decent boots, not ridgeline crap

anyone got suggestions on reasonable priced boots? got a pair of high cut ridgeline hunting boots and the are just falling to bits, stitching coming undone, splits in the toe cap bits, just utter crap. I know they were only 280ish but they are only about 15 months old (about 10 easy hunts) after this weekend just gones hunt Ive had enough.took them back to where I got them and they don't want to even know,
whats everyones boot of choice-keeping in mind I don't wanna spend mega dollars haha, any websites?

I bought myself a pair of Irish Setters from Pioneer Outfitters in Foxton. Bought the VaporTreks (light weight half height boot), only complaint with them so far is that on wet Papa/clay/hard frosts they have about as much grip as a teenager with a tube of KY. They fit like a glove though, and no break in period. Well worth the $300 for what I use them for.

Lowa Rangers , I'd post the sites but the NZ distributors are living in the dark ages and seem to try to shut them down.

yep a mate is getting an overseas site for lowas. his were 700 in nz, but he landed them here for 300nz so might look at them. I actually like the ridgelines but they have just worn too fast. a mate got some 2 weeks before mine and his are fucked aswell, I know its entry level stuff but still

I find gri sports good value, only good for soft terrain imo, scree etc rips them to bits.

oh true, we do a lot of river/bush track hunting.

Taranaki rubber hiker boots, haven't had them long but pleased with them so far and around $110 cheap. RD1 may have some but they no longer stock them. My branch got some from another branch for me or buy direct. Worth going to RD1 to see if they have any even not your size then you can have a fondle, the guy said there was plenty in the south island my size but only 2 pair in the north island then he ordered some from the factory but head office stopped the order saying they were no longer stocking them. Before my flash hikers I used gumboots.

skellerup ashley love them inner soles small hole to let the water out awesome

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Originally Posted by Grutsyboy

oh true, we do a lot of river/bush track hunting.

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don't muck around buy the best first off...skellerup ashleys and wear pair of gaiters over top. chuck in decent set of innersoles and go smoke over some deer.
sure they aren't top of the line alpine boots but they win hands down in the bush.

I wear a pair of John Bull Ravens, similar to these

JOHN BULL CROW 2.0 BLACK ZIP BOOT | Safety Equipment and Clothing - Shop Online at Leedsafe

Not specifically a hunting boot, but they are comfortable, and they have outlasted every pair of hunting boots I have owned with one exception. Skellurup Arctics. And skellurup dont make those anymore (have not done for 20 years or so) They had standard commando soles that were screwed on. I wore the first soles so smooth there was no tread left, resoled them and wore the second sole out (about 5 years per sole) and by the time I went to resole them again they were so far gone I had to throw them out.....Hunting every Saturday on steep clay hill sides for the better part of 7 years.....

Meindles for a hundy?

Look no further

meindle boots | eBay

paraflex boots. made in christchurch. awesome boots and great value for money.
Home - Paraflex
and no i dont work there i just wear there boots and have done on many a hunting trip

I was v disappointed in my Irish Setters. I wanted leather, double-cleated sole so they looked the biz.

First pair separated at the sole after one trek. After Sno-Sealing the replacement pair (they were quick to remedy) the leather upper went incredibly soft and stretched (it feels like) a size up.

Whilst they had good grip I find I hardly use them now and opt for my lighter boots on shorter walks.

Got a pair of Meindl's from the UK, and never looked back. These have been used about 3-4 days a week for 2 years, and are still going strong (mostly farm tracks). No break-in required for my pair, so I was super happy.
The prices for them here were ridiculous, but were really reasonable when imported directly.
Kansas GTX | Meindl UK and Ireland

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Originally Posted by quentin

Got a pair of Meindl's from the UK, and never looked back. These have been used about 3-4 days a week for 2 years, and are still going strong (mostly farm tracks). No break-in required for my pair, so I was super happy.
The prices for them here were ridiculous, but were really reasonable when imported directly.
Kansas GTX | Meindl UK and Ireland

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Yep same, got mine during my last trip 'back home' in Liverpool, comfy as, saved 3 hundy on NZ prices......:thumbsup:

its ridiculous what we pay for shoes and boots here. i wanted a light boot for walking the grand canyon etc. bought a pair of merrel "boulders" in las vegas for $37. same here in nz is near on $400.

And the retailer/distributors all whine about the size of the NZ market!
If they stopped the multi-level distribution racket and priced the products at 15-20% more than home market prices, they'd probably sell a lot more.
Takes guts to give it a go - most like their money, so hunters/shooters are a 'captive' market, ready for 'plucking'.
The good buggers on here have helped me a lot - money wise. :ORLY:

In the past I've not bothered buying into the hunting boot market, more often than not q lot of hunting gear is sub par to hiking brands but with a recognisable hunting logo slapped on it.

Having said that, even the best brands will generally tell you to expect about 18 months out of a pair of boots if user regularly.

They're not going out shoes that will last forever, replacing shoes every couple of years is just something you need to get used to, especially if you're into hunting hard.

Sent from my D6653 using Tapatalk

I just brought a pair of Gri-Sport Kaikouras, heading out for a hunt this weekend so will let you know how they go. I have been wearing them at work for a week and no complaints, nice and light and super comfortable.

Go to Wolverine.com and buy your boots there . This can be freight free if you spend more the 150 on boots and I have had boots sent from there no troubles

Have used Bullers for 55 years, hunt up to 4 to 5 times a week, when the soles wear down I skew horse shoe nails thru the heels, get about a year out of them, at $125 a pair, happy.

Have a look at asolo sasslong good boot lasted twice as long as my lowas the sole was almost smooth and the rubber rand was still attached as good as on day one couldn't say that about my rangers.

I bought a pair of Garmont - Torpedo 7 only when they are on special you won't be disappointed with them ;-) I brought them 1/2 price excellent boots great ankle support I'm hard on boots chew them at a great rate of knots

Garmont Nebraska Gore-Tex Boot | Buy Boots Online | Shop @ Torpedo7

i used real crap boots for years then about five years ago brought a pair of asolo. only boot available in gisborne at the time. had a good run with them about $100 a year is not bad for a boot i reckon.

have done some research, and due to having a friend who lives around the corner from the lowa factory in Germany-I can land a pair of lowa ranger gtx3 for 153 euro which is about 235nzd. really wanted a higher cut boot but even at their prices the lowa hunter evo extremes were 440nzd haha

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Originally Posted by sometimes

skellerup ashley love them inner soles small hole to let the water out awesome

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These are great boots, and we are starting to get quite a few requests from hunters for them :)

haha buggar wearing those skellerup things while walking 3hrs to the hut and 1hr past that and back again haha

Two pairs of socks comfy as walk in them all day for the money cant bet them

I've got a pair of Meindle drove extreme that I bought while in the UK, they are without doubt the best thing I have ever bought and the most comfortable foot ware I own. Sell one of the kids and buy some :thumbsup:

Asolo's for big trips when not sure what to expect from the terrain. Solomon ultra's on day trips, especially if a lot of low country walking involved.
When it comes to footware I wont hold back on getting what I think is the best support. Too many years walking round in boots generally, and that has led to grief with feet these days.
I will replace work boots yearly or sooner if they start to die. Usually feel it in the foot bed way before the uppers are stuffed.

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Originally Posted by Freezer

Lowa Rangers , I'd post the sites but the NZ distributors are living in the dark ages and seem to try to shut them down.

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Yip I'd agree I've got a pair of lowa Rangers had them for about 7 years. These are my go to long trip boots and are very comfy feel like gloves boots for extended trips and anything involving steep steep country, shale or stone etc. I've tried a range of cheaper boots for day trips and over nighters, such as the Sika boot by evolve and for a while I thought the Grub was doing the business untill it crapped out after a few hard over nighters. However I've recently purchased the inov8 roclite 286 GTX trail shoe from bivouac store, these are 6 x lace up type trail shoe that have a decent sole , are goretek fabric , light weight and comfy. They weight about 280grams and are a snug fit , you hardly know your wearing them. I wore them for four days in the sun and rain during the roar and was very impressed with them, they did get wet after about the first solid day of rain but to be fair to any boot this would be the same I'd say, however even wet they where still lighter far than my lowas and humping out with a heavy pack of wet gear and meat didn't seem to make any difference. I wouldn't use them on scree or shale faces etc however I would suggest having a look at them if you want to think of something left field.

I went this way as I recently read that for every KG of weight you have on your feet you can easily double that in relation to weight on your back.

Anyway that's my 50cents worth 😁 Good luck with the choices available today ........

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inov-8 Roclite 286 GTX Trail Shoe