Favorite Boot?

[nubbin]

I have a pair of Cabelas brand Meindl lite hunters i believe. Bought them in 2017 and have put a bunch of miles on them hunting whitetail, Turkey, mule deer, and elk. They’re starting to lose ankle support, or my ankles are getting weaker. They’re still comfortable and waterproof though. I also bought a pair of Salewa alp mates last spring before going to Colorado with the family. Those boots weigh next to nothing and are stiff enough to handle the steep ridges here in Arkansas, my only complaint is that they didn’t stay waterproof long. They keep feet dry on creek crossings, but wet grass or a soaking rain will seep through.

 

[jstanton007]

Schnee Timberline or if you want a slightly stiffer sole the Beartooth. I have them both and love them! I also run sheepfeet insoles in both. They are good without the sheepfeet but great with them!

 

[eLightfoot]

Been a long time Solomon quest guy. Been trying to find a better boot for a while. Hanwags just don’t fit me right, way too narrow in the toe box. Got some Lowa Camino Evos a while back and really like them. Fit good right out the gate. Super sturdy, good lacing system and just the right height. Just ordered a second pair, midwayusa has them on sale for $160

 

[timberbuck]

I've been through a journey myself looking for the perfect hunting boot for everything besides super cold late season hunts. I have a pretty normal volume foot with medium to high arches, standard width. Salomon Quest models are great but not multi season durable and not waterproof for very long, Same can be said for something like a Merrill moab mid GTX but the plus side is they work out of the box and do not need aftermarket insoles. Not a bad investment if you get them on sale. I have a pair of Crispi Nevada non insulated and had to experiment finding a better insole with more cushion and arch support, in factory form the bottom of my feet would be burning after only 3 miles in (yes, they are broken in) same goes for my late season Crispi Wild Rock.. I have them dialed in now with the addition of Superfeet hike and hike extra cushion model insoles. The Nevadas are durable, stiff and very waterproof with good ankle support but also heavy. I searched for a lighter slightly less stiff boot with a softer midsole with increased durability over the Salomon Quest, yet still retaining good ankle support. I believe I have found it in the Zamberlan Baltoro Lite. Bonus no aftermarket insoles were needed as the boot has built in arch support and comes with great cushion insoles like the Salomons. The Baltoro uses Zamberlans backpacking last that really hugs the heel. They are awesome so far. Will have to see on the long term durability but I don't expect them to last as long as an all leather boot and that is an acceptable trade off for me.

 

[Szwampdonkey]

I’d stay away from stiff mt boots if you don’t often hunt where they’re needed. If you’re primarily whitetail stick with comfort.

My last two pairs of stiff boots were Crispi Nevadas and Crispi Valtres, never again. It took me awhile to realize my feet were WAY more comfortable in a boot more akin to a trail runner. Stiff Mt Boots are often not worth the extra effort, weight, and money in trying to find the right insole that actually makes them tolerable.

I’d get another pair of UA and wear em out cause if you find those comfortable you’ll despise a stiff my boot imo.

 

[Cheddar]

Looking for boot suggestions. I'm 6 3" 200lbs with high arches. I currently am using the UA boot but rubber is starting to come unglued after 4 years, the boots are pretty comfy. Any suggestions? I'm in the gulf coast of Texas hunting WT and Nilgai but I try to get out West to Idaho or New Mexico once a year and so that's my hardest use case there. Was thinking about the Kennetrek hardscrabble hiker or Crispi Shimek. I know I need to try some on before buying but just wanted to know what others like as a reference.

kennetrek mountain extreme

 

[wildnessranger]

That's right '' everyone has a favorite brand''. If you still want to try another rubber hunting boots. Try the new one - Kalkal hunting boots''. They are comfortable and cheaper. You can buy them on Amazon with discounts most of the time.

 

[LargeFarva]

I've been through a few brands but Meindls fit better than any boot or other shoe I've ever worn. A few people on this thread seem to agree, but they aren't as popular as I think they should be.

They do run a hair large, and maybe a hair wide, but they disclose this on their website. I have a pair of Cabelas/Meindls from 2017 that I still wear regularly. Just yesterday, I had 5 new pair delivered and trying to figure out which I like most. All of them fit great. These models are ComfortFit (standard and wide), Eurolight, Vakuum Hunter, Alpine Pro. Leaning towards the Alpine Pro.

I hated my Crispis (stubbornly tried to like them since they're the 6.5CM of RS). Kenetreks didn't fit right (returned), Asolo's were too tight, Salomon Quests were decent, but leaked.