What Kind Of Boots?

[Rick]

I did a search and didn't see anything on this so I thought I'd ask. Your feet are pretty important for your survival so what do you wear to protect them?

I have worn Vasque Sundowners for years. I own a couple of pairs of them. I like the Gortex inner liner and they just seem to fit me very well. I've had them in 30+F (glacier runoff) water in AK for a short period and they still stayed warm.

I also like my Keen Newport sandals for the summer. They've done pretty well in the wild although I don't traipse through the brush in them. Probably wouldn't be my choice for survival, either, but I like them none-the-less and it gives me a choice.

[HOP]

Rick I have worn Vasque bots before the kind you can resole and they are ok my personal favorite are Danner boots I wore them for 20 years in the army and 17 years in the prison and never had a complaint . As aheavy guy I need al the fot suport I can get and now I use thier hicking boots I prefer the resoleable type but have ordered a pair with the comon molded sole Daners have never let me down The 2 pair I wore in the prison for 17 years (a lot of stel stairs and concrete) were resoled twice and lok brand new when I gave them to a friend after I retired I might have keept them but my feet stay slightly swollen with diabetes. I am sure there are other good boots out there but daners do it for me.

[MCBushbaby]

Last year, when I bought my new pair, I researched Vasque, La Sportiva and a bunch of others. Of course there was no "best boot" top ten like you'd see with video cards or mechanical pencils...for lack of better examples... because each foot and preference is different. However after a month or more I settled on Scarpa SL M3's: full grain sherpa silicon-impregnated leather, full piece upper, bullet lacing, vibram m3 sole, and leather-lined tongue and cuff (OMG no ankle blisters!!!). A bit on the heavy side at 4.25lb for the pair, but with 2.8mm sherpa-grade leather it'd better be! I couldn't be happier with them. Plus, they're Italian made so you order in custom European sizes (27cm, 27.25, 27.5, 27.75,... and so on) so you can get it pretty much tailor made to your foot size.

It's not listed as waterproof because "it doesn't use goretex" (since when is goretex the gold standard?) but the full upper, full grain 2.8mm leather is pretty much bombproof. I sprayed on some nixwax waterproofer and I can stand ankle-deep in a stream without a problem. Though I think I'll get some rub-in wax/oil next time since the nixwax seems to need reapplication every other trip.

[explodingearth]

i just got some camo cabelas insulated boots. pretty good although im used to wearing chucks so they feel so heavy and stiff compared.

[Rick]

Hop - You're right. The ability to be able to resole is a selling point to me, too. It just means longer life.

Mitch - I didn't mean to imply there was anything special about Gortex. I've just found that my feet don't sweat or otherwise get wet in them like they do other boots. There are certainly other fabrics and ways to accomplish the same thing.

Vasque makes a product called NaturSeal. It's a waterproofing and leather conditioner for boots. I've used it for a long time and it seems to last well. I usually put a coat on in the fall and it seems to last until the next fall. I wear my boots just about every day so they get a workout. Thought you might be interested since you said you weren't happy with the nixwax.

[Bladesypher]

Well, any thick waterproof walking boots are good for me

[Beo]

I wear moc's all year round, here's a pic of the moc's I have made by footskins,
no tred or sole and hand made with elk skin and they have a lifetime waranty so when the sole wears out ya just send them back for resoling.
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[trax]

Dang those look comfy bro

[Beo]

Feel like your wearing socks, and ohhhhh so comfy great for trekking, hunting, camping and only $89.00 bucks to boot (no pun intended) Once there broke in really good there're even better but feel great right outta the box, gotta trace your foot for a perfect fit and they'er made big for socks.

[Tony uk]

I have a pair of surplus boots from the british army which have always done me well, There warm if you wear nice and thick socks.

[MCBushbaby]

Feel like your wearing socks, and ohhhhh so comfy great for trekking, hunting, camping and only $89.00 bucks to boot (no pun intended) Once there broke in really good there're even better but feel great right outta the box, gotta trace your foot for a perfect fit and they'er made big for socks.

sounds delicious, but how do they hold up on rocky ground? do you get that "It feels like i've been punched in the foot a brazilian times"-aching?

[trax]

I grew up wearing them most everywherre outdoors, gravelly ground is the worst.

[Tactical Tom]

I am a ROCKY boot person but this time I'm getting a pair of Wolverine 12point series - 8" whitetail tracking boots, 200grams of thinsulate & waterproof. They are only 2.5lbs a pair. I have a pair of Rocky Prohunter's that are 10yrs old & still kicking, look great but not waterproof anymore. Also have a pair of Rocky Rangers - good for cold weather but to hot for summer time.

[FVR]

Mocs or my Muck boots.

Mocs
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Muckboots
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[Rifleman]

I'm looking for a new pair of hiking boots.
I wear a pair of steel toe wolverines pretty much everyday. I really love these boots, but the sole and tread is falling apart on them pretty bad, and I have only had them just over a year.

I have another pair of wolverines, and they are still in great shape, but I haven't worn them as much even though I have had them longer.

I also have a pair of Rocky boots, that are my "dress" boots. They feel great and are waterproof. I think I am going to get something similar to them for hiking, except in a different style. The ones I have now are of the western style, with a 8inch lace up top, along with a kiltie above the toe. They are beautiful boots.

[Beo]

The moc's I have are grate, the soles are two layers of thick elk so rocks and gravel are no problem and mine are two yrs. old and still going strong, if its really cold out I have a pair ojibwa winter moc's. $125.00 plus tax.
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SO FRIG'N COMFY AND WARM!

[owl_girl]

The moc's I have are grate, the soles are two layers of thick elk so rocks and gravel are no problem and mine are two yrs. old and still going strong, if its really cold out I have a pair ojibwa winter moc's. $125.00 plus tax.
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SO FRIG'N COMFY AND WARM!

Hey did you get those from http://www.mukluks.com ?

[Beo]

Uh... yeah only place to get comfy moc's and mucks, only the ojibwe moc's though the other ic I posted of those moc's was from footskins. BTW do you think they'll be okay for my winter treck in Canada in January?

[Rick]

Beo and FVR - Do your feet sweat in those things and are they waterproof? I gotta tell you, they look comfy as all get out. The snow would have to be pretty deep to be a problem for either one and by then you'd be on snowshoes.

[Beo]

Beo and FVR - Do your feet sweat in those things and are they waterproof? I gotta tell you, they look comfy as all get out. The snow would have to be pretty deep to be a problem for either one and by then you'd be on snowshoes.

No sweating but only wore them once, yes they're waterproof and ohhhh sooooo comfy.