Rubber boots for shorter hikes

A

alephlex

Joined
May 4, 2005
Messages
151
Friends,

I'm looking for good footwear for fairly wet and muddy conditions. I can forsee though two rather different regions they will be put to use in:
a) hot and humid -- tropical rainforest during monsoon for short hikes
b) cold and dry -- temperate alpine regions in the snow with liners
I travel between the two a little at the moment.

I understand that the british and swedes have a long tradition of hiking/walking in Wellingtons/gumboots (rubber or muck boots). Can those of you who have used rubber boots give me some feedback? I'm interested in two factors mainly:
a) whether you have problems with perspiration/sweating and how you deal with it.
b) whether the boots afford you enough ankle stability for gentle rises and uneven ground?

If you have feed back as to how some of the more expensive models (e.g. muck boots, hunter, aigle et.) compare to the run of the mill hardware store/walmart versions, I'd love to hear them too. Is it worth the extra $50 to get a more upmarket version?

Thanks very much in advance :thumbup:
 
I'm a Brit and I've never seen anyone wear wellingtons whilst out hiking. I can't see them being too comfortable as they are not breathable, nor do they offer enough support for rough terrain.

Here in the UK, with our wet weather, almost all boots are waterproof lined with gore tex or equivalent. This can make them a little warm in the summer months.

I would personally get a leather boot without a waterproof lining. So long as the leather is treated periodically, it will be waterproof.
 
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I had a pair of cheapo Hunter copies and they were awful. No ankle support and a top that flapped whipping the calves. [If you get a design with buckles make sure they aren't just cosmetic]. Sweating / immersion foot wasn't an issue. Big wools socks and felt footbeds like you have in Lundhags absorbed anything I'd generate [average about 3 -5 miles a day walking the dog in winter]. Soles were thin. Thats good for creeping but no grip at all, especially as since they were more akin to a riding boot than an industrial boot, the lack of a pronounced heal breast made them a liability down hill on wet anything. They were also very cold. At the moment I've gone the opposite way and uber cheap and have these http://www.britishmilitarysurplus.co.uk/ishop/1069/shopscr33.html

Next winter I'll be tempted into these Grub's Hunter Boots
grubstalk.jpg


from http://www.countrytrader.co.uk/
 
I've got a pair of LaCrosse Burlys that are pretty comfortable, at least in cooler weather. They are the only pair of rubber boots I have ever owned that don't work your socks down into a bunch as you walk. I've worn them bird hunting. covering probably 3-4 miles at most, no complaints as far as comfort.
 
I´ve got a pair of Lundhags (www.lundhags.se) and i really love them. They have a rubber foot and a leather shaft - a mixture between Hiking boot and Rubber Boot. They are very lightweight and durable. I wear them mostly in very wet conditions (Taiga/Tundra) on long hiking trips.

My version has no lining (only one layer of rubber or leather between you and the elements) and i wear it with 2-3 socks (polypro liner + (Ullfrottee 400 +) Smartwool). This isn´t as warm as it may sound (not warmer than normal hiking boots). If the socks get sweaty you can simply replace them with dry ones and you have a completely dry boot. For me only 2 sets of socks were sufficient even on long and very wet trips. This works to the same degree with 100% rubber boots.

If my boot is wet at all it dries quickly. With these boots my feet have allways been much drier than with goretex boots. And -unlike goretex- these boots will stay waterproof for many years even in permanent use.

Obviously the unlined versions don´t offer as much ankle stability as a Mountainboot, but i never had problems in alpine areas and with around 35 kg on my back. The stability is comparable to a Danner Fort Lewis. But Lundhags produces also boots that are comparable to Mountainboots.

Another point is that rubberboots don´t insulate very good. For winteruse there are extra Models with felt or primaloft lining or made from neoprene.

I think Lundhags are the best boots for my purpose, but i´m not sure if they are a good choice for the jungle or the mountains in winter. I think there is no boot that is suitable for very high and very low temperatures, maybe you´re better off with two pairs of specialized boots. It is the same like with sleeping bags: I guess that you wouldnt use the same for both areas!?!?

Another problem is that Lundhags would be ridiculously expensive in the US. The pricerange in Sweden is between 2000 and 4000 SEK (330-650$). For a small extra, they can be custom fitted.

Tretorn produces a rubberboot that is intended for Hiking: Sarek TT (Sarek is a famous National Park in northern Sweden). This one is definitely worth the higher price, since it is has a better ankle support, a more durable sole and so on.

Here is a picture taken on my last big trip in Lapland:

Lundhags + Bear track

 
I started wear 16" rubber boots for turkey hunt late this season. They are suprising comfortable for lots of walking./ Mine is neoprene inner with rubber outside.
 
I just got a pair of these and quite like them.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...0_TGP&parentType=index&indexId=cat280030&rid=

Also in all my rubber boots I wear something called "Bama Socks" They are like little booties that help wick moisture away from your feet. They seriously work!!

I have also used the 12" version of these. Many bushcraft books recommend these types of rubber/leather combos. I definitely agree with heyoka on this.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...74_TGP&parentType=index&indexId=cat20574&rid=

Cabelas used to sell a 12" version of these but don't anymore :( These are hands down my most versatile boots.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...74_TGP&parentType=index&indexId=cat20574&rid=

My advice: spend the extra money. Your feet will thank you. If you find a pair of boots you like, get them. Wal-mart rubber boots are for digging in your garden. For serious walking/hiking/hunting you need something with ankle support, quality materials and reasonably lightweight. Many better quality boots now offer these features and they don't cost the earth. Just my .02
 
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alephlex said:
Friends,

I'm looking for good footwear for fairly wet and muddy conditions. I can forsee though two rather different regions they will be put to use in:
a) hot and humid -- tropical rainforest during monsoon for short hikes
b) cold and dry -- temperate alpine regions in the snow with liners
I travel between the two a little at the moment.

I understand that the british and swedes have a long tradition of hiking/walking in Wellingtons/gumboots (rubber or muck boots). Can those of you who have used rubber boots give me some feedback? I'm interested in two factors mainly:
a) whether you have problems with perspiration/sweating and how you deal with it.
b) whether the boots afford you enough ankle stability for gentle rises and uneven ground?

If you have feed back as to how some of the more expensive models (e.g. muck boots, hunter, aigle et.) compare to the run of the mill hardware store/walmart versions, I'd love to hear them too. Is it worth the extra $50 to get a more upmarket version?

Thanks very much in advance :thumbup:
Click to expand...

i will tell you this. i hike fairly long distances and have done so for a long time. i have concluded that foot damage is likely if anything except a quality leather boot is used for repeated long distance hikes. with modern footwear it is easy to get great support and dry feet.
 
Thanks for your helpful suggestions and thoughts friends

The grubs/cabelas/tretorns/lacrosses are exactly what I was thinking of!!

Just to give you a bit of background. I already have a couple of pairs of dedicated hiking boots -- classic leathers like the danners mountain lights and magnums (leather goretex combo) for jungle use. I use these whenever I am apt to be out for more than half a day.

However, there are sections of track in the tropics where the mud/water just gets above the magnums. and it undoes a lot of the benefits of the leather goretex combo because once the water gets in, the boots are just a total mess inside. So I'm thinking of having the rubbers on days when I am taking a shorter walk (no more than 3 miles I reckon) in those more muddy regions. My kid likes to visit those sections on account of the dragonflys/frogs/pond skaters. On longer treks, I'd probably still use the magnums, wet insides or not.

However, I saw some pics of the tretorns and the lunghags from a friend who when to finland lately. And they inspired this mad thought of getting one of those t(unlined) for the snow and using them with neoprene/wool socks etc. And then maybe putting them to temporary use in the tropics with lighter socks at the ponds/marshes. Hence, my comment about using them in two regions.

I agree with most of you that specialised boots are a must for hikes but was wondering whether I could get away with non-stardard usage in very limited scenarios like those above.

I'd appreciate any further thoughts you might have. Thanks
 
For the rainforest it's hard to beat the military jungle boot. It's not waterproof, but that's the idea...two screens near the bottom let the water out. If your feet get wet they will dry a lot quicker in jungle boots than in gore-tex boots.....and in that terrain you can pretty much bet your feet are going to get wet at some point.
 
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