Boots are made for walking..

Hi,
I've recently started looking at new boots - current ones are just to flexible in the sole for tops hunting 10+ hours each day not uncommon, bloody sore feet at the end of each day and still have 2+ days hunting to go - anywho..
I'm planning my first tahr hunt this year, so decided to upgrade the boots.. was planning on lowa ranger or similar but cannot take my hand out of my pocket - the brain just shuts down at the price tag.. haha

So got me thinking about a NZ branded boot - i.e
Hunters element - element boot or
Stoney creeks - explorer boot.
Price for either seems reasonable.
Anyone had either of these or should I steer clear and suck it up...

Must haves for me - tops hunting boot = comfort/rand/little flex/good for heavy load usual stuff
Don't do snow alpine stuff - I know my limits :)

Cheers and beers

I know you said 'no' to Lowa's, but I bought the Lowa Rangers and they met every ridiculous expectation. Straight out of the box and onto the Heaphy hike - 78km's in 5 days, no blisters, no foot pain. They've been gold for everything since then, from Abel Tasman, to Stewart Island off trail, to Alpine in Canterbury. I look after them, and they look after me. Would'nt look at any other brand now.

Lowas are very hit and miss, when they're good they're good, and when they're shit then you better be a very patient person trying to deal with any kind of warranty claim and be prepared to have every accusation about how the failure is your fault thrown at you

i got to wanaka from southland on my way to our tahr block a couple of years ago, and realised i had forgotton my lowas, we turned around and called into the sports store and grabbed a pair of hunters element boots off the shelf. I found them bloody good, comfortable no blisters, relativly light weight and reasonably priced

Have a look at Haix boots. I've been using them now for about 8 years and they are the best boot i've used by a long long way. I had 2 pairs of Lowas before these and both pairs fell apart very fast. Take a look at the Haix P6 boot $389 from Boots&gear.com, he's based in Taupo.

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Originally Posted by MAC

Hi,
I've recently started looking at new boots - current ones are just to flexible in the sole for tops hunting 10+ hours each day not uncommon, bloody sore feet at the end of each day and still have 2+ days hunting to go - anywho..
I'm planning my first tahr hunt this year, so decided to upgrade the boots.. was planning on lowa ranger or similar but cannot take my hand out of my pocket - the brain just shuts down at the price tag.. haha

So got me thinking about a NZ branded boot - i.e
Hunters element - element boot or
Stoney creeks - explorer boot.
Price for either seems reasonable.
Anyone had either of these or should I steer clear and suck it up...

Must haves for me - tops hunting boot = comfort/rand/little flex/good for heavy load usual stuff
Don't do snow alpine stuff - I know my limits :)

Cheers and beers

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Sarvo has some leather lined Lowas, they are lined with glove leather and are next level comfort. they are non-gortex

Hunters elements are actually reasonable boots for the price, I had a set for 5 years, still ok and still have them, just upgraded to some salewa mountain trainers which are brilliant. [emoji108]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[QUOTE=Spudattack;1194402]Hunters elements are actually reasonable boots for the price, I had a set for 5 years, still ok and still have them, just upgraded to some salewa mountain trainers which are brilliant. [emoji108]

I just got some Salewa Repace gtx boots, but the mountain trainers would have been just as good and $40-50 cheaper

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Originally Posted by Huntn

Have a look at Haix boots. I've been using them now for about 8 years and they are the best boot i've used by a long long way. I had 2 pairs of Lowas before these and both pairs fell apart very fast. Take a look at the Haix P6 boot $389 from Boots&gear.com, he's based in Taupo.

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My experience to the letter

How are the soles on the rangers? My gtx are slippery as.

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Originally Posted by SPEARONZ

How are the soles on the rangers? My gtx are slippery as.

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Good. I have no trouble. Meet expectations.

Sent from phone - forgive typos etc

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Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

Don't buy anything with a PU mid sole. They fall to bits. Pu holds water and they rot.
Ask MR Hiax man from Taupo if he will guarantee the soles wont fall off ie replace boot. There are some horrr stories about his after sales service.

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Most have the PU compound now
Not about holding water - its about lack of use - poor storage in humidity

Hiax are bad for it
As are some model Lowa
Hanwag - I will just say f~~fk :-(

had 3sets of Lowa, first pair I just wore out, soles and back of heel but all together and they covered a lot of distance. Second set picked up at a clearance sale about 1999, they suffered from the PU sole failure in the heel. To be fair they had long periods of inactivity due to kids, New business etc.
Third set now probably 6 years old, going well. Have worn the liner off the inside of the heel on one side. (probably not the boots fault as I have a dodgy hip that makes me walk unevenly.) probably get used very 2-3 months.
Z

If you don't mind buying off shore there are some good deals to be had.

I sucked it up and bought crispis for my big bad boots, I got the summit gtx ones. They are like a skeletal leather goretex boot. Goretex is cool, and its whole thing is waterproof breathability, but what happens to that breathabilty, when its a goretex sock in a leather boot? I never get sweaty wet feet in them, theyre pretty great. I would recommend highly. Theyre not in the big dick money like a hanwag, lowa haix etc but theyre not chinesium like hunters element. Unsure about the stonies, dont know anyone with a pair

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Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

The lack of use, poor storage is a cop out from the manufacturer and supplier.
For joe average weekend hunter who uses their boots usually weekends only, store boots in the garage and might go three or four weekends without going hunting, PU will shit itself. And the manufacturer will claim neglect.
Dry them artificially and you will have cooked them according to the manufacturer. And again no warranty.
I have boots with PU soles, but I would never pay what some brands ask. Treat them like terminal tackle.

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It is true what I wrote above - trust me I have seen many failures
But agree - its a shit of a system (the PU) but you try and sell an old fashioned Stitched on sole these days
I just put 3 or 4 pair on Trade Me recently for $1 reserve and got about 30-50$ each - one pair were New Swedish made - worth 500$

[QUOTE=Mitchael;1198420]

"Goretex is cool, and its whole thing is waterproof breathability"


Gore-Tex is good for stopping water seeping in - BUT- it also stops water going the opposite way too
So they are a bugger to dry if you get them wet inside (creek X or heavy rain down the calves etc)
Those Crispi are good boots

@MAC Those La Sportiva boots @Sarvo had would suit what you are after down to the ground ,l use mine as summer boots & around the farm & wear them often when l am doing my Hunt fit program walking 10klm a week around the farm .

In reality hunting boots for NZ & especially if you are going to remote areas hunting should be at the top of anyone's list of the old "Buy Once Cry Once" essential gear ,while guiding /scrambling in to remote areas over the years l have personally been involved 3 helicopter rescues involving everything from a big toe nearly severed on a river crossing (never crossed a river in bare feet again, use dive boots for crossings & camp boots),blown knee from slipping with shit boots while carrying out & came across a bloke with his ankle at right ankles after foot slipped & rock acted as snapping lever ,guy was in that much pain he was going unconscious was not a good day just trying to help him let alone to be the guy.

The costs ,pain & ruined long planned trips for all involved make those $800 pair of boots look pretty cheap 7 it can happen to anyone ,anywhere .

For the last few years l have been using Crispi Boots & they have been great ,like them that much & appreciate the comfort ,grip & lack if blisters/rubbing so much l now have 3 pairs & the missus has a pair as well,IMO they are a step up from Lowa & as a lot of us have experienced far more robust for kiwi conditions as well.

I have just got back from a total of 35 actual days of hunting over the last couple of months hunting everything from pigs in low and scrub to Tahr in the Alps & with our weird weather hunted through drought to flood & covered a lot of hard miles ,the Crispi's made it a lot easier & l suffered no foot soreness at all & l am nearly 60.



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My current favorites are these the Crispi - VALDRES GTX model

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Anyone looking at new "Buy Once Cry Once" boots l recommend them ,survived years of hard use now & just a bit of advice l always store /dry my boots long term upside down with the tongue pulled out so the inner gets airflow & any moisture wicks out .

If anyone does decide to go for them ,take your time & keep a eye out for specials ,l only buy them when they are on special & have saved up to $150 on buying pairs that were marked down due to in store scuffs & marking.