Another, your advice on the best walking boots

psy-ops said:
http://www.russellmoccasin.com/boots_stalkingtracking/tracker.html

I just ordered a pair. After 6 or so years of lusting after them.
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I, too, have a pair of Russell Moccasin boots. Mine are the "Hikers" (not sure if they still produce this model). Custom made, extremely comfortable, all leather, can be resoled.

I can't wear Gortex liners either in my footwear. My feet are always more dry and comfortable without Gortex, or its ilk.

Most of the newer style off-the-shelf hiking boots (or shoes) have too much foam in the tongues and sides of the boots. Though the whole manufactures concept is at "economy and comfort", they cause your feet to be only more uncomfortable once they start sweating and swelling. I (we) have complained to stores like REI many times about their narrow toe boxes, heavily foamed (insulated essentially) hiking boots and shoes in most of their known brands. I seriously doubt that many of the engineers for these shoe/boot companies have ever done any walking in their own product (REI agrees). If they had, I think we would see a very different product on the shelves.
 
I just posted a short time ago about the merrells. I would say the best part is to make sure the boot fits right. I learned a proper fiting boot can make a long hike an easy hike. here in So Cali i dont care for a Gore tex i want them to breath better. I got the Moab mid. Im sure everyone knows how it feels like then you take your shoes off and you just sigh from the relief. Well it didnt feel like it for me. I felt that comfortable at the end of the day.

Sasha
 
well I just went boot shopping not too long ago, I ended up with a pair of dunhams. However I found that it really is how it fits, I went to 6 different stores and tried just about every brand you could think of, I found that merrels in general are very comfortable, as well as keens. Just make sure they fit right and are built right and you should be good
 
I was thinking of waterproof boots but to get real waterproof they have to almost be like gum boots dont they ? I had this problem with my safety boots for work. The only ones that would really be waterproof had rubber half way up the boot with leather bindings for the laces and padding at the ankle. They were frigin uncomfortable though.

Thanks for all your input guys !
 
cb4life_30 said:
I have 2 pair of the merrel's, they both fit great, one pair are gortex and the other are the stretch kind with the bungy cord laces. I really like them alot. My first pair I bought for mountain biking and light day hiking. The gortex worked ok but not well enough to spend the extra on the second pair. I think that is partly due to them being a shoe because I have 10" matterhorn combat boots and I can stand in 8" of water and my feet stay dry. The matterhorns also have a moisture wicking lining that keep your feet dry. They are a little on the heavy side but then again mine have the safety toe which adds weight. Either way they are all high quality shoes and boots and you couldn't wrong with any of them. Like others have said, you should definately try them on. My first pair of merrel's were a 9 but my stretches are an 8.5. Just my 2cents
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I wear Matterhorn boots every day 10~12 hrs a day these boots are probabley the toughest boots I've ever seen ! Where I wear them , you can't get no harder on boots ( Coalmines ) I go thru 1~2 pair a year :eek: they go for about $250.00 here but I get a discount thru work - Massey Energy - $178. These boots are alos some of the heaviest boots I've worn :thumbdn:
 
Recently, My thrusty Asolo boots died, after close to 8 years of service (city/winter boots, trekking, snowshoeing). I tried many "hiking" boots in different stores; nothing came close in terms of comfort and apparent sturdiness. Then I found those boots: The Scarpa Nepal...

Scarpa_Nepal.jpg


Mind you, I only had them for a week now, but they are very comfy (can wear them all day long), very light, have a quite stiff sole (this will evolve over time), and well built overall. I'm very satisfied with my purchase; I like the high rubber band around the boots; on the trail, you can't avoid mud, and there's so much leather can stand :)
 
I am on my second pair of matterhorns, My first pair are on their second set of soles. I also get a a really good deal being in the military about $180 shipped. They are my favorite boots hands down. The only reason I am not wearing them now is because they don't make desert tan with a safety toe. My feet are suffering in my issued boots, and for some reason they are hotter than my lined matterhorns.
 
If cost is no object, give John Lobb in London a call and see if they could throw together a pair for under $5k for ya.....lol. But seriously, I would say try Danner or Vasque. You can't argue with long term sucess. Back when I hiked the trail in 1980, for the serious hikers wanting lightweight boots, it was
Vasque or nothing. Soldiers who could afford to spend considerable more than the rather good German combat boots cost as the PX went for Danner. The market has expanded a lot since then, but good is still good.
 
As said before fit is the thing. Each manufacturer will have a little different last and you will find one with all the sweet spots. For example, my Keens are too wide in the heel. From there it's how tough and how much weight you're willing to put up with. If I were going to buy some all out tough boots, Danner makes lifetime quality stuff.

My favorite brands:

Montrail
Vasque
Merrell
Salomon
Keen

I'm an ultralight freak so your mileage may vary.

IMHO, Gore-Tex and other waterproof/breathable linings (eVent is another) are okay for taller winter boots, but a waste of time for shorter boots-- once warer goes over the top, your feet are wet and they dry slowly. As others have said, if your feet really sweat, they don't vent well enough. Some pretty extensive testing was done at http://backpackinglight.com and the consensus as that you are better off to have shoes that dry faster rather than waterproof.
 
If cost is no object, give John Lobb in London a call and see if they could throw together a pair for under $5k for ya.....lol
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haha if I had that much I would buy a mule to walk around with me !

IMHO, Gore-Tex and other waterproof/breathable linings (eVent is another) are okay for taller winter boots, but a waste of time for shorter boots-- once warer goes over the top, your feet are wet and they dry slowly. As others have said, if your feet really sweat, they don't vent well enough. Some pretty extensive testing was done at http://backpackinglight.com and the consensus as that you are better off to have shoes that dry faster rather than waterproof.
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Thanks Dale that is interesting and makes alot of sense. That has changed my opinion for sure, thanks.
 
I wear Vasque Sundowners 5-6 days a week. Best boots I've owned. They are Gore-Tex and completely waterproof. You can stand in puddles and stay dry. The Vasque website has links to companies that resole in the USA to Vasque's specs. I've had this pair for almost 10 years and they've been resoled a few times. I won't buy anything else.
 
I have 2 pairs of Merrell hiking shoes. Like someone else said I have one with the bungee cords and one with the goretex lining. The Bungee corded ones I th9ink they call the chameleon series are my favorites. They are very comfortable and light and dry quickly. The boots are also very comfortable and I will be buying some within the next month.
 
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