All-purpose hiking/hunting boot?

[Newk]

Hi all,

I am traveling to Peru to trek the Salkantay path in late April. I’ve decided to invest in a superior pair of boots. Not a hunting trip but certainly will be utilizing mostly hunting/camping specific gear!

Current recommendations have led me to the Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo.

I am wondering if anyone has any experience with Asolo boots, and also how they’ve held up during long hunts.

I appreciate any insights.

 

[justinspicher]

I destroyed a pair of Asolo leather boots on a trip to Afghanistan……

These days I’m wearing scarpas, specifically the Fuego model. I have a few thousand miles on them and they are still going.

I don’t think I’d listen to anyone, boots are pretty personal. Find a pair that fits well and feels good to you.

 

[JAshley73]

Altra's.

My favorite hiking/outdoor boot was discontinue. After a rather painful search - initially trying every type of leather boot including Timberland Pro's, Scarpa, Lowa, Danner, etc,, Altra mid-rise shoes were the clear winner.

These will be a 4-season shoe for me. Used in my part-time commercial mowing of some gnarly properties, general mid-west hiking, a few times a week daily wear, etc...

(I'm not sure what the weather in Peru is like, in April.)

Comfort is certainly a personal thing, but I would encourage you to try them if you can. They feature a wide toe-box.

I went with the "Lone Peak" model personally. They are moderately waterproof. Certainly quick splash, and quick submersion proof anyway. I haven't waded in them, and don't plan to if I can help it...

They are more than comfortable enough in any scenario, and are much lighter weight, and easier to walk/trek/hike in than leather boots. The tread offers tremendous traction over most terrain, including bare & damp rock.

With a pair of SmartWool socks, my feet stay pretty warm & cozy even down to the upper-mid 20's.

If you have not already, I would certainly recommend you try them.

Sites-alt-us-Site

www.altrarunning.com

 

[Rock’N Tacos]

i would go try on some of the nice european brands. I am currently using some Lowas and am happy with them in steep nasty country. I have tried a couple different flavors of crispi and my feet don’t like them. I do find myself grabbing my Hoka hiking boots more than anything else when I head out hunting. Nowhere near as durable as the Lowas but the comfort is worth replacing every couple years.

 

[isleofGough]

Altras, Solomon quest, Hokas etc are great in good weather, but if you are out in the PNW with all day rain, I would pick zamberlan Tofanes.

 

[Olympics777]

Asolos are a great boot. They aren’t as popular on this site as some of the other European brands but don’t let that dissuade you. I have owned two pairs of the 520 tps and one pair of the 520 tps evo. Each lasted me 3-4 years of hard hunting and hiking. Currently I’m really enjoying my crispis, we‘ll see how long they last. I’ve had scarpas, lowas, Danner, and some others. Asolo was the most durable for me.

 

[North of 60]

My Asolo experience is limited to one boot and if they made extra wides, i'd wear then forever probably.

The very lightweight Asolo cactus (think leather hitop shoes) run narrow and need significant stretching in width for me...once that is done, i love them. 3 or 4 pair have lasted until the vibram sole wore through with hole in the metatarsal area for me, and that takes a while.

I also really like Altra and Topos.

If you can, I'd go visit well-stocked outdoor shoe/boot stores and try a bunch of different ones on as you may find something completely different and comfortable from what you expected, or didn't know.

Being the southern hemisphere, that should be their fall.

 

[270-300]

Right before corona I spent about $600 on a nice pair of zamberlains. They were trashed in 6 months. Within a year soles were peeled off and feet were sticking out the side.

Ive done well with danner pronghorns since. I hunt from 10,000 feet on steep rock slopes where big horn sheep live, down to farmland at 5,000 feet with big fat turkeys. Spent most weekends and a lot of weekdays in the mountains.

No issues with them packing an elk out in a frame pack at 8,000 feet in the steep stuff last fall.

 

[ropeup79]

Meindl has several options that might fit your needs. I have a pair of Himalayas that I really like.