Heading to Colorado on an elk hunt in October. I don't own any sort of hiking or mountain boot. Looking for some recommendations. I have seen a fair amount of chatter about the Kenetrek Mountain Boots and Crispi Colorado. It would be nice to get something I could also wear in the hill country and not be uncomfortable as heck.

Go to an REI and find the boots that fit your feet the best. Their brands are pretty much all top notch but one brand that works for me may not work well for you.

With that said, for a heavier boot with moisture protection, look at the Soloman Quest series. For lighter ones, check out the Merrell Moab lines. I've worn Moabs for years (low and high) in almost all terrains and elevation level changes. Solid boot and cheaper than most, but may not be for everyone.

If you find a boot that seems to be pretty supportive all around but tends to allow movement in your footbed, you can always get (and I would recommend) third party insoles. Superfeet, Sole and others make insoles for all types of feet.

Don't forget the socks. There was a thread on here about 3 weeks ago for that.

They are so individual preference and fit. But I really like my Scarpa GTX Pros

Others include:
Crispi
Kenetrek
Zamberlins
Lowa
Hanwag

Most regular "hiking" boots can't handle the weight of a loaded out pack. Hunting specific boots are most of the time the better choice.

Agree with trying many, and don't Buy cheap socks.

That said, I have Danner Pronghorns and love them.

Thanks for the suggestions. I was trying to get a list of a few and then try them on.

I love my Timberlands.

When I worked outdoors, I always wore Merrels. They were light, waterproof, and durable. I still wear them when I hike.

aggie1819 said:

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They are so individual preference and fit. But I really like my Scarpa GTX Pros

Others include:
Crispi
Kenetrek
Zamberlins
Lowa
Hanwag

Most regular "hiking" boots can't handle the weight of a loaded out pack. Hunting specific boots are most of the time the better choice.

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These

Like others said go to REI, or Cabela's, etc and try as many on as you can. If you want something to last forever and really be waterproof all leather with some water proof wax is the way to go, but the trade off is they are heavier. It's tough to pick a brand or line as they all fit different.

And don't skimp on socks. Merino wool. Darn tough or wright socks are my go to.

I did darn tough socks and Merrill's I got from academy this year in Colorado for Rifle1. They weren't quite 100% waterproof as it had the mesh for breathability. I went to REI and got some Lowa's that fit really well. Been happy with them and there's no mesh !

I'll add Schnee's mountain boots to check out. I love my Beartooth OG's. Most comfortable and well made hunting boots I've ever owned.

My Vasques were the best damn boots I've ever had. Wore them around the world. Iceland, Norway, Sudan, Uganda, Palestine, Turkey, Egypt - you name it. Held up great for about a decade until I had to work on water flow to make sure my garage didn't flood in Harvey.

Find a quality brand that fits. A great boot that doesn't fit you will have you miserable.

Get KT tape and put it on the back of your heel/Achilles tendon area before the hunt and have a few strips precut to replace it. Address hotspots before they become blisters.

Once I moved to CO I ended up switching to a heavier, stiffer boot. I found the reduced foot fatigue when hiking steep, off trail stuff more than made up for the higher weight. The stiffer the boot, the more important fit becomes because it will not conform to your foot.

I hike many 14ers in CO. My favorite hiking boot is a cheaper boot made by HiTec. Leather, waterproof, lots of ankle support. I find it has similar quality and feel to Timberlands for far cheaper.

Edit: just saw you are using this for an elk hunt. May not be a good boot for a trip like that as I am carrying a max of 16-17 pounds when hiking.

I recently bought some Meindl Komfort Fit boots, and they've been great! Comfortable, warm, feet don't sweat, and they weren't crazy expensive.

I ordered at least 8 different pairs for my 2-wk backcountry elk hunt last year. There just isn't a good place to go to try on all the most applicable brands for your hunt.

I'd order a pair and try them on and return them if I didn't like them. If I seemed to like the fit, I'd wear them around the house for a couple of days, then make the decision.

In the end, I went with the Crispi Nevada. Over two weeks, we logged over 80 miles and a total of about 16k ft in elevation gains. My day pack had 30-40 lbs, depending on how much water I was carrying at any given moment. When including our camp and all the food, my pack weighed 73 lbs. I had zero foot problems and zero water penetration.

My brother went with a Meindl hunting boot from Cabela's. He liked the boot a lot, but he did end up with a few blisters.

I'd recommend a half size larger than normal with a more cushioned sock. Give your feet some room to splay, especially when you downhill. I also followed Aron Snyder's advice of proactively applying Leuko tape to your heels when you start. That stuff performs like a tough outer layer of skin and doesn't peel or bunch.

Now's the right time to start trying them out. I went through this a few years ago. I tried Schnees Beartooth, Schnees Absoraka, Kenetrek Hardscrabble, Scarpa Kinesis, Kuiu/Scarpa, Meindl, and Crispi Nevada. The Nevada's were the winner for me. All were incredibly high quality boots, you just gotta find what works for you. I would add Lathrop and Sons to this list too.

One thing to consider is don't "overboot" based on other people's preferences. A 250# guy with an 80# pack may want a stiffer boot than a 160# guy with a 40# pack.

+1 on Luekotape.

You didn't say if you would be packing in and out, or maybe just carrying a day pack from a cabin/camp.
Elevation? Water? Which part of Colorado? Hunting off 4wheeler?

You mentioned maybe a boot for Colorado and Texas. I'd second a trip to REI.

You might consider if you will be moving around most of the time or sitting in the cold. REI/backpackers will go light on insulation because they are mostly humping it down a trail. That's a lot different than sitting on the side of a mountain or box blind for hours. For that you need insulation.

This is my go to boot. Vasque Skywalk. No idea how many miles I've put on them in 25 years. All over the country and actually world. I also have a pair of Brownings with 1000 g of thinsulate for really cold temps.



I think we might need more info before we could make a specific recommendation.

I've been hiking the last year in Danner Mountain 600s. I have really liked them. Held up well, not too heavy, and I even use them to get to work now in the winter (snow and ice)

We will be hunting off horseback, but the outfitter did say we would be on foot quite a bit as well. This will be in the Gunnison area and most of the time I plan on just having a day pack of sorts with water and various other gear. I have ordered the Crispi Nevada and Thor to start. I will see how those feel. Thanks again for all the suggestions and tips.

You wouldn't happen to be going to the West Elk Wilderness would you? Took my first backpacking trip up there two years back and ran into a few hunters (and some elk).

I'm in the market for new boots too, so thanks everyone for the input.

jpistolero02 said:

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We will be hunting off horseback, but the outfitter did say we would be on foot quite a bit as well. This will be in the Gunnison area and most of the time I plan on just having a day pack of sorts with water and various other gear. I have ordered the Crispi Nevada and Thor to start. I will see how those feel. Thanks again for all the suggestions and tips.

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You signed up with Tenderfoot? My BIL and I had one day where we probably did 4 miles chasing a bugle, but most hunts were ambush style and 1/2 - 3/4 mile from the horses. We were bow hunting, rifle trips may have more spot/stalk where you're hiking more. It's the terrain that gets you, we hunted in a lot of deadfall and up some steep slopes. Your right on about packing light, I was leaving more and more in the tent every morning.

Scratch Warrior's head for me. If you happen to ride Warrior, he gets really spooky right at dusk if he's the lead horse. He jumped sideways and tried to unass me a couple of times, but overall he was an easy ride.

This will be your view from camp. Beautiful place.

I'm loving my Lowa renegades, mainly because they fit me really well and are comfortable. I went to REI and tried on about 4 different boots of various brands. These fit my feet the best. I had my eyes on anther brand when I went initially. Get to a store and try some on. The guy at REI was very helpful when I told him what conditions I needed them for and pulled several suitable boots for me to try.

Lots of hikers out there to choose from that fit just about every need imaginable.

My background, I do Risk and Safety for Virginia State Parks. I hike quite a bit for work, from part of the AT that runs through Grayson Highlands Sate park to the Eastern Shore of False Cape State Park. So I use and go through hiking boots quite a bit.

Goretex are my go to hikers in the winter, and at times even in the summer as their not as hot as people think.

Solomon quest 3 or 4D GTX are great for narrow feet, feel like a tennis shoe. Not a stiff sole, so IMO not that great for packing long trips, walking or hiking fantastic.

Asolo fugitive GTX great boot good for just about everything; quite a few of our interpreters go with Asolo.

Scarpa Kenesis pro fantastic boot, another favorite of our interpreters, YCC and AmerIcorp kids or younger group.

Oboz I have two pairs and use them quite often; the Bridger and Sawtooth, both are waterproof. The Bridger is a firm sole, while the Sawtooth fit like sneakers.

My go to goretex hikers are Vasque St. Elias GTX. Rugged, stiff sole and can go the long haul and cleaned up look fine with khakis and casual wear.

I have a pair of higher end Merrel Phaserbounds. Comfy boots waterproof and lasted a good while. Still use them around the yard. IMO they are the only Merrels worth a flip.

But others have suggested go to REI, try on a bunch, climb on the fake rocks and then go buy them on backcountry etc.

Socks Darn Tough FTW, go with a wool!

Another vote for lowa renegades.

Yes, I am going with Tenderdoot in the West Elk. I guess we lucked into a cancellation and since we had 3 in our party, it was a better fit for them. I suspect we will be lucky to get a shot, but this will be a chance for me to dip my toes into the water and see how I like it.

+1 for Crispi.
+1 for trying on several brands
+100 for getting the best socks you can find

Love my Kenetrek Mountain Extremes. Stiff enough for steep terrain and great waterproofing. I got them a size larger than my normal shoe size to account for thicker socks.

magnumtmp said:

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Agree with trying many, and don't Buy cheap socks.

That said, I have Danner Pronghorns and love them.

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I got a pair of Danner lace up work boots for Christmas. It is not exactly what you are looking for, but I'd like to add something:

A good quality boot, that is meant to last many years may be of a thicker leather than you'd feel comfortable with at first. I can say this, from wearing Timberland boots from way back in the 80s. Usually, that leather is thick, and for a reason. Just like the Danners I just got. It will take a little time to break them in. That time is not always comfortable, but pays dividends in the future. I am in the process of breaking in some Danner Moc toe wedge soles, and after a week of almost constant wear, can feel the boot forming to my foot and ankle. These boots are going to be like a piece of me in a couple more weeks.

I would suggest to buy a pair of thick leather boots for your intended use, and wear them daily for several weeks. Break them in. Stick with it. I did it with a pair of Timberlands back when they were not "big" in name, but very hearty in leather. That was the best pair of hunting boots I ever had, from So. TX to the Mountains of Colorado.

I hope my new Danners end up the same for TX, and by all indications they will be a great boot in the next few days.

Everyone looks for the instant fit and comfortability now days. Nothing beats a pair of thick hearty boots that have been broken in to fit your own feet.