Need New Boots

[Steve M]

I bought a pair of Merrells last summer at EMS in North Conway and hiked nine miles in them the next day. They were great. My feet were grateful for good quality trail runners.

[Mike D]

I remember when I was an intern I was issued the LL Bean summer boots. I put a lot of trail behind me that summer, all of it above treeline. In one particular week I must have hiked 50 miles (not bad for hikes squeezed in before and after 10 hour work days). By the end of August the heel tread was worn down to nubs. They did quite well considering the terrain.

[Steve M]

I remember when I was an intern

Oh, come on Mike, your not old enough to remember that far back.

[Mike D]

Oh, come on Mike, your not old enough to remember that far back.

Are you saying I'm too young to have remembered or not old enough to have forgotten?

[Steve M]

Are you saying I'm too young to have remembered or not old enough to have forgotten?

I'm saying to remember something so far back you are not old enough to remember...unless you are so old that you just think you remember but actually are remembering something all together different than what you think you remember.

[Charlie]

Thanks again KDT. After looking at the Wasatch again I see what you are talking about. Right now I am leaning towards the Breeze boots they seem to have good reviews from the Rei web site.
http://www.rei.com/product/737707
Of course I still have to get to Rei and try them on and see what else they have there. Thanks again and have a safe and happy New Year
Chris

i just looked at these boots and i might try them ,they look like the ones i got 6 yr ago from EMS and they don't have them any more .i wear them every day and they lasted 6yr so it is time for new ones. i hope i can get at least 3 yrs out of these

[Jimmy Legs and Little d]

Maybe 10 years ago I bought a pair of North Col boots from LL Bean. They had a Norwegian welt and were made in Italy. I have resoled them only once.
Although they are a little heavy they have lasted a long time. Unfortunately, Bean doesn't sell them any longer; however, Cabelas has a boot similar to Beans' and Merrell sells one also. Neither one is isulated or has a Gortex liner (along with my North Cols'); but, if you keep the full grain leather boot well sealed with something like "Snow seal" you will not have any leakage. One thing to note about Gortex, you must still waterproof the outside of the shoe to prevent the material from "clogging" the pores of the membrane.

[Squid]

It all depends on what kind of hiking you want to do too!
I have two pairs of boots

I have these asolo for summer, and spring
http://www.asolo.com/content.asp?L=3&idMen=429

Love them, they are cool, have great grip, the only problem i had, I went through a river, and after i dryed them they shrunk on me, but i did the painful one day 10+ hour walk and now they are back to being a good boot!

And i have these Montrail
http://www.shoebuy.com/montrail-olympus/46561/46561

And i LOVE these, they are more of a early spring/ early winter boot and can be used for ice climbing. But i use them year round, even in the winter and find they are really warm, and I did hike Washington this year in the summer with them and i did fine with the heat! I love these boots, I got the montail ice system with these, so i have a full carbon fiber foot bed. I dont think montail makes them anymore

what every you get, make sure you will be happy with them, There is a new store in ST Johnsbury called The Kingdom Outdoors, and they are GREAT with making sure you get what you need and want.

best of luck!
Squid

[CHRIS]

Well I went to REI today and picked up my boots and some other stuff. I purchased Asolo Fugitive GTX boots http://www.rei.com/product/706762 they have Goretex and a diffrent kind of rubber sole.They were very very comfortable and when I walked on the rocks they have going down my toes did not get crunched all up against the front.They were a little more $170.00 but a few bucks more for comfortable feet are worth it.

Chris

[Brad]

Great news Chris. Now you have to get and use them for real.