Boots!

[Coveyleader]

I've been wearing the same brand boots for 20 years (Vasque), they just fit me like a glove, and are under me dang near year around. I want to stress I don't treat them nicely. More times than not they're soaked and getting walked dry. Question for guys with the next level up type boots, what type of life are you getting out of them? Average cost?

I figure over the years I have $1,500 worth of busted boots (a pile in the garage) and I was curious what you guys are getting?

 

[One-shot]

Kennetrek

 

[Kylerjay05]

I've run Danners (full leather recraftable), crispi, Asolo, Zamberlan, Scarpa, and Schnees. I will say that in 99% of instances,I prefer a full leather boot for toughness and longevity. I also am religious about leather care, so I'm going to get more life than the average Joe. That said, my crispis are in their 5th or 6th season of elk, deer, and turkey hunting. Probably 15-20 days a year. They are in great shape. The asolo were the only synthetic of the bunch and they held up to serious abuse for 2 full years of working in the woods all year long before stitching started to go. I probably logged 800 or more miles on those boots. The Danners held up pretty decent but I'd say are at the bottom of my list for quality and lifespan for a leather boot. The zamberlan didn't fit my feet well so I sold them after only a few miles, but they are very well made and I would purchase again in a more appropriate size. Lastly, the schnees are getting their maiden voyage this fall so no report yet, but they seem very well made. Costs are as follows but if you shop the sales, you'll get far better prices.
Danner elk hunter- $300,
Asolo mountaineering boot -$450
Zamberlan expert index -$450
SCARPA Gran Dru - $450-500
Crispi Nevada legend - $400
Schnees Beartooth - $450

 

[Poser]

For the next level up, in addition to leather care, you should get them proactively resoled depending on the mileage and wear. I had a pair of Zamberlains recently last me 6 years with 3 resoles. I easily scout 40-50 days a year + 3 hunting trips. “By the book”, manufactures will tell you to resole every ~800 miles. That seems pretty conservative to me and would definitely be an annual thing, not every 2 years.

 

[Arctic Hunter]

I wear Lowa Tibet highs. I’m on my 6th season in them this year. But I don’t wear them much outside of hunting or scouting. Rubber around the toe is chewed up pretty good, so I’ll probably have to send them in for a re-sole soon. I think I paid $450 for them.

Good boots, but a bit on the heavy side. The high tops do keep me from rolling my ankles quite so much.

 

[5MilesBack]

In 2013 I found the last pair of Zamberlan Dakota 7" boots in a size 13 on Amazon after they had been discontinued. I paid $89 for $310 boots at the time. This will be year 10 for them, and will be resoled after this season. They've been the best hunting boots I've had on my feet in 40+ years of hunting. I also have the same boot in their 10" model, but haven't worn them much. And I have a pair of Crispi's that I've had since 2012. They're decent too, but insulated and heavier. I've also tried Kenetrek Extreme's, Lowa Tibet's, and a few others in the last several years. $400+ boots are a hard pill to swallow these days, as I haven't paid more than $225 for any of these other boots.

 

[Scoot]

Crispis tend to fit me great. I can usually get at least a half-dozen years outta them. That's usually only about 3 weeks of use each year though.

 

[Jimbee]

I'm wearing a pair of LaSportivas. This August will be 3 years of wearing them almost everyday for work and play. I've never had a pair of boots last so long, also original laces are going strong. They're a bit heavy, but comfortable.

 

[Customweld]

I've worn Whites Loggers since I got out of high school, damn near 30 years ago. I wore Hoffman caulks when I was working in the woods, they were good boots for the work. Last year, I bought a pair of Hoffman Explorers. They are super comfortable, but the toe crease has split already. I wear them every day and average about 9-10 miles a day while at work.

 

[hunterjmj]

I've been running the Hoffman explorer for the last 3 seasons. I imagine I'll get another 3-4. My Dad swore by Zamberlans but back then I couldn't afford them so I used Danvers (which were ok). One of my hunting partners swears by Schnees and the other Kenetrek. My next pair will be Hoffman's or Zamberlan. There are almost to many choices.

 

[Coveyleader]

I want to clarify it's not the soles wearing out, the boots themselves are just nuked. I see another pair that I use for 90 bucks online and was about to buy them but as mentioned, another two years they too will be added to the pile.

 

[WRM]

I got away from Danner when the model I used to turkey hunt went to overseas production. I couldn't get a pair thru a season then, and I tried two of them. I went to Lathrop brand boots and Naglev combat for a lot of what I do. All of them are holding up well.

 

[Kbhillhunter]

Schnees Beartooth wide toe box was still too narrow for me. lowa tibet in wide fit great. Real sturdy boot.

 

[365sportsman]

Usually up to 3 seasons of a quality all leather boot when used during archery and rifle season.

 

[LongWayAround]

I'm going into year three of a pair of Lowa rangers. I wear them almost every day. The boots are overdue for a resole but Lowa raised the price and these have begun to crack a bit so I'll just replace them.

I typically buy a new boot for hunting season about every other year. After the season it becomes a work boot and another gets rotated in.

Two years of daily wear seems about average for me.

 

[PaBone]

The only boots I will buy now is Meindl Comfort Fits. They have a wider toe box and just fit me.

 

[fatlander]

I’ve got 3 years and well over 500 miles on a pair of schnees granites. They’re still in wonderful shape for the miles they’ve got. Whenever they do wear out, I’ll get another pair.


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[flatlanderhuffandpuff]

I have been using the same pair of Crispi Wyoming for about 6 years. They are no longer mountain worthy but I do hike and wear them to work. I was hoping to get some feedback on their quality control as of late.

I was really happy with the way they fit right out of the box and would like to get some more but if I'm dropping $300+ on a pair of boots they better hold up.

 

[amassi]

I have been using the same pair of Crispi Wyoming for about 6 years. They are no longer mountain worthy but I do hike and wear them to work. I was hoping to get some feedback on their quality control as of late.

I was really happy with the way they fit right out of the box and would like to get some more but if I'm dropping $300+ on a pair of boots they better hold up.

I haven't noticed a difference I have a pair of Nevada from 2017 and a pair from February and they seem the same quity- but I don't have any experience with the 2nd gen boots they debuted this year. I'm thinking of ordering the lapponia II since my lappinias need new soles anyway

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[PVHunter]

I wear either Lowa Tibet Highs or Crispi Wyomings. Depends on what I'm up to.

I have been using the same pair of Crispi Wyoming for about 6 years. They are no longer mountain worthy but I do hike and wear them to work. I was hoping to get some feedback on their quality control as of late.

I was really happy with the way they fit right out of the box and would like to get some more but if I'm dropping $300+ on a pair of boots they better hold up.

I was really pleased by the fit and finish out of the box. I don't have many miles yet, but I'm happy so far.