What brand and model of boots have stayed waterproof in wet grass and conditions?

[lifeisgoodsteve]

Hi All,

Assuming you wore gaiters, what's your actual experience of a brand and model of boot staying waterproof in long hours hiking through wet grass and conditions?

- Lowa Tibets - When I wore these big heavy guys a number of years ago, I don't recall getting wetted out feet. After a couple years I did apply snoseal to be safe.

- Lowa Caminos - Have only seen hunting in the snow, but not the wet grass conditions. They did stay dry in the sno, when my Scarpa Mescalito's had wetted out. They're a few years old, so I did snoseal them before last year's snow hunt.

- Scarpa Mescalito Trk GTX - Wetted out to the point of having water squish out at toe flex point, before and after using snoseal.

Thx

 

[voltage]

You are correct to mention wearing gaiters as I think many people have moisture come down the pant/sock and blame the boot. Also, I think a lot of people sweat in their boot and don't realize the moisture is from sweat.

I have been happy with my Schnees Beartooths, but I have taken great care of them (conditioning, cleaning, etc). I have had bad experiences with Crispis and water.

 

[Wheels]

Crispi Valdres and Guides have worked for me with gaiters, but I do keep them conditioned for waterproofing.
My Crispi Summits which are not full leather start to take on moisture after awhile, even when conditioned.

 

[sodaksooner]

My Crispi Altitudes have been good for a couple of years. I have not had to wear gaiters with them yet as the hunts I have used them on have been high altitude dry ones. I have worn them in a few really wet TAC events and they have held up well. I did finally use the crispi leather conditioning stuff on them last month as well. This is my first pair of "premium" boots and I have been pretty impressed. I will not vouch for the couple of pairs of Salomons I have had. They seem to last about 1 season.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Timberlines...mine are now 5 years old have over 400 miles on them and still don't leak...gonna have to think about new bottoms soon.
They are cleaned, condition, and sealed 2x a year.

 

[Dryfly1]

X2 on the Crispi. I have Valdres and Nevada. I do keep them clean and conditioned

2Gbl

 

[dtrkyman]

Asolo 520s

 

[1000yards]

This is not going to sound believable, but I have a pair of 7-year-old leather and nylon Chippewa snake boots that have never leaked and I walk through a swamp with them several times a month. I don't even think they were designed to be waterproof.

 

[wapitibob]

They all leak unless the btm half is rubber. None of these lasted more than a few minutes once water touched them. I didn't bother taking pictures of the Danner garbage that I started with, 4 pairs leaked and they finally quit replacing them.






1st pair


2nd pair


these haven't leaked, so far

 

[madcalfe]

kenntrek mountain extremes. i never had a single wet foot in the 5 years i used them.
I switched to Crispi briksdal mtn sf last year to try and got wet the first day after creek crossings and the rand started peeling after 3 days

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

They all leak unless the btm half is rubber. None of these lasted more than a few minutes once water touched them
View attachment 1077840
View attachment 1077841
View attachment 1077842
View attachment 1077843
View attachment 1077844

1st pair
View attachment 1077845

2nd pair
View attachment 1077848

these haven't leaked, so far
View attachment 1077850

Do you condition and snoseal/nixwax them? Those look rough...

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

I condition and nixwax my Schnee's Timberlines anytime the leather starts to look dried out. 2-3 times a year or so. And I'll nixwax them before a hunt if I know it's gonna be wet. Like this one last October. Three days of walking through wet grass off trail. No leaks.

 

[wapitibob]

Do you condition and snoseal/nixwax them? Those look rough...

yeeeuup, although it kind of defeats the purpose and claims of gore-tex
nylon mesh on the Lowa and Salomons will never be water proof

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

yeeeuup, although it kind of defeats the purpose and claims of gore-tex
nylon mesh on the Lowa and Salomons will never be water proof

Oh yeah, I was looking at the leather & rand boots mainly.

 

[wapitibob]

I condition and nixwax my Schnee's Timberlines anytime the leather starts to look dried out. 2-3 times a year or so. And I'll nixwax them before a hunt if I know it's gonna be wet. Like this one last October. Three days of walking through wet grass off trail. No leaks.

I have friends that get that kind of result but they all have smaller feet. I wear 13, they're in the 10 range. No idea if it matters but that's the only difference. Hunt partner (size 10 maybe) has never had wet feet. I started sending leaking boots back before my oldest was born, she's 36.

 

[lifeisgoodsteve]

I'm starting to wonder if the old school smooth leather is much more waterproof than the nubuck, especially if are treating it with snoseal or similar.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Been beyond happy with my hanawag yukons.

 

[BigredRusch]

Crispi Valdres were waterproof for about the first 150 miles. First couple trips in them were in spring slush and mud trail conditions and I was amazed at my feet staying totally dry.

Eventually they started to wet after a day of wet brush. I think it’s related to how they fit my feet. Over the years my feet over stretched them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[roosiebull]

The longest I’ve got out of boots staying dry on the coast is crispi lapponia, I’m hoping the next pair is the same