hunting boots

[dabouv]

Meindls are now made USA and I really like their boots. Good prices as well.

Are you sure they are made in USA? I see meindl USA has a Sidney, ne address and I'm guessing Some old cabelas people are behind it but I can't see where the boots are us made.

 

[M77Fan]

Yes, I did note that they are "made in Europe", not the US. But when it comes to my feet I have to go with what will actually work. Since I insist on all leather choices are limited, and I have fit issues so the actual style and last makes critical differences. If my feet are crippled from bad fit, I can't get there at all. Those Owyhees look like they could replace my glued together, long discontinued Vasques. Vasques went to the Devil. I used to use Danners, but their lasts/styles changed. Meindls are very nice, but the toe box is too low and it blisters the tops of my toes. I really wish Cabela's still had their old 9" boot.

 

[Wswim]

Do you know all leather hunting boots of de4cent quality are very hard to find!! nylon w/leather trim is the w3ay know. we need all-american made shoes again along with blue jeans! apparently money don't matter cause 600$ boots seems the normal Sick economy!!!

Limmer boots are the only boots I wear. There are two different lines, an off the shelf that's made in Germany, and custom made boots that are made in the US. I have some major foot problems and tried just about everything out there. Limmer boots are the only thing I've found that are comfortable. Even the best boots caused me so much pain that grocery shopping would take me down for a couple of days. Limmers have put me back out in the back country. They're all one piece leather outers that are about a quarter of an inch thick with leather lining. They're made for mountain climbing. The biggest problem is the break in. The off the shelf model fits me perfectly so I've never had a problem with blisters or any of the normal problems with breaking in a new pair of boots. Since they're the only things I wear, it doesn't take me as long to break them in but it takes a couple of months to break them in enough where they'll bend up by the toes when I stand on my tip-toes. The last pair I bought were $450 but it's been a while. With a resole once in a while they last me 10 to 15 years! I'm on my 4th pair. I'm a heavy equipment mechanic and they get pretty beat up at work. If you only use them when you're hunting or out in the woods a pair of Limmer boots will probably last a lifetime.

 

[freddogs]

Not all Danners are resoleable. I emailed Danner when my soles were worn. They said my model wasn't a candidate to be resoled.
The Meindls I had, the soles fell off after about 7 years. They couldn't reglue the soles.
I bought some Lowa hikers last winter, so far, they work fine.

 

[Southern 62]

Not all Danners are resoleable. I emailed Danner when my soles were worn. They said my model wasn't a candidate to be resoled.
The Meindls I had, the soles fell off after about 7 years. They couldn't reglue the soles.
I bought some Lowa hikers last winter, so far, they work fine.

7yrs sounds good to me lol. Better than some others iv had.

 

[tobyscreams]

You may have pointed me to my next boots, thanks! Getting desperate with both pairs glued together. Are the footbeds removable? I have orthotics.

I believe they are because I wear a certain super feet insole. I don't think I'd consider them otherwise.

 

[M77Fan]

Thank you. Good to know.

The guy who made my orthotics, now retired unfortunately, used to make custom boots. Peter Morin. His boots were beautiful, and he could make them the perfect shape for anyone's foot.

I asked him why he had become a pedorthist if he made custom boots. The answer was that although he could make boots that fit people perfectly, sometimes his customers just couldn't have comfortable feet in spite of that because the support under the foot was inadequate. So, to make the perfect boot, he learned the trade of a pedorthist (which took enough schooling for a PhD) so he could also create custom footbeds. The support at the bottom of the boot, I can attest, is critically important. Especially when you are really loading your feet and particularly under the conditions tough mountain terrain impose. And for those of you with extra high arches, those custom footbeds are a godsend when for the first time you actually have proper support under your arch and mid-tarsal area. I used to get the equivalent of carpal tunnel in my feet on long backpacking hikes or under heavy loads of meat. No longer, as long as my orthotics last. Orthotics are not just for flat-footed people. Anyone can benefit, but especially those of us with lower than average or higher than average arches.

 

[hesse]

what alpaca socks are you using?

Prevail is the brand. I used to wear the Cabela's heavyweight Merino wool that were made by wigwam but once Bass pro bought them out they were proprietary to the Cabela's Brothers so once they were both gone out of the Cabela's brand that contract was then nullbso this is what I found to be the comparable

 

[COBrad]

I use Lathrop and Sons boots. After 38 years guiding western Colorado elk hunters and 51 years hunting them myself these are the best boots I've found. I also use high end insoles or custom insoles to perfect the fit.

 

[bmnkbrandon]

American made line of Danners are some of the best. Stay away from their foreign line of boots though. Brunt makes a solid work boot too for a lot cheaper.

 

[billspe]

What do you all think of Kenetrek boots for hunting? I have a couple pairs that I purchased for very reasonable prices on eBay directly from Kenetrek (customer returns?). I have trained in them and thought they were great, but my US adventures have involved more two-track and trail hiking rather than off-trail hiking (which I view as the true test for hunting boots). My Kenetrek boots are a bit too insulated for a safari in South Africa. On that, I used Lowa Renegades, which worked great with cape buffalo leather gators to keep thorns and debris from falling in the tops. Coincidently the Game Warden in Timbavati Wildlife Park was wearing the same boots. For insoles, I found SuperFeet Hunting insoles just fine - and again, discounted heavily on eBay.

 

[dfanonymous]

American made line of Danners are some of the best. Stay away from their foreign line of boots though. Brunt makes a solid work boot too for a lot cheaper.

Brunt IS foreign made boots.

With the expedition of some military contracts, Danners are "made in the US" with "global materials." A lot with global materials. Carolina is more American made, but those boots are owned by the same company that owns Danner.

The only companies in the US that have their own tannery is redwing (heritage line), whoever Thorogood uses, and Origin.

Non of those companies make US made boots good for mountain hunting. If they did, it would be limited in options.

 

[Dendro]

I can recommend Russell's, have 4 pair in rotation. Quality is outstanding & I've had 2 pairs rebuilt that came back looking new. Unfortunately the company has changed hands, so I guess we'll see what the future holds.

 

[Papa762!!]

Those don't work too well when you're walking and climbing for miles. Feet get hot and sweaty (they get wet from the inside), almost no matter what and Muck boots just don't breathe like a gore-tex type of membrane boot.

I know the desire to have things made in the USA but the best boots come out of Italy. They just do. It's a hard truth, just like the best optics come out of Germany/Austria.

There are companies like Schnees and Whites that make leather lined boots too, if that's what you're looking for. Otherwise there are a lot of good brands that make all leather exterior boots like Zamberlan, Kenetrek, the aforementioned and others. Yeah they're expensive.

Closet is full of boots from 65 years of hunting. I keep them for others to borrow. Muck IF I'm standing in a swamp. Otherwise it's Kenetrek one of three pairs. I even cut grass out back in them. At this moment, there's a Safari pair with dirt and clippings I stuck under the table in the kitchen yesterday. Today I'll knock the stuff off of them.