How about some advice on hiking boots. They are chaining constantly and I I have not kept up. Lived in xtratuffs in Alaska not as wet down here in Idaho. Big believer in good boots.

Lowa.

Jim

Kenetrek. Worth every penny

Yep..All day every day

Crispi.

Meindl perfekt hunter or hiker

Alico, still made in the mountains of Italy in the same "factory" as they have been for decades. Not a lot of frills, just tough good leather boots.

Thanks guys!

Crispi or the GERMAN made Meindl.
Meindl will need to be broke in, Crispi are amazing out of the box. I’d never recommend buying a pair of boots and unboxing them “at the base of the mountain” I sure think I could have with any of the 4 pair of Crispi I have, amazing!
Be sure to get great socks, no cotton.

Vasque-incredible the second you put 'em on!

I really like my Asolos and my son has some Zamberlains that are terrific. There are several other good brands (many listed above) and a large number of mfgs that are selling junk made in SE Asia.

Rather than say this mfg or that mfg, there are two key factors you should focus on. The first is whether the mfg makes their boots on a last that fits your foot. It doesn't matter how well the boot is made if it doesn't fit you. The other factor is whether or not the boot is well made with quality materials. I look for good old fashioned European craftsmanship. That's not to say there are not good boots made in the USA, there are, but if a boot is made in Germany, Italy, Romania, etc, I am completely confident it is a quality product. I also want Gortex and a full leather upper with as few seams as possible.

When boot shopping I spend a fair bit of time reading product reviews. My focus is on those reviews that describe experience with the boot in the kind of service I am buying it for. Other reviews, such as those describing how good they were on the construction site, or how great they looked or smelled when the box was opened are immediately discarded as irrelevant.

Good info. Just as guns , art materials, ect.... USA, Italy, Germany, are well known for their quality .

I like the sound of the Crispi boots...Ive been needing a soft comfy pair that "feels" the ground well and can be worn in casual settings too...I may look into those .

Just ordered myself a nice pair of Crispi Nubuk casual boots ....my grandparents, who loved Italy, would be proud .

Thanks to you guys who mentioned them.

Those are sharp!

Crispis are the most comfortable out of the box boot I’ve ever worn. They work well under heavy loads as well. I’ve ran everything, Lowas, Kenetrek, etc, and crispis win by a landslide for me

Yep..I don't think those "Crispi" would do to well down here in catus country..They do look like a nice soft footwear

Thanks Rob, I liked their looks and description as soon as I saw them. Ive been ready for some decent boots for a while , casual wear but tough , comfy right out of the box, for standing/walking a long time, soft soles that allow me to bend to the terrain , to feel the ground , and are silent on hard floors ....not sound like a draft horse loading into a trailer

Thats good news, Outlaw ! Voices of experience.

Chamacat, this is the lightest uninsulated boot they make- they make many styles that ARE heavy duty, tie up above the ankle , sturdy support for ankles, tough soles, etc...I just got the lightest duty style they make. They have so many custom styles I had to study them a while to finally choose what I was looking for . All the latest , high tech materials ....quality to expect from Italian products , along with firearms , etc.

I understand those stickers, though ! Not much worse to deal with than those , except walking on newly cooled lava flowage - it cuts the toughest soles like shards of glass.....it even sounds like you're walking on broken glass when its fairly new ....did that with Danners in Hawaii years ago.

The person who helped me by phone was very patient and nice, explaining details and maintenance in a calm, unhurried tone.

After we were done, I told him the old saying, that "the customer is always right", and to relay to his manager or boss, that I recommend a bonus and or raise for being so helpful and unhurried....as good doctors I know say, "no hand on the door knob " , being impatient to move patients through like cattle...

He said it's interesting I would say that, as he is the owner of the co. ! We had a laugh , he said he makes a point to answer a few calls every week , for the very reason I mentioned....to keep a finger on the pulse of the customers and their happiness in customer services.

I told him that I heard about these boots from Tman , and he was interested to hear about such an active outdoor forum with so many talented individuals .

Never hurts for quality industry to see a glimpse of such a mighty world of knowledge of the outdoor lifestyle here .

It can make them more refined as they understand the needs of quality equipment from trappers, hunters, shooters, and fishermen.

A win win

This is a good thread. I wear shoes from the inside out, and cant keep a good pair on my feet. Usually the stitching will fail because of moisture.

Yep..I will look into them..Need just a little more off road in them..LOL..I still have quite a bit left in my kenetreks..One thing in common is Italy..They make great footwear..

Great info guys .