Thread: Boots Boots Boots???????????

Ok so I know this issue has been done to death but have had a look thru quite a few threads on here and didn't really get much of an idea.
Ok so I currently have a pair of Asolo TPS 535 boots which are about 2 1/2 years old, they havnt done a huge amount of work maybe 2 dozen trips so at a guess 200-300km of walking, I hunt mainly the otago high country so a bit of a mix of bush hunting but mainly tussock/sub alpine. The Asolo boots are delaminating at the soles and the warranty is only good for a year, so shit outa luck there..........kinda pissed off but no point crying over spilt milk....they cant be repaired or resoled the cobbler tried to glue them back together, but apparently the midsole which is PU (polyurethane) is crumbling and will continue to do so so kinda lost cause...I have had to save up my pennies and am hoping to find a boot that will do 5 + years, 10 would be better but think im dreaming. So on the cards are Gronell Stelvio, Bestard of some description, Lowa ???? Meindl probably the Makalu pro 3000, Garmont ????? maybe just maybe look at the asolo sasslong............bit of help if you have used any of them would be good........Has anyone used the Gronell stelvio or any of the Andrews footwear range,...thinking maybe the guida alpina or antelao but would consider the GZ2...........thoughts?
cheers

I have had the Gronell stelvio boots they lasted me just over 3years been worn every day fencing & spraying & stockwork on Wanganui hill country. I wore the toe out due to spending a lot time on kneeling on the ground tying of wires but iv just brought the meindl makale pro couse of the rubber coming up over the toe to try make them last longer but after wereing the meindles for bot a month now I wish id brought another pair of the stelvio as they are a siffer boot & I like that meself I always buy new boot insoles from farmlands & put in all my boots

Had a great run from my LaSportiva Makalus - built like a tank. 10+ years old, the soles are pretty worn down but the rest of the boot is solid as.

Originally Posted by GravelBen

Had a great run from my LaSportiva Makalus - built like a tank. 10+ years old, the soles are pretty worn down but the rest of the boot is solid as.

Been rallying in them GB

Originally Posted by Maca49

Been rallying in them GB

Haha nope, not a fan of driving in stiff soled boots!

Originally Posted by GravelBen

Haha nope, not a fan of driving in stiff soled boots!

I found I drove too slow as couldn't rotate the ankle enough on the go pedal.

Gum boots for me

I have Haix and they've been very good. Even got TimeRider a pair. Very similar to Lowa and Meindl. They were used ex German forces and the range in the shop was a mixture of Lowa, Meindl and Haix. I just picked the pair that fitted best.

Previous boots were Asolo and had the same problem. Only wore them twice and the PU layer crumbled.

I've been using Meindl Island pro for the last... 5-6 years? The stitching on the side is the only downside, tends to go


Just ordered some Asolo Sasslongs for work, have heard some mixed things but they're free, so hopefully they're ok.


Would get La Sportiva Makalu but they're discontinued or no longer imported

wow bit of everything here........have tried on a pair of the La Sportiva Makalus a few years back, felt they were too tight in the toebox and far too stiff for me in the sole, If I were doing Alpine work or needed a climbing boot I would probably have another look, but my knees are fucked and just not up to the job for this kind of hunting, which is a real shame cause I used to love it. Knee has been reconstructed due to severe injury 13 odd years ago and has no real strength. I tried a pair of the Andrew Antelao boots today and while I felt they were reasonably stiff out of the box I quite liked the fact they are a welted sole and very resolable if needed, I felt they would also soften up some with use and wouldn't require too much breaking in. I also tried on a pair of the GZ2 model by the same company and thought they were nice but probably too soft straight out of the box for the kind of hunting I do (lots of sidling)... Have to say I like the warranty from Bestard, which is against workmanship and materials for the life of the boot. I only wish they had stores where I could try the boots on.....I have limited access to some of the stores selling these type of boots, the life in lil ol Oamaru tho. Quite like the look of Haix and some of the Hanwag boots look comfy too.........really not sure what to go for, just going to have to try a few pair on I guess. Am going to take a mates advice and talk to a cobbler as well.

the Garmont Pinnacle looks like a nice boot too, anyone had any experience with this boot?

Originally Posted by Alpinehunter0

the Garmont Pinnacle looks like a nice boot too, anyone had any experience with this boot?

I have had a pair of Pinnacles for about three years now. Very pleased with the fit and so far have handled a fair bit of above the bushline work. Great when the goiog gets tough. Highly reccommend them if you can get them for the right price. Had a good run with a few pairs of Scarpas too.

Ok so Ive tried on a pair of Lowa Tibets, Andrew Footwears Antelao, GZ2 and the Zebru, the Gronell Stelvios, and Asolos Sasslongs.....My old pair of Asolos were the 535 model and had a PU midsole.....this is the part that's crumbling, so it makes me very hesitant to buy another pair of boots with PU midsoles or PU anyfrigginthing....PU is known to crumble after a unspecified amount of time....for some reviews I've read the Asolo 535's fell apart on their first and or second outing, mine took a bit over two years, and it matters not if you use them or not, in fact they say the PU breaks down faster if you aren't using them.....not the best of looks for this material and not a great selling point for a mid to top end boot. Lowa Tibet and most of the Andrew Footwear range have a PU dual layer midsole and although they are a beautiful boot it has put me off some, the Zebru has a Vibram rubber sole which is cemented on and I'm not sure I trust this build anymore either. The Asolo Sasslong has a EVA rubber midsole and is a very nice boot, very light and well formed, but....I feel maybe too light for sub alpine work. Im still looking but am going back to try on the Gronells today, and from there I am going to talk to my cobbler, Andrews Footwear might still get a look in as they are Norwegian welted construction and fully resoleable I think. Looked at the Bestards online and think they are very nice looking boots and most of them have an EVA midsole so they may be the way yet, but I am not sure I want to buy a pair of boots without trying them on first. Meindls are still on the cards as I can get a reasonable discount on them but have heard the soles can just fall apart too..........decisions decisions decisions ......I only want to spend the money once.

Originally Posted by Alpinehunter0

Ok so Ive tried on a pair of Lowa Tibets, Andrew Footwears Antelao, GZ2 and the Zebru, the Gronell Stelvios, and Asolos Sasslongs.....My old pair of Asolos were the 535 model and had a PU midsole.....this is the part that's crumbling, so it makes me very hesitant to buy another pair of boots with PU midsoles or PU anyfrigginthing....PU is known to crumble after a unspecified amount of time....for some reviews I've read the Asolo 535's fell apart on their first and or second outing, mine took a bit over two years, and it matters not if you use them or not, in fact they say the PU breaks down faster if you aren't using them.....not the best of looks for this material and not a great selling point for a mid to top end boot. Lowa Tibet and most of the Andrew Footwear range have a PU dual layer midsole and although they are a beautiful boot it has put me off some, the Zebru has a Vibram rubber sole which is cemented on and I'm not sure I trust this build anymore either. The Asolo Sasslong has a EVA rubber midsole and is a very nice boot, very light and well formed, but....I feel maybe too light for sub alpine work. Im still looking but am going back to try on the Gronells today, and from there I am going to talk to my cobbler, Andrews Footwear might still get a look in as they are Norwegian welted construction and fully resoleable I think. Looked at the Bestards online and think they are very nice looking boots and most of them have an EVA midsole so they may be the way yet, but I am not sure I want to buy a pair of boots without trying them on first. Meindls are still on the cards as I can get a reasonable discount on them but have heard the soles can just fall apart too..........decisions decisions decisions ......I only want to spend the money once.

looks like you just answered your own question

Nup think I have just confused myself