Thread: New boots... It's time!!

Hi, I've stretched it for as long as I could.. but it's finally time for a new pair - Roar ready!

I'm tossing up these two options below, but leaning towards the Alpina. Anybody running these? Any good or avoid like the plague? Budget of $500. Hunting mainly around Canterbury.

https://www.guncity.com/alpina-nepal-boot-brown-347984

https://www.guncity.com/hunters-elem...lu-boot-343522

Also, I have mates that have recommended these Salomons below but I'm unsure as they have no rand.

https://www.bivouac.co.nz/salomon-me...-gtx-boot.html


Any help would be appreciated

Go try boots on and buy what suits. I was sold on crispis but have 'kiwi' feet so they were too narrow. Stuck with Lowa because they offer wife fit boots.
What size are your feet?

Agree, you need to spend 15 mins in each boot walking around the shop. I wouldn't go near hunters element boots personally. I finally upgraded my beloved scarpas after the soles fell off last year to a pair of these: https://www.bivouac.co.nz/footwear/m...ain-boots.html. Similar spec to lowa tibets, but cheaper, lighter and less bulky.

My son has these Salomon boots and he really likes them, finds them comfortable straight out of the box, but we struggle to get 2 years out of a pair - a lot of our hunting is on the west coast where they are wet pretty much all the time and this destroys boots.

I have some Meindl Himilaya’s, but they are very heavy when wet. Have just bought some Crispi Summit GTX. Only been for a couple of 8km walks around the road with my dog (only got them last Saturday), but they are very comfortable. Be interesting to see how they are on hills, but pretty happy so far. Rand is stitched on at the edges so hopefully will last better than the Meindl’s.

I've had a pair of Lowa Ticams for the last 8 years and will be getting them resoled after the roar/Winter hunting. They've been a very good boot for me so I don't have experience with anything else. However I like leather as it's waterproof and lasts well if you look after it.

Definitely try a few different pairs on though and pick what is comfortable. Ideally walk around for at least 30min before hand as your feet always swell up a bit when you're walking as opposed to sitting down.

No matter what brand you get make sure you look after it, any (leather) boot will start cracking and pulling stiching if it's sat right next to the fire to dry or left in the Ute dirty after a day in the stock yards.

Also get appropriate boots. Don't get a stiff leather boot if you are a bush hobbit etc

I have been wearing an earlier iteration of the Salomons you are looking at. I wouldn't hesitate to buy them again except that they just refuse to give up, six years on and they're still an awesome hunting boot. I also run up and down Tauhara in a pair of Salomon trail shoes which I recently used on a hunting trip, if it wasn't for the lack of ankle support I'd wear them instead.
Sold on Salomons!

Yes I have had Alpine Tibet's for about 2 years. Can't complain, they are a good light weight leather boot but not a mountain boot. Have stood up to heaps of river crossings etc. I did get a nice gel inner for them which is super comfy. Just got some light gortex Salewa boots to try for bush. Comfy out of the box.

Salomons are great boots. Straight out of the box comfortable. They dont last too long though.

Have you checked out Sarvos boots?

Man, I wouldn't go near either of those boots

Bivouac, find a pair of Scarpas on sale. Enjoy

I'd definitely stay away from hunters element. I got a pair to walk around pine forests chasing pheasant, they didn't even last a pheasant season before the inner liner tore through and the Achilles tendon support started rubbing.
All the advice above is excellent, just get in store and try some boots on, walk around in them in the socks you want to wear while hunting (if you have specific socks) and find the boot that feels the best.
I picked up a pair of Hanwag boots on sale for $500, at twice the cost the hunters element boot, I can honestly say they are more than twice as good. As people like to say "buy once, cry once"

Originally Posted by superdiver

Also get appropriate boots. Don't get a stiff leather boot if you are a bush hobbit etc

Unless your ankles and knees are buggered

Hi
I currently own a pair of Salomons - Like you say they don't have the hard rand for the cut of scree etc but there is a section above that would handle most other things like sticks and bush bashing. This is my second pair first pair lasted 8 years and the tread was absolutely gone. I do look after them though so they're not thrashed on a day-to-day basis. the reason I like them so much is they are light which makes a difference over long days walking the hills and bush. Kinda like a crossover from offroad running shoe and boot. Love em but I'd call them a Bush and valley floor boot. Not a High altitude boot where you need the high cut often for ankle support and rand to protect from the rocks.

My High cut boot is a Grisport Aorangi - why wide fitting most the euro style boots are skinny as F&*% - Scarpa's aside (used to have a pair of these too years ago..) no good for us with flipper feet. The GRi was great and waterproofed with Huberds and a pair of Stoney creek gaiters - bulletproof out and about. I have had after prolonged wet usage in fiordland for a week they glue started to separate. But just reglued with Ados.

I am hearing amazing things about Crispi boots though if you can stretch that far. Like the Salomon light but take an absolute beating and up to a southern traverse or two. These are most likely going to be my replacements for the Gri's - once I get sick of re-gluing them.

hope this helps.
CD.

PS: Get a pair of Icebreaker boot socks when they are next on sale - Absolute lifesavers and make such a difference to your feet. I have a light pair for summer when my feet get a bit hot. But the full cushioned numbers just rock when things get a bit colder. Do it - your feet will personally thank you for it!.

Meindl Dovre GTX, they nice and high too for shallow water