I've had em all, and if you need waterproof, get Muck, if not, then get USA made Justins. Some are made elsewhere, be careful.

 

Same with Combat
boots. Not all of them are made in the US, go figure. Danner, some Rockys, Belleview, some Bates Anda few others are. If you get Goretex, it will be a heavier boot. I like a non waterproof, US made Danner. They are comfortable, tough and long lasting.

 

I've found Sierra Trading Post to have the best prices on almost everything, but you have to keep searching until you find your size. Most of the biggest discounts are for closeouts/discontinued clothing & gear.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/mens-boots~d~137/

As for hiking boots recommendations: for heavy duty hiking/backpacking, I don't think anything matches up to Asolo TPS 520s. They are the best on the market.

As for lightweight hiking shoes: most of the major brands have good products. Check Amazon reviews before ordering. I have Asolo, Vasque & Keen "day hiker" shoes. The first two feel like tennis shoes, and my Keen Targee IIs feel like "cut down" heavy duty hiking boots.

 

+1 for the 520s. You can read in my thread about Boot repair that I too experienced a problem with delamination. However my first pair were indestructible and comfortable to wear. Wore them pretty much everyday for 5 years and had them resoled 3 times.

 

Won't be disappointed....

 

I second these

 

I've found Sierra Trading Post to have the best prices on almost everything, but you have to keep searching until you find your size. Most of the biggest discounts are for closeouts/discontinued clothing & gear.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/mens-boots~d~137/

As for hiking boots recommendations: for heavy duty hiking/backpacking, I don't think anything matches up to Asolo TPS 520s. They are the best on the market.

As for lightweight hiking shoes: most of the major brands have good products. Check Amazon reviews before ordering. I have Asolo, Vasque & Keen "day hiker" shoes. The first two feel like tennis shoes, and my Keen Targee IIs feel like "cut down" heavy duty hiking boots.

Just looked at the 520 on Amazon. Looks like it would be awesome for me with arthritis in both big toe joints. I like my Oboz light weight but they flex too much walking on paved side walks. A good firm backpacking grade boot would serve me better. Also put off more foot surgery

 

I've found Sierra Trading Post to have the best prices on almost everything, but you have to keep searching until you find your size. Most of the biggest discounts are for closeouts/discontinued clothing & gear.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/mens-boots~d~137/

As for hiking boots recommendations: for heavy duty hiking/backpacking, I don't think anything matches up to Asolo TPS 520s. They are the best on the market.

As for lightweight hiking shoes: most of the major brands have good products. Check Amazon reviews before ordering. I have Asolo, Vasque & Keen "day hiker" shoes. The first two feel like tennis shoes, and my Keen Targee IIs feel like "cut down" heavy duty hiking boots.

Just looked at the 520 on Amazon. Looks like it would be awesome for me with arthritis in both big toe joints. I like my Oboz light weight but they flex too much walking on paved side walks. A good firm backpacking grade boot would serve me better. Also put off more foot surgery

Though several reviewers on Amazon reported serious sole delimitation problems after as little as 100 miles.

 

You might want to check out RUSSELLMOCCASIN.COM

100% made in the USA, custom to your feet. Been in business for over a century.

Not cheap, but not overly expensive for lifetime boots and worth checking out.

Wet

 

Best Deal on Boots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.lapolicegear.com/co-wellco-e163-usmc-rat-boots.html

 

Not sure about the Wellcos the Bates they had a couple years ago were all part of a recall/rejection due to substituted materials and general sub par construction that led to rapid failure in the field. I'd be wary, to my knowledge Danner was the only supplier that didn't have a bad production run in that contract.

Also the RAT while a very nice supportive boot is heavy, and hot.

 

I wear Oakley boots as my daily boot in uniform, but I really like Red Wing Shoes. Honestly, I don't know why they never made a military complaint boot, they'd be sold out in minutes.

 

I got a flier from Ollies that was advertising an overstock of military boots starting Nov 1st

 

don't get me wrong guys, military boots can be good, but they can also be pure crap. There's a reason I stick with Oakleys and have for almost 7 years.

 

If you want lightweight and waterproof check out Innov8 trail running boots/shoes. I just bought a pair of Innov8 Roclites. Lightest goretex boot on the market. Made in the UK.

 

Not sure about the Wellcos the Bates they had a couple years ago were all part of a recall/rejection due to substituted materials and general sub par construction that led to rapid failure in the field. I'd be wary, to my knowledge Danner was the only supplier that didn't have a bad production run in that contract.

Also the RAT while a very nice supportive boot is heavy, and hot.

I have a pair of the Bates and now a pair of the Wellco's... I take it you've only read things and not tried them???? I will take these boots any day over any others out there.. I also have a pair of Saloman Ginko's... They don't get used any more since I have the RAT boots....

 

Only read about the Bates issues, I have the Danner RAT boot, it's a quality boot, but heavier than I prefer for unladen hiking or day to day wear.

 

Bite the bullet and buy a pair of Danners. Do get gore tex but not any insulation. I have 2 pairs, one is over 12 years old and the other is almost 8, still going strong....

 

The Military is pretty much now in the habit of issuing commercial boots. I picked up a pair of Danners that the USAF issues. Very comfortable, and they still look great after several years of use as daily wear with Motorcycle commuting. And a 60 mile an hour motorcycle crash that had me sliding down a rural highway. While I did sprain an ankle, the boots really saved me from more serious injury in that foot. And they held up. Still wear them often.

 

don't get me wrong guys, military boots can be good, but they can also be pure crap. There's a reason I stick with Oakleys and have for almost 7 years.

This. When I first started in the Army, I wore Jungle boots w/ panama soles with BDUs then when we switched to DCUs for Iraq, I essentially got the same boot, sole and all, except it was in tan leather and canvas. They had minimal cushioning, were not Waterproof, and at the end of a day of "work", my Feet were sore as hell. The boots, once broken in, were comfortable though and wouldn't blister my feet. They were temperate boots but the jungle boots, black leather polished to a high shine, would
bake A set of insoles helped but once the lighter, more advanced aftermarket brands (Oakley, Nike, etc) started hitting the shelves, I tried on probably 10 different types. I bought two pairs of Nike special field boots (http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/20...m/2012/07/wendy-cunningham/nikes-special-field-boots-definitely-made-for-walkn/) to wear as soon as I graduated Drill Sergeant School just prior to hitting the trail.

They are stupid comfortable. Not water proof and you better get warm socks for the winter, but you can hump it all day in these LPCs and be good to go. Some complained they looked too "tennis shoe-y" but function over fashion...your feet are your life.

My warm, Gore tex hiking/hunting/whatever boots are Merrell MOAB Mid lengths. Insanely warm...if it's 50*F out even wearing summer weight socks, my feet sweet. I talked my dad into a pair (he got non gore tex but still waterproof and he wears them nonstop from Sept-March

 

KEEN! They have worked best for me. I've wore most boots out there and these wear like shoes. I wear them for 14-15 hr days, some times up to 50 straight days. Feels like your walking on clouds. I have these. http://m.keenfootwear.com/product/shoes/men/pittsburgh

 

3 years old and still going strong. Danner (made in USA) not the china crap!

 

http://www.carolinashootersclub.com/forum/threads/wts-salomon-conquest-gtx-hiking-boots.183789/

 

511 makes some really good boots. I have a pair and all though the ones I got are not waterproof they are really comfy.

 

I thought I had found the perfect boot in 5.11s They had a style that really cinched the boot across my ankle, which I was very happy with. What I wasn't happy with was the sole that tore apart and deteriorated, on 2 pairs, within months of being in Iraq, and that was just walking around FOBs...

 

If you want lightweight and waterproof check out Innov8 trail running boots/shoes. I just bought a pair of Innov8 Roclites. Lightest goretex boot on the market. Made in the UK.

The more I wear these the better I like them. I was out in 24 degree temps the other morning. Feet stayed warm with a simple pair of wool socks and these uninsulated boots. They are absolutely waterproof and are the lightest things I've ever put on my feet aside from a pair of vibram five fingers.

 

Just looked at the 520 on Amazon. Looks like it would be awesome for me with arthritis in both big toe joints. I like my Oboz light weight but they flex too much walking on paved side walks. A good firm backpacking grade boot would serve me better. Also put off more foot surgery

Though several reviewers on Amazon reported serious sole delimitation problems after as little as 100 miles.

I feel your pain. Literally. Osteoarthritis in both feet, particularly the toes. Hold of as long as you can on the surgery. I've had it (twice). Anyway, since you probably also like boots with a BIG toe box, please do let me know what you end up with. Thanks...

 

Had surgery on the left. They cut my big toe off. Ground down the bone to almost normal shape then screwed it back on. Painful. Hopefully I never need it on the right. Using the right footwear is key to make sure.