Another boot thread

B

BostonBull

Location
North of Boston
my first foray into hiking style boots from loggers has been a let down at best.

I had bad luck last summer and fall with the soles delaminating on my Asolo TPS 520. i returned them to EMS after less than 6 months for a pair of Asolo Powermatic 500. these boots are bomber! BUT i am going through delaminating soles, again. these ones last roughly 6 months. it is frustrating to say the least that the soles are doing this on a totally different design of boot from the first pair of Asolo.

i am looking for the next boot to try. i have been researching for a couple weeks now and have come up with a few I really like. i am looking for any boot that I may have overlooked. heres what I have;

Scarpa Escape GTX
Scarpa Manta GSB (Have heard the to clip for crampons falls off and delams the soles?)

La Sportiva Glacier
La Sportiva Karakorum
La Sportiva Makalu

Garmont Vetta Plus

i want a tough boot, leather, soles that actually stay on the boot, toe rand, and preferably waterproof. my top two right now are the Scarpa Escape, and La Sportiva Karakorum.

Meindl and Limmer have also been highly recommended, seem to have a cult following for quality, but not waterproof?

No logger boot suggestions please, I own 3 pair of Wescos already and love them to death. if I cant find a good quality pair of hikers ill go back to wearing those full time.

Am I wrong at looking at mountaineering boots? are they too heavy duty and purpose built? i wear these all day 12 hrs 5-6 days a week.
 
I have never found a pair of boots beyond loggers that I can get more than 8 months out of. I think some people are just harder on boots than others. We are after all trying to take a product built for one application and using it for something entirely different. I can wear out a pair of $100 hikers just as fast as a pair that cost$250. So I usually go cheaper with the REI brand. I think I heard that there shoes are made by Asolo anyway but I could be wrong about that.
 
La Sportiva and Asolo make my feet and pocket book happy.

Occasionally a piece of the welt/rand will peal a little. When that happens I scrub it out and dab in a bit of Barge Cement or something similar.

When I was climbing full time I never expected more than a season from any boot. when I started getting more life out of them I was tickled.
 
I have the last version of those Chris, and I can't say they were any better than other boots I had. In fact, they were too short and the tongue never sat right, so I cut the grass in them now
smirk.gif


Jim, no ice boots this time of year. You want a pair for pruning and removals or?
 
I've had 3 pairs of glaciers. Definitly an awesome boot. Very good for standing on spikes and doing lots of heavy duty stuff like felling. I use a lighter duty boot for pruning. They're a bit heavy and only flex so much at the toe. The karakorums might be a good choice. We're always in search of the do it all boot.
 
Looking for something I can wear day in and day out, bucket/climbing/chipping brush/woods walking/felling/LIGT spike use, less than an hour a week, thats what my Wescos are for.

Couple other boots that were recommended to me were
Lowa Tibet
Hanwag Alaska
Limmer Standard

I like something with a shank, ankle support, and a bit stiff. Most of all TOUGH!

See the attachemnt for what ahppened to the soles of my Asolos, after only 6 months......
mad.gif
 

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I have the last version of those Chris, and I can't say they were any better than other boots I had. In fact, they were too short and the tongue never sat right, so I cut the grass in them now
smirk.gif


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Hey Mark, thanks for the info. I was thinking about getting some, but don't think that I will now.

I do have these boots and they are great for removals, but a bit too heavy for pruning work.


http://wmclarkandson.wordpress.com/2009/07/21/klima-air-zermatt-gtx-chainsaw-boots-launched/
 
I'd been going through a pair of mountaineering boots a year before I actually talked to a shoe salesman who hikes & climbs. The problem is that most affordable boots have a 1/2 or 3/4 shank in the sole. The physics of how we walk puts a shear stress on the heal-upper interface plane, and the seams in the back half of the upper. This is every time flex the sole as we walk.

Most high-end work and mountain boots have full shanks in the sole, which minimizes the sole-flex and eliminates the shear stress.

If i'm not making sense, hold a boot, flex the toe and see hoe it moves. It all made sense to me after the salesman did that in the store.
 
I'd go with the Glacier over the Makulu. The Glacier offers a little more flexibility. I've gotten 10 years (yep, that's right, 10 years) out of my La Sportive Lhotse. I've had them resoled once in that time by Dave Page. A cobbler in Seattle. They finally gave up this year and I'm not sure If they can be fixed. Still have yet to look into it.
 
Check out Alico boots out of italy. their new guide boot is sweet, full leather upper, waterproof (if your nice to it and treat it well) resole-able. stiff shank in it. you can get them from sierra trading post
 
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I thinkim sold on the all leather, traditional boots. Here are my top 3 choices. Limmers are first, they are handmade in NH.


Anyone here worn any of these boots?

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I haven't tried them, but they look nice. I like the traditional look to them too.

Intervale, NH is not too far from where I live. I may have to take a drive up there and try them on first hand.
 
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I thinkim sold on the all leather, traditional boots. Here are my top 3 choices. Limmers are first, they are handmade in NH.


Anyone here worn any of these boots?

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I haven't tried them, but they look nice. I like the traditional look to them too.

Intervale, NH is not too far from where I live. I may have to take a drive up there and try them on first hand.

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let me know when, ill go with you.

The only thing that makes me nervous is the resoling process. If its not exact it will change the size of the boots forever. Im second guessing whether stitched is better, or a modern sole design on a tough boot that can be easily resoled out at Dave Page Cobbler
 
spoke with Peter Limmer today. he is low on stock of non custom boots, expecting his order in soon though he said. sounds as though they are sent out to be made to their specs, by hand of course.

he does all resoling there @ his shop in NH. 2-4 week turn around.

Evans on the Common in Townsend, MA stocks all styles of Limmer boots as well as Asolo, Vaqua, Merrill, etc. Maybe we should go out there and take a peak......?



so.......back to the subject at hand.

If i buy a traditional pair ill still need a pair with Goretex for rainy wet days and winter work. so keep the conversations going
 
Crispi ??
ICARUS CSF
>> C.S.F. side supports for a top ankle protection
UPPER: Water repellent suede - high tenacity fabric
LINING: Antibacterial fabric
INSOLE: With differentiated structure
PROTECTIONS: Side-supports and toe cap
SOLE: Rubber with non-slip profile and shock absorber
87_c.jpg

AIRBORNE GTX CCS
>> Top ankle protection - C.C.S. removable side supports
patented by CRISPI
UPPER: Water-repellent nubuk
LINING: GORE-TEX® footwear
INSOLE: with differentiated structure
PROTECTIONS: Rubber border
Removable back C.C.S. support
SOLE: Vibram with shock absorbing midsole
88_c.jpg
 
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Looking for something I can wear day in and day out, bucket/climbing/chipping brush/woods walking/felling/LIGT spike use, less than an hour a week, thats what my Wescos are for.
[...]

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You're gonna laugh...

For the very purpose you describe I wear Lowa Tempest Lo tops. I can wear'em with spikes for half a day no problem and I get at least a year of work wear... two pair so far. The tread is ideal for tree climbing and the upper is tough enough that it doesn't get ripped or worn through.

I like low tops for the mobility and coolness in the summer. When I expect to be on spikes all day for days at a time I pull out my poor battered, 25 year old Vasque Hiker II's... all leather, full shank but no insulation.

Mountaineering boots are designed for carrying heavy loads on ice and snow with some rock here and there. They're heavy on insulation and support but aren't really durable enough for trees.

Jim. I'm wondering about your gait... looks like you might tend to overpronate or roll your foot inward after putting your foot down. It's typically diagnosed by excessive wear on the inside of your shoes.
 
Yes I think I have a bad gait for sure, all my boots wear in this spot. Can this be corrected? is it something I need to put my mind to or go see a specialist for?


I am leaning toward Limmer boots, I am going to drive up and see them soon. I have had Wesco's for YEARS and they are still going strong. Limmer seems like the Wesco of the hiking boot world.
 
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