Haul Rd Boots

[Gooden123]

I know...there are a lot of great threads on this topic and I have read a lot of them. But...

Trip is the last 10 days of this month. I have a pair of Crispi Hunter GTX (and Kuiu Kutana gaiters) for my primary boot. What would you all suggest for a secondary pair of boots if your intention was to do the death march with a packraft (Alpacka Mule) and already have added weight (<10 lbs between the raft and paddle). Or would you think the Crispi's, just broke in and conditioned, will be fine?

I'm willing to buy new but would rather them be under $250. I hike 30+ miles/week plus can wear them to work for break in on a time crunch.

Or...I already have a pretty new pair of Solomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX. I'm thinking they won't do much good.

FWIW I'll also be bringing Dryft breathable waist waders and Croc All-terrains that the stocking feet fit in. I probably won't pack the waders in but I ordered the access bag for my Sky Archer 6400 to give me anothet 900 cu in. If it even works with a bow strapped under it...All of my other gear/clothing is super light but weight and space is still going to potentially be an issue. (I won't be carrying a rifle too, just a Lift X compound).

 

[jamesb2h]

Last year I was the only guy in our group wearing Chota Tundra Hippies and wading boots. I was also the only one with dry feet.

 

[FranklinBluth]

My newly broke in Crispi's (Nevada) made it 3-4 days before the moisture made it all the way through back in 2022. This question will depend a lot on how wet the tundra is where you're walking, how wet the weather is, and if you get any drying when you're not wearing them at night.

In 2022 we had really wet tundra, wet weather, and cool temps. Boots just stayed wet 24/7. In 2023 it was the opposite (dry weather and better tundra) and my feet never got wet. Had dry boots every morning.

I wear muck boots around camp once we're done hiking. I wouldn't hike miles and miles in them across the tundra but your personal preference might be different.

 

[Larry Bartlett]

I'd strongly advise leaving those crocs at the store. They wont survive the trip if you plan to walk over tundra with them.

Gaiters are marginally useful but better than just boots. My experience up there taught me to bring 2 pair of wool socks per day so there is never a chance I have stay in wet socks. Goretex socks work well in most hiking boots if they have the room for extra sock thickness. Otherwise best to just roll with wool and stay on top of feet condition.

Many smart ol timers still use ankle-fit water boots (LaCrosse type). Bout the only way to keep 'em dry unless you're in the hillcountry.

 

[Gooden123]

I'd strongly advise leaving those crocs at the store. They wont survive the trip if you plan to walk over tundra with them.

Gaiters are marginally useful but better than just boots. My experience up there taught me to bring 2 pair of wool socks per day so there is never a chance I have stay in wet socks. Goretex socks work well in most hiking boots if they have the room for extra sock thickness. Otherwise best to just roll with wool and stay on top of feet condition.

Many smart ol timers still use ankle-fit water boots (LaCrosse type). Bout the only way to keep 'em dry unless you're in the hillcountry.

Larry,

Thank you for taking the time to reply. You're the man that would know and I will heed your advice!

When you say 'ankle fit', do you mean these? Or rubber ankle high boots? Like Xtratuf...I have plenty of pairs of both and was thinking of packing my lightest pair for messing around fishing if nothing else

 

[Larry Bartlett]

Just pointing out LaCrosse because they fit my foot and ankle well. If i'm being honest, i'm most often either wearing SIMMS waders and boots or on very rare occasions my Asolo hikers. The only time I would wear straight hikers is if my starting point is dry and i'm hunting higher dryer terrain. Even tundra that looks dry will wet your pants at the knees. If i had to choose between gaters/hikers and ankle-fits...

It may not be practical to wear waders at your tundra destination, so i mentioned the ankle-fit for a general swampy expectation off the haul road or thereabouts on the North slope.

 

[yfarm]

Chota appears to no longer the sell the knee high or thigh high socks. There are several companies that sell stocking foot hip boots, Simms no longer does. NRS sells a neoprene version of the chota knee high but slimmer fit.