html

[Shade OGrey]

Another + for Danners.
They still make a good product and you can find them on sale fairly frequently.
But with any boot, or anything else for that matter, the better you care for them the better they will care for you.

[Beamncoke]

Spring for a pair of custom measured White's.  You'll never settle for anything less ever again.

[ekuo]

+1 on the Whites for work boots, but not for everyone.  Great for arch support, ankle support, and my main choice if I'm going to be on my feet working for 14+ hrs a day and spending all day off-trail.  But they are heavy, expensive, and hard to waterproof.  That said, I've owned 4 pairs over the last 25 years for work, and will continue to wear them.  They are rebuildable, and you can replace just about any part of the boot when they wear out.  But last I saw, they are $400+.

For hiking, backpacking, or hunting I've come to appreciate lighter weight boots that are waterproof.  In no particular order:

LaSportiva Makalu:  Waterproof, well made, decent arch and ankle support. This is more of a mountaineering boot, and has a full shank (plastic I think).  But be warned, they are about as hard to break-in as Whites.  But good on steep slopes.  $275-ish?  Benchmark carries them.

Asolo (can't remember the model name, 520?)  They are a full grained leather hiking boot, and are great all around boot for trail and light off-trail.  Light weight, water proof, and very comfy.  Less support than the LaSportiva.  I think it only has a half-shank, but there is almost no break-in needed.  I think REI has them for $250-ish.  

Meindl (from Cabelas).  They have a couple of different models, and I was moderately impressed with these boots.  Again, lightweight, waterproof, and comfy.  The only downside I had was they were really wide (toe box as well as from the outside), and insulated (so my feet sweat in them during the summer).  But good for winter when you don't want the bulk of full-on pacs.  Light break-in needed, but not much.  I think these were in the $200-ish range.  

Asolo (again, can't remember the model, but these are the half mesh/half leather with rubber toe caps).  Very light, sort of waterproof (gortex), and decent support but not as much lateral support than any of the boots mentioned.  To my way of thinking, these are sorta like a stout trail running shoe / light hiker.  Good choice for day hikes or around town, but not my idea of a good boot for disappearing into the great unknown for extended periods of time.  Don't recall the price, but less than $200 IIRC.

[No-One]

Ekuo has some good recommendations . The nice thing about buying them at Cabelas or REI is that if you don't like them you can always take them back for a full refund .

I like my Whites when I am working outdoors but am not a fan of them in the cold or on concrete .

I used to wear Danner Quarry boots and loved them for all around use until they started making them in China . I bought 2 pair and neither lasted more than about 6 months . They also changed the insole to an uncomfortable piece of garbage .

I have 2 pair of Georgia boots which while being on the inexpensive side of things seem to be about the same quality as the Chinese made Danner's at half the price which allows me to spend the money to put quality orthotics in them .

[Jaggy13]

I love my Merrell's and Asolo's.
Merrell's are great for light go fast with great support.
Asolo's are comfortable all day and good for most weather.
The Asolo's don't breath as well but lend themselves better to colder temperatures.
I love them so much I picked up a second pair to break in before my primary pair give out. A set of insole's from REI are a great addition as well.
I'm not sure of the model but take a look at the one's Evans stated. (worn off of mine)

[madsent33]

+1 for Danner. I've got a pair of Frontier 10" with Thinsulate and a pair of Quarry's that are uninsulated. VERY comfortable, waterproof and they last forever. The only hard part is the price tag. I do recommend buying a pair of Danner's that you can have rebuilt. Not much cheaper than a new pair but they come back as a new boot made from your broken-in leather.

[Kcboats]

Love my 10 inch White loggers and as mine are a size 16  they were about 700 dollars, but so worth it.  I have had mine for about 8 years and only had to resole them twice and just recently rebuilt the lowers (uppers are still great).  I have kept mine well oiled/saddle soaped and they are supple and comfortable.  I did go with a waffle print and viabrim sole and they are much more comfortable on concrete/stairs.

I used to wear Danners all the time (would get them from there "scratch and dent" sale in main store Portland Oregon) and loved them as a patrol boot.

[Batwing]

Any USA Made Danners will suffice.

Any others will be not so good.

I bought a pair of Super quarry 2.0 for a fed job back in 10 and the damn things were made over seas and are falling apart.  I wear my USA danner boots daily bought them a month before the China made boots (cant remember the model now, they are 200 gram thinsulate, 10 inch high, similar to the Light II Hikers) and guess what, NO PROBLEMS!

They are near due for a new sole now.

I suggest for hikers or general boots, Light II's


When I'm up on the steel, I wear my Hoffmans Pole Climbers.  These are ten inch high dual steel shank boots, like Whites, but built for lineman or lineman type work....  heavy boots due to the thick leather ( so you don't gaff your ankles if you are climbing a wood pole) and sole components but they are super comfortable.

Hoffmans also makes hikers.

They are based in Kellogg so you know the money is well spent.  It stays in the state.  

[Nomad]

 Looking at only buying a USA product.....
 Maybe if more people would do that it will help turn things around and keep the money
in the states and not overseas......
  Thanks to those that still make a product in the USA and to those that spend our money here........

[fj40mojo]

Looking at only buying a USA product.....
 Maybe if more people would do that it will help turn things around and keep the money
in the states and not overseas......
  Thanks to those that still make a product in the USA and to those that spend our money here........

White's-made in Spokane WA, USA. Yes, they are heavy, stiff, expensive but they provide superior arch and ankle support, are completely rebuild-able, made in the USA, and will last a lifetime if cared for. I won't buy another boot.

http://www.whitesboots.com/

[J Mack]

Looking at only buying a USA product.....

US made Danners.
http://www.danner.com/boots/#features=79