jungle boots or gore-tex backpackers

[brians]

Cabelas Meindl hunters with liners and wool socks for me - comfort and support.

For stream crossing, pack 2 pairs of wool socks, remove boots and cross the stream. The wool socks act like felt wading boots in that they don't slip. When across, remove wet socks, dry feet, and put on dry socks. Tie your wet ones on your pack and away you go.

 

[m48shooter]

i wear bates, rockies or danner all leather, w a pair of neopream booties for wet feet time... keep ur feet dry and happy...

 

[Joezilla]

Fortune smiles upon those who read this thread on the forum:

FREE OTB JUNGLE LITE BOOTS.

The boots that OTB sent me do not fit. Due to my hobbit feet, they will be sending me a half size larger than what I have. I asked him what to do with the ones I have now, and he suggested I pass them on to the forumites.

Size: 10

Condition: Lightly broken in, about two weeks of use to them.


These are just a little bit narrow, so those with 9 or 9.5 will love them. Anyone with a size 10 foot that is wide, may want to count it out.

The catch: You have to do a review here on this forum on what you think of the boot. I will chose the person to send it to based on the best, most intellgent answer to this question. If I have to, I will flip a coin. Please keep your response limited to 5 sentences:

Candidates:
Why do you think you would make a good candidate for reviewing this boot.

A special thanks to Dan from OTB boots for the idea.


PS: I'm about to go camping in various spots for the rest of the week, so I will try to make the decision next week.

 

[Darteres]

Wrong size for me, but thanks for the "heads-up" on them. Looks like the perfect boot for my needs in Louisiana. Can't believe they're so light.

 

[jlouis976]

When I'm in the jungle, I always wear my Chacos. They offer plenty of support and are ideal for all the muck. This pair is 11 years old.

I've found them much more comfortable than boots. This isn't true of all sandals, but Chacos are in a different category. The straps are made of climbing webbing, there is no Velcro, they have Vibram soles that are resoleable(sp), and you can completely adjust the straps to custom fit your feet.

While I love my Vasque Sundowners, in the summer, in the jungle-- anytime it is warm enough to wear these, I choose them over my boots. I've carried heavy loads for many miles on these and never had any issues.

 

[shangchi108]

I don't see Gor-Tex as being so much a waterproofing, keeping water off my feet, as I see it as a substance that allows my feet to stay dry by allowing moisture in the boot to escape. I see the waterproofed leather and stitching in the boot as the primary barrier that keeps water off my feet.

But I don't think there's one piece of foot wear that does it all. I live in Southern California, so in the spring and summer, I wear Chaco sandals, almost exclusively. In the fall and winter, I wear Danner and New Balance shoes, depending on where I'm going. For hiking in wilder places, I wear Danner vented hiking shoes in the summer, and in colder weather, I wear Danner Mountain Hiking boots with Gor-Tex, because they vent moisture away from my feet and allow them to stay warm by keeping them dry.

Growing up in South Florida, I wore Jungle boots mostly because they kept my feet cooler by venting. I didn't wear them because I was expecting to get them wet. If I knew I was going to walk in a slough, then I'd use rain boots over my shoes, and I'd take the rain boots off when I was walking on dryer ground. If I was going to walk in water over my waist, then I'd wear waders.

The right tool for the right job.

 

[shangchi108]

When I'm in the jungle, I always wear my Chacos. They offer plenty of support and are ideal for all the muck. This pair is 11 years old.

I've worn my Chacos so often over the past several years that I now have very vivid tan lines on my feet from the straps. The soles show no wear after three years of constant spring and summer use. They are, by far, the most well made and durable sandals I've ever seen at any price.

 

[skammer]

I have worn chaco's for 20 years. They are the Busse of sandals so to speak.

Skam

 

[dougo83]

I have worn chaco's for 20 years. They are the Busse of sandals so to speak.

Skam

Unforgiveably expensive? Or just that damn tough?

 

[skammer]

Unforgiveably expensive? Or just that damn tough?

They aint cheap but when a piece of footwear lasts ten years and then is replaced under warranty for a minor defect that caused failure, I call it tough.

Skam

 

[dougo83]

They aint cheap but when a piece of footwear lasts ten years and then is replaced under warranty for a minor defect that caused failure, I call it tough.

Skam

Hmm..I have been looking at Tevas, this might be a better bet...

 

[skammer]

Hmm..I have been looking at Tevas, this might be a better bet...

Dont take my word for it try em on at the store, bomb proof construction.

I bought them as I lost a pair of tevas on a river rafting trip due to the velcro letting go.

Got these and havnt owned another brand of sandals since.

Skam

 

[Toucan Oasis]

When I'm in the jungle, I always wear my Chacos. They offer plenty of support and are ideal for all the muck. This pair is 11 years old.

I've found them much more comfortable than boots. This isn't true of all sandals, but Chacos are in a different category. The straps are made of climbing webbing, there is no Velcro, they have Vibram soles that are resoleable(sp), and you can completely adjust the straps to custom fit your feet.

While I love my Vasque Sundowners, in the summer, in the jungle-- anytime it is warm enough to wear these, I choose them over my boots. I've carried heavy loads for many miles on these and never had any issues.

Come around my jungles and your toes will be dinner for the critters. If the ants don't get'em the snakes will

 

[jlouis976]

Come around my jungles and your toes will be dinner for the critters. If the ants don't get'em the snakes will

Heck, if it is wet enough, a lot of times I go barefoot. It is easier to walk barefoot in the mud than to wear shoes/sandals.


That being said, I was bit on the foot by a bullet ant in Costa Rica. It was an experience I'd like to forget. Overall though, if you look where you are putting your feet, you're fine.


EDIT: that photo is from Kaiteur falls in Guyana. What was really freakin cool about that place is that there were no mosquitoes because of this carnivorous plant that was there. By far one of the best jungles I've seen.

 

[beef]

Shoes and boots won't stop all snakes anyway.... a better plan is to watch where you walk and not to aggravate the snakes.

 

[mtwarden]

gore-tex boots are handy in the winter or damp conditions, for really wet conditions- lots of rain/stream crossing etc- you want a breathable boot that dries quickly- goretex boots once wet take forever to dry

a non goretex, breathable boot is easier on your feet in hotter weather as well (goretex keeps a lot of heat in- reason they are nice in the winter)

Merrell Moab (non-gortex version) is a nice light, breathable boot- suitable for a lot of enviorns

Unfortunately with so much hype associated w/ Goretex-fewer and fewer non-goretex boots are being offered

 

[skammer]

"Unfortunately with so much hype associated w/ Goretex-fewer and fewer non-goretex boots are being offered"


Agreed, it drives me as I will NEVER wear goretex boots ever. Like wearing plastic bags on the feet. They breath 10% better than rubber and that aint much.

Skam

 

[K Williams]

EDIT: that photo is from Kaiteur falls in Guyana. What was really freakin cool about that place is that there were no mosquitoes because of this carnivorous plant that was there. By far one of the best jungles I've seen.

I knew I recognized the waterfall! My wife's from Guyana. I want to do a trip to the interior next year.