Thread: Whats your hunting footwear????

I have tried a few of the higher priced boots (Lowa, Miendl, Scarpa, Gronell, Bestard, Hanwag, La Sportiva, Gri Sport, Stein) and have yet to have a pair last more than 2-3 years without something significant failing - whether that be soles coming off, lace eyelets pulling out, stitching breaking down, rands pulling/breaking down off, etc. I wear them everyday, but not everyday on the hill - but they do get looked after. A lot of the time I wear them just to and from the office, or cruisy days out in the field. But all of them get put through their paces eventually. I've also tried the odd cheaper boot, but wearing them everyday they really only last a few months.

Currently I'm using Hanwag Alaskas and Bestard Coto's for hunting, and find both of there boots very supportive and kind to my feet. Hanwags are better in the rough stuff, as they have much better grip. Both pairs are coming up two years old and the Hanwags have blown stitching out the back (fixable) and are no longer water tight, and the Bestards have lost the sole on both boots at least once - glued once by distributor and other time by me. Their soles are rooted and I'll get them replaced locally with something more suitable for hill work as the boot them selves are still in pretty good condition. As they are at the moment they're a death wish on the hill.

Some of the best boots for durability in my experience have been top end La Sportivas and the Gronells. The Sportivas are very stiff and mainly designed as alpine boots - which is fine for what I do. They can be hard to break in and hard on your feet after a big day. The Gronells I liked as they fit my foot like a glove and lasted really well. However they went up in price quickly after they gained popularity here in NZ. My scarpas were awesome on the hill and the boots themselves lasted well but the internals fell to bits quite prematurely. I had a pair replaced under warranty and the new pair lasted a bit longer but failed in the same way.

These days I really only spend around $450-500 for a pair of boots, and am inclined to import them as it is a shite load cheaper, and I've been let down enough times by NZ distributors to believe their 'after sales support' is an irrelevant argument. My recommendations for buying boots for regular hunting use would be stay away from cheaper brands, still stick with higher priced quality Eurupean brands. For the average hunter who's wearing these boots only a handful of times a year, they should last a few years if looked after. Buy the boots that feel most comfortable for your foot, and provide what you feel has the most support. Grip on the sole is very important too - grippy boots will make you a lot more confident on the hill and may save you from a slip.

For evening hunts around the farm or forest I just use a pair of Ashleys, or my Quatros.