What kind of boots do y’all wear when hunting/hiking? Crossing rivers/water? What do you wear when you’re going 5-10km up a catchment to capture some food or what not? I’d tell you what I have but that’s irrelevant.
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What kind of boots do y’all wear when hunting/hiking? Crossing rivers/water? What do you wear when you’re going 5-10km up a catchment to capture some food or what not? I’d tell you what I have but that’s irrelevant.
I wear Salewa Rapace after I was put onto them, have been brilliant so far. Used to wear La Sportiva before that but the Salewa range suit my foot shape much better. I did use a pair of Grisport Hikers which are cheap for a couple of years too and they were actually better than the Sportiva's to be honest.
I wear Lowa tibets for everything but they are more of an off trail alpine boot.
Really not what you want if you're crossing streams and stalking in the bush. Once they get wet they weigh about 3kg and take 2-3 days to dry out.
I hunted for Forest Service for five years in Te Urewera and was a senior Ranger in there for 8 years - we only ever wore Skellerup Buller rubber boots - not one of us wore anything else - we used a 5 foot strip of 6 in wide light canvas as a putty around the top to keep crap out - I had two pairs -one pair without holes when we were not going to be river crossing and one pair was prepared for river travel - we burnt two holes -low down either side of instep to get water out once we had crossed river - quarter inch hole does it - dont be tempted to put hole on front - that sucks gravel in - much of Te Urewera is accessed by river travel and 12-15 crossings are not uncommon per day - they really are a superb choice for North Island bush country and even semi farmland -very quiet to stalk in - but Bullers are not suitable for much of the South Island or rocky parts of North Island such as Kawekas -one needs a decent alpine leather boot - Bullers are for soft ground not rocky stuff - my hunting in Taranaki bullers nothing elseQuote:
Originally Posted by Joe Schmo
you are right - I tried once to walk up a south Island ridge in Bullers when on a visit to friends in Haast - had very sore feet within a matter of hours - but did not think about that before leaving North Island and only had leather work boots at home - hard lesson very quickly -yes several different kinds are the go - our goat hunters here really liked the leather Meindls on Mt TaranakiQuote:
Originally Posted by 7mmwsm
Crispi Colorado's for me have tried many many boots and these fit the bill perfect
https://www.crispius.com/colorado-ii-gtx
yeah not sure - Farmlands had them and even our local Hunting fishing had them - I have 3 new pairs put away in the dark so wont need to buy any ever again - well unless a dishonest hunter burgles meQuote:
Originally Posted by Mohawk .308
Meindl guffert gtx, has a wider sole than the Island Pro model. Found this great as an all-round boot. Med stiffness shank, good leather, medium rand. Covers all of the North Island hunting I get to do.
Thanks boys!!
I have two pairs of Lowa Tibets and three pairs of Salomon 4D GTX in various states of “beat to shit”. I was wondering about whether you have mid or high or even super high boots that are needed?
If you are going to be in and out of rivers quite often then I would steer away from full leather boots as being wet all the time ruins them quickly.
My son hunts in Salomon 4D GTX’s and they are a great boot for river use as they dry out quickly. I have had several pairs of expensive full leather Meindl boots that have had a short life by being constantly wet when hunting, and impossible to get dry while away on a trip. I went to Crispi Summit boots - partly because they have semi synthetic outers so are easier to dry out, and partly because the rand is stitched to the boot so won’t peel off like it did on my Meindl’s.
where in nz are you visiting?
Couple of weekends ago, I did about 25km not accounting for elevation gains and losses, lots of river crossing zig zag stuff, proper steep tussock, scree, climbing through rotten rock, rear end of a reasonable sized young bull in the pack, did it in Ashleys. No dramas had or given. No matter how fancy your Gortex go faster boot is, tussock swamp, creeks and wet tussock will soak em out in quick time, now you have heavy wet cold weights on the end of your leg. I do tape my ankles for the genuine steep stuff though.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7mmwsm
Bring one pair of each you have there and you'll be fine. Boots that fit is the most important consideration. Any high end boot with decent tread will suit the type of hunting you are likely to do in NZ.
Those sound fine. Don't need high cut boots over here. No snakes to bite your shins:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Joe Schmo
Salomon are an excellent boot for NI Bush hunting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Schmo
Meindl Bhutans are mine, excellent bush bootsQuote:
Originally Posted by Jukes
Hopefully the Nelson area but only a brief trip of 40 or so years.Quote:
Originally Posted by gonetropo
This is like asking what's the best calibre!
But for me if I am carrying any weight then I am on my 3rd set of meindls and can't fault them. Had 2 island pros now the Dovre lows and they are the business.
If you are summer hunting with not much weight on your back then Selewas are good. Just not water proof when walking through wet tusocks for hours. Plus side being that they are not leather and dry out quickly
A pair of Red Bands will suit you well for most of the NI at the moment.
I may have only spent three weeks there but I learned enough to know that a 308 or 30-06 has never been able to kill anything more than a small rabbit. You need a 6.5XYZ to be a real hunter :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Gkp
oih....some of us still wear the taller version..ashleys and do our hunting in the south island....Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry the hunter
I do have another pair of boots which usually get the nod on hot days..but if its even slightly damp is gummies all day long.... not the best choice for up on the tops,and wouldnt want to spend much time on rock...but you CAN do a little bit without issues.
Joe reality check - in the last month in the North Island more deer and pigs will have been shot by local hunters wearing buller short gumboots or red band short gum boots than any thing else - good enough for usQuote:
Originally Posted by Joe Schmo
Really Barry??? Thats a pretty broad statement.
True for paddock hunters though I suppose
Why anyone would recommend gumboots as the best hunting boot is beyond me.
no think about it - all the local hunters in Te Urewera- Murupara- not very many will be wearing meindls or any expensive boot - they will wear what they have - the same up the coast from Opotiki and back of Gisborne -Wairoa -Wanganui- Taumaranui -Taranaki - most of those local boys cant afford $500 boots - so its red bands or bullers - and they get a lot of deer and pigs because they have access to some very good hunting areas -so no I dont believe I am to short of the mark - ya dont need in North Island to spend a weeks wages on flashQuote:
Originally Posted by Chur Bay
I didnt...I answered the question that was asked...honestly and truthfully.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shearer
why anyone would recommend $500 plus boots as the best hunting boot is beyond me....heavy noisy smelly plurry things that scould the crap out of my feet if worn wet or on warm day.....years of problem feet was solved the instant I changed over to ashleys as my main boot...the Sarvo synthetic hi top boots are my other pair,bought after mates gave me shit about gummies...they are great boots,but if its wet or damp,the ashleys are ideal....
they are just not getting it Mickey Duck for South Island thar chamois snow ice crampons yes spend and get the right boot - but for Te Urewera Waioeka Taumaranui National Park Pureora Whirinaki and yes Stewart Island Bullers Ashleys all you need and you will be very happy with themQuote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
just looked at the price of a pair of Ashley's. Over $200 a pair. Not particularly cheap. I could get a pair of Salewas for not much more.
My new ones just cost me $170, you looking in the wrong places.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chur Bay
This is the type of thread where there is no right answer. Here’s my 10 cents based on my experience. I wore out a pair of Ashley’s followed by a pair of bullers in the kawekas as a young fella. Yeah they are cheap but like anything else you get what you pay for. Cart a pack load of venison out of back ridge biv over the main range and tell me your feet are not sore. No real ankle support when carrying heavy loads. Yes good having holes in the instep and they dry quickly. No good in summer when your mate takes his boots off in the evening and they have been sweating in rubber all day !Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
I brought my first pair of meindls in 2007 for a South Island hunting trip. I wore them out and had them re soled. I’m on my fourth pair now. Would I ever go back to the buller express ? No friggin the way. My bullers these days live at my camp and serve as slippers in the evening. Best use for them. Will leave carrying big loads to a boot more suited.
I am unsure how something with the same sole as a Redband can be that great.
Love my redbands but they are my town/boat/dry weather gumboot, the soles on them are actually bloody terrible for any kind of lateral grip if it's wet I'd almost put them in the downright dangerous basket if hopping creeks etc with a pack on
Same, meindl's for hunting, Ashley's for round camp and cutting wood as they have steel toe caps......just get what works for you......no right answerQuote:
Originally Posted by Nathan F
Second this. I ran a pair of island pro’s for a few years until they were toast and they were great less a bit tight on my small toes. Just got a pair of the guffert the other day ready for my tahr trip and bloody happy with them! Lightweight flexible boots are good in places but on some of my recent south island tahr hunts I have been in places where flexible light boots would not have allowed me to go where I needed and would have just been dangerous. Great on the farm or low lying bush/terrain though!Quote:
Originally Posted by Jukes
Getting good boots here is extremely difficult.
I really like the boots that grisport has to offer and would like to hear what others think, they are lightweight and have great ankle support.
I am yet to buy a pair but I want to get some. I have a pair or ridgeline boots that only cost $150 but they are great quality for the money, but a bit on the heavy side.
They do have their place in rough terrain however.
Its hard to find anything these days with the traditional down stitched sole.
There was a company called earthwalk that was selling them, but their quality was nothing fancy.
I have been wearing Bestard boots for the past 20 years. Quality boot made in Spain. Last 3 years have had on Desert Adventure mod 723. Light, waterproof, great sole. I have hunted in the snow & never had cold feet...even though they are advertised as a warm weather boot.Attachment 219297
