Who’s hard on boots!

[Lwing]

Hi there,
Another boot recommendation thread, but I need advice only from guys that are very hard on boots, 7 days a week, wet, and hard abuse only,
I’ve been wearing Meindle for close to 15 years, used to get 300 days out of a pair, this has gradually been declining to now I’m lucky if I get a 100 days before they blow apart, and with lack of good cobblers around this isn’t working $$$, I’m actually embarrassed I used to recommend these so highly
I tried a pair of Hoffman, wore them for one day and they had no stability or support, definitely not a rough terrain boot, not a chance I could wear them a second day,
Looking for a stiff sole, good ankle support, hard wearing boot, not interested in recommendations from fanboys, I’ve done that and been fooled, lol
If your hard on boots and have experienced the disappointment from numerous boots, I’d like to hear your recommendation, not seasonal owners or weekenders, but from guys who grind in there boots daily and have had success in good support and longevity,
I’d realistically like to get 250 days out of a pair of boots,
Thinking of trying the Scarpa Grand Dru,
Any other recommendations, I’d be interested
Thanks

 

[pa.forester]

I was a wildland firefighter for a few years, & got used to PNW boots (Nicks, Whites, & JK). My feet still get wet in them though…but they hold up much better than my Kenetreks. In the summer & spring, I deal with the wet feet, & run PNW boots. On the cold wet fall and winter, I run the Kenetreks.

 

[norcalkh]

I hear you on the Meindls, my latest pair has been a bit lackluster from what they were. I can't speak to them myself, but worked with very respectable timber faller that wore Haix boots. May be worth a try. I wear Whites mostly, but get little more than a calendar year out of them between rebuilds, and I wear my Meindl's and pac boots in the winter months.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I was a wildland firefighter for a few years, & got used to PNW boots (Nicks, Whites, & JK). My feet still get wet in them though…but they hold up much better than my Kenetreks. In the summer & spring, I deal with the wet feet, & run PNW boots. On the cold wet fall and winter, I run the Kenetreks.

I still have my whites from when I did wild last many years ago. I still bust them out when chopping wood or doing other heavy yard projects.

 

[SixteenG]

I’m not the guy you’re looking for recommendations from because I’m not 7 days a week, wet, and hard abuse only. However, I for some reason also eat through boots so I’ll be curious what other people say. My first year of college I destroyed two pairs of Meindls shed hunting. The following year I fell for marketing and tried Crispis. They were the worst boot I’ve tried. My work boots are Haix and they don’t last long either. I did wear a cheap Georgia boot one year that was crazy comfy that I bought a second pair to pheasant hunt with. They didn’t make it a season. Then I tried the high top trail runners for hiking and hated them. Currently I’m wearing Schnees and they’re the best I’ve experienced.

 

[Wrench]

Scarpa!

 

[Maverick1]

?
Who's hard on boots?
Who is hard, on boots?
Who's hard on, boots?
Whose hard on, boots?

 

[TheGDog]

Definitely not a day-in, day-out all year kinda BUT...

Meh.. I often just end-up getting some Salomon's because that's about the only thing doable for hunting which I can find locally at nearest REI shop. And they fit amazing from day one.

While I'm sidelined, I've kinda been breaking-in some other brands pairs of hunting boots.

Just with the goal of trying them on, and experiencing them in the field, BECAUSE you wanna make darn well sure

BUT... somehow I think their manufacturing has likely gone downhill.

This area I got my first deer at, at 45yo. The first mile? I'm climbing-up all kindsa sharp square-edged stones cracking off from the water rut which formed via rainwater down along the trail-lines

First pair lasted me 3 years.

Next 2 pairs of Salomon's after that? WAY too rapidly the the outer-edge down by the heel ended up getting compromised. ripped-off, on all those sharp rocks caught in the trails leftover groove-line that water travels thru there, when it occasionally rains.

 

[brancher147]

I am not hard on boots. I hike and scout and hunt a lot in steep very rocky conditions but mostly dry and I take care of my boots. I have tried a lot of brands and keep going back to Kenetrek mt extreme or mt guide. My current pair of mt guide is probably 3 years old and still in great shape, granted I don’t wear them every day but when I do wear them they get used to the extreme. They are sometimes more boot than you need but they are never not enough. That’s my opinion anyway