Just got my first pair of good boots!

nevermind35 · Sep 26, 2011

I just got my first pair of truly waterproof boots! All my life I've hunted, fished and hiked with cheap boots and they would always be the first part of my body to get wet and miserable. I just picked up a pair of Danner "combat hikers" that are leather and gortex and so far couldn't be happier. I think I'll finally be able to stay out all day without having soggy feet! I just got done rubbing in some leather conditioner and then its on the trails to try them out.

I really don't know why I waited so long now that I have them. They can really make a difference in how enjoyable you day in the field is. Anyways just thought I'd share my excitement and put out a reminder to check your boot situation before the rainy/snowy season hits full swing.

338375 · Sep 26, 2011

Quality boots are worth every dollar spent. Nothing worse than cold, wet feet, and uncomfortable boots that make your feet hurt...

I've been wearing Danners for years, and for the most part, have always been very happy with them. Every time I go to Portland and I'm not in the truck, I have to go to the Danner store. They have a big area for seconds, and you can get really good buys on them sometimes

crazyengineer · Sep 26, 2011

a good quality pair of boots makes life so much better, i actually have a pair of Danner boots, do yours have a side zip on them?

black mamba · Sep 27, 2011

I bought a pair of leather Danners in 1982, wearing them every hunting season, as well as for construction teardown/rehab and yard work.
I finally used them up about 2 years ago. 27 years, not too shabby!

cwdotson · Sep 27, 2011

When I was 19 or so around 1981, I got a pair of Herman Survivors (the real ones, before they sold the name to WallyWorld and had them glued together in China or where-ever). They were slightly insulated, so I didn't wear them in warmer months (except when spelunking, which I did a lot of for a few years), but I wore the heck out of them, being outdoors almost nonstop in fall and winter and early spring. I was ignorant about proper leather maintenance to boot (bad pun), but they finally gave up the ghost in 2001, on New Year's Eve, on a midnight walk in the snow. Loved those things. I have a pair of White's now that are heavy as all get-out but seem like the same quality as the old Herman's.

Trail Edge · Sep 27, 2011

When I was a teenager I ended up with my brothers (hand-me-down) waffle stompers. They didn’t fit my brother so well, so by the time I grew into them is when my foot stopped growing. Weird eh? I ended up wearing them out. By the time I could afford another pair the style was gone. Finally in my early 30’s I went to REI and bought a pair of Asolo boots. You can’t use them to drive to your hiking spot because the ankle doesn’t bend forward (there made for someone to be carrying a heavy load). Friggin’ Italian leather glove fitting boots I recommend them to anyone. I’m still breaking these things in. I put foliage green paracord laces in, but I may still find a pair of red laces for them (Ooh, there is a model for the ladies to boot).

http://www.rei.com/product/693828/asolo-tps-520-gv-hiking-boots-mens

scarysharp · Sep 27, 2011

I got a hunting pal just like you, we have hunted together for over 20yrs and every year he shows up with some cheeszy boots that he picked up just for the hunting season. Of course they are never broken in and sometimes he shows up with them right in the box. And every year after about the 3rd or 4th trip he starts to complain how his new boots leak, and they arent warm, blah blah blah. So I ask him why dont you just buy a pair of quality boots, use them just for hunting and enjoy the day afield and not wonder how long before his feet are wet.
His answer: Good boots are too expensive.

Yea sure, why buy $200 boots when you can buy $50 boots every year for 20yrs? I still think he doesnt get it!!

nevermind35 · Sep 28, 2011

Yup I have definately seen the light now! Now that I think about it its a very good investment to make and a quality pair of boots should last you a very long time. I used some of danners leather conditioner and that along with wearing them around the house and on a couple walks have really broke them in nicely. They still have a long way to go to be truly broken in but I want to get them just right before hunting season gets here on the 15th.

Man I love this time of year! It gets kind of crazy though with so much going on. Steelhead just got done, Salmons in full swing, Sturgeon starts Oct. 1st, Deer starts the 15th and waterfowls coming right up. Gotta love the fall!

Ridge-Runner · Sep 28, 2011

scarysharp said:
I got a hunting pal just like you, we have hunted together for over 20yrs and every year he shows up with some cheeszy boots that he picked up just for the hunting season. Of course they are never broken in and sometimes he shows up with them right in the box. And every year after about the 3rd or 4th trip he starts to complain how his new boots leak, and they arent warm, blah blah blah. So I ask him why dont you just buy a pair of quality boots, use them just for hunting and enjoy the day afield and not wonder how long before his feet are wet.
His answer: Good boots are too expensive.

Yea sure, why buy $200 boots when you can buy $50 boots every year for 20yrs? I still think he doesnt get it!!

Yea when me and my wife started dating seriously, we were heading to a wedding and she said that she had to go buy a pair of shoes. I was thinking your almost 25 years old and dont have a pair of dress shoes that you can wear. Well to my disbelief she was going to a Shoe Show or something like that and buying a pair of cheap shoes to go with every outfit, then of course most of the time she would wear em about 3 times and they would break or tear out or look so bad that she wouldn't wear em anymore. So I took her and bought her a pair of classic good shoes that should go with just about anything. Well I didn't take into consideration that she was a woman and still needed a pair to go with every outfit. Now she has a closet that has a couple or three thousand dollars worth of shoes in it! So that one kinda backfired on me, but my daughter will get some good hand me downs. But yea some people just dont get it to buy quality once and not junk everytime you turn around.

Ridge-Runner · Sep 28, 2011

cwdotson said:
When I was 19 or so around 1981, I got a pair of Herman Survivors (the real ones, before they sold the name to WallyWorld and had them glued together in China or where-ever). They were slightly insulated, so I didn't wear them in warmer months (except when spelunking, which I did a lot of for a few years), but I wore the heck out of them, being outdoors almost nonstop in fall and winter and early spring. I was ignorant about proper leather maintenance to boot (bad pun), but they finally gave up the ghost in 2001, on New Year's Eve, on a midnight walk in the snow. Loved those things. I have a pair of White's now that are heavy as all get-out but seem like the same quality as the old Herman's.

My dad bought me a pair of those in about 85 or so and I was bummed bad when I out grew them in about a year and a half. But they were a really good boot back then. Its a shame that they sold out to be an el cheapo.