Tough boot with soft tread?

[Blowdowner]

Edit: I still need help with this. La sportiva aequilibrium is a bit too heavy and I don't need goretex but it is not a deal breaker.

What do you guys think about a stiff shank boot with an outer sole that's fairly gummy or squishy. Unless someone had a serious heck no experience I'm hoping to buy one, so recommendations appreciated.

 

[Wolfshead]

I’ve had a pair for 12 years

Men's Maine Hunting Shoes, 10"

Find the best Men's Maine Hunting Shoes, 10" at L.L.Bean. Our high quality Men's Boots are thoughtfully designed and built to last season after season.

www.llbean.com

 

[rtrevith]

La Sportiva Ultra Raptor Mid has been my go-to for several years. I really like the softness/grip of the outsole and light weight. That being said, the water proofing has given up the ghost about a year in on my last 3 pairs.

 

[Macintosh]

Two CRAZY different options provided above, both might be good depending on what you are trying to accomplish, but its obviously not clear what you are after. You said “Stiff shank”, is that for crampons? Are you looking for a light mountaineering boot with a sticky rubber sole for rock climbing? If so, sticky does not necessarily equal soft. Too soft and when you put weight on an edge it will deform out from under you. But a lightweight mountaineering boot designed for technical climbing will have a pretty sticky rubber sole that will grip rock better than most hiking boots. La sportiva trango tech or aequilibrium, or scarpa, etc will have good options. Really need more info to give a targeted recommendation though…use, season, etc…you now have a recommendation for a mud boot, a light hiker and a tech mountaineering boot.

 

[TaperPin]

Carpenters often like crepe soles since they are somewhat grippy, at least better than hard black vibrams.



I also tried honey vibrams on a pair of Whites (this pic is a similar pair of Nicks) but they don’t wear well at all.



It seems there are some hiking boots designed with minor weekend bouldering in mind. Essentially a hiking boot with stickier sole that wraps around the edges of the sole, but they aren’t what I’d call stiff.

 

[Blowdowner]

Interesting ideas.

Two CRAZY different options provided above, both might be good depending on what you are trying to accomplish, but its obviously not clear what you are after. You said “Stiff shank”, is that for crampons? Are you looking for a light mountaineering boot with a sticky rubber sole for rock climbing? If so, sticky does not necessarily equal soft. Too soft and when you put weight on an edge it will deform out from under you. But a lightweight mountaineering boot designed for technical climbing will have a pretty sticky rubber sole that will grip rock better than most hiking boots. La sportiva trango tech or aequilibrium, or scarpa, etc will have good options.

It's a Scarpa zodiac I'm using right now. I seems like the sole would last a thousand miles. I wish i could sacrifice some of that durability for more squish when, for example, walking down a staircase-like rock vein or dry creek where the "stairs" are often jagged or domed and i don't get enough contact because the tread has zero give.
What you're saying about the edge deforming is not what I want because I love a hard edge for side-hilling. I'd like the center to deform around odd shaped rock. But at the same time i don't want to feel that rock through to my bare foot inside.

 

[Macintosh]

You are referring more to the stiffness of the sole, than the stiffness of the rubber. Does not exist that Im aware of. You either get a stiff sole which by definition does not conform to irregularities, or you get a soft sole which conforms more to irregularities but which will necessarily not provide the hard edge for side hilling. If one of the extremes isnt for you, then the best you can hope for is a compromise somewhere in the middle. Sounds like you just need to try a light hiker with a softer sole.

 

[IBen]

la sportiva aequillibrium. Is exactly what you’re looking for but I dont really like them because of the rocker. If they were flatter they might be my favorite. But the stiffness will help your feet fr fatiguing but they are not stiff enough to give you an advantage climbing like the trango towers

 

[IBen]

Actually its the softness of the mid sole why i dont like them. On soft ground (alaska, skree and tundra) i want hard and stiff on hard rock I want approach shoes. I personally carry two footwear on all my hunts

 

[Blowdowner]

Actually its the softness of the mid sole why i dont like them. On soft ground (alaska, skree and tundra) i want hard and stiff on hard rock I want approach shoes. I personally carry two footwear on all my hunts

Yeah i was going to say i need a transformer shoe.

 

[Blowdowner]

Any other ideas? Maybe something lighter than the la sportive aequelibrium?

 

[Blowdowner]

I still need help with this. La sportiva aequilibrium is a bit too heavy and I don't need goretex but it is not a deal breaker.

 

[Tman24]

I still need help with this. La sportiva aequilibrium is a bit too heavy and I don't need goretex but it is not a deal breaker.

Have you tried Kenetrek’s?
Their K talon sole is really soft rubber and the boots are tough. I actually don’t like the K talon because it’s soft. I burned through my Hard scrabble hikers sole in less than a year of daily wear.

 

[E.Shell]

I’ve had a pair for 12 years

Men's Maine Hunting Shoes, 10"

Find the best Men's Maine Hunting Shoes, 10" at L.L.Bean. Our high quality Men's Boots are thoughtfully designed and built to last season after season.

www.llbean.com

I have used two versions of these in the past; a couple pair of low tops for farm/yard stuff and one pair of insulated 10" boots to hunt.

Quiet to walk in and decent in the woods if things aren't too steep, but that tread is treacherous on a smooth floor like linoleum or polished concrete. That 'chain' pattern traps water and causes it to slide like it's lubed. The low tops almost killed me a couple times after walking through wet grass and then onto the kitchen tile floor. I used to be pretty agile and could catch myself, but I'm getting old and brittle and avoid them these days.

 

[fngTony]

I still need help with this. La sportiva aequilibrium is a bit too heavy and I don't need goretex but it is not a deal breaker.

They make a “trek” and “hike” version that look lighter while retaining the tread design.

 

[Blowdowner]

Have you tried Kenetrek’s?
Their K talon sole is really soft rubber and the boots are tough. I actually don’t like the K talon because it’s soft. I burned through my Hard scrabble hikers sole in less than a year of daily wear.

This sounds promising. They're pretty expensive though.

 

[greyghostnw]

There is like 4 models of those. What version do you think is heavy? What parameters are you wanting? The hike version is crazy lite but no rear welt for semi’s if you like the fit of those thats your huckleberry 17 oz per boot

 

[Blowdowner]

There is like 4 models of those. What version do you think is heavy? What parameters are you wanting? The hike version is crazy lite but no rear welt for semi’s if you like the fit of those thats your huckleberry 17 oz per boot

Yep the hike version is looking good. Heel is a little clumsy looking but maybe epic. Is it still stiff inside? I don't want to be able to bend it by hand.

 

[greyghostnw]

Having a boot design with no bend but squishy rubber i dont think exists. Jus sayin. Clarify dosnt bend? Full shank? 3/4? Your boot design in your mind i doubt would lend well but who knows? Design it… i didn’t care for the ankle design in the la sportiva so im sticking with the scarpa ribelle hd. Wish salomon would make the x alp gtx again but with a better gore tex liner. Thats the best high country boot for my liking. Stiff tortionally to sidehill for miles yet flex and feel like a pillow on various terrain but climb like they belong and lead the way also edge well and move fast yet light. I try many boots each year and yet to find better. Good luck let us know what you find.

 

[greyghostnw]

The boot id like a version 2.0 of to have updated less stitching and better tongue with a better gore tex liner but mimic its capabilities