Sturdy boots without Gore-tex

TheCoyote

FNG
Joined
Feb 28, 2021
Messages
97
Howdy Rokslide!

I live in AZ and I am hiking in warm to hot temps often. My current boots are Lowa Baldo GTX which I love except for the fact that they are too hot! It is dry as a bone here, I do not need Gore-tex, I want something more breathable. I am looking for some advice on good sturdy boots without any type of waterproof liner. i.e. Gore-tex or similar.
I am carrying a pack on steep/ loose rock often so a somewhat sturdy sole (flex 3) would be nice. Not doing any serious mountaineering so too stiff is too stiff (flex 4,5). No sheep hunts in my future :)

I have looked at the Kennetrek Desert Guides but they are super stiff and also a real commitment at $430

Anyone have any suggestions? I was thinking about a synthetic boot that maybe keeps the price down. I looked at some military style boots but what I have found all seem to be very flexible. Too flexible.

Leather lined boots are another option but I do not know much about them....

Thank you!
 
Joined
Aug 10, 2015
Messages
2,299
I have been wearing the Lowa Baffin pro leather lined a fair amount for about a year and a half. Per Lowa, they are the same as the Tibet version.

If that is stiffer than you want, they also make a leather lined Camino and another called the Trekker, as well as several others.

I think the Camino is probably the cheapest of the three.

My experience is that the leather lined are definitely more breathable than gore-tex.
 

yfarm

WKR
Joined
Apr 24, 2018
Messages
473
Location
Arroyo City, Tx
No fabric boots in the sw desert, thorns go thru like butter
unlined all leather, stitch down construction 6-8” tall, vibram lug sole.
Chippewa, Franks, Nicks, Whites depending on your price range.
Met a young NPS packer from Big Bend last fall. Had just bought a pr of Nicks packer boots, was sending back to get a lower heel put on, tall heel was causing back pain. See a lot of noise extolling the tall heels in logger type boots to use in mountainous terrain, have never seen a mountain hunting type boot with that architecture.
 
Joined
Oct 1, 2021
Messages
44
Are Garmont wide boots on the narrow side, if that makes any sense?

I have the wide Kennetrek everstep in wides and they are great for my feet.

Looking for a similar boot as the Garmont.

Has anyone tried the Belleville hot weather boots?
 

bonepoint

FNG
Joined
Sep 19, 2019
Messages
72
I have a pair of Scarpa Active SL for early season hunts. It is the non-gore-tex version of their Kinesis. Mountain/backpacking style boot with a more narrow fit. I love them.
 

Jimss

WKR
Joined
Mar 6, 2015
Messages
2,077
There are a number of crispis that come to mind. I work in 90 degree temps all day, every day in the summer and don’t have a problem with gortex crispis.
 

Schnee's

WKR
Rokslide Sponsor
Joined
Jul 1, 2015
Messages
586
Location
Bozeman, MT
check out our Beartooth Classic. And its on sale!
 
Joined
Oct 1, 2021
Messages
44
Thank you all for your replies. I certainly do appreciate it.

Those schnees leather-lined boots look really nice. Just wondering if the wide is wide enough (lol).

Do you know when Schnees have their sales typically in the calendar year?

I live in the Southeast and during the summer it is brutally humid.

I need the 9' ankle support these provide and would love to try leather-lined boots.

I hate Goretex in the summer here.
 
Joined
Aug 10, 2015
Messages
2,299
Are Garmont wide boots on the narrow side, if that makes any sense?

I have the wide Kennetrek everstep in wides and they are great for my feet.

Looking for a similar boot as the Garmont.

Has anyone tried the Belleville hot weather boots?
I don't know about the wide specifically, but Garmont are generally somewhat narrow. The toe box specifically comes to mind.

I went half a size up in their regular width boots.
 
Joined
Apr 24, 2013
Messages
468
Location
NE Pennsylvania
check out our Beartooth Classic. And its on sale!
I just ordered a 10.5 wide. Been wanting to try out LL so see how they fit.
 
Top