doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Not Another Boot Thread!

Yes friends, it is yet another boot thread. I'm sorry.

A few months ago, as I was cleaning my porch, I noticed the poor condition of my hunting boots. I was fed up with wearing old combat boots, tattered-and-falling-apart-at-the-seams Merrells and Danners, and any number of other manufacturers that fall short (and apart) of my hopes and expectations - barely surviving 1-2 years of bird hunting. I'm also a bit concerned with spending $400-$500 on a pair of made to order classic US made work boots that have had mixed reviews and opinions. So...the research began. My qualifiers were "heavy duty", "thick leather", "aggressive sole" and "speed laces". Again and again my search kept pointing to vintage European made "mountaineering boots". Further research concluded with whom the internet experts felt were the best manufacturers and the quest began. Since this is an experiment at it's core, I did not want to spend too much. I also found that the highest quality was made in a time frame between the 1940's and the 1980's. Point being, this would be a quest for vintage boots with the least amount of damage and wear. So, I purchased five pairs of pre-owned vintage boots of different makes and styles for the experiment. Anyone have any experience with these boots? I imagine they'll be heavy and not exceptionally comfortable to walk in all day, but I'm sick of throwing my money away on big name manufacturers who sell China made products for which they fail to stand behind. I have two pairs of Swiss, two pairs of Italian and one pair of German-made boots in the mix. I've been reconditioning the leather on them one pair at a time, but soon it will be time to begin the experiment. Please feel free to express your thoughts and opinions on the subject...

Caleb

They all look like good boots, but heavy, stiff and not very comfortable (or warm or waterproof). If you are sick of Chinese boots, get a pair of Kennetrek's (SP?) made in Montana.

I bought a pair of Meindl Denali's and used them on very steep ground this spring for turkeys. They are GREAT! I don't know where the were made. I think Germany.

Five pairs of boots? Even the wealthiest of men can only sleep in one bed at a time!!
I have always been a believer in you purchase a pair of boots from new and YOU mould them in to fit your foot shape correctly by waring them for long periods. Using a second user pair of boots is just a recipe for sore and aching feet.
Second user shoes and boots are like using a second user tooth brush. Hell NO!!!

Caleb, I'm with you on this idea and I come from the footwear industry.

In the late 1970's I lived for a few years in Banff Alberta and got mildly into climbing. The go-to boot for the Swiss and Germans who lived there at the time (ski instructors during the winter, climbers in the summer) were Vasques. Made in Italy.

Good leather, steel shank, stiff sole. What we did back then was buy them new, put them on and do them up tight, then stand in a bath of warm water until the water seeps through completely. Then get out and keep them done up tight for several hours (don't do a lot of walking, you are just trying to mold them to your foot).

No reason why you shouldn't do that now to try to shape them to your own foot.

I know some have had bad experiences with Russell, but I have not.

I wear Russell�s everyday (Art Carter) and either unlined in dry weather or gortex lined in wet and love them.

Look at Limmer Boots.

Heavy and stiff. Steel shanks warp on hard ground, end up looking like elf shoes, all cambered up. Not waterproof. Rip your hip flexor's off. Exacerbate shin splints.
Not much use for boots like that in my life.
Technology moved waaaay ahead.

And my go-to work boot has become the Doc Marten Condor.
If I'm on the prairie I wear Cabela's ultralight Full Draw, uninsulated. Like hunting in a stiff tennis shoe. Cushony and Wonderful.

I wear leather lined Hunter Balmoral Sovereign's most of the time in the woods. They work, but are actually a waterproof meh.

For me for everyday wear as well as working, climbing, hunting, etc. the LL Bean Cresta Hiker fills the bill. I'm just starting my third pair in twelve years so I know they're rugged enough. And at about $265 they won't break the bank. Click on below.

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/14774?page=mens-gore-tex-cresta-hikers-leather

Last year I got some Danner Pronghorns that fit so well, I got five pair, 6" and 10", mostly at closeout prices.

I've heard good things about the Danner Pronghorns, however Danner customer service has failed me drastically in the past.