hot weather boots...?

C

carpediem

Joined
Dec 11, 2000
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Looking for a pair of good hot weather boots, mostly hiking with a max. of a 15lb. daypack or less. Most of the boots I look at have a Gore-tex lining or insulation.
If you have any experience with the desert Altama or similar please let me know. Or any other boots that have performed well.
 
If you are considering Altama, also look at www.wellco.com and www.bellevilleshoe.com. Both are mil. contractors. I don't think belleville sells DMS Panama soled boots anymore, but they have the newer desert boots. A lot of folks love the Mil. Spec. Desert Boot. I only have experience with the Jungles which are heavier due to the spike protection.

You might also look at www.russellmoccasin.com. I think their Safari line would be good for desert wear. I have two pair of their Sporting Clays Chukkas. My first pair is over two years old and were worn everyday for much of that time. I ordered the second pair when I had the first pair resoled.
 
I have some New Balance lightweight hiking boots (suede & nylon---no Goretex or thinsulate) that are hightly breathable. Also some New Balance 805/806 trail running shoes that are good in hot weather.
 
I've used more expensive boots (Vasque, Danner, etc.) but for strictly dry desert hikes I've had great luck with the US military desert boots. The ones I like are NOT the Altama version....mine are US milsurp, with the padded top collar, suede ankle supports and CoolMax liner (the Alta's I have used had no padding on the top collar, no CoolMax and nylon over the ankles.) The 40-50 dollar price tag is appealing to me as well; for $150 I'd rather have 2-3 pairs of a workable boot and the socks to go with it than a single pair of boots.

The Panama sole on these boots worked well for me in rock, scree and sand....years ago during some months at an archaelogical dig in Israel, and more recently on trail hikes here in god-awful-hot Texas. In temps up to 120+ degrees, with GOOD socks (ThorLo Trekking/Hiking), the US desert boots worked as well as any other I tried, with less weight and no worries about appearance (call me oldfashioned but I hate scuffs on smooth leather; the suede took care of that little peeve).
 
I have the Altama desert boots. They are dandy in the Mojave desert, summer or winter. Pretty lousey in snow, though.

Do not buy insulated boots. You will want boots with fabric walls up near the ankels, that are at least 6" high(keeps the cr@p out of your shoes), and a hard sole, with a seperate heel.

Good luck
 
Altama offers both Mil. Spec. and "Commercial" versions of many of their boots. So does Wellco. The commercial versions often have inferior leather and hardware and PVC rather than vulcanized rubber soles. The vulcanized rubber soled on the Jungle Boots I had when I got out of the Army gripped rock in the cascades OK until I wore them out and bought some hikers. The large "bars" accross the sole provide a lot of friction.

I agree with the comments regarding insulation. I don't like lined or insulated boots. Unlined boots breath and dry faster and IMO are more durable (in my experience liners wear out before uppers). The best pair of boots I ever had were old Asolo Allegras. They were unlined hikers with Vibram Montagna soles. Despite the heavy duty soles and 1/2 steel shank, they were reasonably light for that style of boot. Unfortunately, it takes more skill to last an unlined boot, so they are more expensive to make. That explains why they are virtually extinct. FWIW my next pair of general purpose boots will probably be Russell Imperials, Hikers or Mountain Climbers . . .
 
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