Any hikers in here? Looking for some boots.....

muncybob
muncybob Posts: 3,065
in The Clubhouse
I love to hike although these old knees have curtailed that activity somewhat these days. Anyhow, my old Italian made Vasque boots are about done. Loved these boots and they were well worth the $$ but as much as I liked them I have a problem going Vasque again due to being made in China. There are lots of reviews out there for hiking boots and you just don't know what's a "real" review and what are fake. So, has anybody recently bought a pair of boots that they really like or dislike?
Yep, my name really is Bob.
Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited October 2014
    I do a lot of hiking myself, but have switched from actual boots to hiking shoes.

    Admittedly, I don't scramble over rocks or climb, but have found New Balance hiking shoes to give both comfort and support at a cheaper price, so better value to me.

    If I were backpacking, then definitely boots or a shoe that has ankle support, no doubt there - but for hiking, you may want to open the selection to 'shoes'.

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jeremymarcinko
    jeremymarcinko Posts: 3,785
    Growing up near the original factory in Nelsonville Ohio, I have always been partial to Rocky boots. Although they began outsourcing some of their production 10 years ago or so, the factory in Nelsonville is still in operation and is the heart of the small southeast Ohio town. I have owned many pair of Rockys over the years, most I still have, from work boots, hunting, hikers, and casuals. There products are fantastic and I would imagine you would be quite pleased with a pair of their gortex hikers.
    Oh, Listen here mister. We got no way of understandin' this world. But we got as much sense of this bird flyin in the sky. Now there is a lot that bird don't know, but it don't change the fact that the world is happening to him all the same. What I am tryin to say is, is that the course of your life, well its changing, and you don't even see it- Forest Bondurant
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jflail2
    jflail2 Posts: 2,868
    I have a pair of Vasque and a pair of Keens and enjoy them both.
    2007 Club Polk Football Pool Champ

    2010 Club Polk Fantasy Football Champ

    2011 Club Polk Football Pool Champ


    "It's like a koala bear crapped a rainbow in my brain!"
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MrBuhl
    MrBuhl Posts: 2,419
    edited October 2014
    hard to beat a good pair of Vasque - though I also really like my Asolo boots.

    Salomon, Meindl and Raichle also come to mind as great names. I have Meindl hunting boots.
    VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
    VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
    Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000

    Polk SDA1c modded
    Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
    Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
    A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
    SACD Marantz DV8300
    Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
    Yamaha YP-D6
    Soundcraftsmen PCR800
    Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
    Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
    Pho-700 Phono Pre
    Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's






    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    I like Hi-Tec for value/performance. The seem to have a pair that fits your needs and style very lightweight... I use the shoes more than the boots too.

    http://us.hi-tec.com/mens/hiking-boots.html

    I also have a pair of their golf shoes that I can play all day in... and a pair of their flip flops too.

    good value.
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Msabot1
    Msabot1 Posts: 2,098
    Corcoran.....excellent ankle support in rocky terrain...also very good in sandy...good all around boot.....
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • drumminman
    drumminman Posts: 3,396
    I have a pair of Merrells I bought 3 years ago for a January trip to Montreal. Light weight, insulated, water proof with great support. I love Merrells cause they always fit the same way and hold up. Great support too.
    "Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,132
    Got a pair of Keens hikers, and a pair of Keen work boots excellent brand comfy and lightweight but still rugged , also own Rocky hikers and hunting boots, and some Redwing
    Hikers and work boots. I like them all but the Keens are my favorites.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
    JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365

    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    I very very highly recommend Lowa backpacking boots. Handmade in Germany and phenominal. I have been backpacking for 25 years and own a pair and am more than satisfied. Link below:

    http://www.lowaboots.com/catalog/backpacking/?Type=M
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • HHStuart
    HHStuart Posts: 263
    I would go to EMS or REI. They have been very helpful. I've been backpacking for 40 years.
    Front - Polk LSiM 705, Center - Polk LSiM 704c, Rear - Polk LSi 7
    Subwoofer - Epik Legend
    Receiver (as Preamp) - Sony STR-DA3400 ES
    Amplifier - Outlaw 7125
    Television - 58" Samsung Plasma PN58B860
    Blu Ray - OPPO BDP 83
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,065
    I looked at some boots recently and was not impressed with the fabric loops that the laces thread through. I am also surprised how many boots these days do not have quick lace systems. I am very impressed with the build of Lowa although I've never owned a pair...hoping to find somebody local that has them and some of the others named here to go try them out.
    Yep, my name really is Bob.
    Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • voltz
    voltz Posts: 5,384
    Mikey081057 wrote: »
    I like Hi-Tec for value/performance. The seem to have a pair that fits your needs and style very lightweight... I use the shoes more than the boots too.

    http://us.hi-tec.com/mens/hiking-boots.html

    I also have a pair of their golf shoes that I can play all day in... and a pair of their flip flops too.

    good value.

    I bought some hiking style boots for winter from Hi-tec and they have been one of the best pair of boots I have owned, never hurt my feet once, and seem to fit perfectly right from the start.
    2 ch- Polk CRS+ * Vincent SA-31MK Preamp * Vincent Sp-331 Amp * Marantz SA8005 SACD * Project Xperience Classic TT * Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge

    HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,024
    I agree with Headrott: I bought a pair of Lowa's way over a decade ago to hike in Europe with and have worn the snot out of them since, very light and have held up extremely well.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • eor
    eor Posts: 28
    www.limmercustomboot.com in New Hampshire will do custom made to your feet which take forever to get or off the shelf made in Bavaria. Their lightweight model is quite sufficient for most people.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter