Boots for the desert - Recommendations please!

[IChaseCoues]

Hey guys I'd love some input on boots for the drier side of the mountains.

I frequently hunt dry areas in NM and AZ and sometimes it's HOT! My feet sweat a lot even in the cold. There's a lot of rock in those desert mountains so a stiff shank is preferred. Heavy pack weight happens occasionally when I get lucky so they need to support me coming off a rocky peak with a sheep on my back.

Here are some guidelines:

Not insulated
Not waterproof
fairly stiff
tough
as light as possible
8" plus height

The only one I have seen is the Kenetrek desert guide. It fits all these but I really don't want to go with kenetrek (I have my reasons). Last winter I got a set of Tech lites and custom foot beds from L&S and they are close to perfect but after breaking in they just don't fit anymore and with the GTX liner don't breathe nearly enough to keep up with my super sweaty feet. I'd like a little more height if possible to fend off thorns but not a deal breaker.

So essentially I'd love to find some options that would be like a Lowa Tech Lite but 2" taller and non GTX. Brand doesn't matter right now I would just love to hear the available models and try to select one to see if it fits.

Help me find something to conquer this for days on end!

 

[Jason Snyder]

Lowa Baffin Pro.

 

[elkguide]

Cabelas Meindl lightweights.

 

[Jmock97]

Lowa z8s

 

[IChaseCoues]

The baffin pro and Tibet LL have me curious! Can anyone post experiences with either? Do they have the same foot shape as the Cevedale?

 

[IChaseCoues]

Those z8s look pretty good too but are they tougher than typical tactical boots? I have worn a few "tactical" boots out way before they should have died. I would like to have a full rubber rand to fend off rocks stickers and rattlers

 

[PNWGATOR]

Find a pair of the sneaker style, lightweight models that fit. Those are my old stomping grounds and I found the stiffer soles of mountaineering boots much too noisy for archery.
Another option may be a custom made pair of Russells. Lots of guys love them and some are less than impressed.

 

[elkguide]

The combination of a stiff sole and a quiet sole is hard to come by.
Many of the "hiker" style sneakers are great if they give you enough support.

 

[Jason Snyder]

The baffin pro and Tibet LL have me curious! Can anyone post experiences with either? Do they have the same foot shape as the Cevedale?

I wore the Baffin Pros for about 7 years. They are very solid boots, very stiff. The leather liner is awesome for warm weather, very comfy.

I don't know how the Tibet and the Baffin compare in terms if stiffness, etc. Good question for Lowa. I've never worn the Cevedales so I can't speak to foot shape comparison.

I had a pair of Russell Moccasins. Nice boots, but they aren't for me. They are really comfy, but I'd didn't find them overly supportive and thought they were kind of overpriced. Some folks love 'em, so maybe I'm all wet.

From what I've seen of Arizona, I think I would want a full on leather boot that could withstand the cactus and rocks.

 

[IChaseCoues]

Thanks for the input guys.

It looks like I need to find a place to try the baffin and Tibet. Maybe my next trip to Denver should need to be sooner than expected to try some on.
The country I'm talking about eats soft shoes alive. My wildland boots are about as light weight as I want to go. Buddies and i have shredded the sneaker type in one hunt!
Those lowa tech lites are about the right stiffness but the just weren't the right boot for my warmer rocky hunts. For colder or wet hunts the Zamberlan 1012's work well and I've got other choices for hunts like an archery elk hunt. These boots will spend most of their time chasing Barbary sheep, ibex and coues with a rifle. So heavy duty is a big must.

Anybody else have other recommendations? It doesn't look like scarpa or salewa or zamberlan have an uninsulated non waterproof boot. Bummer!

 

[n2horns]

I'm in Arizona and wear Lowa Tibet and also the Salomon gtx. I wear both in mountains and desert. The salomons are lite and like them for archery stalking. The Lowa are comfy to wear to work too.