Hiking boot recommondations

[Tobus]

So, I know of the rattle snake, are they common and widespread over there? Are there any others to watch out for? What makes a snake proof boot?

Heh, yes, poisonous snakes are pretty common here. In my area of Texas we have a multitude of them, though the most common ones are the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, the Copperhead, the Coral Snake, and the Cottonmouth (a water moccasin).

I've killed my share of rattlesnakes, even in such uncomfortable settings as my front porch! Never been bitten, though I had a step-brother when I was a kid who had been bitten on both legs and nearly died from it. The small town I grew up in had an annual "rattlesnake roundup" where local ranchers would compete to see who could catch the most (or the largest) rattlesnakes. They would bring them in by the thousands.

I don't wear certified "snake-proof" boots when hunting, but I do make sure to wear tall thick leather boots with a steel toe, for the same effect. Coming into contact with snakes here (usually outside the city, but not always) is common enough that everyone takes precautions.

For hiking, though, I usually don't wear such heavy boots as long as I'm going to be sticking to trails. But I do make sure I'm carrying a good hiking staff just in case. You never know, though... a snake could always be curled up under the next rock I'm stepping on.

[Drac]

There are lots of things that I buy online.

Hiking boots are NOT, I repeat NOT one of them. So I really, really, really hope that the Amazon.com link that you showed us was for picture purposes only, and not because you're buying them from Amazon. GO TO A BACKPACKING STORE AND TRY THEM ON.

I'm not sure how much more loudly I can scream this, in this online venue. GO TO A BACKPACKING STORE AND TRY THEM ON.

Yep just for illustration. We have located a couple store near us.

As for snakes, I guess they are always a possibility. I live in North Texas and some of the guys have come across rattlers in the city in they parks. It really isn't something I give much thought though since I can come across them any time but I don't plan to spend my entire life in snake proof boots.

North Texas is a urban wildlife sanctuary. Not just the standard possum and raccoon but also bob cats and coyotes. While running around the track at base an armadillo ran across in front of our formation.

Jim

[Alan H]

I did this with my last pair of snake-proof hunting boots; tried on pairs locally, then placed the order on-line and saved about 25%.

I used to work retail in the backpacking industry, back when Sierra Designs was actually owned by people here in California, and all the stuff was made in Berkeley. I worked retail in the industry because I loved the outdoors, and loved the gear, too.

I spent an hour or two or even more with many customers during those years, setting them up with the best pair of boots I could figure out for them....or adjusting a pack to fit them properly, or figuring out which XC skis would work for them, or even giving up a sale to send them somewhere else where they would get the right gear for what they needed.. They usually didn't take down notes, after using up 90+ minutes of my time, and then go buy the thing from a mail-order warehouse. I'm sure it happened now and then, but it wasn't epidemic.

You'll have those boots for ten years. You saved thirty bucks, maybe forty. Was it REALLY worth it? If everybody did that, there would be no store to walk into, to try on boots and find the right pair, hmmm? We talk about this principle when it comes to supported kilt stores, but the same principle applies elsewhere.

OK, snotty-*** Alan H lecture now over.... Sorry. It's a sore spot with me after the thousands of hours I put in, doing customer service for people who loved being out in the wilderness like I did, and do.

I'm getting to be quite the crabapple around here. Maybe I need a month-long break.

[Alan H]

Western diamondbacks out here in California. They're all over the hills around here, and plenty up to about 5,000 feet in most of the Sierra Nevada, but they start thinning out at the altitudes (7,500 - 10,000) that I do most of my backpacking.

[SeumasA]

OK, snotty-*** Alan H lecture now over.... Sorry. It's a sore spot with me after the thousands of hours I put in, doing customer service for people who loved being out in the wilderness like I did, and do.

I'm getting to be quite the crabapple around here. Maybe I need a month-long break.

No need to apologize. I think most people in customer service feel the same way. The way I look at it is this; if I know exactly what I want and can find it online, that's where I'll buy. But if I ask someone's advice and they spend the time to help me find the right item, I expect to pay for their time and expertise and I'll buy from them--even if I might be able to find it cheaper somewhere else.
A month-long break sounds pretty good right now, preferably somewhere on a beach.

[azwildcat96]

Alan, Years ago I worked a commission sales job, and it drove me nuts to educate customers and then have them buy from someone else...but more frequenty now, it seems like businesses are not looking out for the consumer, so I look out for myself. I don't make a habit of wasting salesmens' time, and certainly not if they are commission sales. You're not a crabapple in my opinion. Stick around!

[Adrian]

Go to a specialist outdoor store (where the assistants practice what they preach and are heavily into the outdoors not just sales people....) try several on and also be prepared to buy custom fitted insoles, it makes all the difference. Makes sure the boots are appropriate for the range of climates and terrain where they are going to be used, one boot type won't cover everything...don't buy features you don't need

[MichaelPHahn]

Jim,
I am a scoutmaster of a Boy Scout troop in the DFW area. We always tell the families to window shop at REI (there is one on LBJ & another in Plano), but buy at Academy (for non locals, that would be the high end store versus the discount store). I think you will find a worthy quality at a pleasing price at the latter. Also, comfort will come as much from fit and propper sock choice as from the shoe. Sock combinations that keep feet dry from perspiration or water are a must, such as a pairing of wool socks withh a thin nylon dock liner. I buy my boots at Academy, but socks and sock liners at REI. Make sure you try on boots with the socks you will actually wear with them.

Good luck and have fun!

[Drac]

Thanks all.

Trying to keep the number of shoes minimum. Right now we are looking at a set of gillies and the hiking boots. Maybe some sandles for walking around the ship.

Amy of course will have it rougher. Never easy for the ladies. If I wear just the shirt it is casual. Add a tie and steps it up a little. An jacket and no tie one look. Add a tie and I'm semi-formal. Waistcoat and a bow tie and I'm ready for formal. All from the same outfit.

Ladies would need several dresses just to cover that and different shoes for each.

It's good to be a guy.

That and no line for the rest rooms

Jim

[Woodsheal]

I have a pair of old-school all-leather hikers from Vasque, back when they were made in Italy. I bought them in 1974, and they're still going strong (been resoled once)!



They only thing similar I've been able to find currently, is these:
http://www.orvis.com/store/product.a...subcat_id=6681