OFF TOPIC: Suggestions for hiking boots?

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gottahaveit27

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Aug 31, 2008
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Hello. I'm going on a jungle expedition in Costa Rica in March and I'm looking for a good pair of hiking boots in the 100-150 dollar range. I will be hiking around 10 miles a day through dense wet jungle as well as through some mountainous terrain. Does anyone have any suggestions. I posted here because I value the opinions of the regulars of this forum Thanks very much.

Note: I've read the "jungle boots" thread, but I'm looking more for boots that will be comfortable over some serious mileage. More hikers than jungle boots (though I will be in the jungle).
 
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My wife and I both have Kayland boots and can't say enough good things about them. From their comfort to their build to their durability, Kayland boots are top notch.
 
holygoat said:
Take a look at Meindl. They make boots for Cabelas, as well as their own brand.
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+1 Meindl boots are top-notch!

I have Meindl boots and Merrell shoes. Meindl produces great quality. For a wet jungle environment.. Meindl or Merrell hiking shoes could be a good choice because they are light and they dry fast when wet. In the same price range I would prefer Meindl over Merrell. My Merrells are good shoes but I got them for 50-60% off the regular price.. and for the regular price I can get a better quality and reliability.
 
I just got a pair of Zamberlan Civettas currently still breaking them in before the move to colorado. they might be a little heavy for the warmer climates but they are a hell of a boot so far I will report back once they get some miles on the tread
 
I've got a few pair of merrell boots now. The outbound impressed me. I've used it as a summer boot, and had to use them in a pinch at work in the winter. They were much warmer than I expected. I have the Moab's for light day hiking, but serious miles or weight I'd avoid them. For winter, I just grabbed a pair of Isotherm 6's, and hooked them up with a pair of OR crocodile gaiters. Might not be a bad idea even for hiking in the jungle if it's wet....

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After a pair of Altama jungle boots tore my ankles up on a hike (wrong socks..painfull lesson learned!) I bought a pair of Merrell boots and they've been great. Phazer Peak is the model I got..really comfortable and they fit great. The build quality is good also, no problems there.
 
I have a pair of OTB Bootistans that are simply excellent. VERY rugged, but heavy if you're not needing that much of a boot.
 
you can't go wrong with a pair of Keen's. Never had a break-in period needed for a pair of their footware. They also have a nice full toe box which is great if you have wider feet or expect any foot swelling from long treks or hot temps.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone. They have been really helpful! I'm looking into the boots mentioned and I will let you know what I decide on. I'll also be sure to post up my experience with the boots on my trip as well as some pics for y'alls viewing pleasure. :D
 
You may want to drill holes into your boots so that they function like jungle boots depending on the conditions of the ground your hiking on.
 
im a big fan of red wings, the pair i use are more like a work boot or military boot but it might work in the jungle, but theyre tough comfortable boots. i never slid with them on snow/ice or dirt. ive walked miles in them and never had a blister. the pair i bought cost around $300 if i remember right but you could get a nice pair in your price range. i had them for about 3 yrs and they only show minimal wear. good stuff!
 
I'm very pleased with Danner hiking boots. When working as a federal law enforcement officer, I wore the regular boots daily with no complaints. This past summer, I bought a pair of their hiking boots ($150) and, so far, they have exceeded my expectations.
 
If your going to be tromping aroung the jungles of Costa Rica your going to really need something that is lightweight, breathable, drain-able, and NOT waterproof. A lot of people make the mistake of getting a waterproof boot in a tropical environment thinking they'll keep out all the water, but it WILL get in then it'll be trapped and destroy your feet. Same thing goes with the breath-ability and drainage, make sure they have drainage ports. From my experience Altima makes the best boot for that type of area you'll be going through. Just pull out the insoles and replace them with some really good ones, then break the boots in as much as you can before you go!
 
Salomon Quest 4D GTX Hiking Boots

it's one of the best hiking boots on the market right now...they are a little above the price range...but if you shop around for a few weeks you may find a deal that brings them to around $150...
 
I've been very happy with Merrell's and Asolo's. If you can go a little pricier I'd also look at Ecco's.

The most important thing, IMO is to actually try the things on. I know it sounds obvious but you can get such good deals online today people sometimes forget to go to a store and actually walk around in the shoes. There are actually a lot of really good shoes out there so it really comes down to what you're comfortable with. A good outdoor sports store like REI or Eastern Mountains Sports should have staff that really knows what they're talking about. They'll also have equipment so you can see how the shoes feel when you're carrying a load or on irregular terrain.
 
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