I'm starting to look for a good pair of hiking boots. I searched previous posts but none really recommend a specific brand. I'm pretty much looking for a "do anything" boot. Light as possible, waterproof/resistant. I'd also like something for long distance hiking which also has good grip for open rock faces. Any suggestions?

12/10/2006 4:08:28 PM

anything made by Merrell

12/10/2006 4:14:48 PM

Vasque Sundowners

A little on the expensive side, but has a lifetime warranty and can be resoled at the factory. Excellent quality, waterproof and look brand new with a little mink oil every now and then. I have had mine for 5 years and they still look new, sole doesn't even look like they have been worn. The last pair of boots you will ever buy. If you want to do some serious hiking, you need a serious boot.







[Edited on December 10, 2006 at 4:23 PM. Reason : .]

12/10/2006 4:22:02 PM

Asolo

12/10/2006 5:01:22 PM

Those vacuum molded soles can't resoled on Asolo's or most any other boot.

12/10/2006 5:11:11 PM

if you want a lightweight boot go with a non-leather boot.

asolo is a great company

i've got a pair of the asolo fugitive GTX, below. awesome boot. comfortable, lightweight, waterproof, gore-tex and breathable



[Edited on December 10, 2006 at 5:38 PM. Reason : .]

12/10/2006 5:37:49 PM

Danner puts all other boot companies to shame...they'll never let you down.

12/10/2006 7:10:23 PM

anything made by: Vasque

12/10/2006 7:11:32 PM

what are good boots that wont break the bank?

12/10/2006 7:13:30 PM

I've had two pairs of the REI Monarch boots made by Merrell. While they most certainly are NOT Vasque Sundowner quality, they are a good cheap boot. What I don't like is that they last me about a year. I'm hard on boots, and my next pair will be Sundowners or an equivalent all leather upper. Synthetic uppers just don't hold up as well for me; my boots see a lot of use in the shop and out in the woods off of established trails. I would really like to get a pair that can be resoled, but if the upper won't hold up, then it's a moot point.

One boot that I had that sucked: Vasque Clarion Impact II. This was about ten years ago...they used to use a steel shank. The support was terrific, but at the level I abused them, the soles split right in front of the shank, right at the ball of the foot. Four months after I bought them.

Every boot I buy from here on out has to have a flexible shank as well.

12/10/2006 8:09:16 PM

I have that pair of Asolo's that is pictured above and I love them. The wear better than any boat I have ever owned and I think will last me a long time. They arent the lightest things in the world but they have held up in the swamps of NC and in FL working in the field trapping bears everyday.

12/10/2006 10:17:52 PM

I appreciate all of this, thanks everyone.

Also, what are everyone's opinions on leather vs. non-leather?

12/10/2006 10:23:13 PM

full leather boot will take much longer to break in

12/10/2006 10:30:55 PM

take a look at asolo 520 's

12/10/2006 10:45:55 PM

non-leather boots are going to be lighter and will probably breathe a little better as well

all leather boots are usually a bit sturdier and are pretty much for hardcore, long trips.

12/10/2006 10:52:43 PM

one question, you going to be hiking or backpacking?

12/10/2006 10:59:40 PM

vasque's ... hands down ... ive had my pair for almost 6 years with no show of any wear and are very comfortable

12/11/2006 7:22:08 AM

i also second vasque sundowners

my pair has lasted 7+ years going strong

12/11/2006 7:38:59 AM

I second the "anything by Merrill" recommendation...served me well in Scouts, survived Philmont!

12/11/2006 7:55:17 AM

lathrop and sons- really nice very comfortable custom hiking boots and footbeds

I like danner too.

12/11/2006 8:18:35 AM

Quote :

"but has a lifetime warranty"

not according to their website

still, great boots

12/11/2006 8:49:49 AM

What kind of long-distance are you talking about? 100 miles? The Appalachian Trail? PCT?

I've thru-hiked the AT and have some stupid amount of other mileage, and I tell you that a hell of a lot of folks doing that eventually get away from leather boots or boots with a waterproof-breathable membrane.

If you're out for months at a time, you're just going to get wet. All boots will get wet eventually from either leakage or or water coming in from the tops. Wet leather boots take forever to dry out, whereas fabric boots dry much faster. Get your pack weight down and put on a pair of trail runners.

Shit - I hiked the whole damn thing in a couple of pairs of Chacos.

http://sourcetosea.net

[Edited on December 11, 2006 at 8:59 AM. Reason : .]

[Edited on December 11, 2006 at 9:00 AM. Reason : .]

12/11/2006 8:57:41 AM

.

[Edited on December 11, 2006 at 9:01 AM. Reason : double post]

12/11/2006 8:59:38 AM

^^true, trail shoes can be a great idea if your ankles can take it

i know for 10+ mi. a day, mine can't but i wish i could

12/11/2006 9:05:56 AM

Bob, I was making a more general statement about leather boots and got off track with the trail shoe thing. Wear what you want, but for a long-distance hike, the faster drying the better, IMO.

12/11/2006 9:11:26 AM

Quote :

"vasque's ... hands down ... ive had my pair for almost 6 years with no show of any wear and are very comfortable"

i'm got multiple pairs of this show, but i own one thats 7 yrs old and still in great shape.

12/11/2006 9:19:05 AM

Backpacking most likely, though I'm not ruling out shorter hikes

12/11/2006 10:08:57 AM

Quote :

"Bob, I was making a more general statement about leather boots and got off track with the trail shoe thing. Wear what you want, but for a long-distance hike, the faster drying the better, IMO."

i know i was agreeing with you but my ankles can't take, but i wish they could

12/11/2006 10:10:14 AM

People may say that your boots will always get wet so you might as well get something as breathable as possible, but I disagree IF you ever plan to do cool or cold weather hiking. If you get an all leather boot and take good care of it, you'll always have dry feet. The key is to rub on waterproofer religiously, before every trip and sometimes during the trip (if you're in snow). Gor Tex is crap when it comes to boots, it will rip eventually and wear out. And you don't want a non-waterproof boot if you're in cold weather because your feet WON'T dry out, they'll become painful blocks of ice and you'll be FUBAR in the woods. I've hiked with my all leather boots in 90 degree heat before and it's not that bad. I wore coolmax socks and changed them every few hours, clipping the pair I'm not wearing to my pack to dry. My feet didn't feel any hotter than the rest of me. Again, I waterproofed the hell out of them before I went out so that I never had to worry about them drying out because the leather never got wet.

Anyways, my $.02 is to get an all leather boot...you'll thank yourself for it eventually.

12/11/2006 10:27:01 AM

What's the best way to break them in (leather boots), pre-hike? Just walking around in them or is there another way? The only other leather "thing" I've ever broken in that was leather was my baseball glove, but I don't see hitting my boots with a baseball as being very effective.

12/11/2006 11:05:17 AM

Wear them everywhere you go for a while. That's really the only way aside from doing short hikes in them. People may wonder why you're wearing hiking boots to work, but oh well.

12/11/2006 11:27:07 AM

For most long hiking, such as the ATC, I'd probably just go with a pair of trail running shoes.

That said, I also have a pair of Asolo Fugitive GTX boots. I mostly use them for peakbagging in the high Sierra since they fit my narrow feet well. The fugitive's also edge well so they're good for scrambling on Class 4 territory. Also, don't wimp out on price--get something that will last and is well constructed.

[Edited on December 11, 2006 at 12:42 PM. Reason : x]

12/11/2006 12:40:56 PM

I was referring to long-distance hiking specifically when I went on the the no-leather boots rant. I should have just PM'd directly. Sorry to get things off topic.

12/11/2006 3:34:53 PM

just bought some timberland's which i'm pretty happy with...not really boots more like trail running shoes

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1972492&cp=2367454.766034.766039.1335214.766063&pg=1&searchSort=TRUE&s=A-StorePrice-DSP&parentPage=family&searchId=766063

[Edited on December 11, 2006 at 4:37 PM. Reason : ]

12/11/2006 4:36:58 PM

serious hikers/backpackers choose vasque

12/11/2006 11:44:31 PM

How about boots which would be good in cold weather? I'm going to Maine over spring break for a bit of hiking and was wondering about the cold factor in boot selection.

1/3/2007 11:26:52 AM

Quote :

"anything made by Merrell"

1/3/2007 3:41:31 PM

Like a lot of people in this thread, I haven't found a good reason to buy boots again. I like the lightweight feel of shoes. My last pair of Danner's started leaking and I gave them to the thrift store (someone got a hell of a pair of boots dirt cheap!) I just buy a new pair of trail shoes every 4-6 months or so.

I've been using Merrell Chameleons for a while. I actually bought two pair of these just before Christmas because they were such a good deal: http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39262738 They aren't the GoreTex models and I'd prefer laces to this elastic pull thing, but they're still very good shoes.

[Edited on January 3, 2007 at 5:10 PM. Reason : s]

1/3/2007 5:09:21 PM

^^^Sorrel, hands down

I went on a dogsledding expedition for 9 days and my feet were toasty the whole time. BTW, use a vapor barrier if it's going to be really cold.

[Edited on January 3, 2007 at 5:10 PM. Reason : ]

1/3/2007 5:09:36 PM