Best Boot for the Buck??

[russ]

i got a pair of irish setters, i think they are called elk tracker...i like them a lot, very warm and light weight. 

[Houndhunter]

cabelas guide series 12in 600gram insulation is what i got and there great. have always done great in all weather. my old man has some elk trackers and from what ive seen they do pretty damn good too. plus your not spending all the money like you would on a pair of meindles or somethin, and as far as meindles go i havnt been to impressed for how much they cost compared to how they hold up. my uncle got a pair and they lasted him only 2 years before they wore out

[archery288]

I have had great luck with my Danner Pronghorn's over the past 3 years! can't say I have ever had wet feet, the gortex ACTUALLY works unlike some brands! Anyways, just my opinion - they are a great boot!

[MikeWalking]

I bought Cabela's  Trail Runner Pacs for Snowshoeing. Just hours before going on an early spring hike the sole on my Vasque's came off of one boot. I wore the Pacs with a 65lb pack, just fine.  I wore them on an Alaskan summer trip in the Brooks 10 days 25 miles 90lbs just fine (yeah I pack a lot, goof that I am).

Since then I've been using them all year long, yes they're a bit much for hot weather hikes but no matter what my feet feel good and since Diabetes came to town a few years ago that's a priority.

[gray brow]

I was a RedWing guy until an old ankle injury got to be too much for the support they could deliver.

4 or 5 years ago, I got a pair of the Meindl's Canadians.  Took a bit getting used to walking in them.  Outstanding ankle support but also quite stiff when new.  They're crampon rated, so you serious hikers understand how stiff they have to be.  But, bum ankle or not, I can still go in 7-8 miles on the high hunt with camp on my back, sidehill for miles, and come out without being too stove up.  No way I could have continued with the lighter support boots.

[coonhound]

Another vote for the Meindles, Cabela's has several models made by them.

Alaskan hunter
Mountain hunter
Perfekt hunter
Canadian hunter

They are a well built boot, they are ready for serious hiking and hunting, by far the most comfortable boot I've ever worn and I've tried several.  It's tough to find a boot that actually has good support.

Lowa and Kenatrek are a similar boot that should give you the same performance as the Meindles. 

The Cabela's boots will range from $200 - 275 but well worth the investment.

My $0.02,
Coon

[actionshooter]

Lowa and Kenatek are a similar boot that should give you the same performance as the Meindles. 

Coon

I have a pair of Kenetrek and they are a really good boot.

[jdb]

I bought a pair of cabelas outfitters 4years ago and I couldnt be happier now that being said I only spend about 40 days in the field.I know some of you are doing much more than that so they might not last as long, but my feet have never really been cold or wet. What more can you ask for? JB

[Houndhunter]

yup they're the best boot for the buck hands down. maybe some meindles might be as good but i wouldnt risk it seeing as your guna pay a few more 100$$

[edmondshunter]

I bought my first pair of so called "Hunting" boots, Irish Setter Big Game GTX.  I like them but they have issues, light stitching around the toe cap.  I think Ill go back to Hiking boots

Up until now I went with the following

Asolo Fugitive's  Great gor-tex backpacking boot

Asolo full grain uppers seamless

Rachlie  u pick they all rock

If you buy them at REI you can always take them back if they fail

[WAcoueshunter]

My take is that the different premium brands are all good, but they're made for different uses.  I wear Danners and really like them.  I generally day hunt - leave in the morning, return to truck camp at night.  They're really comfortable right out of the box, and the Bob sole is great for mud and snow.  I prefer to spot and stalk, and the Danners are a bit more flexible (i.e. quiet) than traditional mountaineering/hiking boots.  I may do 12-15 miles in a day, but my load is relatively light until I put something down.  The Lowa's and Meindl's would be my choice for any sort of pack hunt.  Someone else mentioned the "load rating" - the Lowa's and Meindl's are a stiffer boot that will handle more weight than Danners, and are probably a better choice for really steep terrain.  There's a give and take...some are more flexible and built for quiet and comfort at the cost of support.  Some are built for support at the cost of out of the box comfort and noise.

[coonhound]

My take is that the different premium brands are all good, but they're made for different uses.  I wear Danners and really like them.  I generally day hunt - leave in the morning, return to truck camp at night.  They're really comfortable right out of the box, and the Bob sole is great for mud and snow.  I prefer to spot and stalk, and the Danners are a bit more flexible (i.e. quiet) than traditional mountaineering/hiking boots.  I may do 12-15 miles in a day, but my load is relatively light until I put something down.  The Lowa's and Meindl's would be my choice for any sort of pack hunt.  Someone else mentioned the "load rating" - the Lowa's and Meindl's are a stiffer boot that will handle more weight than Danners, and are probably a better choice for really steep terrain.  There's a give and take...some are more flexible and built for quiet and comfort at the cost of support.  Some are built for support at the cost of out of the box comfort and noise.

Have you ever had a problem with your Danner's squeeking? The last pair I owned and my hunting partner owned both had a slight squeek, not to good for stalking.  That's when I switched to the Meindl's.

Coon

[WAcoueshunter]

Not mine, but I've got one of the stitched full leather pairs (Hood Mtn. Light) that has less rubber on it.  I wouldn't doubt that those with the formed rubber soles (e.g. pronghorn) might have squeek problems.  Another pro and con...the stitched Danner boots are made in Portland, Oregon (about the only major boot actually manufactured in the U.S.), but cost about $100 more than the foreign sourced formed sole boots.  Love the fact that they're U.S. boots, which is a big reason why the military uses Danners.  But you pay a little extra. 

[gray brow]

Ah, the squeeking boot.  Yep, that's nearly as joyful as the loudly clicking bum ankle. 

But even Meindl's can squeek.  A pair my buddy had squeeked fairly consistently until he found the source was in the tongue where it rubbed on the side.  He solved it for good with a small strip of moleskin.  The hardest part was figuring out where the squeek was coming from.  Gotta admit, I spent more than a few yards hunched over walking alongside him trying to pinpoint it.  Glad nobody ever caught me doing that!   

[WAcoyotehunter]

I have walked out or two pairs of Danners this year and am going to switch brands.  It's a shame because danner builds a boot that fits my feet (shaped like a ducks).  I'm thinking about buying some Whites, but am concerned about the weight, are they too heavy for all day hikes? I want the durability of the tougher boot because they'll also be my work boot...mostly hiking and lots of getting wet and dry all day. 
Thoughts?