Got some New boots. I wanna talk boots.

J

JackBauer24

Joined
Mar 13, 2006
Messages
850
I picked up some Scarpa's.
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,72642_.html
I think those are the ones. I've been back and forth on boots for about 8 months now. I've bought a few cheapos just because I couldn't decide. I'm a solid build heavy guy at 210 lbs and I'm hard on everything. I really just don't have great luck with Gortex in footwear. So I wanted some no frills, but solid leather boots. These things are ultra light but seem to be built very strong. I had wanted some Leemers, but I just don't have the coin for those. Really didn't have the coin for these. Anyway, I've got em all oiled up and I'm breaking them in this week. I'll wear them to the gym today for a good squat session (nothing breaks boots in faster) and hopefully I'll try them out on a 2 nighter this weekend.

What is important in boots to you? what do you look for and what do you wear out. My usual is good water proof boots and some chaco river sandles for wear around the camp.
 
I settled on a pair of Lowa's (Banff) after getting my wife a pair of Scouts, which are a bit lighter. Good rubber rand, no seams to let in water. I waterproofed them with water-based Nikwax which works better than anything else I've tried, even SnowSeal. Best boots I've had, so far but pricey.
 
Alberta Ed said:
I settled on a pair of Lowa's (Banff) after getting my wife a pair of Scouts, which are a bit lighter. Good rubber rand, no seams to let in water. I waterproofed them with water-based Nikwax which works better than anything else I've tried, even SnowSeal. Best boots I've had, so far but pricey.
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you would tell me that after I put snowseal on these.
 
JackBauer24 said:
you would tell me that after I put snowseal on these.
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Just put both on and have double the protection. :)

I bought some REI Spirit IIs not too long ago, and love them. Extremely well made, very stiff (good for my ankles), excellent support, and breathe well for Goretex. The only thing I don't like is the rubber toe rand, since it kept the REI guys from stretching the boots quite to the point that they would perfectly fit my fat feet.
 
i have the exact same boots in a lighter shade of brown they are great boots. if you are a normal d width like me they fit great. i have had mine for going on 5 years and they look a little battered and bruised but they are still very water resistant. with a quality one piece leather boot there is no need for a gortex liner unless you want to sweat. i am not a fan of gortex in boots in outerwear it is great but it makes footwear to hot at least for me and it offers no additional benifit if you use a quality water rub.

sorry i did not catch you sooner but i don't care for sno seal either it literally seals your boots not allowing for vapor transfer which can lead to soggy feet if your not careful but it will definatly keep the water out. just make sure to wear a quality wool or other wicking sock when hiking to prevent blisters.

I also have a pair of limmers that are about 8 yrs old and they are absolute tanks both in durability and weight. they weigh a TON! hard to find a boot that offers better support under a heavy pack though. most of the time i preffer something lighter like the scarpas.

congrats on your new boots they should offer you many years of faithful service. just remember take care of your gear and it will take care of you.
all the best,
Jason
 
I used SnowSeal with perfect satisfaction for years; don't worry about it. Good stuff, good boots.
 
rackness said:
i have the exact same boots in a lighter shade of brown they are great boots. if you are a normal d width like me they fit great. i have had mine for going on 5 years and they look a little battered and bruised but they are still very water resistant. with a quality one piece leather boot there is no need for a gortex liner unless you want to sweat. i am not a fan of gortex in boots in outerwear it is great but it makes footwear to hot at least for me and it offers no additional benifit if you use a quality water rub.

sorry i did not catch you sooner but i don't care for sno seal either it literally seals your boots not allowing for vapor transfer which can lead to soggy feet if your not careful but it will definatly keep the water out. just make sure to wear a quality wool or other wicking sock when hiking to prevent blisters.

I also have a pair of limmers that are about 8 yrs old and they are absolute tanks both in durability and weight. they weigh a TON! hard to find a boot that offers better support under a heavy pack though. most of the time i preffer something lighter like the scarpas.

congrats on your new boots they should offer you many years of faithful service. just remember take care of your gear and it will take care of you.
all the best,
Jason
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awsome. If breathablity is and issue I'll see about switching to something else. That's my problem with gortex, If you use it, it gets dirty and clogs. Not only do you sweat, but it wears it's self out that way. I guess for the greater majority of people, it's best due to the fact that most people won't oil/wax boots. Just like they're not going to sharpen their knives. Clearly not an issue for me, I'll prolly over wax them in all likely hood.
 
I have a pair of Asolo 520's in 12 wide (the same boot without the Gore Tex bootie would be the 535). I am down to 265 from 360, and am 6'4". Like you I am hard on everything, but especially boots. These things, once broken in, fit your feet like a glove, are exceedingly comfortable, and hold up well. I regularly (couple times a week at least) hike an extremely rocky, 6-9 mile round trip (depending on which forks you take), 2000 vertical gain, nasty trail with these boots, and the only ill effects so far are some scuffed toe leather. I carry a 40lb pack on these dayhikes to help with the fitness aspect, and my feet/ankles feel just fine afterwords. This pair of boots has over 500 miles on them to this point, and they are doing wonderfully.
 
I find that with hiking boots you generally get what you pay for. I have had 2 pairs of Karrimors, one fabric, one leather and now have some leather Mendl Burma's....all have been great boots and worth the money !!!!!
 
I had some Scarpa Attacks with the Berghause gortex gator that they don’t make anymore. I had them for close to 9 years till I wore holes in the soles. I also have some Mantas that are a bit older, same problem the soles wore out. Scapas are the best boot I have tried but I didn’t like the new models available in the US. I would get a new set of Mantas, I would rather have to much boot than not enough. I would also round up some Nik wax, like other have said its some good stuff.

I would like to try some Mendl or some Hanwags, but I don’t need that style of boot right now. I have been using Whites Packers and Hunters for the last 5 or 6 years. Very good boots that you can get custom made for your feet.
 
I have some Danner mountain light hikers. They are as comfortable as tennis shoes, have never leaked, and are still going strong after six years.
 
quietmike said:
I have some Danner mountain light hikers. They are as comfortable as tennis shoes, have never leaked, and are still going strong after six years.
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I personally love Danners, all of them. They do not hold up to me. I've been through 6 pairs in 4ish years.
 
I guess I put comfort first and foremost when buying boots. I don't do any hardcore distance packing or anything these days, so I opt for lighter designs. I've had good luck with Vasque Skywalk IIs which haven't been made for quite a while. For the past 2 years I have been sproting Danner Gore-Tex Radicals, and they have been excellent for me and what I use them for. I had tried the radicals on in a local store, but at the time I didn't want to shell out the $130 for a pair. I waited a few months, and sure enough, STP had them for $50, as Danner was revamping the design. Score! I bought two pairs. They have been holding up well.
 
I've been using Scarpa/Fabiano boots for over twenty years and I'm pretty sure you'll find your new leather to be up to some pretty heavy work. The model you have looks like a really good choice, just be a little patient with the break-in. I also used Snowseal for years but have switched to the Nikwax, you might consider trying it when you need to re-waterproof, it's really a good product. Many good miles!
 
JackBauer24, If you don't mind me asking, what size are you? I have been looking to get the SL M3 from there and notice that it says there are 43.5 but I cannot order that size...
 
Good choice mate - I have the exact same model. They are a tad heavy and warm for some applications in Oz, but I get around this by wearing thinner socks. They are great mountain trekking boots and really come into their own when you get a load on your back. Here's a pic of them in action

rockshelfsticks.jpg
 
I buy Vasque Sundowners, and have for years. I snow seal mine, too, even though they are Gore-tex. I usually get the boots resoled twice before I retire them. Had a pair of lighter weight Asolo boots, really comfortable. Apparently tastey, as well, by the way my dog tore into them :(
 
I have had great luck with my Raichle "rosegs" and my Lowa "model name forgotten" lighter duty boots.

Both have proven to be very comfy and required minimal breakin time, never got a blister.

I am currently working in a set of Kaylands that split the difference between the Raichles and Lowas as to sturdiness, so far I am impressed even if they have a cambrele lining.

Things I look for in a boot
-no goretex
-vibram sole with a nice tread pattern for what I am doing.
-Ideally glove leather lining, seems to mold to the foot better and doesnt wear out like the cambrelle, also doesnt seem to get the "stink" as bad when under heavy use for multiple days.
-minimal surface seams
-full grain leather, smooth side out best for waterproof, rough side out for scuff resistance,

As to scarpa they make a great boot, I used to have a set of old school scarpa "waffle stompers" when a teenager and into my twenties that were indestructible and I abused the hell out of them till my foot grew out of them.

A
 
my grandparents just got here from china, and they brought me over 60 pairs of shoes and boots!!! i now have everything from low heel leather to high heal water tight, lol!
 
I take a different approach to boots than most people here, I guess.

I wear what we often call "smokejumper" boots built for me by Viberg. They are not cheap, unfortunately - I paid about $450 for mine - but they are about the last word in boots. The only similar boot I can think of would be White's of Spokane, but I haven't seen their boots in years and I don't know what the quality is like now. At one time they were a very similar boot.

It's a heavy boot, not much like a modern hiker at all. The leather on mine is 9oz full oil tan, must be upwards of 1/8" thick. Tough as nails.

My Vibergs are like stepping in to heaven. I wear workboots all day walking around the jobsite, and my feet are tired and sore when I get home. I take off my workboots, put my feet up for an hour, and then put on my VIbergs. It fixes my feet, no kidding. I have to wear fancy insoles in every shoe I own, except the Vibergs. I walk right on the leather. Some days I have worn them working in the bush where there are no safety guys to check my toes...it's heaven. I worked for 19 hours in them one day. Naturally my feet were tired when I took them off, but they still felt better than after 10 hours in my regular boots (which frankly are not cheapo boots either.)


But this is the best thing about Viberg: they are still built in the back of their storefront on Herald St. in Victoria (stop by Pitdog!) which has been there since the 1930s. When I had mine drawn up, this is what happened:

80 year old woman who runs the store: "Okay, we'll call you when they're done."

Me: "Did you want a deposit or something?"

80y.o.w. "No, why, did you want to pay for some of it now?"

Me: "I just thought, you know, you might want a deposit since they won't fit anyone else."

80yow: "But you're going to buy them."

Me: "Okay, well, call me when they're ready."


They were not interested in a deposit on $450 custom boots. I said I would buy them and that was enough. Then last week, I decided I wanted another pair, just because I love the first ones so much I want some in steel toe so I can wear them at work. I had the measurements written on the box so I called them up.

"Hey," I said, "I want to order a pair of 151s in steel toe, 12d, with the ball built out to 12ee."

"Sure," said the woman. "Is that exactly what you want?"

"Yes, please," I said. "Exactly that."

"Okay," she said. "Give me your number, and we'll call you when they're done."


UNREAL!!!
 
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