Good Chuckar boot

[Bmcox86]

What's everyone's opinion on a good Chuckar boot, last year I bought a pair of meindl ultralights last year and while there good for hunting, not so good for the Chuckar hills. There a little to wide and the sole is soft. Need something with good support and a hard sole for traversing rockslides and side hilling.
Prefer something at cabelas since I have a gift card.

[merkelman]

Danner 452 or danner (made in USA) 8 inch traditional 610 last boot.

[coyote_out]

I use my Kenetreks.  love them.  But I also use them for everything else, it might be a tough bill to swallow just for chukar hunting. 

[AspenBud]

Keen's Oregon PCT boot has treated me well. Easy on the feet, light, and reasonably tough. I don't chukar hunt, but as a grouse hunter who doesn't just stick to the roads I probably put my boots through as much hell as you do.

[JLS]

If Meindl's fit you, maybe look at the Perfekt Hunter, or the Meindl Denali.  You want some sort of backpacking style boot that will give you the lateral stability for sidehilling steep slopes.

I wear Lowa Sheep Hunters (late season) or Lowa Tibets (early season).  I've tried other boots and keep coming back to these.  If  the boot doesn't have a good solid shank, your feet will pay dearly by the end of a long day on the chukar slopes. 

I guess all of this is with the caveat that you are hunting the Colockum/Snake River/Grand Ronde type areas.  If you're hunting rolling sagebrush hills then the Lowas will be slightly overkill.  If you're hunting the rocks, you'll be glad you have them.

http://www.cabelas.com/category/Meindl-Perfekt-Footwear/112300380.uts

http://www.schnees.com/category/schnees-hunting-boots

[JLS]

Keen's Oregon PCT boot has treated me well. Easy on the feet, light, and reasonably tough. I don't chukar hunt, but as a grouse hunter who doesn't just stick to the roads I probably put my boots through as much hell as you do.

Come go on a hunt with me and we'll see

[bracer40]

After wearing out a pair of Danner's (US made, kept my feet dry through life of boot!) I went to these last year.
http://www.rei.com/product/774690/zamberlan-vioz-gt-hiking-boots-mens
They were fantastic in the rocky, steep stuff. Maybe a touch heavy during day hikes in chukar country (especially w/size 13's). Gave me confidence packing elk down steep, rocky, slippery slopes this fall. But returned them when my feet got wet.

Went with these http://www.rei.com/product/830165/asolo-drifter-gv-hiking-boots-mens and I like them even better. More support for steep sidehilling and lighter! Time will tell if my investement was a good one. So far, yes.

Had a pair of the Keens for a year and great fit, support except the hooks the laces went through were made of fabric and mine wore through. I'd buy another pair, but not for cross country in the mountains.

[splitshot]

bought a pair of goretex keens and loved them except they leaked like a sieve.  took them back and will try the ones that are not supposed to leak.  just got a pair of denalis and wore them today and my feet hurt some but will have a go again tomorrow.   mike w

[L-ofalab]

Keen's Oregon PCT boot has treated me well. Easy on the feet, light, and reasonably tough. I don't chukar hunt, but as a grouse hunter who doesn't just stick to the roads I probably put my boots through as much hell as you do.

 Not likely as tough as the Snake river! I used to ruin boots in 1 trip. I have a pair now that I bought at Cabelas that are made by Meindl, definitely the best boot I have ever had. I have had several Danner boots that the Snake ate for breakfast! The Meindls that I have are very stiff and protect your ankle. I have had them for 2 years and they are still waterproof and that has never happened with any other brand of boot. Right now I bet there are 6 pairs of boots in the closet that leak but I have kept for dry conditions only days.

[jackelope]

Brian-
Get yourself a solid pair of hiking/mountain hunting boots. You'll use them and love them for bird hunting and you'll use them in the mountains deer hunting too. You'd get your money's worth out of them for sure. Try a couple out...Kenetreks, Meindl Perfekt Hunters, Asolo Fugitive's, the list goes on. You won't go wrong. I love the Meindl's I have but you can't go wrong with any of the quality mountain hunting type boots.

[JLS]

 

I prefer all leather, and a good solid shank.

The difference in the shank can be a night and day difference in foot fatigue (and soreness the next day).

http://www.lowaboots.com/catalog/tibet-gtx/2106805599/2

[fly4fish]

You will get what you pay for in a pair of boot. If you want an average boot for under $200, then maybe Danners are the way to go. If you never spend more than that, then you wont know what you are missing. The last two pair of Danners I bought leaked first day out and have very little support, so I say save your money. I bought a pair of Meindls a while back and they lasted me 5 years and never leaked. They were by far the best side hilling boot I have ever had, but weren't all that comfy when not hiking. I replaced them with Kenetreks, which are comfortable all the time, but the rubber rand has come unglued dispite sending them back once already for the issue. Others I know of have not had this issue.

There are others in that $400 range that I am sure are all good boots. Aside from packing heavy loads, Chukar hunting is as demanding as it gets and I think you will not regret buying a boot that will help you stay on the slopes longer and further, plus they will last 2-5 times longer than most boots half that price. I too would check out the Lowas as stated before.

[chukar hunter]

I throw another vote for Danner.  A hard, aggressive sole is a necessity when clinging on for dear life on a frozen slope as your sidehilling to the next rock outcropping or ravine, chasing these red legged ba$tard$.   It's a love hate relationship I have three different pairs for the time of year and temperature.  Good boot for the money.

On a side note, I purchased the Solomon Quest 4D hikers for an early season elk hunt and have been very impressed.  They are featherweights compared to Danner's and have only hunted in them for 30 or so days this season but are still waterproof and performing well....I hope it continues.  I tried them on the chukar hills three times this year and have been impressed.  While it hasn't been snowy or very icy, they have performed well.  Soft soled and flexible, I find that my knees have been less sore this hunting season, as I feel the Danner's were such good ankle support, much of the bending came from my knees, causing fatigue and pain.  Now with the Solomon, body ware and tear is much more even.  Their full wrap around rubber toe has held up well.  They  have to be retired soon with this cold weather and I hope snow soon, for the trusty Danner's, but I thought I would mention.    More versatile for everyday hiking with enough support and toughness for the chukar hills.  U can get them at Cabelas too.  If I could only choose one boot...I would still choose Danner. 
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Salomon-GORE-TEX-Quest-D-Hikers/1624445.uts?productVariantId=3513836&WT.tsrc=CSE&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03696896&rid=40&channel=GoogleBaseUSA&mr:trackingCode=ED86BD11-18E4-E211-BAAE-001B21631C34&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=36436741991&mr:keyword&mr:match&mr:filter=64644259631&gclid=CJmBgYSwg7sCFUWTfgodrXMA3Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

Regardless of anyone's recommendations, if a boot does not fit your feet, they won't work for you.

[Bwana Bob]

Take a look on the Sierra Outdoors web site. Some time you can score on a great pair of boots at a great price. Bought a pair of mid weight backpacking boots from them at 1/2 price. They worked great for chukar hunting this season. Much better than my old Danners and more comfortable and stable in the rocks.

[Bmcox86]

Thanks for all the input, my goal is to save up for some kennetreks, maybe the mountain extreme and buy them and break them in this summer