BOOTS!!!!!

[Jelen]

I’m rapidly exhausting options here, so on the off chance someone has any pearls of wisdom, let’s see...
So.
I’ve had Lowa Hunter GTX, good boots, but (and it probably could have been remedied with insoles), I found the footbed unsupportive for my feet.

Brandecosse Cervo, had some delivered this week, far too rigid with an almost orthopaedic feel, odd given I have some of their leather welly’s, love them, but not the lace ups.

meindl douvre, just tried some on in a local shop, not bad, but too much of a boxy toe, there seemed a lot of space for my toes to move, too much I’d say, plus, read too many bad reviews and personal experience in recent years about their leather.

Hanwag Tatra, tried them, very, very narrow, sent them straight back.

harkila..... let’s not go there, been there done that, got wet feet.

Been wearing altberg defender boots for a while, cheap and cheerful, they’ve done a job but I don’t like them and they took a lot of breaking in.

so, pray tell, what other options do I have? I’m looking at Lundhags Professional 2’s but so far can only find them in Finland, so if they aren’t a good fit, the cost of returning them will be substantial I would imagine!

What other options are there??? Or have I tried them all and I’m just fussy? (Don’t answer that).

For the Lundhags try 'Addnature'. They're based in Germany, quick delivery if in stock.

 

[Brighty3006]

On my 2nd pair of Meindl Dovres. Fantastic.

 

[Uncle f]

Got a quad you can buy Andy. You won’t need boots then as it will take you everywhere!!! failing that try hanwag trappers or lowa Tibet’s mate

 

[deerstalker.308]

Got a quad you can buy Andy. You won’t need boots then as it will take you everywhere!!! failing that try hanwag trappers or lowa Tibet’s mate

A: I have a quad, and mine isn’t ruined by images of you doing cartwheels in a leotard on it.....
B: thanks

 

[deerstalker.308]

On my 2nd pair of Meindl Dovres. Fantastic.

Yup, tried them tonight, fit wasn’t great

 

[Uncle f]

A: I have a quad, and mine isn’t ruined by images of you doing cartwheels in a leotard on it.....
B: thanks

Ok but you just wait 15 years when I’ve lost this weight and learnt haw to do gymnastics then you’ll see!!!! You won’t be laughing then will you!!!!

 

[Sika-Hunter]

Ive had Le Chameau Mouflon for several years , used for highland Stalking mainly and found them warm/dry/ and very comfortable

 

[Chikentikka]

diotto

 

[nick.308]

sounds like you might have narrow feet like me. The lowa/meindl boots ive tried are too wide for my feet.
I use diotto auchleeks from swillington shooting supplies and they fit me well and are super light and comfy to the point where i can wear them all day shooting and drive home for 6hrs in them! im happy with the performance of these boots but your history concerns me

 

[deerstalker.308]

sounds like you might have narrow feet like me. The lowa/meindl boots ive tried are too wide for my feet.
I use diotto auchleeks from swillington shooting supplies and they fit me well and are super light and comfy to the point where i can wear them all day shooting and drive home for 6hrs in them! im happy with the performance of these boots but your history concerns me

I will further add to your concerns then, sorry..... should have already added the diotto auchleeks to my original post....I had a pair, I couldn’t get on with the tongue being folded down one side plus the pinched me badly where they bent on the toe! Sorry!!!

 

[caorach]

Scarpa? Unless you specifically want a ‘high’ hunting boot, I recommend the SL as a great, year round, all terrain boot. Thick leather, no goretex liner because they don’t need it and a B1 sole. Scarpa do make hunting boots but they’re probably twice the price and I’d imagine they’ll be very expensive.

I'm a big fan of Scarpa. I wear boots all the time, basically unless I'm at a funeral or wedding and even then I try but SWMBO always catches me.

I've tried everything including the "trendy" boots marketed at the stalking market and every time I come back to my Scarpas. I currently have 2 pairs of Meindl, a pair of Altberg Mallerstang, a pair of Haix, a few other things, and a very very old pair of Scarpa SLs that are going strong for day to day wear but are long past use on the hill. For me the Scarpas gave by far the best support, certainly better than the high leg "stalking" boots, were the best made, lasted the longest, took little or no breaking in, and were in the same price range as the rest.

My understand is that the SL boots were replaced, maybe 10 years ago, by something called the SL Activ and that is a shame as it is probably an excuse to add more "features" but let's hope not. Over the years they've made some minor changes to the SL Activ and I'm about to give them a try but if I could get an old new pair of SLs then that's what I'd go for

 

[243varmint]

Aku lightweight boots are the most comfortable I've worn but not waterproof. You can get waterproof ones thou.

 

[nick.308]

dude I think you just need to properly break a pair in. It sounds like you wear them once and give up. it wouldnt suprise me if you still find a custom made set of boots uncomfortable.
Salomon boots are good. If your really stuck get some hybrid boots between walking shoes and boots. eg. Salomon Men's X Ultra 3 Mid GTX.
I use these if I can.

Also what socks / thermals you use is also critical. I like smartwool heavy weight high leg socks @ about £25 a pair

 

[nick.308]

another thing is how you lace them up its sooooo important!!!!
eg- being careful not to overtighten and cause creasing in the wrong place. making sure your heel is firmly kept in the heel of the boot. also I dont end the lace at the top of the boot but go back down an eye if you get me.

 

[Baldman]

Tried Danner boots?

Used Danner boots for years ( as well as Altberg ) comfortable , easy to break in highly rate them

 

[deerstalker.308]

dude I think you just need to properly break a pair in. It sounds like you wear them once and give up. it wouldnt suprise me if you still find a custom made set of boots uncomfortable.
Salomon boots are good. If your really stuck get some hybrid boots between walking shoes and boots. eg. Salomon Men's X Ultra 3 Mid GTX.
I use these if I can.

Also what socks / thermals you use is also critical. I like smartwool heavy weight high leg socks @ about £25 a pair

“Dude”, with all due respect I have been wearing boots for a good few years, yes, I have sent some back after an initial test in the house, but at £300+ a pair, please forgive my reluctance to persevere and run the risk of finding 2-4weeks or more in that they still aren’t right.
And I have been tying laces a while too, so I think I’ve got that one sorted. But thanks.
I am interested in if there are brands I’ve missed or have yet to discover that may offer better alternatives.

 

[DVS1]

Used Danner boots for years ( as well as Altberg ) comfortable , easy to break in highly rate them

Still have a pair of Dinner Acadia sitting in my cupboard...awesome boots

 

[Radstorm]

Boots - Altberg - you can visit the factory (well pre CV19 you could) and get a fitted pair, I wear then for work, leather boots well looked after, the soles wear down after about three years on urban environment, then get them resoled.

equally I have used Meindl have had two pairs each lasted about five years of not being looked after and worn nearly every day, outside and on yards etc

 

[nick.308]

fair enough sorry if I sounded patronising, i get they are expensive boots so you want them to be right. Still though I dont think the perfect boot will exist for you and there may have to be a compromise somewhere along the line. If i were you I would go to your nearest cotswold outdoors and try as many different boots as you can and see if there is anything your happy with because your going to have to think outside the box. good luck

 

[homer]

Had hanwag for years, great boot, get the wider fitting one. Now onto bestards, very light, very comfy, only first year with them but so far so good!