Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => All Other Gear => Topic started by: calib on September 18, 2015, 08:48:03 PM

Title: less stiff boots
Post by: calib on September 18, 2015, 08:48:03 PM: I have been running a set of kenetrek mt extreme for a couple years and have not been real excited about how stiff they are (steel shank). I would like to get a similar pair of boots, just not so stiff. Have wondered about lowa's but they sound stiff too, is that true or is there some flex to them. I had a set of danners years a go and blew them out after one season of guiding upland bird hunts, so not ready to go back unless there has been changes for the better.

Thanks for your advice in advance
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: calib on September 20, 2015, 06:37:32 PM: Also wondering about the bridger ridge's from kenetrek, miendl denali from cabelas? Anyone
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: M_ray on September 20, 2015, 07:10:08 PM: I went with Meindl Perfekt's cause Kenetrek are so stiff ... love them BTW!
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: link on September 21, 2015, 07:48:47 AM: Quote from: M_ray on September 20, 2015, 07:10:08 PM
I went with Meindl Perfekt's cause Kenetrek are so stiff ... love them BTW!
Same here. i used those damn kennetreks for a couple seasons. They never did, or probably never will, soften/loosen up. Its like walking around with a piece of plywood on the bottom of your feet! I have some Meindls now, and went and had my old danners resoled.
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: calib on September 21, 2015, 10:31:23 AM: Link, you think those miendl's are less stiff as the kenetrek? Which one were they? I am liking the hieght and price of the denali from cabelas, but looking for info first.

Thanks
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: SkookumHntr on September 21, 2015, 10:46:14 AM: My Kenetreks feel like damn ski boots! I like my little danner hikers better but oh well i bought them! There gonna be nice in the strait up and down stuff im heading too next week..
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: swashington2128 on September 23, 2015, 02:38:32 PM: I tried the Danner Elk Hunters this year. They were highly recommended to me by some friends so I tried them out. Went to Utah for 10 days chasing Mule Deer and Elk and they were superb boots. A little stiff at first but the more I hit the hills the better they were.

The Elk Hunters were discontinued a few years ago and just started up again due to popular demand. They are USA made (unlike the Pronghorns) and have very good leather and excellent waffle soles.

No issues wearing these for 10-14 hours a day. I had to order them from Danner and waited 2 months to get them so be patient if you decide to get some.

Hope this helps
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: calib on September 23, 2015, 03:40:34 PM: It does help, i am just kind of looking around rite now seeing where things are then hopefully this winter i can get a set picked up so i can get plenty of time in them for hunting and scouting next year. I am thinking i may just have to use the kenetreks all season this year.
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: Holg3107 on September 23, 2015, 04:06:22 PM: Below are the two pairs of boots I am currently using. Both have their place and both perform flawlessly. These are my 3rd and fourth pair of Zamberlans and I couldn't be happier. Ive never been a fan of the really high ankle "hunting" boots and these do the job. They aren't cheap but worth the money. I just wore the Crosser Plus' in Idaho on a 10 day elk hunt with 2500+ feet elevation gain daily in very rugged terrain and my feet feel great. Also the break in time was zero.

http://www.zamberlanusa.com/catalog/index.php?lang=en&pg=prod&idprod=210&idcat=2

http://www.zamberlanusa.com/catalog/index.php?lang=en&pg=prod&idprod=214&idcat=21
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: Buzz2401 on September 23, 2015, 07:21:57 PM: I really like all of the Made in USA Danners. They are super comfortable and are very well made. The chinese made crap they have is just ok and don't last as long
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: T-Dozzer on September 27, 2015, 12:39:44 PM: Quote from: M_ray on September 20, 2015, 07:10:08 PM
I went with Meindl Perfekt's cause Kenetrek are so stiff ... love them BTW!

How do they perform in the wet stuff?

I like the US made Danners and kenetrek, but they just feel heavy. My danners just started to leak and I only use my kenetreks in super rough country.
Last year I tried out UA speed freaks because they were super light and quiet for bow hunting. They are garbage.
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: M_ray on September 27, 2015, 04:25:48 PM: Quote from: T-Dozzer on September 27, 2015, 12:39:44 PM
Quote from: M_ray on September 20, 2015, 07:10:08 PM
I went with Meindl Perfekt's cause Kenetrek are so stiff ... love them BTW!

How do they perform in the wet stuff?

I like the US made Danners and kenetrek, but they just feel heavy. My danners just started to leak and I only use my kenetreks in super rough country.
Last year I tried out UA speed freaks because they were super light and quiet for bow hunting. They are garbage.

Had them for two full seasons now and no problems and have faced all types of conditions. They work great on all surfaces, very sturdy on steep ground and have not leaked! They don't feel water logged to me when wet and I walked through a lot of wet grass and CRP. :tup:
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: T-Dozzer on September 27, 2015, 04:33:42 PM: Quote from: M_ray on September 27, 2015, 04:25:48 PM
Quote from: T-Dozzer on September 27, 2015, 12:39:44 PM
Quote from: M_ray on September 20, 2015, 07:10:08 PM
I went with Meindl Perfekt's cause Kenetrek are so stiff ... love them BTW!

How do they perform in the wet stuff?

I like the US made Danners and kenetrek, but they just feel heavy. My danners just started to leak and I only use my kenetreks in super rough country.
Last year I tried out UA speed freaks because they were super light and quiet for bow hunting. They are garbage.

Had them for two full seasons now and no problems and have faced all types of conditions. They work great on all surfaces, very sturdy on steep ground and have not leaked! They don't feel water logged to me when wet and I walked through a lot of wet grass and CRP. :tup:

Which ones do you have?

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/search/?N=&Ntk=AllProducts&Ntt=meindl&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&WT.srch=1&WT.tsrc=PPC&rid=20&WT.mc_id=[YGM]%7Cfoo_v_meindl_phrase%7CUSA&WT.z_mc_id1=43700007848963133&gclid=CLny--GvmMgCFQytfgodussG1g&gclsrc=ds
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: M_ray on September 27, 2015, 08:03:50 PM: http://www.cabelas.com/product/cabela-s-124-meindl-men-s-perfekt-8482-10-34-hunter-boots/748348.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch%2F%3FN%3D%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dmeindl%26Ntx%3Dmode%252Bmatchallpartial%26WT.srch%3D1%26WT.tsrc%3DPPC%26rid%3D20%26WT.mc_id%3D&Ntt=meindl
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: M_ray on September 27, 2015, 08:18:15 PM: For anyone considering the Perfekts I know when I bought mine there were some that the only complaint they had was that they would squeak. Well so did mine during break in, so I figured out where they were squeaking from and fixed it. There are little tabs to cinch the laces and they are sown in right where the boot creases when it flex's. When trail dust gets under it it will start to squeak ... a little archery shelf felt will solve the problem and I have never had another problem since! :tup:
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: SemperFidelis97 on September 27, 2015, 08:38:01 PM: Vasque St. Elias try them on you will thank me.
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: hoytem on September 27, 2015, 08:59:01 PM: Bought some perfekts last week and have worn them two days. The bottom of my foot feels like I jumped off a 20 story building. Is this normal?
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: jackelope on September 28, 2015, 08:05:00 AM: Quote from: hoytem on September 27, 2015, 08:59:01 PM
Bought some perfekts last week and have worn them two days. The bottom of my foot feels like I jumped off a 20 story building. Is this normal?
What kind of socks are you wearing? Good boot fit needs good socks if you ask me to make it really right. 2 days in I wouldn't be too concerned with them not feeling just right. You've got to get them broke in. I have the Meindl Perfekt hunters and they've been awesome boots. No leaks, comfortable, etc. they've been everywhere from the top of Mt Adams to the Blues and the northeast and have been great boots.
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: CoryTDF on September 28, 2015, 08:33:06 AM: Here are a few that I have tried and reviewed. Might be worth looking into.

Check these out:

http://ireviewgear.com/boots/schnee-schnees-beartooth-hunting-boot-review

Or these:

http://ireviewgear.com/boots/lowa-ranger-ii-gtx-boot-review
Title: Re: less stiff boots
Post by: eastfork on October 18, 2015, 07:47:35 PM: Asolo Fugitive GTX are great as are lowa renegade gtx. I have both and love them.....lowa are softer than the asolo.