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What boots are you wearing?

My cowboy boots are ostrich Tony Lama.
My daily/hiking/hunting boots are Merrill. The back half of my feet are narrow, the front is regular size. Merrill fits better than the others, so far.
My construction boots are Wolverines.
My LE boots were Danners. My Acadia’s have more miles on them than most cars do.
 
I take a more lightweight approach usually. Less / no boots unless really needed. I hike most of the year in Salamon, 5.10, or Sportiva trail shoes. If needed I go to my La Sportiva Nepal Evos (old style) which are bomb for the altitudes / conditions I play in at this point in life. I have a pair of La Sportiva Spatniks that are great but I don’t find myself in conditions where they’re needed much.

Mostly I live in Birkenstocks or flip flops though…
 
Herb Stoner said:
I take a more lightweight approach usually. Less / no boots unless really needed. I hike most of the year in Salamon, 5.10, or Sportiva trail shoes. If needed I go to my La Sportiva Nepal Evos (old style) which are bomb for the altitudes / conditions I play in at this point in life. I have a pair of La Sportiva Spatniks that are great but I don’t find myself in conditions where they’re needed much.

Mostly I live in Birkenstocks or flip flops though…
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So what are you carrying in those tactical cargo socks when you are rocking those Birks?
 
redneckbmxer24 said:
I’ve been wearing Hoka Kaha GTX the last few months, I just tried them on in a store and they were insanely comfortable. Have over 150 hiking miles on them now and they’re wearing great and very comfortable on the trail and also around town. Whenever I kill them I’ll absolutely replace them with another pair.
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I guess I jinxed it, my Hoka Kahas have started their disintegration process and they didn’t even make it to the 4 month mark. Friday I messed up something in the mid sole from stepping weird on the heel and have had a pressure point on the bottom of my foot since that and yesterday I felt like I had a leaf or something stuck in the bottom of the other boot and a piece of rubber tread had peeled away from the foam part of the sole.

Are hiking boots just disposable now?
 

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I've been wearing these "Salewa" (no idea how you pronounce it) boots for elk hunting in the Rockies.
1669645836746.png


Rapace GTX
They're sort of a compromise between three season hiking boots and plastic mountaineering boots. They are stiff enough to accept automatic crampons, but the sole does flex for hiking. At a pound and a half I feel like they are neither heavy nor light for mountaineering boots.

My first time out I was doing a lot of traversing on steep and it was clear that the hiking boots I had did not have enough lateral, ankle support. I was lucky not to roll an ankle. In these it's not a problem. I can walk on an edge just as easliy as flat, and they are very comfortable. I had zero problems with my feet hunting for two weeks straight and changing altitude up to 4,000 feet every day.

I'd never heard of them before, but I'm very pleased with them.
 
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Fig said:
Those look like the old Hi-Teks we used to wear in the '90s. They only look like heavy boots, but feel (and weigh) more like hitop sneakers.

The day I switched to Hi-Teks was the day I took about 30 seconds off my mile pace.
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I wore Hi-Tecs in the 80's/90's in 10th Group. Wore LL Bean Duck Boots also. Adidas Trekker's, forerunner of the GSG9, had to be bought in Germany and were expensive to boot.
 
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Herrman Survivor Jason's. Cheap but stupid comfortable and steel toed as required for work. And not that it matters but they are stupid quiet compared to my other shoes. Great for stalking squirrels! :LOL:
 
I won’t be buying anymore Hokas. You can’t get in contact with them. You call and the prompts tell you to go online, I couldn’t get to a representative no matter what I did or pressed. Going online to their warranty page you click to submit a warranty claim and it takes you to the page that I screenshot. Not even an option for warranty. I chose the bottom option since it was the closest and you just put in your info, no info about warranty or what happened or comment and they tell you to mail them in (which you have to pay for) and they’ll evaluate them.

I called the store down in GA I bought them from (who’s great BTW) and they said to bring them in with my receipt and they’ll handle it. They had others come apart the same way as mine apparently.


I’m looking for another pair of hikers now. I ordered some Danners elk hunters for a winter boot but I need a summer boot. Will probably buy from REI since I’m a member and can just get my money back in a year if they suck.

Has anyone here tried Lowa Renegades? If so how is the cushioning on them?
 
I have two different pairs I wear regularly. My Salomon Quest 4Ds - These are my hiking/outdoors boots. Super comfy and you can walk in them all day with zero issues. My second pair are Throughgood's - I've had them for 2 years now for work and the leather is in amazing shape. the bottom of the shoe is a little wore but other then that they have be great for the past few years.
 
Lowa ankle hikers

Irish elk trackers for wet/cold

Altama maritime assault shoes are the most impressive street shoe. I have been wearing the same pair and bought my them in 2016. Still kicking. I have 3 other pair that I haven’t even worn yet since those still kicking. Right around 100 bucks.

I can’t say enough good stuff
 

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The new light weight redwings with the BOA laces have been amazing. Eos? Or somthing like that is the model.

Edit: EXOS lite. I used to always buy redwing when I was building boilers, then they changed the ones I like and switched to timberlands. They were always super comfortable.....until they wernt. Then I had Justin x5 comanders. Awesome boots till I started getting too fat and needed more ankle support. ..
 
hukset402 said:
The new light weight redwings with the BOA laces have been amazing. Eos? Or somthing like that is the model.

Edit: EXOS lite. I used to always buy redwing when I was building boilers, then they changed the ones I like and switched to timberlands. They were always super comfortable.....until they wernt. Then I had Justin x5 comanders. Awesome boots till I started getting too fat and needed more ankle support. ..
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I know exactly which ones. I almost went with those but the little tounge fold made a knot that dug into my ankle. if Im spending $300 on boots they better be comfy out of the box. none of this wear it for X time to break it in. ended up with super comfy Timbos off the discount rack and saved $200.
 
2aBaCa said:
I know exactly which ones. I almost went with those but the little tounge fold made a knot that dug into my ankle. if Im spending $300 on boots they better be comfy out of the box. none of this wear it for X time to break it in. ended up with super comfy Timbos off the discount rack and saved $200.
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I thought exactly the same thing when I bought them. But the tit tacular red head sales girl at the red wing store said somthing about idk what and I bought them anyway. Honestly I don't think I noticed the fold being an issue after the first couple uses. I alternated them with my Thurgoods for a couple weeks. I will buy again when need be. Hopefully another year.
 
redneckbmxer24 said:
I don’t think the US made Danners are overpriced for what you’re getting. Lots of good Asian imported boots now are running $200-$300 for gore tex models so $400 for USA made leather boots that can be rebuilt seems like a deal to me. Danners are great boots and if you sign up they have a 25% off members only pre sale going on right now. I’m thinking about ordering a pair of hood winter lights for winter boots since I’m somewhere it’s cold again.

Just don’t buy Merrells, their quality has gone to absolute shit. My second to last pair started losing chunks of rubber hiking in rocks which had never happened before and then about 50 miles hiking with them were coming apart all around them. I bought another pair because Merrell gave me a 50% off code since they were beyond the warranty period and the new pair weren’t waterproof after 3 months and are goretex too.

I’ve been wearing Hoka Kaha GTX the last few months, I just tried them on in a store and they were insanely comfortable. Have over 150 hiking miles on them now and they’re wearing great and very comfortable on the trail and also around town. Whenever I kill them I’ll absolutely replace them with another pair.
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My Merrell Moab Mids are still comfy as hell after 9 years and have worn extremely well. My Moab mid GTX from 5 years ago have hard insoles and aren’t the most comfortable but the Gore-Tex is awesome and hasn’t leaked. I just bought another pair of GTX for wearing around town and they are hard as a rock and actually clunk when I walk in them. Probably the last pair of Merrell I buy. Their trail runners held up well for me but that’s been 6 years ago. Their work boots suck ass as well. They lasted about 4 months and blew out, very comfortable but can’t take the hard wet use maintenance in a mine requires.
 
CK1.0 said:
Spend the $$$ for the OG Made in England ones with the Quilon leather, they're worth the extra coin.

www.drmartens.com

1460 Vintage Made in England Lace Up Boots in Black | Dr. Martens

Shop 1460 Vintage Made in England Lace Up Boots in Black at Dr. Martens. Free delivery on orders over $50
www.drmartens.com www.drmartens.com
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Had a pair that I'd been wearing for 25 years, fuckers went missing from my closet, along with my favorite pair of pants and a wool pullover sweater! GD crackhead stepdaughter dressing her crackhead boyfriend, I highly suspect.
 
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Bought my first pair of lace up work boots last year. Ended up with a pair of thorogood boots after a bunch of recommendations, and am extremely happy with my purchase. These boots get worn every day, in the harshest jobsite conditions and they have held up great. After a year they will probably need a resole job here in the next 3-6 months. They are comfortable the day you put them on and stay comfortable.

They do a cork lining on the insole of the boot that breaks in and molds to your foot very fast but does not last as long. About the time your bottom sole is ready to be replaced the inner sole will be also. Thorogood does do this when you send them back for a refresh.

The Danner, Whites, nicks, etc will use a thick leather insole on their higher end boots that take a long time to break in but last a LONG ass time.

For some more info on how boots are made this is a great YouTube channel

 
gopherslayer said:
My Merrell Moab Mids are still comfy as hell after 9 years and have worn extremely well. My Moab mid GTX from 5 years ago have hard insoles and aren’t the most comfortable but the Gore-Tex is awesome and hasn’t leaked. I just bought another pair of GTX for wearing around town and they are hard as a rock and actually clunk when I walk in them. Probably the last pair of Merrell I buy. Their trail runners held up well for me but that’s been 6 years ago. Their work boots suck ass as well. They lasted about 4 months and blew out, very comfortable but can’t take the hard wet use maintenance in a mine requires.
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Yeah Merrell’s used to be great but they’ve gone to shit. I’d usually get at least a year out of a pair before they were worn out but the last two moabs have been terrible. I saw the new Moab 3 and it’s supposed to have better cushioning but after the last two I don’t think I want to give them a try unless Merrell wants to exchange this last fucked up pair for them.

I’ve got some speed strikes I got from rack room earlier this year that have been good but I don’t hike in them. I got two pair on a BOGO deal with coupon for like $125 and basically wear them as tennis shoes because they’re so light and comfortable. At that price I don’t really care if they don’t last a year though.
 
I'll add this; every ones feet are different, so any advice is subjective. My feet are 13EEE and flat as a pancake, plantar fasciitis combined with deteriorating ankles. What fits and works for one, is quite possibly a terrible option for another. Not always possible, but the best thing you can do is find somewhere to actually try them on.
 
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BAMAboy18 said:
I'll add this; every ones feet are different, so any advice is subjective. My feet are 13EEE and flat as a pancake, plantar fasciitis combined with deteriorating ankles. What fits and works for one, is quite possibly a terrible option for another. Not always possible, but the best thing you can do is find somewhere to actually try them on.
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I second this. My 8-1/2 F with a high arch make finding boots difficult. Every non custom boot has custom fit insoles.

Your feet are the foundation and will make a huge difference how you feel at the end of the day.
 
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Grandparents said to spend money on my boots, and my bed. Cause if your not in one your in the other.

Some day I'd like to try a pair of quality hand made boots.
 
For work boots, mostly asian imports I am sorry to say. But above all, they need be waterproof.

For barbecue boots, (to go along with my barbecue gun and rig) I tried to like Lucchese. But still go with Tony Lama’s or Justin’s. But and this is a big But, if it don’t have a riding heel on it, its not a boot, it’s a shoe with a fancy extended leather tube sewn on top. Something for a man, who likes wearing shoes and has never saddled a good horse.

(For my going to the barbecue rig, I like a good #44 Old El Paso Saddlery holster and money belt, with a heavy frame stainless Ruger Blackhawk 4 5/8” in 45 Colt, they don’t make that Ruger anymore and it is a shooter )
 
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Thorogood Moc Toe steel toe.

Uglier than homemade soap but the price is reasonable and they last.

Mike
 
USA made Double H or USA made Carolina. Very comfortable even after 12 - 15 hours on concrete?

Swore off imported shoes/boots after the WuFlu in 2020. Ordered 6 pairs of boots and threw the used ones out.
 
 
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JK Customs for work (wildland firefighter), daily boot, early hunting seasons
Twisted X for cowboy boots
Lowa 10" Tibets for snow/ late hunting/ fires in Alaska
Muck insulated when needed
 
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Danner Rain Forest for work and Lowa Zephyr, Salomon or La Sportiva for everything else…
 
Hanwag Tatra Top GTX non-insulated. Nazi sleds but they are incredible boots. Handmade quality, out of the box comfort but tall and laterally stiff enough for hunting really steep country. I rotate between three pair for scouting and hunting three states
 
For hot weather I honestly don’t think anything beats Courtney boots. I’ve had a pair of Selous Scout boots in impala and Cape buffalo for 20 years and there’s almost no wear on the soles and they look new. I do take care of them, but they’ve outlasted every other hiking boot I’ve ever had. They have no insulation, and you need arch support insoles (they’re flat), but man are they comfortable and bulletproof.
 
Muneeb Ajmal said:
I have kind of sweaty feet therefore, I prefer to go for Irish setter and in the case of cold weather, I got to for lacrosse snake boots, Info I got from a website named flaming shoes.
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I bought a pair of Irish setters in less than a month the soles fell apart. I've been wearing Kenetreks for the last 20 months, they're being re-soled now (dang I miss them, about 4 more weeks) I'm wearing Rocky's SV2 for now, they're okay, but after a 12hr shift on concrete, my feet hurt. Quality socks make a big difference, I pay $35 a pair for my work socks.
 
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Enigmo said:
I wear the Red Wing 4421 6 inch boot and they're great! My employer requires my boot to have toe and metatarsal protection in addition to an electrical rating and this boot satisfies all three and is very comfortable to wear. The only downside I would say is the amount of laces I've been through. Other than that, I have no complaints or issues.
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I worked at a DuPont plant several years ago... They used hydrochloric acid, followed by sodium hydroxide to flush and clean the process lines... Boots held up well but the laces wouldn't last more than a month, maybe two.

Sounds cliche with all the hype the last several years... But 550 Paracord made into laces would usually outlast the boots.

Mike
 
JM4590 said:
Lay it out there. What is working for comfort, durability, longevity, price.
Been a Danner fan for years, but price vs features is killing me. Lots of Italian boots out there calling out.
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Several boots for the last 11 years

Oakley's- Lightweight pretty comfy, dry really slow though
Rockies- really nice, comfy, but always looked like clown shoes to me and damn pricey
S&W with the zip up side- Cheap as hell, not bad in the comfort department, but they are black and scratch easy as shit duty boot style
Merrel, and solomon-tried on felt really good looked at pricetag promptly took off
For a combat boot the one that caught be off guard was a belleville urban/zero combat I don't know what the name is now light weight, great traction, I think when I had my last pair they were about 140 bucks.
5.11 speed or atac 1.0 I can't remember which about 100 bucks, felt like a sneaker, started falling apart in like 3 months working hospital security so basically not doing shit.
 
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