gostovp
WKR
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2022
- Messages
- 768
Trying to decide on which boot to start my hunt with (MT General Tag, public land...you know the drill and likely terrain...our plan is to spike in a couple miles and hunt from the spike and follow the herd if needed, so its gonna be several miles each day....).
Like many newb's from the midwest I was told I needed a stiff leather boot for western hunting, so I started with a pair of Hanwag Alaskans (still have, still in good shape, and they are well broken in). I do like the boot but dang they are heavy (size 11.5 Wide/45 EU comes in at 4.25 lbs for the pair)...and it sure seems like when I hunted with them in the past by day 4 or 5 they take a toll on me (just seem to get heavier and heavier...)
Last year I hunted in Schnees Kestrels, which I did like but they leaked like a sieve....Schnee's replaced with a pair of Timberlines per their recommendation. Even though I kinda wish I would have gotten Kestrels again, the Timberlines are decent and seem to fit well. I've hiked in them several times with my K4 loaded with over 50 lbs and no blisters or anything. But again, they are somewhat heavy at 32 oz per boot (right at 4 lbs for the pair size 11.5 Wide/45EU )....
I was at Scheels the other day and was trying on boots...was able to pickup a pair of Salomon Quest Elements for a good price (Size 11 / 45 EU). They sure seem to be comfortable and holy crap are they light (21.5 oz per boot per my scale, 2.7 lbs per pair). Stiffness seems comparable to the Timberlines honestly. I haven't hiked with them yet, just in the house and with the pack on in the house....
I know the drill with the Salomons....waterproofing likely won't last, they aren't the most durable (likely a one season boot), and non of my aftermarket insoles fit well in them (they have way more of a built in arch)..but they are like 10 OUNCES LIGTHER per boot than the Timberlines, they are synthetic so they should breath and dry faster (I have soaked out my HanWags before and man did that royally suck to get them dry again without a dryer)....on the other hand the Timberline is a way better built boot, has a bit more overall support, and likely will be more waterproof for longer and will take my insoles.....
So, Quest Element or Timberline? Your thoughts? Is the 10 oz weight saving per boot a better trade off than the higher quality and a bit better support than the Timberlines?
Like many newb's from the midwest I was told I needed a stiff leather boot for western hunting, so I started with a pair of Hanwag Alaskans (still have, still in good shape, and they are well broken in). I do like the boot but dang they are heavy (size 11.5 Wide/45 EU comes in at 4.25 lbs for the pair)...and it sure seems like when I hunted with them in the past by day 4 or 5 they take a toll on me (just seem to get heavier and heavier...)
Last year I hunted in Schnees Kestrels, which I did like but they leaked like a sieve....Schnee's replaced with a pair of Timberlines per their recommendation. Even though I kinda wish I would have gotten Kestrels again, the Timberlines are decent and seem to fit well. I've hiked in them several times with my K4 loaded with over 50 lbs and no blisters or anything. But again, they are somewhat heavy at 32 oz per boot (right at 4 lbs for the pair size 11.5 Wide/45EU )....
I was at Scheels the other day and was trying on boots...was able to pickup a pair of Salomon Quest Elements for a good price (Size 11 / 45 EU). They sure seem to be comfortable and holy crap are they light (21.5 oz per boot per my scale, 2.7 lbs per pair). Stiffness seems comparable to the Timberlines honestly. I haven't hiked with them yet, just in the house and with the pack on in the house....
I know the drill with the Salomons....waterproofing likely won't last, they aren't the most durable (likely a one season boot), and non of my aftermarket insoles fit well in them (they have way more of a built in arch)..but they are like 10 OUNCES LIGTHER per boot than the Timberlines, they are synthetic so they should breath and dry faster (I have soaked out my HanWags before and man did that royally suck to get them dry again without a dryer)....on the other hand the Timberline is a way better built boot, has a bit more overall support, and likely will be more waterproof for longer and will take my insoles.....
So, Quest Element or Timberline? Your thoughts? Is the 10 oz weight saving per boot a better trade off than the higher quality and a bit better support than the Timberlines?
