hiking / hunting boots

[scottcrb]

im thinking about getting a new pair of boots with my tax money and wanted to see what you guys thought. i have been looking at the han wag the crispi and some asolo and zamberlains as well as the danners and kennetreks. i cant find many places to try many of these on around seattle area.  any thoughts or ideas? i will mainly use for hiking and turkey and elk hunting eastern wa stuff and some high country.

[RadSav]

The Hanwags are amazingly good, but you have to order on faith.  Though they will keep sending you new sizes if the ones they help you choose are not right.  Same great service with Kennetrek even though I have found the Hanwag more comfortable for my foot.  Want a fantastic non-insulated boot that will help you climb like a mountain goat?  Try the La Sportiva Trango ALP GTX.  That's one kick ass lightweight and my all time favorite.

Just stay away from USA/China if you want something that is going to perform more than one year.  Hard to go wrong with Meindle, Hanwag, Lowa, Kennetrek or La Sportiva.  Just have to find the one your foot likes.

[scottcrb]

awesome thanks radsav

[colockumelk]

Yeah I agree with Radsav. I wanted Kenetreks and on a whim tried the Lowas as well. The Lowas fit MY foot better. So I got the Lowas based on that. When you are looking at the high quality boots they are ALL good boots. Pick the one that fits YOUR foot best.

[scottcrb]

thats the hard part most of them are hard to find at retailers so u just have to order them and try. rei carrys some but not han wag or kenetrek or some of the others.

[hughjorgan]

I bought a pair of asolo boots online last summer for elk hunting. They are a great boot, super comfortable, no break in required, they are rugged and real sturdy boot. You should be able to find some asolo or zamberlains at REI to try on.

[RadSav]

Go some place that fully understands how mountaineering boots are suppose to fit and work.  It's a drive from Seattle, but few are better than Whittaker Mountaineering.  Not sure how Marmot in Bellevue is, but I've heard good things.  These guys will get you fitted and sized correctly rather than some neophite who doesn't understand the difference between a basketball shoe and a trekking boot.  They should also be able to tell you US and UK sizing which does come in very handy. 

The Hanwag guys at Lathrop and Sons can tell you how nearly all the different brands very in size and they gladly share such information to make sure you make the right decision.  I always wore the wrong size just figuring I had troublesome feet and could do nothing about it.  Then I spent about five emails and a half hour on the phone with Lathrop.  Now I hunt harder and am not in such a rush to get my boots off as soon as I get home or back to camp. 

Schnees, Kennetrek and Lathrop will all bend over backward to make sure you are happy.  They fully understand for the average person this is a big decision and a lot of money.  They sell service first and boots second.  Hard to find that at your local box store, REI or Cabela's.

Good luck.  Hope you let us know what you decide.

[norsepeak]

got the lathrop & sons han wag and the kenetreks, love them both great boots.  L&S are a stiffer and tougher for the really nasty steep rocks, kenetreks are more comfortable over all.

[JJB11B]

I Have the Kenetrek Mountain Extremes. My feet stay dry and warm all day in 20 degree weather and my boots are not even insulated. Just get boots that are big enough to allow for a good quality wool sock. My  is that half the battle of footcare and comfort is quality socks

[MikeWalking]

My  is that half the battle of footcare and comfort is quality socks

Amen.

[atfulldraw]

 My  is that half the battle of footcare and comfort is quality socks
[/quote] x2

[JJB11B]

Also...Feet sweat so bring spare socks and change them. Makes all the difference in the world.

[MikeWalking]

Ignored that little voice in my head and bought a pair of Zamberlains that had an itty-bitty hot spot on one shin.   Got home from the first hike with 4 bloody sores on each foot. 

One of the constants on this Site has been people loving Kennetrek.

[JJB11B]

I dont think the phrase "You get what you pay for" could ring any more true in this case. Totally worth the money. I ruin footwear, it's what I do. I rarely can keep the same boots for more than a year. Even my danners fall apart in a year, soles go bald, stitching comes undone, lace loups tear out, gore tex leaks or frays. These boots come with a great warranty and rumor has it that the customer service is steak sauce!

[Miles]

I wouldn't buy the Danners, unless you want to use your tax return to buy a pair of boots again next year...


Have you tried on a pair of Lowa boots?  Keep an eye on www.sierratradingpost.com for some good deals if you find a boot that you like.

I use the Lowa Renegades and while they are not a mountaineering boot, they are a quality hiker.   For general hiking, turkey hunting, and elk hunting on the east-side, I would recommend them.  They are light and FAR more comfortable then the Danner Pronghorns.  I put a Danner on one foot, Lowa on the other, and walked around for a while.  I couldn't believe how much better the Lowa's felt compared to the danners.
   Then I took both Lowa boots and put one quality wool sock on one foot, and the same sock on the other foot but with a Cabela's coolmax liner.  The liners definitely make a big difference.  I would suggest trying them if you don't already have a pair.