>looking for good work/hiking boots
New to the boot game and need some advice on what to get.
Friend swore on Danners for a do-all boot, but interested in what you all are using
>looking for good work/hiking boots
>looking for good work/hiking boots
New to the boot game and need some advice on what to get.
Friend swore on Danners for a do-all boot, but interested in what you all are using
Lowa. I scavenged all my other gear and probably spent more on my boots than everything else out together. No regrets.
I've hiked in my steel toed timberlands and I found it as comfortable as a shitty pair of hiking boots. Something more like a logging boot would work for you, danners can be good but the trail will eat the wedge sole
>steel toed timberlands
How far have you gone?
2 or 3 miles on relatively flat ground. I walk about 8 miles a day in the lumber yard I work at. I think they just really fit my feet well as I don't really have any discomfort
My non steel toed timberlands are great, wear em hiking as well for work on the property pretty much everyday.
Can confirm, super comfortable.
Might have to buy a few extra pairs as companies have a habit of discontinuing shoes/boots I like)
I'm not an expert hiker, but I occasionally go on hunts. On one expedition I brought two boots with me. Some expensive hiking boots that had all these space age materials and features. And some leather steel toed Eurostar Workbooks for when I was gonna hang around town. The first day of my hunt I had a giant thorn go through the sole of my hunting boots, it didn't pierce my foot but it went in JUST enough that every time I stepped I felt a poke. It was pretty deep in there and thin enough pliers couldn't get it out. And we're all hiking to our hunt so I just gave up and kept feeling that needle every time I took a step. Then maybe an hour or two later, a tree root that had been out of the ground had a hook-like shape. It was small so I didn't notice it. It hooked into the top of my toes so when I took another step It completely ripped the top of my shoe off pretty much exposing my toes in a cartoony way.
I let my guys go on, went back into town, put on my steel toe Eurostar boots, and had ZERO problems. I was able to hike, hunt, traverse the landscape, camp, and go back into town to hit on the local ladies at the bar by simply giving my boots a shining after the hunts. Sometimes simpler is better. We have to remember what our ancestors used back in the day. Even a modern work boot is years ahead of what the frontiersmen used. That being said I know there's way better footwear out there today than a work boot, but you can't go wrong with that and they're pretty cheap. So a little hiking here and there can be done with work boots especially since most men already have them.
I can vouch for the Golden Fox Boondockers for durability, and the Underarmor Valsetz series for comfort. Two very, VERY different boots. Neither are waterproof, so wear gaiters or quick-drying socks. Swap the insoles on the Golden Fox and break them in. The Valsetz will fall apart after a year (outsole seperation), but are absurdly comfortable.
Servus PVC boots get an honorable mention. Very supportive shank, very lightweight, good insoles. I might get work boots if I can find a steel toe that actually goes over my toes.
Have to disagree on the boondockers sadly.
I'm wearing a pair ATM that has a pretty bad tear on the side.
It's stocked and keeps tearing.
The boots ripped on month 6 of owning them and I'm not sure if they will physically last a year.
Contacted the support and told them that I'm a bit disappointed that their full leather rough out boots last only a couple of months and the support literally told me " sorry those are just fashion boots".
It's a shame, they're comfortable and I liked them.
I think I'll buy a pair of free man's in a bit
I recommend buying a pair of Steinkoglers, as they are actually built to be worn heavily. The standard ‘Feldschuh Leicht’ is good for your purposes.
Nice, thanks for the recommendation !
I personally recommend Salomon work boots, I got mine from my father and they are quite durable and stable
I like my Vasque st. Elias boots.
Hanwag is the best, I'd go for the Banks but make sure its the Leather Lining ones instead of GTX
Asolo, keens, Georgia, Cherokee, and merells get a green check mark from me, although they all fit wildly different and were for different purposes. I would go ventilated if your hiking environment is not soaked, like a swamp or off trails where wet grass and bushwhacking. Even then I might still make sure there's the goretex vents - shoes in hiking get very hot.
I put a whole lotta miles on my carolina loggers doing everything in them
Get some Jk or Nick’s or any PNW boots. I used JK loggers for firefighting they holding out pretty good.
>Giant heels
but why tho
It provides support on uneven ground
Makes you look taller and you'll have an advantage lungeing at your opponent in a fencing duel.
Lets you lug onto branches and rocks
These are work boots, idiot. Do Americans really hike in those... lmao.
People will recommend lightweight goretex lined REI boots because they don't know any better, that's all they see on youtube. Those boots will break and smell horribly after a few months and are not made for daily use. I ran through a lot of these.
You should only buy these hiking boots when you have a specific trip planned and upcoming for which they are perfect.
Otherwise stick to shoes (for hiking) and regular PrepHole boots. They will last for years of daily use compared to hiking boots.
1. Lightweight unpadded leather boots for savanna terrain or weather (especially high temperatures 80F+), you will still sweat in any closed boot, but it won't be "mushy" because there is no padding. Use for anything from hiking, light offtrailing to work.
2. Lightweight padded leather boots for mountainous terrain and regular offtrailing, light forestry work, non-tourist hiking (virgin trails, mountain trails). (if >80F you will sweat too much in these after 2 or 3 days of wear they won't dry)
Those two are my go-to boots: Iron Ranger + Bergler. When you want to go on trails during hiking season I would stick to cheap running shoes like asics trailrunners.
You will need more boots for different weather and terrain:
3. 3-4mm leather heavyweight boots for offtrailing steep terrain, rocks, thickets, lumber, logging. You'll need the thicker military grade leather for durability (its also basically chainsaw proof), and the heavier stiff-frame sole for uneven terrain.
4. High rubber rand goretex hunting boots for steep terrain or wet conditions in autumn, mild winters. (Not for daily use but when you need to be fast and surefooted on terrain, not trails)
5. Rubber-leather muck boots for wet conditions work, hiking, treks, etc. (consistent rainy conditions, fells, taiga, arctic)
6. Rubber muck boots for very wet conditions (swamps, moores) (no pic)
Muck boots are the best out boots for winter and long winter trips when insulated.
Are the boots in pic 3 the Meindl Perfekt? Are those made with leather footbeds? And another thing, what is your thoughts on putting metal parts like hobnails and Tricouni on boots? Having leather and metal makes for a durable and flexible boot, but rubber meets in the middle.
>Are those made with leather footbeds?
No. They have leather insoles but the footbed is made of something else. The top part of the frame, where the stitching is, is leather though.
>thoughts on putting metal parts like hobnails and Tricouni on boots?
Rubber soles are better. Something like pic rel is only good for mowing alpin lawn.
Wow, that sucks. Is nothing made with leather footbeds by Meindl? And as for the metal and leather, I meant something more like Tricounis instead of those Pfanner logging boots.
Footbeds are traditionally made of cork with a metal shank underneath.
>military grade leather
I fricking hate amerimutts.
As someone who works with leather. I can't believe I've never heard of military grade leather. What is that anon? Lol
You are probably not German. Stay ignorant then.
Op here:
Did buy Merrel Moab 3 with goretex hiking boots because my job often involves going down to a river to collect samples.
They’re heavy and my feet smell like hell after, but I love them. I got the boot dunked and didn’t feel a thing. Had to climb a steep bank and kind of maneuver back down onto a branch and it was incredibly easy.
That being said, I’m probably going to try to switch to ventilated. After that my feet smelled so bad I didn’t even need to bend over.
Otherwise, these babies work for me
Buy some all-leather boots, without padding. Gore-tex traps water and cause your feet to smell terrible. AKU and Limmer are some nice choices.
I wear Merrell Moab 2s
Love em
specifically the 'mid' version
I have plenty of boots that I would wear to work and go out in the field in, but if I was actually hiking I would wear either my merrell shoes or hiking boots and I would not wear those to work. My favorite pair of boots are picrel...I would wear them out in a heart beat but they wouldn't be my first choice to hike 15 miles in.
Watch some Rose Anvil reviews before you buy something expensive. A lot of companies are trying to fool people by making fashion boots using their traditional brand names.
>Danner
>Best Boots of 2022
Danners done good by me
Simple as
American made Danners are excellent.
This is the state of my boots in a little more than one year. I use them to go to the woods and university.
Any thoughts? Is that a good state to be in?
Also don't mind the dirty.
I've been wearing Thorogoods like your picrel OP, for work, and i wouldn't recommend that style of boot for hiking. Sole is not very compatible with hiking. Poor flexibility, feel, traction, etc. Great if you're standing around all day on concrete or whatever. Russell Moccasin makes great boots if you can get your hands on a pair in your specific size. Another problem I experience with boots is the fit. I have a narrow heel and a wide ball and it makes it very hard to get a boot that fits correctly. Russell Moccasins were the boot used on the first ever AT through hike in 1947 or something like that.