Hiking boot reviews

Chuckman

Chuckman

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It seems about every few weeks someone starts a "what hiking boot do you wear?" thread. A lot of good information gets passed, but it's hard to find these threads when it's time to consider a hiker. Let's start a review thread, and we can just add to it.

I just purchased La Sportiva Nucleo High GTX

https://www.sportiva.com/activity/activity-hiking/nucleo-high-gtx.html

I have had Danner (too narrow), Scarpa, Merrell (crappy fit and construction), Lowa, and Garmont. I have always wanted to try La Sportiva as they have an excellent rep. Of these I wore Scarpa and Garmont the best.

The Nucleo's won the "2017 Gear of the Year" award. They are fairly light (16.8 oz), have "Gore-Tex Surround", considered a medium-weight hiker and backpacker boot. This weekend I wore them around the house with a couple different pair of socks. I wear 10.5 so got a 44 in these. Some reviews say to go a half-size higher; I do not think that is necessary. Plenty of room in the toe box, not too snug across the arch. The MSRP is $199, but REI has last year's model for $148.

I have worn the Scarpa Kailash for serious backwoods, heavy-pack wilderness travel, but I just don't do that any more, and it is a heavy boot, just uncomfortable for weekend trips and day hikes. I look forward to putting some miles on them and posting another report.
 
I love la sportiva.

I have had a pair of makalu's since 2000. Had them resoled. Still going strong. Very comfortable for a heavy weight boot. Very supportive and great for climbing 14'ers in Colorado.
 
Looking some reviews and found this site. Apparently the Appalachian trail is totally racist.

https://thetrek.co/appalachian-trail/2017-appalachian-trail-thru-hiker-survey-general-hiker-stats/

RaceEthnicity.png
 
Climberman said:
I love la sportiva.

I have had a pair of makalu's since 2000. Had them resoled. Still going strong. Very comfortable for a heavy weight boot. Very supportive and great for climbing 14'ers in Colorado.
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When I had my Scarpas, they had beat out the Makalu's. I have always wanted to try La Sportiva, glad I finally got the chance.
 
My favorites are my Danner Mtn Light 2 boots. I had my current pair resoled a few years ago and they are still all day comfy and waterproof. They are not your typical dept store boots though.

<>< Fish
 
Climberman said:
I have had a pair of makalu's since 2000. Had them resoled. Still going strong. Very comfortable for a heavy weight boot. Very supportive and great for climbing 14'ers in Colorado.
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I love my Makalus and my pair is still going strong. Heavy boot, but super sturdy
 
Merrill Gore-Tex Moab mids.

Very warm; almost exclusively a winter boot because of it. Had some issue with sole separation at the toe bend crease. Could’ve fixed under warranty but shoe goo’d it and it’s been fine since. Nice boots otherwise, but for summer/warm climates maybe don’t get the waterproof ones
 
No thread is too dead to beat...

I gave up on hiking boots long ago...if I am not in my Tevas, I am probably wearing my avatar...still have several pairs I wear, along with their desert cousins.

They're green and black and ready to attack, my Jungle Boots...hooah!
 
Long_Hunter said:
No thread is too dead to beat...

I gave up on hiking boots long ago...if I am not in my Tevas, I am probably wearing my avatar...still have several pairs I wear, along with their desert cousins.

They're green and black and ready to attack, my Jungle Boots...hooah!
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I was in way after the green-and-blacks, but I love my jungles....they wear like sneakers now....
 
I just ordered my first pair of Merrell's yesterday, Moab 2 vent minds. My job now has me walking 8-10+ miles a day and my Ariat boots have been good for years, but they're killing my feet now with this walking. Im not a fan of sneakers. I hope these work out. Got them for $89 shipped with a coupon
 
jmccracken1214 said:
I just ordered my first pair of Merrell's yesterday, Moab 2 vent minds. My job now has me walking 8-10+ miles a day and my Ariat boots have been good for years, but they're killing my feet now with this walking. Im not a fan of sneakers. I hope these work out. Got them for $89 shipped with a coupon
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I am not a fan of Merrells. The first pair just didn't fit well, and they broke apart after not a lot of mileage. The pair I have now are low-quarter GT hiking shoes. Still not a great fit (tad narrow), but they are waterproof. That said, you got a good deal on them, and the people who can wear them tend to love them. I hope they work out for you.
 
Chuckman said:
I am not a fan of Merrells. The first pair just didn't fit well, and they broke apart after not a lot of mileage. The pair I have now are low-quarter GT hiking shoes. Still not a great fit (tad narrow), but they are waterproof. That said, you got a good deal on them, and the people who can wear them tend to love them. I hope they work out for you.
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Me too, this is the first time ive ordered footwear without trying it on first. I've read people either love them, and they last, or they hate them and they fell apart in less than a year.
 
essentially, i'm too cheap to buy the best...anymore.
i get "one year" boots for ~$30 through Amazon Prime.
sometimes i get three years out of them. i never know beforehand.
yes, i have done Danner/Merrell/etc....and they last about 5 years.
$150 Merrells equate $30 a year. don't you hate analytics?
 
jmccracken1214 said:
Me too, this is the first time ive ordered footwear without trying it on first. I've read people either love them, and they last, or they hate them and they fell apart in less than a year.
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They used to last. Not so much anymore. The last two pairs I bought did not last through the mundane day-to-day stuff, never even got a chance to hit the trail with them. Switched to the Oboz Sawtooth and it has held up well for over a year now.
 
Goofyfoot2001 said:
Looking some reviews and found this site. Apparently the Appalachian trail is totally racist.

https://thetrek.co/appalachian-trail/2017-appalachian-trail-thru-hiker-survey-general-hiker-stats/

RaceEthnicity.png
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Less than 60 seconds after I read this, I stumble across this one-


"The student-run outdoors club at Bates College in Maine is way too white and way too privileged, according to a columnist who writes for the student newspaper."


https://www.toddstarnes.com/show/hiking-and-camping-trigger-microaggressions-at-maine-college/

.
 
I don't feel like you can go wrong with a pair of Keen's. I have several different types. Work, hike, casual, etc. All are comfortable and durable.
 
Have big feets and always wore Vasque all leather. Current model is Summit GTX. Much lighter than the Vasques I wore 45 years ago. Comfortable foot wear has always been a chore for me to find. Happy Trails!
 
Asic Trail Venture 6 tennis shoes. Since I no longer hike in a professional manner I see no reason to wear boots hiking in NC. The ONLY reasons I can think of would be weather or weak ankles. Heading out for 3 night/4 day loop in the Smokies in a couple weeks and I'll be in tennis shoes. 5 lbs on your feet is like 10 lbs on your back.

When I was guiding I wore Vasque Superhiker 2's. But I had an ethical responsibility to be absolutely certain I was squared away so I could lead the group. So solid boots it was.
 
I’ve been wearing these Solomon GTXs for the last year plus some. I’ve beat and banged them and they’ve held up well. Merrill’s have sucked for me! Three pairs and there won’t be another! They’ve fell apart after the first 6 months! It’s been either the GTXs or my Rocky S2V combat boots of which I have a closet full off!
 
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Hammer21b said:
I’ve been wearing these Solomon GTXs for the last year plus some. I’ve beat and banged them and they’ve held up well. Merrill’s have sucked for me! Three pairs and there won’t be another! They’ve fell apart after the first 6 months! It’s been either the GTXs or my Rocky S2V combat boots of which I have a closet full off!
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That has been my experience with Merrels too. They used to be good, but several years ago they started falling apart after just light use. Been using Oboz lately with much better results. Still love my old Solomons though!
 
chiefjason said:
Asic Trail Venture 6 tennis shoes. Since I no longer hike in a professional manner I see no reason to wear boots hiking in NC. The ONLY reasons I can think of would be weather or weak ankles. Heading out for 3 night/4 day loop in the Smokies in a couple weeks and I'll be in tennis shoes. 5 lbs on your feet is like 10 lbs on your back.

When I was guiding I wore Vasque Superhiker 2's. But I had an ethical responsibility to be absolutely certain I was squared away so I could lead the group. So solid boots it was.
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Tried this (athletic shoes) once with a pack on for a day. Blisters and stone bruises. Great if you can do it. I can appreciate comfortable light weight foot wear. I have yet to find a hybrid athletic shoe/boot/low boot that fit. I wear NB running shoes and their low boot/hybrid just swallows my foot(?) Doesnt make sense.
 
jimmyjames8 said:
Tried this (athletic shoes) once with a pack on for a day. Blisters and stone bruises. Great if you can do it. I can appreciate comfortable light weight foot wear. I have yet to find a hybrid athletic shoe/boot/low boot that fit. I wear NB running shoes and their low boot/hybrid just swallows my foot(?) Doesnt make sense.
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Yeah, you gotta know what you can take. I use Superfeet insoles to help with the rock issues. And wear hiking socks to help with cushion and blisters. And I’m more careful where I step too. I did the Art Loeb trail as an out and back, 64 miles. The next to last day I did 18 miles. I was in tennis shoes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I just wish someone would make a barefoot hiker for wide feet...

My Merrell Bare access 2's are great but pretty beat up and all the newer versions suck...
 
I was going to say Danner, but noticed they're too narrow for you. I just picked up a pair of Danner High Ground 8" GTX for my mule deer hunt, as I'll be placing a lot of miles on those boots.

I found them to be EXTREMELY light, similar to that of a good tennis shoe. They feel great on my feet too, which is what really matters when you're doing many miles with a lot of weight.

I have hiked up to 26 miles over 3 days with a 50lb. pack using an old pair of paratrooper jump boots, and while they felt ok on my feet, they wore blisters everywhere, to include my lower legs. I cannot emphasize the need for good socks in addition to good boots. Picked up some smartwool (merino) and haven't had any further issues.

My every day hiking boot is an older pair of Oakley SI boots. They're lightweight with plenty of grip for damp rocks. My most recent hike was done with a pair of The North Face Ultra Fastpack GTX. While they're very comfortable and light weight, they don't breath well which results in frequent need for washing, but the odor is still there. The previous versions of that shoe that I owned have done great and are still in use for around the house yard work (no breathability issues in the older models).

I must admit; I'm usually the only non-white person on the trails when I'm out there. But as I hike the mountains most often, I just pretend that since I'm part Cherokee, I'm just re-enacting part of the Last of the Mohicans movie.
 
MacEntyre said:
LEMS shoes...


xray_82ec1885-3bc8-43b6-9922-633f1be896b9_700x.jpg
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Yeah I like the wide toe box. That's required for a barefoot shoe as your toes splay as they strengthen. The whole shoe isn't necessarily wide though. I actually have a wide foot. 13EEEE. I need a shoe that's wide through the arch area as well.

I will look around to see if anyone sells Lems around here so I can see if they will work.
 
Dunno if you can buy LEMS from a store. I would talk to the LEMS folks directly about your feet. They know what they are doing.
 
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My favorite for day hikes is Oboz Sawtooth 3/4.
I can't on-line order any shoe unless I have tried on a pair in a store. I have to but a half to full size larger due to arthritis in my feet. Had surgery on my left foot. Big toe is now shorter than my right. Ha!
the LMS look interesting. Maybe The Shoe Market on West Market carries them.
 
fishgutzy said:
My favorite for day hikes is Oboz Sawtooth 3/4.
I can't on-line order any shoe unless I have tried on a pair in a store. I have to but a half to full size larger due to arthritis in my feet. Had surgery on my left foot. Big toe is now shorter than my right. Ha!
the LMS look interesting. Maybe The Shoe Market on West Market carries them.
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Amazon Wardrobe. Order, try them, keep them or send them back within 7 days no charge. At least with Prime.
 
MacEntyre said:
Dunno if you can buy LEMS from a store. I would talk to the LEMS folks directly about your feet. They know what they are doing.
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Read on their site they last 300-600 miles of wear. That's only a few months. How long have your pairs held up?
 
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