Favorite Hiking Boots

[Gray Ghost]

I just e-purchased a pair of Bean's Gore-tex day hikers. I was curious as to what brand others prefer. Personally, Merrell has always been dependable, and I wouldn't hike in the High Peaks without a quality sole, such as Vibram. My brother turned me on to L.L.Bean's boots because of their great product guarantee. After a few seasons with his outrageously priced all leather hikers, he brought them back to the store, showed them the wear and they cut him a gift certificate for the original purchase price without blinking an eye. I hate to buy a pair without trying them on, but they are similar in design to a couple pairs of Merrells I've got laying around so I think they'll work.

What does everyone else hike in? (especially those who traverse High Peaks terrain).

[Sparky]

Scarpa SL M3's

[Boreal Chickadee]

LLBean full leather Crestas- love 'em

[MystyPines]

I have had the Vasque SkyWalk for about 5 years and they have been good to me.

[llawhsoj]

Asolo tps 520... though I often prefer a lighter trail shoe and occasionally my chacos.

[lumberzac]

I bought a pair of EMS Carter Ridge GTX's last year and have been pretty happy with them. My only complaint is the tread doesn't look like it will last more than a couple of seasons.

[Iceman]

I haven't found a favorite pair of hiking boots yet. So far every pair has either bothered my ankles, arch (when purchased online), or the top of the foot. I like to hike in low top boots or trail runners.

Iceman

[trailrunner3]

I also hike in trail running shoes. I prefer the Adidas TR's.

[adkdremn]

My hiking boots are the same ones I wear every day for work. For the past two years I wore Cabela's Rimrock hikers priced at $80. I work at a golf course and walking 10+ miles a day is pretty typical. These boots lasted me longer than anything else I've owned and the Goretex held up right until the leather cracked all the way through right before I retired them. This year I went with Cabelas Trail-lite Goretex hikers. They're priced at $90 and have the Vibram sole and are cut a little higher with mesh panels. So far so good, the true test will come when I get them out on the trail!

[Robony]

I've had a pair of Solomon Dolomites for about 15 years and they are the best pieces of footwear I've ever owned. They've easily got a few hundred trail and backpack miles on them and all without even a blister or hot spot. They're still in wearable condition complete with a little bathroom caulk keeping the outer sole attached to the toe. Things of beauty they are.

This year I'm breaking in a pr of Asolo Fugitive gtx, but the jury is still out.

[poconoron]

These days I hike primarily in Salomon Low and Mid Expert Hiker boots- I have 1 pair of each and use the Mids when I want more ankle support. These are great, comfortable walking boots and suitable for packing up to about 25 lbs. in pack weight which is pretty much as high as I go lately.

Each pair has around 1,000 miles plus on them and they've both held up very well. I expect to get a few more years out of each.

[Neil]

Last year I started hiking and bushwhacking in trail runners if the weather was dry and did some slides in something called approach shoes. I preferred them to my hiking boots.

The only potential trouble with people wearing sneakers, lowtops etc. is if it is wet and muddy the tendency is to go around the wet spots and widen the trail.

[Wldrns]

I've been happy with a couple of different Asolo's over the years. I like Merrells too. Now I'm into Limmers. The Ultralightweight is actually more like any other manufacturer's midweight and is what I am wearing in the backcountry now. Anyone with Limmers will tell you to be sure you give them a good long break in period before going on a major hike. Then they will fit like a glove and not give you any trouble.

[paul ron]

ASOLO 520s are comfortable right out of the box and I have one fat pair of dogs.

My 8 year old Vasque Treckers have no replacement, otherwise I would have gotten another pair. I should have gotten a spare pair back then. It breaks my heart to get rid of em. The only problem is the foam padding inside is rotting, nothing wrong with the leather outters or the soles. They aren't leaking still fully waterproof. I wounder if anyone can redo the foam?

[Iceman]

Ok, I'll admit it! I do go around the wet spots but hey, I'm from NJ where we even go around blowdowns. When wearing low-tops its important to wear gators to keep the debris out of the shoes.

Iceman