Boot recommendations

[M_ray]

My recommendation? Spend more!!! Everything out there for under 200$ is crap and I know cause I've worn them, And yes you can hike in Danner's, Georgia's and Lacross on steep ground and I have too but once you have a quality boot in the 400$ range under you? you'll wonder how you ever did it in those cheap boots!!! I put on a pair of danners  now and I feel like I could turn an ankle just mowing the lawn (not to mention they leak) ... You wont be sorry 

[Curly]

I really like the Lowa Renegade GTX.   They are a mid-height hiker, and I am on my 6th year with them.  I wear them for everything, not just hunting, and they have yet to leak.   About the same weight as the leaky danner pronghorns that everyone raves about...

If you shop around you can find them at your $200 limit.

 

I will second that.  I've been using my Lowa Renegade's for years.  Very good boot.

[HawkCreek]

I'd go for Nicks over Whites any day. My last few experiences with Whites were piss poor. Had a complete rebuild and got to wear them for a whole day before their repairs started coming apart. $300 for one day of use. Another brand new pair was falling apart after less than a year. These days Whites are junk. To bad because my first pair was a great pair of boots, lasted for years. I dont know why they can't built boots like that anymore.

[jasnt]

I'd go for Nicks over Whites any day. My last few experiences with Whites were piss poor. Had a complete rebuild and got to wear them for a whole day before their repairs started coming apart. $300 for one day of use. Another brand new pair was falling apart after less than a year. These days Whites are junk. To bad because my first pair was a great pair of boots, lasted for years. I dont know why they can't built boots like that anymore.

I bought a pair of asolo's this year. I love them! Rebuildable and tough. I used to go threw 2-3 pairs or $150 range boots a year. I've gotten almost 400 crow miles on them now and the toe is getting a little scuffed up but they are still waterproof, no tears or splitting seams, vibram sole is a worn a bit but still perfectly attached to the boot like day one. I've destroyed so many boots I could have bought a new custom rifle.  I'm very pleased with these boot!

[Jonathan_S]

My recommendation? Spend more!!! Everything out there for under 200$ is crap and I know cause I've worn them, And yes you can hike in Danner's, Georgia's and Lacross on steep ground and I have too but once you have a quality boot in the 400$ range under you? you'll wonder how you ever did it in those cheap boots!!! I put on a pair of danners  now and I feel like I could turn an ankle just mowing the lawn (not to mention they leak) ... You wont be sorry 

Not sure I'd call Danner's cheap   

[wafisherman]

I'm replacing a 10 yr old pair of hiking boots just now.  Still like the old boots and will use them, but wanted to get something that will be sure to stand up to some backpacking and hunting next year.

I picked up these for $157 ($250 original I guess) after my member discount was applied.

http://www.rei.com/product/883502/mammut-pacific-crest-gtx-hiking-boots-mens-2014-overstock

Wearing them around the house right now and really like them.  Reminds me of my old boots, which is what I was going for - not overly heavy, not bulky, solid ankle support, sturdy for a heavy pack, comfy for a long hike, waterproof, grippy sole for slippery rocks and mud or shale.  Guess I'll know for sure this time next year, but so far I'm impressed.

[Kittman]

I also needed new boots for deer hunting so gave the Irish Setters a try.  I have not had a chance to use them hunting yet so we will see.  But for the price they seem to be pretty well made, no worse than anything else I looked at costing much more.  The first thing I noticed is these are true to size.  It takes more than one pair of boots to work for different hunting situations though, so I wasn't going to break the bank on getting them.  If you are going to go the inexpensive route I would start here:

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/mens-hunting-and-camo-boots~d~365/

Oh yea, they say Gore-Tex on them too.

[KNOPHISH]

Years of the Cabela's boots under $200 & I just bumped up to the Lowa hunter's. Huge difference. So far these are kick ass boots. Watch the gear sites for sales, I got these for almost half off.

[M_ray]

My recommendation? Spend more!!! Everything out there for under 200$ is crap and I know cause I've worn them, And yes you can hike in Danner's, Georgia's and Lacross on steep ground and I have too but once you have a quality boot in the 400$ range under you? you'll wonder how you ever did it in those cheap boots!!! I put on a pair of danners  now and I feel like I could turn an ankle just mowing the lawn (not to mention they leak) ... You wont be sorry 

Not sure I'd call Danner's cheap   

They may not be $$$ ... but they are very cheaply made and over priced for what you get IMO, That's why I suggest just wait till you have enough to buy a boot in the 400$ range it's money well spent ... Im not going to say Meindl are the only boot to buy just cause that's what I wear but I would say try them all and buy one of them Lowa, Asolo, kennetrek or Meindl.

[opdinkslayer]

I will be replacing my meindl pefects that are going on 6 yrs old with a pair of meindl perfect extremes or kenetrek mountain 400s. Its worth the investment in the long run.