Outdoorsbore (does such a thing exist?!)

[The Business]

I'm in the market for some hiking boots.  I've seen some cool looking hiking low-top shoes but what's the benefit in those?  Seems like it would be easier to roll an ankle or get bitten by a rattlesnake in them.  I recently donated my go to rucking boots from my time in the military by accident and since the weather is getting warmer I need something to hike in.  All I have now is a couple pair of old steel-toe boots and I wore one during a day trip to the Wichitas and they were too heavy.  I have a great pair of Corcorans but the sole is completely worn out.  A new set of Danner combat boots is like $200 and I feel like there has to be better options in the civilian market, but I have no knowledge of civilian boots.  Any recommendations? 

[duckman2000]

I've owned the same pair of Ecco Receptor mid height hiking boots for the last 3 years, and they are still holding up well and didn't take long to break in. Good performance on rocky, dusty surfaces and in deep forest alike. Sorta bloody expensive, but they have been worth it.

The light hiking shoes are neat for short excursions in tame terrain where you still need good support and grip, but I wouldn't want to wear a pair on a proper hike. Go for the mid height.

[Cormacaroni]

I've got a couple of pairs of these (different colors  ), love them. Gore Tex is super-flexible and waterproof. I haven't climbed a mountain in them or anything but I can run in these fairly comfortably at need. If you're going to be crossing streams (har) and mucking about in the rain, they're very handy. They wipe clean too, if that's a concern.

[Eric P]

when i hiked all the time in DC i LOVED my Salomon boots

http://www.salomon.com/us/#/footwear/footwear/hiking/exit-mid-aero

[huckleberry]

Now that I have kids hiking is just not one of those things that happens for me anymore, however, in college that is pretty much all I did. 

The advantage of low cut hiking shoes versus heavy boots is comfort.  Boots are great if you are carrying a 45lb pack for a week - but pretty unnecessary if you are only hiking for a couple of days or are going light. You could always roll an ankle no matter what kind of boots you are wearing....I rolled mine in my Vasque boots on more than one occasion - lumbering about in the woods with a heavy pack you run that risk no matter the footwear.

The shoes that Cormac have look pretty awesome.  I have a pair of Asolo hiking shoes that I have had for years that offer a bit more stability with the sole similar to these



After wearing heavy duty hiking boots for year switching to lighter shoes was one of the greatest things ever.  Nothing like sore ass feet.

[Cormacaroni]

Cool point about the Merrells in case BlueTsunami is reading - the soles are made by Vibram.

I am wearing them at work right now, btw.

[huckleberry]

That is what gaitors are for.

[duckman2000]

What kind of environments are we talking about here? I couldn't imagine wearing anything lower than mid height in the environments I move in (taiga, wetlands and rocky areas).

[duckman2000]

You might as well, especially if that's the style you're used to. It might not be a bad idea to get a pair of light hikers for short trail hikes and moving around camp, though.

By the way, those Blackhawk boots have Vibram soles, which I guess is a good thing.

[Saint Cornelius]

I've got a couple of pairs of these (different colors  ), love them. Gore Tex is super-flexible and waterproof. I haven't climbed a mountain in them or anything but I can run in these fairly comfortably at need. If you're going to be crossing streams (har) and mucking about in the rain, they're very handy. They wipe clean too, if that's a concern.

(Image removed from quote.)

I've got to get me some of these! I'm doing the public transportation thang nowadays... of course I picked Winter in San Diego (read: rain rain and more rain) to do it. Really sick and tired of my feet getting soaking wet, emphasis on the "sick" part.

[drew]

merrell jungle mocs are like the only thing i can wear all day on my feet these days without my toes going numb

thats not to say i dont wear other shit, right now i have a pair of vans eras on with dress shoe laces and no socks

[duckman2000]

Duckman, did you purchase those 5.11 pants you wanted yet?  My Blackhawk Desert Ops boots (pictured above in a previous post of mine) came in the mail today from www.opticsplanet.com and they came with a card that says they are giving away a FREE 5.11 hat with 5.11 purchase of $50 or more OR a FREE 5.11 multi-tool with 5.11 item purchase of $100 or more.  The multi-tool is probably junk since it sells for $10 by itself but it has a flashlight on it which is kind of cool. 

Yeah, picked some up from LA Police Gear. Bloody awesome pants, by the way. I got a free 5.11 branded folding knife when I ordered some stuff last year, and that knife has been surprisingly sturdy.

[duckman2000]

I can add that the 5.11 shield boots I bought have been fuck awesome. There is still a ton of snow here, so I'm wading through wet snow and into various hidden creeks all the time, and these boots are holding up well above expectations. Definitely recommended for anyone that will trek through, uh, varying terrain, although I'm picking up the Sleet version for the Fall season.