Got some New boots. I wanna talk boots.

I've noticed the more I've trekked in the last few years, the heavier boots I've turned too. I'm sure there is an energy cost with this when long distance walking but less knee and foot pain is the pay-off for me.

However I've noticed a few of the very experienced track walkers I come across - people who have been at it for a few decades - tend to wear very light footwear. It will be interesting to see if I evolve towards that over time. However I'm a pretty big guy as well, with small feet, so I think solid boots is something I'll always need.
 
White's (and Nick's) are both still good to go. White's does have several lines of boots but their top of the line boots and still handmade in Spokane WA. I have been wearing mine every day lately since the annual vegetation management project has begun in our local river channel. I will be running the lead chainsaw for 4 or 5 weeks and on my feet in sand and mud the entire time. Cheap boots break down fast here. 3 of the four guys wear White's. I've read up on Viberg boots and if I lived in Canada that is what I would wear. For hiking/backpacking I still like US miltary desert boots.
 
scpower said:
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...
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I'm a 10 in some shoes, 10.5 in some, danners seem to always bee an 11. My squat shoes (chuck taylors) are 9's. lol. I would say usually a 10.5. These are 44.5. I think that's more of an 11ish size but I really have no basis for that guess.
 
Ming65 said:
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

[MG]http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f193/ming65/rockshelfsticks.jpg[/IMG]
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Really? you think they're heavy? I thought they were light as hell to be honest.
 
JackBauer24 said:
I personally love Danners, all of them. They do not hold up to me. I've been through 6 pairs in 4ish years.
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Which model(s) did you use? I've worn their insulated winterlights for 18 years and the only thing that wore out were the outer soles. I work in varied seasonal temps from snow/ice to 110 degrees and they have served me well. I take pretty good care of the leather and the cordura takes care of itself. This year for the first time, I sent them back to Danner to have them rebuilt for about $90.00. I was very impressed! It was like a new pair of boots. I bought a pair of Merrills to wear while the Danners were gone. They're nice, too. Like a hefty pair of tennis shoes. Someone mentioned the sizing and I found that I had to order a narrower boot, slightly smaller than expected to get the glove tight fit after break in. Spending a few extra bucks on good socks is a must.

GB
 
My Gortex makes my feet hot too! I thought it was just me. (complex ;) ) thanks guys.
 
JackBauer24 said:
do you oil/wax them? I've heard you dont' want to do that to gortex boots for that reason exactly.
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I'm not sure what hes referring to about oiling or waxing goretex. I thought that the inner boot was goretex and the exterior was leather, cordura, etc. A good pair of socks, changed often helps keep them clean. I've worn mine in creek water that left them dirty and smelly and had to wash the inside. One thing I found was a fabric softening sheet placed inside the boots keeps them from smelling like a landfill.

GB
 
Gerberblades said:
I'm not sure what hes referring to about oiling or waxing goretex. I thought that the inner boot was goretex and the exterior was leather, cordura, etc. A good pair of socks, changed often helps keep them clean. I've worn mine in creek water that left them dirty and smelly and had to wash the inside. One thing I found was a fabric softening sheet placed inside the boots keeps them from smelling like a landfill.

GB
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the oil goes through the leather into the gortex and clogs it.
 
You may also look into some Columbia boots. I know they aren't the higher end boots. I bought a pair in highschool, and they lasted over 100 days in the woods (all seasons, including winter snow). Their omni-tec aren't as breathable as gortex, but much cheaper. There are any treads left on mine now, but it still in one piece and I use it for house work.


Personally, I use merrells for hiking.
 
One nice feature about boots with a leather interior is that you can wipe them out and condition the leather. This removes any salt etc from the interior of the boot. I recently bought Raichle (spelling) and this was the most comfortable boot I have worn. Naturally fitting a boot is a subject on it's own. I attended a boot fitting clinic sponsored by Mountain Equipment Co-op and that was extremely helpful in selecting a new pair of boots.
 
JackBauer24 said:
the oil goes through the leather into the gortex and clogs it.
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Ok. I've never used oils just the Danner brand boot dressing. I gave up on stuff like neatsfoot oil long ago.

A lot of the guys I work with swear by Whites and Hawthornes for comfort. The price is pretty steep (>$350.00?) but they can be rebuilt as well. They don't strike me as being very warm, though. Boots, like knives, are a very personal thing. Thats why there are so many different ones to choose from.

GB
 
Gerberblades said:
Ok. I've never used oils just the Danner brand boot dressing. I gave up on stuff like neatsfoot oil long ago.

A lot of the guys I work with swear by Whites and Hawthornes for comfort. The price is pretty steep (>$350.00?) but they can be rebuilt as well. They don't strike me as being very warm, though. Boots, like knives, are a very personal thing. Thats why there are so many different ones to choose from.

GB
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oh man.... I went through 2 pairs of Danners with that stuff before we finnally realized it was the dressing killing the gortex. Both pairs lasted just this side of 4 months before they started leaking and as we figured out that was about the time I decided to dress them with it. I quit using it and the waterproof lasted, well actually til now I guess. I have 3 or 4 pairs worn out still in my closet. My problem with danners is they stretch out too much. I started buying them a half size too small which gave me another 6 months but in the end they still got bad.
 
I used to wear leather Army issue boots for years. We used to keep them oiled up all the time, but whenever I walked through a creek bed, one or two drops always seeped in somewhere. I bought a pair of Cabela's brand boots a few years ago on a close out sale. I love 'em. They are very comfortable, uninsulated, Gore-Tex lined, leather boots. When I walk through creek beds I have never noticed any moisture coming through.

I also have not noticed that they are hot due to the Gore-Tex lining (I wear them in South Central Texas summers). The instructions said to just clean them every so often with a wet cloth to keep the leather pores clean for the Gore-Tex to work. I can see where oiling Gore-Tex boots would cause the boot to get hot because the Gore-Tex can't breathe the way it was designed. Plus, I think oiling it would permanently soil the Gore-Tex so that it would lose its waterproofing ability too.

My boots are 4 years old with decent use and still repel water handily.

All the same, I agree with the sentiments that boots are like knives (and guns, cars, clothing, etc.); each to his/her own.

My $.02. :cool:
 
2dogs said:
White's (and Nick's) are both still good to go. White's does have several lines of boots but their top of the line boots and still handmade in Spokane WA. I have been wearing mine every day lately since the annual vegetation management project has begun in our local river channel. I will be running the lead chainsaw for 4 or 5 weeks and on my feet in sand and mud the entire time. Cheap boots break down fast here. 3 of the four guys wear White's. I've read up on Viberg boots and if I lived in Canada that is what I would wear. For hiking/backpacking I still like US miltary desert boots.
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Good to know about White's...I know they had aways made very solid boots but these days you just don't know if a company has sold its name overseas or what. Good for them for continuing to build their solid old loggers.

Nick's...now there's a brand I haven't heard mentioned in a while!
 
JackBauer24 said:
oh man.... I went through 2 pairs of Danners with that stuff before we finnally realized it was the dressing killing the gortex. Both pairs lasted just this side of 4 months before they started leaking and as we figured out that was about the time I decided to dress them with it. I quit using it and the waterproof lasted, well actually til now I guess. I have 3 or 4 pairs worn out still in my closet. My problem with danners is they stretch out too much. I started buying them a half size too small which gave me another 6 months but in the end they still got bad.
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I can't figure that out. Are they solid leather or the leather/cordura combination? I think I paid about $230.00 for them. A light application of the boot dressing shouldn't penetrate the leather to that extent. Might be overdoing the grease. I'd contact Danner. I'm getting about 4 years of good wear before the vibrams look like sidewalks.

GB
 
JackBauer24 said:
Really? you think they're heavy? I thought they were light as hell to be honest.
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It's all relative I guess - they are on the heavy side compared to the boots most people use in 0z. I should also say I've still got my original pair of Scarpas - the Scarpa SL which were the early version of your boots. I've had them since I went to Nepal in 1990 and they are stil going strong. I only upgraded because I did a 21 day desert treck last year and I din't want to risk them falling apart on me miles from anywhere. It was more of a piece of mind thing than anything.

They are incredibly long lasting boots.
 
JackBauer24 said:
do you oil/wax them? I've heard you dont' want to do that to gortex boots for that reason exactly.
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no. I have never done that. I wanted to get some nik wax soon but now, I don't know. Their still pretty new. They are Timberland Cadions, the gray/blk waterproof ones. They fit great, feel great on hikes but get really hot on me. I thought I was just a hot foot! :D
 
Gerberblades said:
I can't figure that out. Are they solid leather or the leather/cordura combination? I think I paid about $230.00 for them. A light application of the boot dressing shouldn't penetrate the leather to that extent. Might be overdoing the grease. I'd contact Danner. I'm getting about 4 years of good wear before the vibrams look like sidewalks.

GB
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they are the combo non insulated ones. I've had the low and tall ones. I love them, but like I said... I'm really hard on everything. From boots to knives, I don't abuse things, I just have a talent. lol. I can destroy anything. My friends give me a hard time about it.
 
I use Meindl Island. I've had them since -97 and they are still good. I think they have another 2-3 good seasons left until I replace them with an identical pair. They are the best boots I've ever had and I have used them for hiking/outdoors and also as my winter boots (I live in Sweden).

They are quite expensive, I paid about 300-350 USD for them, but divided by 12 years they could be one of the best values I have bought when it comes to outdoors wear.

About waxing Gore-Tex. Ask the people at the outdoors store for wax made specifically for Gore-Tex boots. Meidl have their own and thats good, Also there is one called Sno-Seal ´that works. Dont use regular oil or wax, it cloggs up the Gore-Tex. Then it's better to save some money and get boots without it.
 
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