Boots

anybody else climb in sneakers?
i spent the past winter in france pollarding plane trees
and about 2 days into it they had me out of my loggers and into my sneakers
the more they get worn the better they climb
now its almost a year later and i wear them on just about every climb
not much protection but keepin your feet out of the way is part of the deal anyway
 
yes they are awesome. I don't know if i'd be willing to pay full retail for them though. I picked up mine at sierra trading post.com a while back. Think i paid about 1/2 price.

I think most people who have owned them would agree they're great.
 
Yeah brandon, I saw those on the sierra trading post website last week, and they only have one size left. You know if they are that good though, I think I might bite the bullet and get a pair.Thanks for the imput!
 
I just bought my second pair of Herman Surviors: "Commander" model.

Leather and ballistic nylon boot, lined, waterproof and a good shank that has just the right amount of flex.

Just doesn't have the hard toe but I don't like that when climbing the ropes. Has a good sole for footlocking if that is what you're using for ascent.

My last pair developed a leak where the sole-tub joined the upper. I really could have had them repaired but was just as easy to get a new pair. The soles were wearing smooth and I 'spect that theyed be worn completely by February.

Cheap too...$43 usd. At that price and the rate that they last I can go almost 5 years before I've spent the same as some of the pricey boots.

The best pricey boot I ever had were a pair of rockies and they only lasted 2 1/2 years. they cost $200.

I hear red-wings are supposed to last, but I'd be hard pressed to believe theyd last me more than a couple years.

If I can get 2 years out of a boot I think its the cats-a**.

So, my first commanders lasted a little over a year. Thats still better than sneakers and even replacing them annually they still beat my rockies for cost per use.

comfortable, lined, waterproof, comfortable, great ankle support, low cost per day and did I mention comfortable?

That's my idea of a good boot!

BTW, I still have a pair of hard-toe rockies for when it is my day to be on the ground or when I have a long day on the spurs. Thats when those boots are used...'spect that this particular pair will last at least 5 years.
 
Ha! I've been preaching the value of The Commander Boots for years, now! Everyone always looked at me funny! I'm harder on em, I get 6 months outta mine.

Check the attachment!
 

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My Wescos have been retired for awhile, now.
 

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[ QUOTE ]
Ha! I've been preaching the value of The Commander Boots for years, now! Everyone always looked at me funny! I'm harder on em, I get 6 months outta mine.

Check the attachment!

[/ QUOTE ]

Glad to know I'm in good company! I look at boots like gloves, they are critical to the job but will get trashed...no matter how much $$ you spend. I think the only reason they last me nearly a year is that I only wear them for work and except for driveways and around the chipper they never see pavement...kinda like my spikes.

Do you get yours at your local Wally-World or do you buy them elswhere?

I'd love to find a 10 1/2 wide to try on but have to go with an 11 instead.
 
I hear ya. I don't know why most guys spend the big bucks on workboots like they do. I guarantee if ya'll would just one time take $45 to Wally World and buy a pair of Commanders, ya'll would agree. What's to lose? A half-hours pay?
 
Hey MB,

Gotta tell ya tho, that when it comes to pants, even though they get thrashed all day long, it is definitely worthwhile to go with the more expensive AW originals.

Can't beat 'em in my mind.

I'm sending a suggestion to them on a couple of different fabrics to try to make 'em even more abuse-resistant.
 
MB, RF,

Those boots look nice but is the sole material grippy?

I had a pair like those but by Bates...they were super lightwight like a running shoe, and everything was cool about them except the sole material was kinda slippery.
 
Hi Cory,

I'd hafta say that they are right in the middle. The tread is just agressive enough to help with the "grippi-ness" but not so aggressive as to be of much help on a beech or similarly barked tree.

The sole is natural rubber, from what I've been able to determine. But it is vulcanized to a pretty hard consistency.

definitely not as grippy as the old rubber sole on a pair of converse all stars and I could't categorize them as slippery either.

I don't foot lock so I'm not sure how they perform in that role.

This is like my 3rd pair of Hermans in the last 12 years and I've been satisfied every time I've bought them.
 
Yeh "Meindl Waldlaufer Pro" are better than there little brothers pair, if you are wearing then day in day out they will fall apart quick. So you are better going for the Pros got a better sole construction and have Gore Tex in them maybe too warm for the US Summers though, but good for your chilly winters, depending on your US State geography. A good aroma off cheese will soon come from them also, god damn boots. So you wont need to take the Philly spread for your jelly sandwhich, just stick the spoon in your boots and slap it on thick.

Another good European Boot are "Pfanners Klima Airs", they are a real robust boot like an alpine climbing boot so are ideal when dismantling when wearing spikes. A good solid support for you, for when you are hanging in there. So here is there website address for you all www.schutzbekleildung.at if you cant read german that says save clothing between the dots. They make real good climbing and chainsaw trousers too.

The problem with boots are they were disigned for foresters not for climbers, we will all wait for the perfect boot at some point even me.

Yours

Dreaming Tree

(Yes that was a DMB song but that tree was dead this one is alive)
 
Just wondering how the La spotiva and the boots you use Mark hold up. Mainly I am concerned with the tread. I tend to walk the bottoms off in about 3 months. Also what are the boots rated as in a M0-M4. Thank you.
 
sorry the trees dont hear you my german comrade,
i guess i am gifted for being able to hear them, or just slightly nuts
my choice of daily boots varies, depending on what i am climbing and for how long
if on spurs for 8 to 12 hours i like my redwing line mans boots, although i only get a bout a year and a half from them,before the sole peels or the side rots, theyre a needy boot always need something washin, oilin somethin,
most of the time i wear my 45 dollar wally world steel toe gortex wanna be boots, (brown outside green inside)
generally i use em for 3 months before they need an insole and another 3 to 4 before they get worn off on an edge or sloppy, but i never got to do anything to them
i like my boots to feel fresh and tight i could get a year out of the old pairs but i just like newer boots,
your feet are key to your whole overall health and blood flow so im up for a bit of dough now and again,
the wally world ones are easier on the bark of the treecompared to the redwings, i sometime wear soft soled hikers in fragile barked trees,(juvenile redwoods) but the soles wear out in a few days of footlockin up and descending on an 8 so i can see where a pear of sneakers is cool,
i dont have enough knowledge on all those new highspeed boots these competition guys wear, like to try some one day, but theyre kinda spendy ( i think?)
 
Yeah they are treeguy. The pair of la sportiva's I save for sall are about $180. I am hoping not to spend any more then $250. That is as long as they last. Had a pair of Rockys that where pretty good. But they are just a little to heavy for everyday use. Also the logger style boot I cannot footlock with.
 
It is more as for what you prefer. I have tried a hicking boot by Merrill and they were very nice but the soles blow out. Now as for the other boots they are a mountaineering type boot. They are disign to give added support for climbing hills and the like. They have a rating system from 0-4. Where 0 has a soft sole and easy movement but not my balance for incline hill hikes. Now the 4 is a very stiff boot which helps when ice/snow climbing. They make the stiffer for a getter grip on the ground and better footing. I tried a pair at EMS on Sunday and they were very stiff. I wish I knew there rating. I believe I am looking for a 1 so I can climb and spike in them as well.
I have attached a link that will give you better information as to the way these style of boots are as well as crampon attachments if you do any other climbing.

Boot Grading & Crampon Compatability
 
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