Tough hiking boot brands

[fishmonger]

Dang! Big boots for a little girl! Did you guys do so much hard snow that you needed heavy boots like that?

HJ

[Garbanzo Bean]

Great thread! I've used a variety of boots and none, so far, have satisfied. Several pairs of Asolos have been the best but when looking to have them re-soled, I was told that the leather was either too "greasy" or I had used too much waterproofing.

Just when the boots get really really comfortable, the sole is worn out. Anyway, I bought a pair of Limmer midweights. Damn! The break-in period appears to be a chore.

Any suggestions for breaking them in?

[RoguePhotonic]

I would say that the Zamberlan Vioz GT are awesome boots. After 95 days of hiking over every type of terrain possible they still are holding together which is more then I can say for any other boot I have used. For now I wouldn't buy anything else.

[Vaca Russ]

I purchased a pair of La Sportiva Glaciers based on this post:

"I'm with fishmonger. I'm on my second pair of La Sportiva (Glacier) and they are the most comfortable boots I've ever found. Great for snow, scree, talus and bushwhacking. Broke in my last pair over Sawmill Pass with nary a blister. I've used Lowa, Raichle, Galibier and Asolo (all with Norwegian welt, and all with lengthy break-in needed) and had the soles fall off every pair at more-or-less inopportune moments."

I broke mine in on my daily dog walks (3.5 miles) but like cgundersen said, they really need no breaking in.

I just got back from a long back country snow shoeing trip (11 miles in deep post holeing snow). My feet got a little cold but stayed completely dry.

This outdoor gear topix board is really priceless! I want to thank everybody who contributes!

Thanks again,

-Russ

[tim]

I love my leather Scarpa Manta boots (an earlier version of the M3: http://www.scarpa.com/scarpa/products/T ... 66002W-S07).

I bought them in the UK 20 years ago and when I started hiking in the Sierra I went for more lightweight boots because its usually so dry and dusty here compared to the UK. Last summer it was so snowy/wet (for our Miter Basin trip at the end of June) that I took my old leather boots instead and realized just how much I'd been missing in terms of comfort. Despite the dry weather I definitely think I'll be using them again this year.

I'd note that Scarpa are particularly good if you have wide feet like me. A lot of the other brands (Zamberlan for example) work better if you have narrower feet.

[Vaca Russ]

Well, after a little over a year and many, many miles I just noticed this:

Boots1.JPG

Boots2.JPG

Boots3.JPG

I guess the La Sportiva Glaciers don't last forever.

Anybody know a good cobbler? I don't want to drive all the way down to Fremont to see Al Grasseschi.

Thanks,

-Russ

[austex]

Russ recommended here in HST. http://www.davepagecobbler.com/

[RoguePhotonic]

What do I see with that hole? Stitching! That is where it always fails.

[maverick]

Still planning to use Zamberlan Vioz GT boots on this years trip Rogue?

[Scouter9]

I love that photo from Fishmonger, way up above, with the three dudes wearing massive, Norwegian welt hiking boots. I still have my cheapo, knock-off Raichle's that have so many miles in them, but weigh 3 lbs a piece. Beefy, durable, pretty sure-footed, but heavy and not nearly as comfortable as modern, lighter, glued/bonded sole boots.

I can't do the big old boots anymore, other than for show. I think what was once the paradigm is now a fairly rare item.

[Vaca Russ]

Austex,

Thanks for the information. I e-mail Dave the pictures and got back this responce:

"Russ;

Thanks for your inquiry. Those need to be sealed and restitched. A local shoe repair shop should be able to do that for you.

Yours, Dave"

We'll keep Dave Page Cobbler in mind whenever we have boot repair issues. Always remember, this is the most important piece of equipment once you leave the pavement.

Thanks,

-Russ

[RoguePhotonic]

Still planning to use Zamberlan Vioz GT boots on this years trip Rogue?

Yep they got me through a mean 111 days last year with no problems. I bought two pairs this year.