New Balance for me. Light, long lasting, and they fit my feet.
Hiking Boot Poll
- Thread starter colorado plainsman
- Start date
GreyRider
Member
I tell you what... I used to wear heavy, high end expensive hiking boots. When my last pair bit the dust I headed over to Campmor (local Mecca) and started to laborious process of selecting new. The salesperson showed me a pair of Keens. I've been wearing their sandals for years. I was extremely dubious - maybe because they felt like bedroom slippers. I voiced my doubts. Sales guy said "Mike just hiked the Grand Canyon in em. Hey Mike, come over here..." Long story short, I bought me a pair they are far and away the most comfortable boots I've ever laced up. I think I paid 129 bucks. Last pair cost 300 15 years ago. I'd do these again in a heartbeat.
Viss
Member
I agree 100%. I wear these grouse hunting in the north woods and they are great.
Smith357
US Veteran
I'm a footwear snob and insist on having my feet wrapped in leather, all these new high tech wonder fabrics just don't last.
My work boots are leather lined Carolina Loggers, I've only had them 3 years but my first pair lasted for 14 years and were resoled twice. My dress boots are wolverine 1000 mile boots. I had a nice pair of leather Asolo boots years ago when I lived in the rockies and did a lot of hiking, they looked similar to the Vasque Sundowners but the man made insides rotted away long before the leather upper deteriorated. I don't do much hiking anymore but if I were to start up again I would have to go with the Danner Mountain Light or Chippiwa Briar.
My work boots are leather lined Carolina Loggers, I've only had them 3 years but my first pair lasted for 14 years and were resoled twice. My dress boots are wolverine 1000 mile boots. I had a nice pair of leather Asolo boots years ago when I lived in the rockies and did a lot of hiking, they looked similar to the Vasque Sundowners but the man made insides rotted away long before the leather upper deteriorated. I don't do much hiking anymore but if I were to start up again I would have to go with the Danner Mountain Light or Chippiwa Briar.
Danners, for work and play.....
Belleville Boots - Home
I work as a security guard in the city of Colorado Springs. I work on the East side of town at a facility which is mostly undeveloped.
I spend the vast majority of my day on my feet up and down hills, over rocks, in all types of weather
and I’m willing to pay for good boots. I wear Belleville 700 “duty” boots because I haven’t found anything else as durable and comfortable that’s made in America and that’s about the only thing that I’m “brand loyal” to, I even bought a pair of their ACU boots for hiking.
Last year I put right around 1880 miles on my boots (according to my pedometer) and they held up to it with only a resoling and as I mentioned above they are American made and that is important to me
Last edited:
Rastoff
US Veteran
I gotta say, Merrel boots are the most comfortable I've ever tried on. They are like socks with good protection for the soles of your feet.
Coldshooter
Member
I used to use Danner but got used to the Euro fit while Nordic Skiing so I usually go with Asolo but just bought a pair of Scarpa from Italy. My wife has a pair of Lowe from 1979 which were $200.00 then, got her moneys worth I think. Every time she wears them 18-25 year olds want to buy them because they are so cool retro. All leather plus stitched sole so they can be repaired.
HOUSTON RICK
Member
Nothing is better out of the box than Timberland to my feet.
jomommy
Member
keens- i've used many other types in rock climbing/hiking/mountaineering, but keens are lightweight, fit my women feet and are very reliable in my search and rescue world
Raichle - vintage all-leather backpacking boots from the mid 70s. Got them at the original old REI store, and normal care and a couple of Vibram sole replacements have kept them going.
RobertJ.
Member
I bought a pair of Vasque from REI three years ago, and they're still going strong. What sold me on them? They felt good on my feet, and had the features I was looking for. I have wide feet, 10 1/2 EEEE, and have a hard time finding footwear. In athletic shoes, it's New Balance.
EQGuy
US Veteran
When I have any serious walking to do I grab my Whites boots. They are the last pair of good boots I will ever need to buy.
Bill Bates
Member
I wondered when Whites would be mentioned. I've know more than a few forest fire fighters and they swear by them. When my Filson give up the ghost I plan on replacing them with some Whites.
Post a picture maybe we can figure it out
BearBio
Member
My wife and I prefer Danner. They're the only ones to fit her size 10 (women's) narrow.
Lately, I started wearing my Government issued (uniform purchase) Vasque.
Lately, I started wearing my Government issued (uniform purchase) Vasque.
We are probably not as demanding of our footwear as you harder working folks or more serious hikers. I voted for Danner because my wife and I each have comfortable pairs that have lasted for many years.
Our Danner boots were purchased while we lived in the Northeast and have been successful through mud, snow, sand, rocks and virtually anything else we have encountered there. However, while hiking on Southwestern trails here in the summer, Teva sandals are more comfortable for me. It gets pretty warm here in Arizona.
Our Danner boots were purchased while we lived in the Northeast and have been successful through mud, snow, sand, rocks and virtually anything else we have encountered there. However, while hiking on Southwestern trails here in the summer, Teva sandals are more comfortable for me. It gets pretty warm here in Arizona.
Vasques
I have a pair of Vasque hikers similar to their Wasatch boot that I bought 15 years ago that have stood up well. They have been up the Manitou incline Manitou Incline - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and Barr Trail Barr Trail - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia more times than I can count and they stood up to two years at work with nothing more than a resoling.
That said, I’m really not pleased with the quality of the newer Vasques.
The last pair I bought lasted less than a year. The mid sole was made of hard plastic and the outsole wore out in about a year but because of the shape of the midsole I couldn’t resole the boot, there’s 200$ pissed away. The uppers just fell apart and over all the boot just wasn’t up to the level of quality that I’ve come to expect from Vasque
I have a pair of Vasque hikers similar to their Wasatch boot that I bought 15 years ago that have stood up well. They have been up the Manitou incline Manitou Incline - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and Barr Trail Barr Trail - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia more times than I can count and they stood up to two years at work with nothing more than a resoling.
That said, I’m really not pleased with the quality of the newer Vasques.
The last pair I bought lasted less than a year. The mid sole was made of hard plastic and the outsole wore out in about a year but because of the shape of the midsole I couldn’t resole the boot, there’s 200$ pissed away. The uppers just fell apart and over all the boot just wasn’t up to the level of quality that I’ve come to expect from Vasque
Similar threads
