Needing new boots soon.

E

erwin

Participating member
Location
st. louis
my trusted Danners Powerline high boots (18") costed $500 and lasted me over 8 years of abuse. Nothing broken, just worn out. Leaned that they discontinued it long time ago, very sad. Looking for a new pair. Saw some Carolina high lineman's boots for just over 200 buck. wondering if they are any good. all made in the US

Also, I know lots of u don't wear high boots even for all day spike work. How does it work. I just can't imagine how that could work. I'm open to try that if I hear ur good experience from u guys. Thx
 
I was using Meindls until they discontinued the model I was using, loved them. Now on my first pair of Scarpas. A little over $300, but really like them so far.
 
I had 16 or 18 inch wesco's for a while. Great boots, but they actually hurt my shins more because the quick eye hooks would dig in to my legs where the spike pads were. I cut a piece of foam to put in between the hooks and my legs but it was a pain in the ass. One day it was just too damn hot and I cut 5 or 6 inches of leather off the tops of my boots. I now wear 8" boots, currently Carolinas. Never had a problem with the geckos I've been wearing for 12 years and short boots. I just ordered a pair of bashlins with big buck pads, so I'll see how they go soon.
 
The Scaffel lites are very popular among guys not wearing lineman/logger boots. I have the latter. I bought a demo pair of carbon fiber kiwi klimbers and the foot plate was too narrow for my boots to fit well. I told Dale about it. He said, in effect, "Why would you buy light weight gaffs and use them with heavy boots?" I had to agree... My lineman boots are becoming estimate boots in my mind. I'm looking to buy a pair of clipnsteps, then a pair of Scaffel lites, then see how I feel about "estimate boots"...
 
Little side note. I pruned a cedar last weekend. The bark stripped off under my lineman boots. I had to be extremely careful. Pruning boots really are good to have and I've heard of guys using clipnsteps with gaffs...
 
My 16” Hoffman pole climbers are going on year 4, strong. All day comfort on gaffs. I am considering some pruning specific footwear just to try out, but I don’t like waterproof, and I haven’t heard great things about durability on arbpros and the like. Any perspectives there?
 
Mitch Hoy said:
My 16” Hoffman pole climbers are going on year 4, strong. All day comfort on gaffs. I am considering some pruning specific footwear just to try out, but I don’t like waterproof, and I haven’t heard great things about durability on arbpros and the like. Any perspectives there?
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I haven't tried the arbpros. The tango lites are not water proof. Wesspur has them and I think Gap has them too.
 
Thx all for sharing ur experiences. I’ll see what I’ll get this time. I have to have gortex waterproof. Have to be able to hose them off when muddy. It must breath better without. However, I have no problem with waterproof 18” lineman boots. All my sweat goes out on top of my head.
 
erwin said:
my trusted Danners Powerline high boots (18") costed $500 and lasted me over 8 years of abuse. Nothing broken, just worn out. Leaned that they discontinued it long time ago, very sad. Looking for a new pair. Saw some Carolina high lineman's boots for just over 200 buck. wondering if they are any good. all made in the US

Also, I know lots of u don't wear high boots even for all day spike work. How does it work. I just can't imagine how that could work. I'm open to try that if I hear ur good experience from u guys. Thx
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If were talking all day comfort in spurs my personal favorite is the La Sportiva Makalu. Lightweight, super comfy, and the best arch support I have ever experienced.

Hoffman's modified Meindl's, pole-climbers, or powerlines are all wonderful boots for spurs. I spent 35 years climbing in 16"-18" linesmen boots (Whites, Wesco's, Hoffmans, etc), but have gone to 8"-10" boots for the last 5 years. I will Never go back to a 16"-18" boot. Ever!
 
colb said:
Little side note. I pruned a cedar last weekend. The bark stripped off under my lineman boots. I had to be extremely careful. Pruning boots really are good to have and I've heard of guys using clipnsteps with gaffs...
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I wear clipnsteps with my 4 year old kks. Fit and feel awesome. I can stand in them all day.
 
La Sportiva, sounds cool. I’ll look into it.
Rico, and everyone else who has experience with both high (16-18) and lower boots for spurs, please elaborate why my lower legs can be comfortable doing removal all day. Thx
 
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erwin said:
La Sportiva, sounds cool. I’ll look into it.
Rico, and everyone else who has experience with both high (16-18) and lower boots for spurs, please elaborate why my lower legs can be comfortable doing removal all day. Thx
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What type of spike pads do you use? With a good pair of pads, there is simply no need for tall boots in my opinion and experiance. Perhaps they are a big plus if your running t or L pads. When I had highliners, I was using geckos. I still use the same pair, untill my new bashlins come Tuesday. I ordered the big buck Velcro pads, which I have never used before, so hopefully they work good.
 
I use the good Velcro pads on the old steel buckingham. The pads used to be $100 over 10 years ago, now I see they are $150 a pair. Don’t know if they improved or not. If I work on spikes all day it feels fine. If I wear them on short boots my legs are very uncomfortable and I don’t think I can last more than an hour.

I’m planning to upgrade to the Gecko aluminum “euro” this year.
 
erwin said:
I use the good Velcro pads on the old steel buckingham. The pads used to be $100 over 10 years ago, now I see they are $150 a pair. Don’t know if they improved or not. If I work on spikes all day it feels fine. If I wear them on short boots my legs are very uncomfortable and I don’t think I can last more than an hour.

I’m planning to upgrade to the Gecko aluminum “euro” this year.
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I would advise against the euro gaffs. Not my favorite.
 
You won't regret the Geckos, never used the euro ones but own american tree and pole spikes. 99% of time the pole spikes are way to go as I am mostly on white pine, spruce, oaks and maples. Tree spikes on hardwoods suck imo except super flakey species. The euro ones look like the keep you farther off the stem which is not my preference. As far as boots, the pads and strirrup are wicked comfy even in 6" shankless hikers, but 8" loggers are ample.
 
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