RAT's suggested boot

7rip13a said:
Hmm, that's quite surprising actually, since the selling point of Gore-tex is that it allows moisture to leave the boot, while keeping out liquids. But, I'm not going to argue with experience. Won't be bringing Gore-tex to the jungle.:)
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The North Face GTX shoes are all nice open airy mesh that allows water both in and out and they dry out real quickly. Coupled with a quality pair of wool socks your feet are ready to rock for wet and sloppy, dry, and mountainous terrains. Alot of brands are starting to catch onto that.
 
I have a pair of gore-tex LL Bean Crestas, and they are pretty much bombproof. I've got 5 years and over 400 miles on them, and they're still going strong. Not really sure they would fare too well in the jungle though.
 
7rip13a said:
Hmm, that's quite surprising actually, since the selling point of Gore-tex is that it allows moisture to leave the boot, while keeping out liquids. But, I'm not going to argue with experience. Won't be bringing Gore-tex to the jungle.:)
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Gore-Tex boots breathe while maintaining water resistance. They are pretty nice when it's not raining and they keep moisture out as long as it's below the boot cuff, but they won't dry out as fast as ordinary fabric boots if they do get wet (inevitable in a lot of cases).
 
For most outdoor use in the PNW I wear my Whites smokejumpers. Great handmade extremely durable and comfortable boots. They ought to be for the price, around $400 per pair. A great pair of boots for general runnin around both on and off trail was the Danner Journeyman. No one carries them around here except in the steel toe version which I don't care for. Danners 453 GTX is another very good boot.
 
7rip13a said:
Hmm, that's quite surprising actually, since the selling point of Gore-tex is that it allows moisture to leave the boot, while keeping out liquids. But, I'm not going to argue with experience. Won't be bringing Gore-tex to the jungle.:)
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Gore-tex pores are smaller than liquid water, but larger than water vapor. I love the stuff for everything, as long as submersion isn't a factor. Like he said, if it goes over the top.... you're toast. I'm in the NE, and while it gets very wet here, it's rare to get in a situation where you're going to be in water that deep. I use a lot of gore-tex, or solid leather boots kept well-sealed. When it's cold, staying dry is key.

Anything from the major manufacturers is going to be a good all around boot. For myself however, I usually like to get a little more specific with my footwear selections. For light hiking and overnights, I'll go with a very light mid-ankle boot make of mostly mesh. Longer or very wet hiking I'll try and get something with a sole designed for the added weight of the pack. For a pair of work steel toes I can't say enough good things about Red Wings. I wore a pair of their lumberjack boots every single day for 3 years, and they're still in great shape....and other than waxing them once a month, I beat on them.

For cold weather, look into Neos overshoes. I carried mail in Buffalo, NY. I'd wear a pair of those in the winter over light hikers or even running shoes.

I think someone else mentioned it, but fit and how you feel about them is more important than anything we can tell you.
 
I need to get a good pair of boots myself, LOL.

I have heard a lot of good things on reviews about Bates Boots.
 
MrCoffee said:
I prefer Chippewa boots for most everything I have had to deal with, but I truly have no idea how they would do in a Jungle environment. They've handled everything from extreme cold/winter camping, to working for a paving company and standing on 120+ degree hot pavement for 10-12 hours at a time, and a very wet couple of weeks helping out a friend sandbag his home. But Jungle? Hmmm....
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hell yeah on the chippewas, they are all I buy, except for dedicated hiking boots. you just have to make sure you get the ones that have the chip a tex lining ( their version of goretex) the leather can be 100 % saturated and still no water on the inside due to their lining. Just bought a new pair two weeks ago.
 
www.whitesboots.com

www.russellmoccasin.com

whites has some waterproof goretex lined type boots that are all leather. I have a pair of the outdoorsman lace to toe, very solid serious boot

Russells are very traditional, no gore no cheepo cloth lining unless you want some thinsulate. Of course the moccasin tripple vamps are water proof. Any choice of soles shanks etc. Totally custom best quality u can get. On the planet! No shit!
 
Gortex Danners is a wet climate. Not wading in water but for rain they work good. A good boot dryer that circulates cold air drys them in 24 hrs. Not hot air or heater may ruin the Gortex.
 
I still have a pair of 1968 vintage jump boots and they have served me well. I usually wear Danner's these days. One pair is full grain leather with a Gore-tex liner. These are USA made.

I also have a leather/nylon comination pair. These are a lighter weight boot.

Finally a pair of Danner hiking shoes. All three pair are very comfortable and have been since day one.
 
I wear a pair of Columbia Trailmeisters every day. I wore out the lugs walking on concrete so I bought an identical pair for hiking. I also have a pair of Columbia Bugaboots for winter hiking.

Columbia's are just really comfortable, light and tough as well as reasonably priced.

They are also proven (by me ;)).
 
I've been wearing some Danner Pronghorns for the past year and they are great. Overseas manufacture but they seem well made and durable.

I don't wear them for work however, the chemicals I work with eat even the best boots in a matter of weeks. For that I wear Wal-mart special waterproof work boots and just get a new pair every month or so. The Wal-mart boots kind of surprise me in their fit and performance. I've always spent alot on shoes and would have scoffed at the cheapies but they seem to serve me pretty well. Don't know how long they would last without the daily chemical soak.
 
beans hunting boots with thinsulate and goretex liners fer 3 seasons(still handmade in maine)keen sandles(chinar) for everything all summer long. yup socks really are at least as important as the boot. wool in different weights 365. weight is a issue for me in boots. the whites are awesome and you can watch em making em if ya happen to be in spokan but their heavier than my 3 day pack. some of the other boots mentioned have the same issue. multiple day hikes and i really start feeling the weight. tho this is obviously not an issue for everyone, it is something to consider,
 
I've been wearing a pair of Danner Pronghorns for the past three years or so. They're extremely comfortable, and very durable. I'm afraid they are headed toward the end of their lifespan, though, the past couple years of brutal boulder hopping while backpacking has really torn them up.

I have very much disliked the gore-tex in these boots. It lost water resistancy within a few months, especially right on the top of the foot.

Next pair of boots I look for will be all-leather with no gore-tex. I have some Red Wings like this that are currently a lot more waterproof than my Danners. Not good for hiking, though they're great work boots. If you want waterproof, well-oiled leather is the way to go IMO.

In a very wet place like the jungle, you'd want boots that drain and dry easily. My choices of footwear aren't really good for that, though.
 
It's tough to find a boot that will excel in all enviroments. Like Jeff said, no goretex in swamps or tropical conditions, they won't drain off the water. Heres a few companies that make good boots:

Lowa
Danner
OTB
Altima
Bates
 
Lots of good info on there here are my perspectives.......

For a hot or very wet environment the old GI jungle boots are hard to beat. I spent 9 years in the Army and that is what was on my feet the whole time. If you can find a pair get the "new, old stock models" (ie brand new pairs made in the 80's and early 90's). The difference in quality is night and day to the current mil-spec models when you look at them side by side. I still have a pair made in the 80's with the old green canvas uppers.

These guys often have new old stock boots. http://www.omahas.com/

I have two main go-to boots now that I live up in Alaska (outside of the extreme cold-stuff). I work in Forestry and also do a lot of wildland firefighting up here so I spend a lot of time on my feet and in the woods.

Unless it is -30 outside you will most likely see the Lowa Hunter Extreme on my feet. Rock solid ankle support, gore-tex, high-enough that you have to work to get water over the tops of them. Sheep hunters up here swear by them. I have used them for everything from hunting to wildland firefighting and they are still going strong ofter years of everyday, all-day use.

http://www.bakershoe.com/shop-by-brand.cfm/brand/lowa-boots/product/2009--lowa-hunter-gtx-extreme/

Last is the old Red Wing 877 boot.

http://www.bakershoe.com/boots-shoe...classic-red-wing-original-irish-setter-boots/

Classic boot that will outlast you if you take care of the leather. Extremely popular in Alaska. If you were around here in the 70's, 80', and 90's, you would see these on the feet of many wildland firefighters, homesteaders, or anyone else that spent a lot of time in the bush. Not quite as popular these days as the high-tech type boots, but still found in just about every boot or outdoor store up here and on the feet of many. They are literally like a second skin when you get them broke in. They have stich-down soles so you can have them re-soled.
 
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