elkduds
Well-known member
Keen women's size 11 fits my B width feet perfectly. Plus, women's size 11s are often on clearance.
Spending Money on Good Boots
- Thread starter FamilyMan
- Start date
Muley_Stalker
Well-known member
Goe-Tex is meant to be in water all day. That's what's used in good waders. My Simms waders use Gore-Tex and never leak. I'm talking fly fishing not hunting with them. Being in water all day doesn't make them leak.
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Deleted member 28227
Guest
Honestly... aside from my arcteryx and sitka rain jackets every goretex product I've used has leaked. I've had better results with eVent.
Muley_Stalker
Well-known member
Simms would be out of business if Gore-Tex didn't work. As it is they're the best waders you can buy. Nobody is going to pay $500-$800 for waders if they leak.
In your case i'm sure it's not the Gore-Tex that's leaking. It's the construction. It's impossible for Gore-Tex to leak. The holes are too small to let a water droplet through it. All that can get get through Gore-Tex is air. That's why they breathe but don't let water through it.
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Deleted member 28227
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Those boots are eVent. I've used tons of gortex products... boots, gloves, pants, jackets, etc etc.
Honestly I don't think the membrane is so much the issue as the construction of the product itself.
Muley_Stalker
Well-known member
We agree on that. You gave the impression that the Gore-Tex was leaking. At least that's how I took it and others might have too. I didn't want guys bad mouthing the Gore-Tex itself. It's a good product but won't stop bad construction from leaking.
I'm a drywall contractor. That means heavy weight all day. Drywall dust sucks the moisture out of everything, then when mudding your always mixing water.
I'm in boots 6 dats a week all day. There is no way im spending $400 for boots.
If your a guide, or Fin, and you're in boots 100,s of days, maybe.
The most important thing for boots are your feet. If you ride a desk, your feet are going to show it, and no amount of fancy boot making will cover for soft feet.
I'm a 14, so 2/3 of boots are off limits.
Campfire had 14 Crispi Nevada, Idaho last year for $99 a pair. I grabbed one of each.
I'm really want to love the Nevada's. They are good looking. Nice leather. And the bro hunters rave about them. Honestly, they are just ok.
The Idaho's aren't as trendy, not sure the flat brimmers will wear them. I like them.
There is no way I'd pay what they want for either of them retail.
I'm a big guy to start with, then add to it carrying sheetrock around, ALL boots break down.
I'd rather replace them more often, than expect them to perform as designed years down the road.
My .02
I'm in boots 6 dats a week all day. There is no way im spending $400 for boots.
If your a guide, or Fin, and you're in boots 100,s of days, maybe.
The most important thing for boots are your feet. If you ride a desk, your feet are going to show it, and no amount of fancy boot making will cover for soft feet.
I'm a 14, so 2/3 of boots are off limits.
Campfire had 14 Crispi Nevada, Idaho last year for $99 a pair. I grabbed one of each.
I'm really want to love the Nevada's. They are good looking. Nice leather. And the bro hunters rave about them. Honestly, they are just ok.
The Idaho's aren't as trendy, not sure the flat brimmers will wear them. I like them.
There is no way I'd pay what they want for either of them retail.
I'm a big guy to start with, then add to it carrying sheetrock around, ALL boots break down.
I'd rather replace them more often, than expect them to perform as designed years down the road.
My .02
Hiking and mountaineering boots are designed for just that. If your buying them for construction work and drywall, that might not be the smartest use of your resources.
You don’t have to drop four bills to get really good boots. Sales happen. I’m not a guide, but I don’t think twice about buying top end boots. My hunting necessitates it.
I’ve worn Crispis, really good boots. I don’t understand what your bro and flat brim comments have to do with them.
Muley_Stalker
Well-known member
I agree. Work boots and mountain boots are different.
FamilyMan
Active member
Thanks for all the replies to my questions. Not everyone spoke to what I was asking about, but a lot of very good information just the same.
FamilyMan
FamilyMan
Your initial question didn't specify how you planned to use the boot. Lots of difference between a boot for hiking the prairies vs carrying a heavy pack through shale. Figure out where you'll spend the most time, but also base it on your greatest limiting factor. A boot meant for the prairie likely won't function well in the high mountain shale, but a boot meant for high mountain shale might function just fine on the prairie. I wear a backpacking boot for just about everything.
Muley_Stalker
Well-known member
My boots are all I wear. I don't own any other footwear.
If you see me no matter where I am i'll be wearing my Meindl's. We've become good friends.
If you see me no matter where I am i'll be wearing my Meindl's. We've become good friends.
I don't wear them for construction.
My point was I don't spend 4 bills for boots I spend all year in. Boots break down. There are reasons pro athletes don't wear shoes a whole season.
As to crispis. I wear them. But if you don't get the bro and flat brim crack, you should look around a little.
You do wear them for drywall work, which is a subsidiary of construction. Stop arguing petty semantics.
Yes, boots break down. My point was its silly to pay for mountaineering/backpacking boots and then use them for uses they weren't designed for. Boots do break down. That's why I replace my inserts.
You're ight. Work Boots are worn daily for long hours. And are built to do so. And very few guys who "live" in their boots are dropping what a pair of high end hunting boots cost.
The high end boot, clothes, truck, etc companies are selling an image as much as a need.
Dudes hunting whitetail in Kansas dont "need" a pair of kenetreks, or lowas.
The OP asked if they were necessary. Not if they are cool.
If someone is too dumb to differentiate between image and need, then that's on them. I don't skimp on boots or tires, and my purchases are based on functionality and not marketing.
You missed the point AGAIN.
I wear wedge sole redwings for work.
They are half what a pair of kenetreks are.
They are on my feet 10hrs a day.
There are very few guys who hunt enough that they "need" $400+ dollar boots.
The OP was asking about needing them.
You don't. You dont "need" a lot of the high end camo fashion around today.
Need and want are 2 different things.
The needs of a guide or FIN, and the needs of a dude who gets out a few trips a year are vastly different.
On top of the fact that mountaineering boots are by their nature not real comfortable.
I'm not real sure how this is even controversial at all.
Not everyone lives in the Rockies growing up in mtns.
If Guys ask questions, i assume they are questioning.
Doesn't mean they are dumb, just means there are tons of images of dudes watering around in the elk woods wearing $2000 worth of clothes and boots. Carrying $5k ultra mags.
It's not that hard.
Best thing about randy is his message of going and doing it.
Go check Fin early video. Flat bed trailer. He's wearing Wranglers.
Sure there are better stuff.
But guys can learn that as they go.
You don't need high end boots to hunt elk.
Hundreds of years worth of evidence support me.
My apologies. I thought you were stating you would not buy $400 boots to wear for drywall, and since the conversation was revolving around hunting boots I wrongly assumed you were referencing the same.
Without knowing how the OP intends to hunt, it's rather presumptions of you to state he doesn't need them. Or anyone else other than "guides or FIN".
Opinions are subjective. My Zamberlans are perfectly comfortable to hunt all day in, flat or steep terrain. I don't know why you're so fixated on $400. If you shop sales, you'll never pay that. Even if you do, when you amortize the boots out over their life it likely isn't any more than buying cheaper boots. I'll get three years out of my Zamberlans, minimum, and maybe more. That's spending 60-75 days per year hunting in county that is as hard on boots as it gets.
I also wear Zamberlans for work. They're also on my feet for 10 hours a day.
Not sure what camo has to do with boots.
You seem intent on hyperbole. Carry on.
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