Durable Boots

[Huntsman247]

I'm curious what type of boots you all wear for offtrack bush bashing?
I'm not interested in starting a debate on trail runners vs boots debate. I already have some trail runners and while they have their place, boots also have theirs.
I've been very disappointed with my Lowa Tibets from a durability point of view. Now it appears like I'm going to need a resole after less than 2 years of use. Not impressed with the boots.

I'm looking for a boot that has a hard shank and little to no sole flex.
Surely there are ones here that carry heavy gear over rugged terrain. What boots do you find more durable and longer lasting?

[north-north-west]

Different boots for different feet. I know a lot of people who love Scarpa or Zamberlan. I swear by my Asolos.

[Huntsman247]

Different boots for different feet. I know a lot of people who love Scarpa or Zamberlan. I swear by my Asolos.

Cheers. Yeah the hard part will be finding a way to try them on given where I live. I've never been that excited with the way Scarpa boots have fit but might have to look into the Zamberlans and Asolos.

[Moondog55]

I'm curious what type of boots you all wear for offtrack bush bashing?

I'm looking for a boot that has a hard shank and little to no sole flex.
Surely there are ones here that carry heavy gear over rugged terrain. What boots do you find more durable and longer lasting?

La Sportive Makalu
http://www.bogong.com.au/footwear/hikin ... alu-1.html
http://www.bogong.com.au/footwear/hikin ... alu-1.html
Hard to find in Australia now but Bogong have a pair left in a 41 as per the link
They now stock the Karakoram as a replacement but the older boot would be my preference, I need to replace mine due to my feet growing so when I can afford it buying from OS
http://www.bogong.com.au/footwear/hikin ... oot-1.html
Getting hard to find real boots in a 47 but the 46 now pinch my feet.
But being a light mountaineering boot they run a little narrow, if you have wide feet I'd avoid them

[Huntsman247]

But being a light mountaineering boot they run a little narrow, if you have wide feet I'd avoid them

I've got wide feet...

[north-north-west]

Different boots for different feet. I know a lot of people who love Scarpa or Zamberlan. I swear by my Asolos.

Cheers. Yeah the hard part will be finding a way to try them on given where I live. I've never been that excited with the way Scarpa boots have fit but might have to look into the Zamberlans and Asolos.

My feet hate Scarpas. Asolos are better with wider feet, and there are lacing tricks you can use that help as well.

[commando]

[quote="Huntsman247"
I'm looking for a boot that has a hard shank and little to no sole flex.
[/quote]

That requirement is a rigid mountaineering boot for snow ice and crampons, and not really a bushwalking boot
If you want a hard shank, military army gp boots, some have stainless steel plate, and the high lace up may give the rigidity you seek.
$125.

[matagi]

Different boots for different feet. I know a lot of people who love Scarpa or Zamberlan. I swear by my Asolos.

Cheers. Yeah the hard part will be finding a way to try them on given where I live. I've never been that excited with the way Scarpa boots have fit but might have to look into the Zamberlans and Asolos.

Different model Scarpa boots used to be made with different lasts, so if you found one type of Scarpa worked/fitted it did not necessarily follow that all Scarpas would fit and vice versa. I don't know if they still do that, but it might be worth investigating Scarpas again. Unfortunately, they don't put the information about the last on the boots it's only on the box. Hubby has Scarpas but can only wear those made with the AX last (at least, I think it's the AX)

[Moondog55]

[quote="Huntsman247"
I'm looking for a boot that has a hard shank and little to no sole flex.

That requirement is a rigid mountaineering boot for snow ice and crampons, and not really a bushwalking boot
If you want a hard shank, military army gp boots, some have stainless steel plate, and the high lace up may give the rigidity you seek.
$125.[/quote]

Not always, this type of boot is also called a "Heavy Hiker" for those of us who carry heavy loads on rough terrain, while having a steel shank and a thick and not very flexible sole the Makalus I linked to above are OK with flexible crampons but cannot be used with rigid ice climbing crampons, they are after all a leather boot and those are never as stiff as a plastic boot

[Huntsman247]

That requirement is a rigid mountaineering boot for snow ice and crampons, and not really a bushwalking boot
If you want a hard shank, military army gp boots, some have stainless steel plate, and the high lace up may give the rigidity you seek.
$125.

A hard shank is not just for snow and ice.
When walking offtrack over steep terrain, scree, areas with lots of fallen trees, a stiff shank saves your feet from so much punishment. Especially when having a heaver pack. You'd have to be a masochist to stick to a soft sole if you do that regularly.
I've taken a look a gp army boots in the past. Just not technical enough. Although lacing high they don't have the same support and padding as heavy weight bushwalking boots. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you couldn't use them for that. But I'm looking to make my life easier not just get by.

[Huntsman247]

Different boots for different feet. I know a lot of people who love Scarpa or Zamberlan. I swear by my Asolos.

Cheers. Yeah the hard part will be finding a way to try them on given where I live. I've never been that excited with the way Scarpa boots have fit but might have to look into the Zamberlans and Asolos.

Different model Scarpa boots used to be made with different lasts, so if you found one type of Scarpa worked/fitted it did not necessarily follow that all Scarpas would fit and vice versa. I don't know if they still do that, but it might be worth investigating Scarpas again. Unfortunately, they don't put the information about the last on the boots it's only on the box. Hubby has Scarpas but can only wear those made with the AX last (at least, I think it's the AX)

I think I've tried the wide scarpas but they still feel off for me... I've just got unusual feet. Lol

[Aardvark]

You're doing everybody a dis-service by perpetuating the myth that any one brand is consistent with the type of footwear (in terms of size and shape) it produces.
It would simply make no sense for any brand to limit it's market in such a way. That's akin to someone opening a store for left handed people only.

A brand has to cater for as much of the market as it can in order to survive or compete. The problem is often exacerbated by a small market such as ours (Australia) in which any one retailer or wholesaler chooses to purchase a limited number of options from any one brand.

Your experience (and it would be wrong to say that's not limited because most people don't accumulate too many boots let alone get to try on dozens of options) might make you shy of a particular brand. To advocate the purchase of only one brand to anyone else, based on your experience, is to deny that FIT is more important.

If you're too tight with the dollars to accept that you might get it wrong from time to time and choose a lemon then perhaps you should question if the activity you're doing is right for you OR the risks to yourself and those who might have to deal in some way with your misfortune are really worth it.
An activity such as bushwalking dictates that the interface between you and the earth you tread is probably the most important piece of equipment you could have.

[Huntsman247]

You're doing everybody a dis-service by perpetuating the myth that any one brand is consistent with the type of footwear (in terms of size and shape) it produces.
It would simply make no sense for any brand to limit it's market in such a way. That's akin to someone opening a store for left handed people only.

Lol. Thanks for the laugh.
Dunno how I'm perpetuating myths here. I've tried already tried certain boots and am not quite happy with the market offerings of 'popular' brands. Hence looking for some other brands that I haven't tried. I'm after hard wearing boots but in no way am I indicating that one should trade fit and comfort for durability or be tight fisted in buying boots given my current boots fall in the 'premium' bracket I'm surprised you've come to that conclusion.
Nor has anyone else's comments indicated that except for certain models. Which is perfectly normal, as that are as you say varied between models.

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Back in the '80's I had a pair of Rossi something-or-others. Very stiff sole, rigid steel shank, brilliant for walking up scree slopes and rough rocky terrain. After many years the steel shank broke on one, so I looked around for something similar but Rossi don't make them like that anymore. I ended up with a pair of One Planet Douglas's. Aussie company although the boots aren't made in Oz. Sole is stiff but not in the same league as the old Rossi's. Might be worth considering though.

[Huntsman247]

Back in the '80's I had a pair of Rossi something-or-others. Very stiff sole, rigid steel shank, brilliant for walking up scree slopes and rough rocky terrain. After many years the steel shank broke on one, so I looked around for something similar but Rossi don't make them like that anymore. I ended up with a pair of One Planet Douglas's. Aussie company although the boots aren't made in Oz. Sole is stiff but not in the same league as the old Rossi's. Might be worth considering though.

Oooh didn't know oneplanet made boots. I'll check them out.

[north-north-west]

Your experience (and it would be wrong to say that's not limited because most people don't accumulate too many boots let alone get to try on dozens of options) might make you shy of a particular brand. To advocate the purchase of only one brand to anyone else, based on your experience, is to deny that FIT is more important.

I hadn't noticed anyone advocating the purchase of only one brand regardless of fit and circumstance. What we have done is say what works for us.
Like Huntsman, I have weird feet. They scream when I try on Scarpas (amongst some others), and have done so with every style of Scarpa I have tried over my entire walking career, which is far too many. But when my feet slide into a particular style of Asolo I found some 15 years ago, they breathe a sigh of something fairly close to ecstasy.
That doesn't mean anyone else will have the same experience, but we were asked for our personal experiences, so ...

[Lamont]

I have wide feet and wore the One Planets -black suede ones-when they came out about four years back and liked them but for the finish of the inner. If they have improved the quality of the inner (sole area seams were raised) they are alright. I think they were still getting it right, as I returned them no issue with about 100 ks on them, but they couldn't guarantee the others were any better. So I didn't replace them.

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

I have wide feet and wore the One Planets -black suede ones-when they came out about four years back and liked them but for the finish of the inner. If they have improved the quality of the inner (sole area seams were raised) they are alright. I think they were still getting it right, as I returned them no issue with about 100 ks on them, but they couldn't guarantee the others were any better. So I didn't replace them.

Black Suede sounds like the Douglas's. I went and had another look at mine but I couldn't find any raised seams inside. Maybe they fixed the problem. I find them comfortable albeit a bit on the heavy side.

[Lamont]

I have wide feet and wore the One Planets -black suede ones-when they came out about four years back and liked them but for the finish of the inner. If they have improved the quality of the inner (sole area seams were raised) they are alright. I think they were still getting it right, as I returned them no issue with about 100 ks on them, but they couldn't guarantee the others were any better. So I didn't replace them.

Black Suede sounds like the Douglas's. I went and had another look at mine but I couldn't find any raised seams inside. Maybe they fixed the problem. I find them comfortable albeit a bit on the heavy side.

Yep, The Douglas -just had a look at OP. I loved the look of that black suede-I felt like Elvis.
The inner sole they provided was a joke (no really, I laughed out loud. It was stuck together and literally a little pad under the heel had been (messily) glued on -by hand!) and when I put my proper one in the boot the seam began shredding the inner sole-that cost me a good dollar.
Good to know they sorted the inner. I think I ordered the first pair and when I gave them my feedback perhaps they binned the rest of them as I got the impression all the others were the same? Worth checking under the inner sole on a purchase perhaps?
ps unrelated I wish they would remove that incredibly dopey wp liner and I might try a pair of the shoey things.

[Tino B]

A mate of mine uses Meindl Jorasse boots off track and their forestry equivalent for work. They are surprisingly light for such solid boots, have few exposed seems and a stiff shank.

https://runrepeat.com/meindl-jorasse-gtx

[slparker]

If you really, really must have boots with a rigid sole I can recommend Salomon x-alp ltr mid. They are a B1 (i.e. for flexible crampons) mountaineering boot but very lightweight for that style of footwear.

I know that you said that you wanted boots but Salomon xa pro 3ds work well for me off track. Personally, I see no reason to wear boots when the track ends and the scrub/scree or rock starts - of course it depends upon where you are going off track but my trail runners get beat up less on dolerite boulder fields than my old trad leather boots did because of the extensive rand.

I am NOT trying to start a boots vs trail runners thread but I have found some trail runners to be very durable I have had some trad boots to self destruct even on track. Moreover, boots almost invariably come with a gore-tex liner these days which may be what you want as well but if you don't: good luck finding a pair. The closest I have found is a non gtx leather approach shoe with a stiff sole.

[headwerkn]

Watching this thread with interest.

I, too, absolutely abhor my Lowa Tibet GTXs and honestly will be surprised they'll last me 2 years without major repair work. Useless randing, soft leather, crap soles. Not terribly comfortable either for longer walks.

I'll happily ditch them come summer for either lightweight boots or trail runners, but it would be nice to have a decent, fairly waterproof option for winter hiking that can handle microspikes/snow shoes without falling to bits.

[crollsurf]

I can recommend Zamberlan Vios boots. Super stiff sole but comfortable heel to toe when walking. Love these boots but don't wear them often because they are heavy. Also being leather upper you have to keep the polish up to them. Mountain Designs used to sell them before they went broke, so not sure where to go these days to try on a pair.

For a super durable sole, I've clocked over 1500km on a pair of Scarpa Moraine Plus GTX hiking shoes. Upper finally split behind the little toe just a couple of days ago. No ankle protection and the sole isn't that great for grip but for durability, I've never owned another shoe that has come close to these.

[Dave95]

Zamberlans are still sold by Mountain Designs. They didn't go broke. They closed their physical stores and went online but took a break in-between. Zamberlan have also partnered with Anaconda who stock a selection of their gear, including, it appears, Zamberlans.

[PedroArvy]

my trail runners get beat up less on dolerite boulder fields than my old trad leather boots did because of

What specific brands and models of trail runners do you like for boulder fields?

[slparker]

my trail runners get beat up less on dolerite boulder fields than my old trad leather boots did because of

What specific brands and models of trail runners do you like for boulder fields?

Salomon trail runners have a durable rubber rand as do La Sportiva Ultra Raptors. I made the connection when I wore some ultralight salomon synapse boots (now long discontinued) up ben lomond - the toes were mildly scratched but on previous trips my leather boots were deeply scored by the scree. Since then I have worn trail runners.

Obviously a leather boot with a rubber rand would likely be more durable than trail runners but then also heaps heavier and more clumsy whilst rockhopping on boulder fields.

[Dexter]

Different boots for different feet. I know a lot of people who love Scarpa or Zamberlan. I swear by my Asolos.

Cheers. Yeah the hard part will be finding a way to try them on given where I live. I've never been that excited with the way Scarpa boots have fit but might have to look into the Zamberlans and Asolos.

Huntsman what size are you? I have some Zamberlan 996 Vioz in a US 10.5 if you want to try them, so long as you are happy to pay postage and I see them again

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[Huntsman247]

Different boots for different feet. I know a lot of people who love Scarpa or Zamberlan. I swear by my Asolos.

Cheers. Yeah the hard part will be finding a way to try them on given where I live. I've never been that excited with the way Scarpa boots have fit but might have to look into the Zamberlans and Asolos.

Huntsman what size are you? I have some Zamberlan 996 Vioz in a US 10.5 if you want to try them, so long as you are happy to pay postage and I see them again

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

Hey mate, cheers for the offer. I've actually bought a new pair already and was just wanting to use them a couple more times before I gave a bit of an update.
All good for now though. I'm actually 10.5 UK so I think my feet wouldn't fit anyways unfortunately.

[Dexter]

All good! What did you end up buying?