Re: Boots recommendation
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: carbinero</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for the great advice. Are there any Italian or German models which have "normal" Vibram soles that I can have resoled locally, or would I have to send pretty much any of them to the factory? I am starting to realize I may have to spend a little over $300, unless I get those Meindles from Cabelas. The Lowa Elites look darn close to what I need, for the temp. Are there any other brands/models comparable to that? I think those mountaineering boots would bake the dogs in the 100 degree desert. The quandry is that I do a lot of rocks and cross-slope, where a soft sole is obviously hazardous. I had a premonition, but now I feel like it makes sense not to spend any more time contemplating Danners or Red Wings. Thanks...I will keep an eye on more input...and a very Merry Christmas! </div></div>
Vibram rubber soles come in different hardness' depending on the dot, yellow dot is the most versatile. Blue is soft, red is hard and these days Vibram has many rubber compounds and proprietary soles for boot makers. On rocks, a soft sole will give more traction than a hard sole but will wear quicker. Very hard soles are for concrete wear, not much need for traction but will wear a long time.
There are several quality cobblers who can resole any boot and some have a list of different soles/rubber you can change too. Dave Page is who I used and recommend.
Saying Ft Lewis boots will work in your AO yet saying mountaineering boots are too warm is odd to me. A friend of mine in Tucson wears LaSportiva Makalus year round working on a cactus farm and hiking in the desert and hills there.
Lowa Elites...what type of foot do you have? Lowa's fit best on a narrow low volume foot as do most German boots. Do your toes go big toe longest and get shorter as you get to your pinky toe? Do you have long toes? Do you have pronounced metatarsal joints? Short arch length? These are common questions I asked for working up a boot fitting profile in my shop. Common foot description for Lowa, if you have metatarsal bumps, German boots may not be for you.
The most common boot fitting mistake is...buying a boot too big because the last does not fit your foot. I have a wide, short toe, toes all the same length, short arch length, met bump but since Lowa are recommended as the best I will go buy Lowa. I wear a 44 but this 44.5 feels good and this 45 feels even better.
This was my shops specialty and mine too, boot fitting and we did custom fitting too. I did a lot boot testing for many companies too. While others take rifles and accuracy to extremes I took outdoor gear and boots to my forte of knowledge....kind of my job working in gear shop and being a guide.
Good luck
