What do you recommend in a good boot for the mountains? I am only looking at boots with 8" uppers or more. Anything less I consider a hiking boot that I do not want. I have an ankle that has been sprained badly several times over the years and want good support.
Do you mean boot for mountains or Mountains (capital M)?
What are you hunting? Sheep? Goats?
I don't think i've ever seen a solid shank mountaineering boot with a +8" upper.
I'm talking about mainly hunting boots for Colorado, Montana. I'm not looking for a mountaineering boot. Something like Danners or Meindls.
I too have had ankle issues my whole life, I have opted out of surgery several times. I have used vasques 4 out of four times for mt goat and use for most S and S hunts in rough terrain. I love those boots and have had no ankle issues with them on. A couple points that really help I were expedition Merino sock that fit in the boots tight, as the day(s) go on the sock can take the pounding and my feet/ankles, stay good.
Ok.
So, do you have a high volume or a low volume foot?
Narrow heel or wide heel?
European made boots tend to have narrower heel and lower volume foot fits than North American made boots.
Properly fitted boots do not need to be +8" inches for excellent ankle support. Get well fitted boots and learn the appropriate lacing techniques to use them properly in rugged terrain.
I would recommend "Kenetrek".
They have a line of boots called the "Mountain Extremes and the Mountain Guides" Both lines of boots are 10" tall.
For me I like the Kenetrek Hardscrabble Hiker. It is one of the very best pair of boots I have ever had. They are 7" tall.
They are good people to deal with and great customer service.
Tim
Danner pronghorns for the last 6years. Boots are like eye glass frames, personal to the max. I wore boots my entire military career, and the Pronghorns seem to be the best of many varibiles for me. My son and I covered a lot of verticle deer hu ting last week
+1 for Kenetrek.
QuoteOriginally posted by Daz:
Ok.
So, do you have a high volume or a low volume foot?
Narrow heel or wide heel?
European made boots tend to have narrower heel and lower volume foot fits than North American made boots.
Properly fitted boots do not need to be +8" inches for excellent ankle support. Get well fitted boots and learn the appropriate lacing techniques to use them properly in rugged terrain.
x2, I wore Danners for several years, my feet swam in them, bought a set of Kayland's (Italian made) and went from being so fatigued at end of day that I didn't believe if I had gotten an elk that I would be able to go back up to pack some of it out to feeling strong and able at end of day. If you have normal feet, then there are a ton of good choices out there, ones mentioned are some good ones for sure!
im using the Lathrop and sons boots and I love them. that being said, I think any of the high end boot would be a good choice. I know its one of the best investments ive ever made.
Kenetrek Hardscrabble is outstanding. I have the old "Light" model, but they made the regular Hardscrabble lighter and eliminated the "Light" version. The only thing I don't like about Kenetreks is the hard plastic lace keeper on the tongue that hurts my low instep feet. The "Light" version doesn't have that plastic keeper and feels great on my feet.
Allan
White's Smoke Jumpers. They are out of Spokane, Washington and I've been wearing them for over 40 years and they are as good as they claim and perhaps a bit better. Can be rebuilt when the time comes. They are worth every penny paid.
I'll throw in my 2 cents worth...
For the past 5 years I have been wearing a pair of Zamberlan 631 Civetta GT RR boots. They are the best boots I have ever worn for all outdoor activities! I have worn them for mountain hunting, backpacking, and upland hunting in Alaska, Colorado, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. They provide excellent foot and ankle support on all types of terrain. If you want a taller boot then take a look at the Zamberlan 1012 Vioz Boot. It looks like it would be outstanding as well.
Kenetrek Mountain Extremes for me, however I have not tried some of the others mentioned.
I guess I was fortunate enough to not need to try any of the others since the Kenetreks meet all of my requirements...comfort, durable, waterproof and etc..
Daz
What are these lacing techniques you speak of??
I've got a GREAT pair of Cabela's Outfitters in the classifieds for a bargain basement price. :goldtooth:
They are actually very good boots. The Outfitters are built on a Danner design. These are 11" tall with 1000gr Thinsulate insulation.
For rough terrain I like my USMC issued Danner RAT (Rugged All Terrain) boots. Tough as nails and darn near broke in right out of the box. All though mine were courtesy of the Marine Corps, you can get them through Danner. Lost Arra showed me a link called the Breakroom, where they sometimes go on sale.
Tom
I must premise this by noting the I have tender feet. I tried a number of boots and settled on LL Bean Cresta Hikers (all leather..wide). I have had these boots for 10 years. They have covered thousands of miles through rainforests and the Rockies. Hunting. backpacking, hiking..everything. Last year in Colorado we had to cross a few streams and even walk down some. The boots are still waterproof! They are like old friends to me. The boots offer good support, weight is reasonalbe and they last. I rarely have any hot spot issue even walking side hills in the Rockies. The only downside is that since I have purchase them I have gotten a bit heavier and older and my feet have flattened out so I am going to get a half size larger. Occasionally I may put some leather conditioner on them if I think of it and I have had to replace the laces 5-10 times but that is all the upkeep.
Check out La Sportiva. Great ankle support and as light as a feather. These boots are designed for mountaineering and heavy load specifically. I love mine.
Another suggestion are the Italian made Crispi boots. They have a hunting line of boots with high tops for extreme ankle support.
Crispi are the prefered boots for the ones that hunt the steepy Alps.
Here you have to load the whole animal and you can't make quarters,a very dependable boot is mandatory..
I have used everthing from tennis shoes to mountaineering boots. All had pros and cons. I have settled on as light weight of a boot as I can get awwy with that is waterproof. If the terrain is rockier I use a stiffer pair of Vasque (made in Italy) model. If the area is not as rock I have settled on a pair of mid height boots I got from LL Bean. I'm no longer a fan of very high boots. Doctor I know said the reduced mobility you get with them outweigts any support value for the ankle.
Great info from you guys I have some research ahead of me. Thanks
I used my Wolverine work boots to walk in to our camp site at 9000' in the San Juan Mountains of SW Coloado and switched to LL Bean Maine Hunting Boots(12")for he hunt. This wasin the early season(end of Aug, first week of Sept)
Boots are a very personal piece of gear. If you're hard to fit, I would suggest you either spend a good amount of time at a reputable outdoor gear store ( REI comes to mind) trying on lots of different models or contact HanWag Boots (Lathrop and Sons) and have a custom pair made for your feet. Just FYI, Lowa Sheephunters are the mountain hunting boot standard, BUT, there are lots of other options out there these days.
QuoteDaz
What are these lacing techniques you speak of??
RS, ladder locking and other techniques are tough to explain. Just Google "hiking boot lacing techniques" and there will be a bunch of vids and how-to's.
In essence, it is using the lacing systems to customize fit for pressure points on top strap and instep of foot to stabilize ankles and prevent toe bump (handy for boots that aren't perfect fit).
Remember that your foot will change volume as the day progresses, and socks will shift as well. Stopping at least once a day to re-lace and adjust makes a huge difference when spending hours grinding out vertical.
Thank you. I will check it out.
My personal opinion is to go to the nearest big box sporting goods store such as Gander Mountain, Cabela's etc and try on as many as you see fit.
For general Colorado hunting, I actually wouldn't even recommend a tall boot, but a well fit set of hikers. I have no experience in Montana.
Where I have hunted and hiked in Colorado a very aggressive sole is not needed, although a mild sole like the Bean boot was not good for me either. A softer soled hiker is what I chose most recently. That boot cried out to me as soon as I put it on. Take me Take me.
I think that is more important than all the rest.
For . . ME. . a very lightly insulated (or none) boot is better than a heavily insulated boot as I tend to get too hot and sweat easily.
Just my opinion.
ChuckC
X2 on the White Jumpers. Mine are 22 years old and still going strong. Rebuildable and they are like new when they come back. With that old boot fit. I like Zanderlan also.
Try the HAIX Montana which is 11.5" high.
Too high for me, I like to stay at or under 8".
I currently wear Haix Nebraskas and break them in for Colorado elk in two weeks.....
I have mendls, but went with one that had a more flexable sole- I found that the stiff soled boots of any high end make to be so stiff that you cannot get much feedback from the ground, ie crappy for stalking and walking trees etc.
Anyway, I found unless I am in rock a lot, the stiffer soled models are not necessary, but with a weak ankle I would opt for the stiff soled boots.
Stiff meaning torsionally stiff- the soles will not twist on a side slope. Very important in a boot.
Joshua
I agree with Joshua. I've run Lowas,Meindels, Kennetrek Sheep Hunters in some very rugged mountains hunting sheep. I've also hunted sheep up in the Yukon and mountain lion in some nasty stuff in Montana in my Schnee Hunters. I am not so sure I will not have the Schnees on my feet when I draw my mountain goat tag. They really do everything well!
Nothing wrong with the Schnee line of boots, but some are manufactured by someone else for them.
It all comes down to preference about stiffness and height of the shaft. Also the form of the last is important.
HAIX is stiffer than LOWA and MEINDL in the sole.
HAIX is also slightly higher in the shaft with the lower 8" boots, where LOWA and MEINDL is more 7.25". HAIX is as close as the LOWAS when it comes to last size and form.
HAIX is the manufacturer of the German Army Light Mountain Boot. Before HAIX, it was LOWA and MEINDL. LOWA and MEINDL need about zero break-in.
I wore these light Mountain Boots for the last 18 years nearly daily. The Leather is softer. The HAIX need a very short break in before Leather softens and conforms to your feet. I wear them for one week now and at a 2 day 3D-shoot and they are almost broken in.
You really need to just try boots out for yourself. Everyones feet are different. Lots of people swear by danners, but the pair i had really crippled me. I'm sure danners are good boots, but they sure didn't work for me. I've had red wings, la sportiva, and asolo.that were all great, but even within brands, some models will and some won't work for you. Imo the internet is a terrible place to pick a pair of boots.