Hiking shoes ... mid high types

[Forrest]

Hello all.



I'm looking at the mid high, like 4" high or so, hiking/walking boots. This is the height between "tennis shoe" type height & the "tall" ones.



I've been told ASOLO & Dunhams are good. Man there are a bunch out there.



The good brands look to be in the $110 to $160 price range. Have you found a comfortable, keep your foot in all day type? Have you found one that was in that price range that is a "keep away from"?



thanks



Forrest

 

[klenger]

Do you have an REI store nearby? If so, I think they have a good selection of stuff, and keep the junk out of their stores. I have a pair of Gortex lined over-the-ankle boots ($200) and a cheaper pair of lower cut boots ($100) that have both worked out very well.

 

[Forrest]

Yep ... sure did. Pretty small selection in our store, but you're right, good stuff.



Which brand did you buy?

 

[tractorface]

I bought Montrail hiking shoes from REI and really like them. Hiked all over the Grand Circle even did 8 miles on the West Rim Trail in Zion NP with a really heavy pack (the wifes stuff, you know ) Anyway, The shoes are still kickin a couple years later allthough they are only seein light duty now as they are worn enough that the trail is out of the question. REI seems to have good people who have Been there done that.

 

[Andy Perreault]

I have a pair of Timberlands that I've worn almost everyday for five years, and they're still in great shape! Still waterproof, too. I bought them at one of those outlet malls on the ouskirts of town. I'm not sure if Timberlands are still of the high quality that they were 5 years ago, though. I have a 1 year old pair of Timberland steel-toe boots that I use at work, and the fabric on the inside bottom is peeling up under my feet, giving me the sensation that I have a pebble in my shoe. The 5 year old boots aren't doing that.

Andy

 

[JoshPeters]

OK..... I was in Boy Scouts growing up, and took a trip to Cimmeron New Mexico Hiking at the Philmont Scout Ranch. My group did 78 miles through the mountians with nothing but what we carried on our backs. My pack weighed 54lbs when we left base camp. Of course good boots are a paramount decision for this kind of trip. I STILL own my boots from this trip and wear them quite frequently when hiking, camping, fishing, etc. I HIGHLY recommend Vasque boots. Everyone is different. They sell different insoles for these boots for that reason. http://www.vasque.com/mens-backpacking.cfm

As far as duriblity goes..... in that trip we hiked up to 12,441feet. From 9,000 feet it was all switch-backs. On the way down we didn't want to deal with all the switch-backs. So being we were beyond the tree line and the top was all shale we would take about 3 steps and jump, we'd float easy as you please down and land in this shale. When we got to the bottom we realized that one of the guys that had cheep boots, had Multiple deep cuts in the leather and a couple of us had some pretty good scratches on our ankles from the sharp rocks.



I'll buy another pair... ... if I can ever get these to wear out!



Josh

 

[Timbeaux38]

You can't go wrong with vasque- I own 2 pair (sundowners and Montanas)

I also own a pair of Scarpa SL's (great boot as well)

 

[klenger]

Yep ... sure did. Pretty small selection in our store, but you're right, good stuff.



Which brand did you buy?

Can't remember the name on the high-tops, but the low cut ones are Lowe (sp). The high-top gortex boots are great for snow-shoeing. :-laf

 

[rkressg]

If you have an EMS (Expensive Mountain Stuff ) near you, check them out. They usually have good stuff with regard to hiking boots. I can not remember the brand of boots I bought from them, but they are the best hiking boots I have ever owned (I think I payed around $300 for them, but when they wear out, if I can get another pair, I would readily pay that again for them).

-Rich

 

[klenger]

A bad day hiking (or climbing) is better than a good day at work, and IMHO, better than a bad day fishing.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Klenger quipped:

A bad day hiking (or climbing) is better than a good day at work, and IMHO, better than a bad day fishing.

:-laf



I have way too many boots

Some brands I presently have that have been serviceable:

Garmont (Ranger, Sticky); Sportiva (Trango and climbing); Montrail; Vasque (Sundowner and ?); Nike (Exum); Whites; Hoffman (hunting pacs); Sorrels (pacs); Asolo (ski boots); Scarpa (telemark and climbing)



My recommendations Garmonts (Ranger), Sportiva, Vasques(Sundowner) should work fine. A cautionary note - feets are different.