Thread: Lightweight boots

I got a pair of boots in from Cabelas in the US as another option - they have a huge range of styles and options that we just don't see in NZ. Have found them to be very good, if a little stiff in the sole for NI bush hunting (heavy cleat tread type sole with excellent grip). I was using a Grisport lightweight boot before those - but they did the PU midsole breakup thing and went from a good pair of boots comfortable with good ankle support to in the bin in one day and not in a good place to do it as well... Didn't get that long out of them - the boot bag, leather cream and spare laces outlived the boots anyway.

If you do look into importing, make sure it's an option with EE width or wide width sizing as US and Euro fits usually run quite narrow to NZ/UK sizing I found. You often need to go one size up or more to fit the width of the foot which isn't usually practical as you end up with a large space at the end of your toes in the boot and it's prone to tripping you up. Cabelas have a quite useful sizing/fit guide that makes it a lot less risky getting a good fit.

I don't know what shipping in the US is like now, I used Youpost last time. That might be an issue with the exchange rate, but at the time I went for those I couldn't find a non-PU soled boot that fitted and was the style I wanted. The sole on the ones I got is a stitched and replaceable sole, and will not break up like the PU midsoles do. Cost was about half of a comparable stitched-sole boot landed - although I didn't tag GST on them.