arborist climbing boots?

T

Treebeard

Location
Charleston, SC
I was wandering if there is such a thing as an arborist climbing boot, that is actually worth something. I have had my Wesco boots for 5 yrs and really need to retire them. but when I buy lighter weight, more comfortable hiking boots for tree work they last all of 6 mo. I saw on somewhere in this vast web a boot called Arbortec it claimed to be durable enough for use with gaffs and lightweight. any suggestions?
 
Teebeard,

I dont know if there is any getting around your problem , but what I do is have two sets of shoes. My Wescoes and my lighter hiking type of shoes. I use the Wescoes for heavy work, removals and such and then of course my hiking for light prune jobs. Dont know if it's psycological or not , but I seem to get better wear and tear out of my shoes .
Very expensive to keep having to by a 350.00 pair of boots.


Greg
 
I have two pair, one is a pair of really good line boots for wearing climbers and the other pair have flat soles and no heel for footlocking.
Both have steel toes and steel shank.
 
I just have one pair. I used to wear RedWings w/ a steel toe and a tall heel. In Jan I went to a red wing w/o the steel toe and a shorter heel (linemans boot). they are just as nice but i have missed the steel toe (got used to having its protection).

I have seen guys w/ 2 pair but I dont think it would be worth the hassle to carry both to every job.

I usuallly got 2 to 2 1/2 yrs out of the wings. priced at about $155. good boot at a decent price.
 
I myself have the unmitigated audacity to have in my arsenal 4 scratch that 3 1/2 pairs of boots. I have the standard pair of redwings black ones without the humongous, extraneous, but yet coo as hell looking heel; a pair of Garmont hiking boots that I was supposed to use for hiking but got roped into tree work; a new pair of Vasque Sundowners that I got for about 100 ducats because they are a discontinued color black, and drumroll a pair of Vasque Sundowners that I bought used in 94 and have reglued umpteen times and resoled twice. These are my shoes and I must go now to reglue my Sundowners.

4 keep my feet fresh and a different choice depending on situation. In all honesty I will be back to 2 shortly, but 4 was good while it lasted.

Fascinating grown men talking about their footware.
 
Hey guy's I just got a new pair of Nike ACG Cindercone approuch shoes and they are the best shoes I've ever climbed with. they also withstand the gaff!
 
Zamberland ladak GTX leather hikers. Great with hooks too. Footlocking devils.

I would hate to be restricted to just one type of boot. Somedays I just wear my cheap-o work boots.

I also have a pair of stihl arbo boots I bought here in Germany a few years back. They are ok....
 
I've had great luck too with the Nike ACG Cindercones. They don't last long, but they're beauties in the trees (unless it's wet conditions) and footlocking- a dream. I too wear two pairs, longing the life span of broken in boots. Happy Climbing!
 
i'll get back to you with hteir website, but landry safety in montreal makes their own boot with ballistic nylon on the inside of each boot and makes it super comfy. a little pricey but you'll get two solid seasons out of them. good chunky sole with excellent vert climbing grip
 
I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner, but Wescos can be returned to the factory and rebuilt for a lot less than a new pair. Still more than a lot of boots out there, but you get what you pay for.

K
 
I go to climbing shops and outdoor supply stores and look for approach shoes on sale anything with a medium stiff sole and sticky rubber ie; stealth, vibram etc. as long as it is for rock climbing it works like a dream on bark on rainy days as well. I havent spent more than forty dollars yet. I get 6+ months and double my resole time on my whites. That may be part of your problem. Wescos yea, I tried those about 15 yrs ago, that was painful. So wear your Whites or Wescos for removals and steep groundwork and some sticky shoes for spurless you'll be very happy.
 
Wesco makes a good boot, true. However, at 6'4" and 215 lbs, I went through two pairs (several heels as well) in about 3 years. Vasque makes good lightweights for climbing. Lately, Hi-Tec ($65/pair) has good flat-soled, no heel boots. They hold up for about 6-8 months of heavy use, wear hooks well, and footlock beautifully. The steel toes surprise me. Sure, keeps your toes safe but when it comes to wedging feet into tight crotches? Must be tough. Also...rock climbing shoes work well with all the rubber. However, not much ankle support and, if I recall correctly, they aren't up to ANSI-spec.
 
I was wondering if any of you guys knew web sites for other nike approuch shoes? Ive seen guys using other ones like the Cinder cones but I havn't been able to find them any where and I know the ACG line of climbing type shoes is fairly big!
 
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