What boots do you wear?

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I wear a pair of Keene from the time they were all US made. Like Redwing you now have to look at each model to see where they are made.
 
jeepnik said:
I wear a pair of Keene from the time they were all US made. Like Redwing you now have to look at each model to see where they are made.
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Most boots are like that now. Ariats, Justin's, Double H and Wolverine to name a few. If they're made in the US, Mexico, Spain, or Italy they're typically good to go in my (and others more experienced than I) experience. I did have a decent pair of wolverines that were made in China though didn't know that til I looked at the tag around a year later.
 
A little late to this party, but what the heck, I love to talk boots. Preface, I work on underground and transmission electric and pipelines. We don't get rain, snow, cold days off unless it's too cold for diesel engines to work. Those are the days I go snowmobiling or ice fishing for "fun".

My "warm weather" boots are American made Red Wing pull-on work boots. Yes, they were hell to break in, but once good, they're GOOD. Wear like old tennis shoes at work or hunting. I have the luxury of going to the factory and picking up seconds for just a tick over $100 rather than $250 retail.

As it's usually sloppy here in MN in mid-temperature weather, say above 20 degrees, my mid season boots are Lacrosse knee boot steel toe with 600 grams thinsulate. These have a heavy tread for mud and snow, and I retrofit them with a wool felt insole and wear thin Alpaca wool socks. I had a pair of similarly constructed Baffins that I liked better, but wore them out after 3 years and that model is now discontinued. They had a kevlar shell on the lower "foot" area.

My extreme cold boots that I wear for work and play below 20 degrees are Viking brand rubber/kevlar/composite toe. They are chemical, chainsaw, and electrical resistant to 25KV (I'll take the ULs word for it on that). They're rated to 100 below, but I've found the actual cold comfort zone for sedentary activities to be more like -20. The sole material actually feels tacky on icy surfaces, and screw in lugs are an option. I also add the wool felt to these and wear a heavy Alpaca sock in extreme cold. They were quite expensive, and worth every penny.

I'm working in MN and the Dakotas, and playing in the same to include Upper Michigan and Ontario.
 
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Random 8 said:
A little late to this party, but what the heck, I love to talk boots. Preface, I work on underground and transmission electric and pipelines. We don't get rain, snow, cold days off unless it's too cold for diesel engines to work. Those are the days I go snowmobiling or ice fishing for "fun".

My "warm weather" boots are American made Red Wing pull-on work boots. Yes, they were hell to break in, but once good, they're GOOD. Wear like old tennis shoes at work or hunting. I have the luxury of going to the factory and picking up seconds for just a tick over $100 rather than $250 retail.

As it's usually sloppy here in MN in mid-temperature weather, say above 20 degrees, my mid season boots are Lacrosse knee boot steel toe with 600 grams thinsulate. These have a heavy tread for mud and snow, and I retrofit them with a wool felt insole and wear thin Alpaca wool socks. I had a pair of similarly constructed Baffins that I liked better, but wore them out after 3 years and that model is now discontinued. They had a kevlar shell on the lower "foot" area.

My extreme cold boots that I wear for work and play below 20 degrees are Viking brand rubber/kevlar/composite toe. They are chemical, chainsaw, and electrical resistant to 25KV (I'll take the ULs word for it on that). They're rated to 100 below, but I've found the actual cold comfort zone for sedentary activities to be more like -20. The sole material actually feels tacky on icy surfaces, and screw in lugs are an option. I also add the wool felt to these and wear a heavy Alpaca sock in extreme cold. They were quite expensive, and worth every penny.

I'm working in MN and the Dakotas, and playing in the same to include Upper Michigan and Ontario.
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When I logged in the UP, my boss bought me a set of those Vikings. They're amazing.
 
I usually wear my old set of cowboy boots with a healthy dose of mink oil. Most comfortable thing for me, which I hunt southern Oklahoma deer mostly, so it's never really that cold unless it's sleeting. The wind is more of a concern than the cold.
 
I got a good deal on some used Schnees a few years back and they are warm and comfortable. I don't have to walk far to hunt out back but I do like to keep my feet warm when it's cold here.
 
I don't hunt but I ramble around a lot in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina and I like my Sorel waterproofs. I like a moc toe on any lace up.
 
Mnts of Virginia. Am a year round hunter,and as I've gotten older have gravitated more towards varmint blasting,leaving the deer to my grown sons.

So during hot weather and rain it's either Addidas sambas or low,LL Bean duck boots.

Cold weather,and more typical "hunting season" sees me in dedicated Rocky's. Catch them on sale around 100$(marked down from 150). Seems to be about where you start to get good quality form them on a price basis. Get a new pr about every 3rd or 4th year. Then the old ones get used for chores cutting firewood N stuff.

Me and the boys are big into traditional bow shoots in the spring/early summer. This past spring at a big roundevous "stole" a brandy new pr of Cabelas Pinnacle,15".... they call'm "snake boot". My size,for 38$..... went back and forth horse trading with the seller,haha over 1$. Anyway,they are the lighter 400g insulation vs the 1200 or some such. Which is all we need here. Anyway,looking at them they look bulky and heavy to the point that is why nobody bought them.... I caught the seller packing up on Sunday.

But they are the opposite once you start wearing them. Thinking jogging shoes/boots. Maybe to run away from snakes? Extremely comfortable. Wore them a few times breaking them in over the summer varmint blasting. Read online they got excellent reviews for what that's worth? But they were too expensive to survive at 150$ or so. If you see some cheap,grab them..... they are really nice.
 
One more vote for Bellevilles

I work as a security guard. Most of my assignments are foot patrols, outdoors on varied terrain, in all weather. I spent 3 years on an undeveloped site on the East side of Colorado Springs. I walked on average 9 miles a day. Again, over varying terrain in all kinds of weather. After that I worked as a roving guard for 2 years still walking up to 9 to 10 miles a day mostly outdoors. Some of it up in the mountains.

I tried a bunch of different boots until I tried Belleville 700 series "duty boots". They are made in America and they are very similar in quality to what Danner's and the Cochran Matterhorns were in the early 90s.

They are without question the most comfortable boots I own. They're Gortex lined and I've never had a leak. The very first time I wore them I remember that I could feel the give in the midsole while I was walking my rounds. I resoled the first pair I owned 3 times before I replaced them.

I wore them in all kinds of weather. Rain, snow, mud and as I mentioned earlier they kept my feet dry and warm.

There five different military installations in Colorado Springs, if you throw a rock it will probably hit a surplus store. So, I can get them like new for about 20 bucks.

These are the ACU boots

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Sorel Caribou for cold snow
Danner Powderhorn for light snow

Oakley SI patrol for hot days
LAPG Tac Athlete for summer hikes

Huk Rogue Wave Deck boots for rain/fishing
Neosport dive/neoprene for the jetski

It's tough to only have 1 pair of boots in Alaska
 
JeeperCreeper said:
Sorel Caribou for cold snow
Danner Powderhorn for light snow

Oakley SI patrol for hot days
LAPG Tac Athlete for summer hikes

Huk Rogue Wave Deck boots for rain/fishing
Neosport dive/neoprene for the jetski

It's tough to only have 1 pair of boots in Alaska
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One pair means your feet will hate you. I have multiple pairs of work boots so they can dry out. Every weather condition means different needs also.
 
Minnesotan here, I wear Red Wings for all daily work, and old Sorels all winter. It's a shame what happened to Sorel boots. Up here they were thee go to boot for snowmobiling and ice fishing and everything Minnesota.

Sorel is now Chinese trash. I have to double up on wool socks with my new Sorels.

Simple answer: Red Wings.
 
Mn Fats said:
Minnesotan here, I wear Red Wings for all daily work, and old Sorels all winter. It's a shame what happened to Sorel boots. Up here they were thee go to boot for snowmobiling and ice fishing and everything Minnesota.

Sorel is now Chinese trash. I have to double up on wool socks with my new Sorels.
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I have a pair of Canadians sorel's that my wife got for free 10 years ago.
 
LoonWulf said:
yeah I really like them. I'm on my second pair. The last ones survived 2 years which is pretty good for boots on lava rock.
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Mine finally went to the trash last week. The rubber things on the side of the boot came off on year 2-3 and I just used shoe goo and put them back together. I went out the other day and got in 1-2'' water and my feet got wet. The soles finally seperated. I am now leaning toward irish setter wingshooters, danner pronghorns, danner high ground or Meidl.
 
It's already been said but if you're going to get one pair of boots you'd better get two.

I have two pairs of Belleville duty boots as already sad and I switch them every day
 
In the warmer weather a pair of Keens.

in the colder weather a pair of rubber Lacrosse boots with 1200g of insulation.
 
Garandimal said:
Have you SNO-SEAL'ed the leather uppers?

Will extend the life considerably.

GR
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Nope.

The first Gortex boots I ever owned were the all leather Matterhorns. The manufacturer said not to put Sno-Seal on them because it would keep them from breathing.

It may not matter with the newer leather/cloth boots but I got into the habit of using Nikswax.



The first pair of Bellevilles I had lasted 7 years. I put roughly 2000 miles on them every year and I resoled them twice before the midsole gave out.
 
SharpDog said:
Lightweight Danner RAT boots that were seconded from the Marines I bought for $50 new. (currently $350 :) )

View attachment 860254
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I've got a pair of the Danner Mojaves that I really like.
Also have a pair of Muck boots like them too. But they're not for real cold weather.
And a pair of Wolverine that are gore tex and 400 gram thinsulate. Like them too.
If it's REALLY cold, then the old felt inner lining bootie inside rubber bottom leather upper pac boots can't be beat.
A pair of Redwings are my everyday boots and in mild weather are just about perfect.
 
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