Im a little weary of future quality issues on mine because theyre New Balances, but they are SO comfy and ive walked miles in them without my feet even feeling remotely sore. plus theyre goretex so theyve got that going for them too.
I have the lower model of the same type, the Z6S, in the same color. They are really nice boots, but not perfect. Very comfy right out of box, reasonably lightweight, the right spot between stiff and soft for general use (there was a fad for wearing very stiff, hard-soled mountain hiking boots in euro armies for a while "just in case I had to ruck 120 pounds over the Alps which will totally happen", this boot is not like that). Outsole doesn't wear much and has good traction, but loses most grip on wet stone or tiles. Goretex lining works flawlessly and water never gets directly to your feet, but the whole boot soaks it a lot and then takes days to dry out - there are way too many seams, tongue is fabric only and the foam padding on most places between the GTX lining and upper holds water. When that happens, your feet get wet from perspiration alone, cause the vapor cant escape if the membrane is surrounded by water outside. I partially solved this issue by waterproofing the suede with clear boot grease, but that darkened the leather and I'm sure it voided warranty, too.
My pet peeve are the areas of leather framed by the "loops" that come up from the sole around the sides. They accumulate mud like crazy and are very difficult to clean, requiring a small toothbrush or smth like that to clean or apply waterproofing - a bad thing for military use where clean boot obsession reigns. A bit too warm for hot summer use, insoles could be better and the front leather lacing loop sits right where you would want to hook your gaiters, getting also abraded by them so it may fail some time later.
I like wearing the boots, but wouldn't buy them again - I would either choose Zephyrs or maybe Merrells, cause if the boots get soaked anyway, why not choosing lighter, quicker drying ones, or some unlined leather boots with as few seams as possible, which will need some break-in time, but can be waterproofed with grease...
I got a pair of these and they are very light and comfortable, also good in hot weather. Basically they feel like a sneaker, and afaik they are on the list of approved footwear, at least for the air force. I only had them for a couple of months so I can't vouch for their durability, but comfort-wise it's a 10/10.
Whatever boots from a reputable brand that fits your feet the best. Everyone's foot is different and there really isn't a "one size fits all" option if you don't want to be absolutely miserable, just go to a local hiking store and try on everything they have.
Alright i really appreciate it. I think ill just stick with what i have then. Very comfortable, have had no issues at all with them, and they fit perfectly.
I put over 200 miles a month, every month, no exceptions, on my innawoods boots. Been this way for years now.
All fail. Grip wears away, seams split, neoprene rots, water proofing fails. The $200 boots die like the $70 boots. Every new pair gives me blisters for 10 days or so, no matter the promise, no matter the cost, no matter the "comfy".
All boots are shit to me.
Salomon Quest 4D GTX Advanced. Worth every penny but a little on the warm side, so if you live in hotter climates you may want to opt for something without Goretex.
>tfw you will never have this delicious-looking shoe without waterproofing
I might just buy a pair when winter is coming around, frick.
This is just slightly offtopic but what about everyday shoes. What brand do you guys wear when you're not out in the trail LARPing?
My current shoes are getting a bit worn and I'm thinking of getting a new pair soon but I'm curious what /k/ wears
Skate shoes in black or a limited edition graphic design
Jim green is a giant meme. They're uncomfortable, weirdly shaped, the out sole is too stiff and the leather swells and starts failing when exposed to water. They were a fine $100 boot but now that they're $180 it's a joke. For ~$240 you can have a pair of Courteneys, which were the brand JG copied btw.
NB is patrician's choice because they come in several widths and USED to have finer size gradient and has a real CEO/owner and he is based AF.
Nike in particular will make good quality shoe for hype then make same model of much lower quality at lower price to run game on stupid Black youth.
NB don't play that shit.
I also like US GI surplus again because I got EEEE feet and they are all of at least a certain level of quality, although Ebay seems to have dried up with US loss in GWOT and only Full Price for sale.
I like USGI for doing construction where you care more about protection than speedy hiking.
anyone know how to avoid trench foot when running around for more than 24hrs? I don't want to lose my feet but there are weeks where I'll be running around and wearing boots for 36-48 hours straight and only get ~4 hours to take my socks off. One week it was pretty bad and my feet looked worse than most results on google for it. Never seen a doctor for any of it cause it goes away with time, but still.
i would say to layer your socks in such a way to pull any moisture from your feet, use foot powder, and wear breathable shoes instead of waterproof boots if you can help it.
i would say to layer your socks in such a way to pull any moisture from your feet, use foot powder, and wear breathable shoes instead of waterproof boots if you can help it.
I use Nike hot weather combat boots for hot or cold. Because they dry fast and if it's cold, I'll throw on either heavy or medium weight wool socks. They're the only boot I can wear brand new without a break in period.
In order from best to worst >Good Year Welt >Stitched down >Glued
Literally not a single reason to use glued except for cheap $25 Walmart boots. Also be careful for fake stitches, try to move the sole away from the boot to see if it's actually attached to a different area than the stitches. Most of the cheap boots I've seen with visible stitches were actually fake
How can I tell one from another?
There is a company in my town that makes boots of all sorts, though primarily geared towards military/police use, and they apparently use pretty good quality materials, but I can find no information on method they use
Good Year Welt looks like the leather is tucked in
Stitch down has visible threads on the outside. To see if it's glued you just gently try to move the sole away from the boot and see if you can see the glue, often times the glue is so weak it will easily lift up to show.
These are nice but are bot work books. They wwear out fast, starting from the suede soles then the thin leather
The Bushacre doesnt have suede sole, leather isn't that thick but still haven't had any problems with it.
This is just slightly offtopic but what about everyday shoes. What brand do you guys wear when you're not out in the trail LARPing?
My current shoes are getting a bit worn and I'm thinking of getting a new pair soon but I'm curious what /k/ wears
forgot to add a picture. I expect them to last a long time and thry work well with both formal and casual outfits
Same. On my second pair now, wore the soles through after ~3.5 years of daily use, lots of city walking. I would have gotten them resolved, but they only cost ~$60 for a new pair, so I just bought that. I had to go down a half size from my regular, they have a very loose fit overall I've found.
I always wear boots. The only time I don't is when I go for a run on open track (I wear something similar to
https://i.imgur.com/KBtTOTU.png
), or at the beach. I've had a few to many times where I wished that I was wearing boots and never had any times that I wished I wasn't. Same with long pants. Car crashed in a ditch in 4 foot tall grass, was glad I was wearing boots and long pants. When I was a kid, I made the mistake of going hiking in open toed shoes (sandals) and snake tried to get my foot. ended up dodging so fast that my shoe came off and snake was right inside of it. Had to walk for about a mile, maybe a mile and a half up and down steep hills with one shoe. It is when I learned another valuable lesson:In the woods no one can hear you scream. Another time I had been wearing shoes and they came off cause I had to run through a bog and the suction was so great that it literally pulled one right off my foot but I was able to reach down and grab it before the swamp swallowed it. There are a lot more examples involving tall grass, swamps, and hiking, but the main thing is I never once wished I was not wearing boots and many times wished that I had been growing up.
The suction was so great the one time in a double snow/mud layer to the side of a path I almost lost a boot lmao, any normal shoe would absolutely be gone.
I have some salomon boots that are amazing, but I burned through 3 pairs of Salomon trail running and hiking shoes in just over 1 year.... its making me question the durability of my boot.
II have climbed a mountain in the summer and walked 16 hours in the snow using my Salomon boots though and they are fine, although i have a slight supination on my foot which becomes VERY obvious when wearing salomon boots for any amount of time over 1 hour.
These boots are the bane of my existence. They're so ass ugly but they're so good. I hate it.
Merryls: sole too soft, otherwise super comfy, no good for weight, fall apart fast, but I still like them. I would choose them for certain things but I won't pull them out when I need a tough reliable boot.
More boots I liked:
Garmont T8
Oboz
Salomon mid GTX
Keen mid waterproof - sole rotted out fast - may have been from chemical exposure
Oakley SI combat boot - no longer manufactured?
Danners - heavy but tough, great sole, may not work for you depending on foot/ankle shape
Stay away from:
Bates lights
C4 trainer boot
Any other lightweight boots with bullshit foam soles, they'll fall apart and not support your weight under load and give up on you when you need them i.e. halfway down a fast rope, etc
I wear blundstone steel toes for everyday use in a factory and as my go to outdoor boot if it's not snowing, got them for free from work and they've lasted about 5 years so far. hated them at first because I'm used to lace ups but they work fine if you're ok with no ankle support. kinda pricey for what they are tho
I had an anon a while back recommend the Nike boots...I live in the pacific northwest, and a few other anons said not to get the Gortex version unless there is a lot a rain because they will get too warm inside the boot etc. So assuming I were to buy a pair, and knowing I live around rain, would anyone buy the Goretex version, or stick to the other one, which i think is nylon.
I dunno what those are but I love my Merrel MOAB 2's because they're extremely comfortable
Second this. Really durable too I've had a pair last 3 years of daily use with decent innawoods treks sprinkled in
Im a little weary of future quality issues on mine because theyre New Balances, but they are SO comfy and ive walked miles in them without my feet even feeling remotely sore. plus theyre goretex so theyve got that going for them too.
are these waterproof or breathable? moab 2 is on 7/4 sale on REI but lists a few subvariants
Yes. I used them innasnow when I worked at vail
Same.
What boots do you anons recommend that are okay with the Army? I haven't looked up any of the policies.
lowa
I have the lower model of the same type, the Z6S, in the same color. They are really nice boots, but not perfect. Very comfy right out of box, reasonably lightweight, the right spot between stiff and soft for general use (there was a fad for wearing very stiff, hard-soled mountain hiking boots in euro armies for a while "just in case I had to ruck 120 pounds over the Alps which will totally happen", this boot is not like that). Outsole doesn't wear much and has good traction, but loses most grip on wet stone or tiles. Goretex lining works flawlessly and water never gets directly to your feet, but the whole boot soaks it a lot and then takes days to dry out - there are way too many seams, tongue is fabric only and the foam padding on most places between the GTX lining and upper holds water. When that happens, your feet get wet from perspiration alone, cause the vapor cant escape if the membrane is surrounded by water outside. I partially solved this issue by waterproofing the suede with clear boot grease, but that darkened the leather and I'm sure it voided warranty, too.
My pet peeve are the areas of leather framed by the "loops" that come up from the sole around the sides. They accumulate mud like crazy and are very difficult to clean, requiring a small toothbrush or smth like that to clean or apply waterproofing - a bad thing for military use where clean boot obsession reigns. A bit too warm for hot summer use, insoles could be better and the front leather lacing loop sits right where you would want to hook your gaiters, getting also abraded by them so it may fail some time later.
I like wearing the boots, but wouldn't buy them again - I would either choose Zephyrs or maybe Merrells, cause if the boots get soaked anyway, why not choosing lighter, quicker drying ones, or some unlined leather boots with as few seams as possible, which will need some break-in time, but can be waterproofed with grease...
I got a pair of these and they are very light and comfortable, also good in hot weather. Basically they feel like a sneaker, and afaik they are on the list of approved footwear, at least for the air force. I only had them for a couple of months so I can't vouch for their durability, but comfort-wise it's a 10/10.
These boots are the bane of my existence. They're so ass ugly but they're so good. I hate it.
yea, i hate the look butn they feel amazing
would be nice if they had a shank or some durability
Did you replace the insoles or keep them?
Whatever boots from a reputable brand that fits your feet the best. Everyone's foot is different and there really isn't a "one size fits all" option if you don't want to be absolutely miserable, just go to a local hiking store and try on everything they have.
Alright i really appreciate it. I think ill just stick with what i have then. Very comfortable, have had no issues at all with them, and they fit perfectly.
it depends on where you're located. boots good for alaska are not boots good for louisiana. but generally most heritage style boots are good enough.
I put over 200 miles a month, every month, no exceptions, on my innawoods boots. Been this way for years now.
All fail. Grip wears away, seams split, neoprene rots, water proofing fails. The $200 boots die like the $70 boots. Every new pair gives me blisters for 10 days or so, no matter the promise, no matter the cost, no matter the "comfy".
All boots are shit to me.
Rockies alpha force. Dumb meme name, but replace the laces and they lasted far longer than other boots I've had.
For now
>anything
Later on
>deer hide footwear
Salomon Quest 4D GTX Advanced. Worth every penny but a little on the warm side, so if you live in hotter climates you may want to opt for something without Goretex.
>tfw you will never have this delicious-looking shoe without waterproofing
I might just buy a pair when winter is coming around, frick.
Skate shoes in black or a limited edition graphic design
Jim Green is a good poorgay boot.
>$170 for their cheapest boots
>poorgay
I don't think you know what that means. I'm wearing $25 walmart boots.
Can you afford about 80 bucks? Bates makes a good boot. It's what I wear at work.
Jim green is a giant meme. They're uncomfortable, weirdly shaped, the out sole is too stiff and the leather swells and starts failing when exposed to water. They were a fine $100 boot but now that they're $180 it's a joke. For ~$240 you can have a pair of Courteneys, which were the brand JG copied btw.
My Lowa Caminos are excellent. Depends on what you're doing, though.
NB is patrician's choice because they come in several widths and USED to have finer size gradient and has a real CEO/owner and he is based AF.
Nike in particular will make good quality shoe for hype then make same model of much lower quality at lower price to run game on stupid Black youth.
NB don't play that shit.
I also like US GI surplus again because I got EEEE feet and they are all of at least a certain level of quality, although Ebay seems to have dried up with US loss in GWOT and only Full Price for sale.
I like USGI for doing construction where you care more about protection than speedy hiking.
anyone know how to avoid trench foot when running around for more than 24hrs? I don't want to lose my feet but there are weeks where I'll be running around and wearing boots for 36-48 hours straight and only get ~4 hours to take my socks off. One week it was pretty bad and my feet looked worse than most results on google for it. Never seen a doctor for any of it cause it goes away with time, but still.
>Multiple pairs of merino wool socks
>Foot Powder
>Two sets of insoles if you can manage that
Thx frens.
best advice you're gonna get.
i would say to layer your socks in such a way to pull any moisture from your feet, use foot powder, and wear breathable shoes instead of waterproof boots if you can help it.
I've been running in my scarpa's for over 7 years and they're still in alright nick and I've taken them on week long hikes.
Fully recommended.
I use Nike hot weather combat boots for hot or cold. Because they dry fast and if it's cold, I'll throw on either heavy or medium weight wool socks. They're the only boot I can wear brand new without a break in period.
>nike anything
i don't like it anymore than anyone else
I just have feet that only nike seems to make shoes for
Thanks to everybody here for the recommendations and advice. I really appreciate it
Altbergs are great. A very wide range if sizes too.
Are glued boots strictly inferior to stitched ones?
And if so, by how much?
stitched in what way? like bottom of the shoe to the main body?
In order from best to worst
>Good Year Welt
>Stitched down
>Glued
Literally not a single reason to use glued except for cheap $25 Walmart boots. Also be careful for fake stitches, try to move the sole away from the boot to see if it's actually attached to a different area than the stitches. Most of the cheap boots I've seen with visible stitches were actually fake
>not including storm welts
for shame anon
How can I tell one from another?
There is a company in my town that makes boots of all sorts, though primarily geared towards military/police use, and they apparently use pretty good quality materials, but I can find no information on method they use
Good Year Welt looks like the leather is tucked in
Stitch down has visible threads on the outside. To see if it's glued you just gently try to move the sole away from the boot and see if you can see the glue, often times the glue is so weak it will easily lift up to show.
The Bushacre doesnt have suede sole, leather isn't that thick but still haven't had any problems with it.
Entirely depends on the glue.
Modern glue can be significantly more effective than any stitching, but most shoe manufacturers are gonna skimp on it.
So there are high quality glues that can be as soild as stitching or goodyear?
>weapons
boots are a weapon tard.
What merino wool sock brands do you guys recommend? I heard Smartwool wasn't that great
This is just slightly offtopic but what about everyday shoes. What brand do you guys wear when you're not out in the trail LARPing?
My current shoes are getting a bit worn and I'm thinking of getting a new pair soon but I'm curious what /k/ wears
Some boots made out of sharkskin I bought in Mexico
Clark Chukkas Bushacre
pretty cheap for having full grain leather (not cheap leather). I've gotten tones of compliments on them as well.
forgot to add a picture. I expect them to last a long time and thry work well with both formal and casual outfits
Do you have gyno?
These are nice but are bot work books. They wwear out fast, starting from the suede soles then the thin leather
Same. On my second pair now, wore the soles through after ~3.5 years of daily use, lots of city walking. I would have gotten them resolved, but they only cost ~$60 for a new pair, so I just bought that. I had to go down a half size from my regular, they have a very loose fit overall I've found.
I always wear boots. The only time I don't is when I go for a run on open track (I wear something similar to
), or at the beach. I've had a few to many times where I wished that I was wearing boots and never had any times that I wished I wasn't. Same with long pants. Car crashed in a ditch in 4 foot tall grass, was glad I was wearing boots and long pants. When I was a kid, I made the mistake of going hiking in open toed shoes (sandals) and snake tried to get my foot. ended up dodging so fast that my shoe came off and snake was right inside of it. Had to walk for about a mile, maybe a mile and a half up and down steep hills with one shoe. It is when I learned another valuable lesson:In the woods no one can hear you scream. Another time I had been wearing shoes and they came off cause I had to run through a bog and the suction was so great that it literally pulled one right off my foot but I was able to reach down and grab it before the swamp swallowed it. There are a lot more examples involving tall grass, swamps, and hiking, but the main thing is I never once wished I was not wearing boots and many times wished that I had been growing up.
The suction was so great the one time in a double snow/mud layer to the side of a path I almost lost a boot lmao, any normal shoe would absolutely be gone.
>The suction was so great your mom could suck the chrome off a trailer hitch
pumas my niggus. alternatively some palladium boots
I dunno, i have some random boots from CAT i bought used, they work for what i use them at least
They're probably not great for innawoods but they sure are cozy and pretty sturdy everyday shoes.
I have some salomon boots that are amazing, but I burned through 3 pairs of Salomon trail running and hiking shoes in just over 1 year.... its making me question the durability of my boot.
II have climbed a mountain in the summer and walked 16 hours in the snow using my Salomon boots though and they are fine, although i have a slight supination on my foot which becomes VERY obvious when wearing salomon boots for any amount of time over 1 hour.
Call me crazy but I've worn a bunch of boots and nothing has compared to my swiss ks90s
I don't need gortex or fancy materials and coatings, the leather works just fine for weather proofing.
They are fairly light in my eyes, decently breathable, work in summer and winter.
They are extremely durable, and extremely cheap.
The sole sucks in winter. Otherwise, they're pretty comfy.
Sorel and Diemme are my fav brands
Just because your innawoods doesn't mean you can't be classy.
Where my Zephyrbros are.
Nice - lowas are solid
Merryls: sole too soft, otherwise super comfy, no good for weight, fall apart fast, but I still like them. I would choose them for certain things but I won't pull them out when I need a tough reliable boot.
More boots I liked:
Garmont T8
Oboz
Salomon mid GTX
Keen mid waterproof - sole rotted out fast - may have been from chemical exposure
Oakley SI combat boot - no longer manufactured?
Danners - heavy but tough, great sole, may not work for you depending on foot/ankle shape
Stay away from:
Bates lights
C4 trainer boot
Any other lightweight boots with bullshit foam soles, they'll fall apart and not support your weight under load and give up on you when you need them i.e. halfway down a fast rope, etc
I wear blundstone steel toes for everyday use in a factory and as my go to outdoor boot if it's not snowing, got them for free from work and they've lasted about 5 years so far. hated them at first because I'm used to lace ups but they work fine if you're ok with no ankle support. kinda pricey for what they are tho
I had an anon a while back recommend the Nike boots...I live in the pacific northwest, and a few other anons said not to get the Gortex version unless there is a lot a rain because they will get too warm inside the boot etc. So assuming I were to buy a pair, and knowing I live around rain, would anyone buy the Goretex version, or stick to the other one, which i think is nylon.
I like mine