How many miles on a pair of boots?

[PathFinder]

How many miles are guys getting out of their boots? If you would, share what they are and what you tend to put them through (weight, miles per year, etc). I kill off cheap boots (pronghorns, etc) every 6 mos or so. I bought some Danner Mountain Assaults and they made it 310 really nasty miles. My hiking is about 50/50 shed hunting and hunting. The shed hunting is definitely harder on them; lots of sandstone, ledges, and ugly country. Weights ranging from 10 lbs hiking in to 80 coming out. Only did one heavy pack out while hunting, but they did over 100 miles of backpack hunts with gear etc. They were super stiff, but handled loads really well. I ended up wearing right through the rubber in the toe from uphilling in sandstone and shale. My current boots are Hanwag Alaska GTX. Although they are far more comfortable than the Mountain Assaults, they aren't nearly as durable. They haven't even been on a shed trip yet and don't have much more than 100 miles on them. They have done loads ranging from 40 lbs hiking in to 90ish coming out in some pretty bad country. The soles are wearing down and chunking out badly, and they've already separated and started coming apart at the toe. Does anyone make a boot that will go longer? I take very good care of the leather but the construction of the soles and toes of my Hanwags has me wondering if any of the similar high end boots will be any better. I average over 300 miles per year easy, and my boots get worn almost every weekend Feb-May and Aug-Nov. Price isn't an issue if the performance is worth it.

 

[justinspicher]

Man you tear up some boots. I've had my Meindl Denali boots for four years now with no issues. I used them for three years in Washington state all year for hunting and camping. Over the last two years I've used them for hunting in Montana. I walked three nights a week from October to September for five miles. Then did another 117 miles in September. They are a $300 boot, but worth every penny to me. Solid construction and didn't take forever to break in.

 

[DoubleDown]

I would say you pay 1$ a mile when you buy boots. My Irish Setter go about 2 years (~150mi) in WA state hunting.

 

[5MilesBack]

This hunting season is the first year where I turned my GPS on when I started hiking and then turned it off at the end of the day. Went through some batteries this year for the first time. So according to the GPS I covered about 210 miles in 20 days of hunting the archery season. Heavy CO mountain hunting between 9500 and 12k feet.

My Zamberlan Dakota's look the same as when I started the season, almost like new. This was the first year where I haven't switched out boots every other day or so. It was so dry this year I really didn't need to. I will expect these boots to do several more similar seasons unless the stitching or something starts to deteriorate.

I'm 6'6"/212lbs, at least at the start of the season.

I also have a pair of Rocky Lynx boots that have gone through 10 seasons, and while the uppers are just about toast......the soles amazingly look like new. I always feel like I got some new experimental material soles.

 

[PathFinder]

I'm looking at some of the hard core mountaineering boots right now. Something like the Lowa Mountain Expert GTX Evo. It's a lot of boot but it might hold up.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

This hunting season is the first year where I turned my GPS on when I started hiking and then turned it off at the end of the day. Went through some batteries this year for the first time. So according to the GPS I covered about 210 miles in 20 days of hunting the archery season. Heavy CO mountain hunting between 9500 and 12k feet.

My Zamberlan Dakota's look the same as when I started the season, almost like new. This was the first year where I haven't switched out boots every other day or so. It was so dry this year I really didn't need to. I will expect these boots to do several more similar seasons unless the stitching or something starts to deteriorate.

I'm 6'6"/212lbs, at least at the start of the season.

I also have a pair of Rocky Lynx boots that have gone through 10 seasons, and while the uppers are just about toast......the soles amazingly look like new. I always feel like I got some new experimental material soles.

Bowing to the boot leather stud!

 

[PathFinder]

Lol that's funny. I really have no idea why my boots die so fast. My hunting partner is in the same boat. He bought a pair of zamberlans in March and they don't have a ton of life left either. My hanwags look pretty new other than the soles chunking out and the toes separating. The uppers are fine.

 

[Josh Wright]

I've been through 2 seasons with Zamberlans and have close to 500 miles on them counting all outdoor activities. They are getting worn but I think I can get another year or so.

 

[Shrek]

My Zamberlans are doing well so far and are easily resoled. Sella NW 1030's. Not as much ankle support as I'd like but the soles are solid. Very comfortable. I'm interested to see how they look after I clean them up and treat them in a couple weeks.

 

[Josh Wright]

My Zamberlans are doing well so far and are easily resoled. Sella NW 1030's. Not as much ankle support as I'd like but the soles are solid. Very comfortable. I'm interested to see how they look after I clean them up and treat them in a couple weeks.

I just dropped mine off to a leather shop to get some minor repairs. That may extend them longer.

 

[5MilesBack]

If you hunt in rocky terrain they aren't going to last very long. Big difference between rocks taking chunks out of the soles and sneaking up soft lush green valleys, or pine needle covered timber terrain.

If and when I draw my sheep tag, I'll use a dedicated pair for just that. I love my current Zamberlans and they have been discontinued so don't want to ruin them on a rock hunt. Figures they'd discontinue them though........because they are my favorite. Happens to everything I like.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Yeah, once you get above the treeline everything changes. That's when you need a tough European boot with a big rand.

 

[WRO]

Man you tear up some boots. I've had my Meindl Denali boots for four years now with no issues. I used them for three years in Washington state all year for hunting and camping. Over the last two years I've used them for hunting in Montana. I walked three nights a week from October to September for five miles. Then did another 117 miles in September. They are a $300 boot, but worth every penny to me. Solid construction and didn't take forever to break in.

I have a set of perfekt hunters with 500 miles on them, they're still holding up okay.