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Everyone’s feet are shaped differently so I can’t recommend what’ll be the best fit for you.
For me, I’m partial to Vasque Sundowners. They’re all leather, Gortex lined and have a big toe box.
For a very long time they were made in Italy and were built exceptionally well.
Now, they’re made in China. The quality is not as high, but still acceptable.
I have an extensive collection of Asolo and Salomon brand boots/shoes. I use them for hiking, shooting, 3 gun competitions, everyday wear.
The Salomon Quest’s are some of the most comfortable boots I have ever worn. I HIGHLY recommend them. I am also a big fan of the Salomon XA Pro mids as well as the low cut version in both Gore-Tex and non Gore-Tex. I have had ZERO issues with lacing system. I live in WV and hike here extensively without issue in terms of reliability. The Quests and XA Pros are worn year round. The Asolo Fugitives are also great as well. Yes, I am as bad as a woman. I have multiple pairs of the same models in different colors.
Give the Lowa Zephyr’s a serious look. The come in Gore-Tex and non Gore-Tex models. Extremely comfortable right out of the box. The best footwear I have ever purchased!!! Good luck with your choice :o
My advice is to check out some serious backpacking sites. There are new boots every year. See what the Appalachian Train through hikers are wearing. There is no better way to vet a boot than hiking from Maine to GA IMO
Boots are really subjective. Durability is not. I’ve had good luck with Salomon and Merrell for light use. I’m using a pair of these for hiking day trips (summer-fall) and car camping right now. Merrell Geomorph So far so good. They are very light so I do not expect them to last many years or anything. The Salomons you suggested are probably better boots than the Merrells Salomon Men’s Quest 4D GTX
But for longer camping and longer hikes I prefer Danner boots with 8 inch height. These boots give you more support and are warmer. There are many variations of Danner, these are the ones I’m currently wearing Danner Ridgemaster Taller boots protect your legs and support your ankles better.
It’s probably better to have two pair of boots, one for spring-fall and one for fall-spring to give you some flexibility and overlap. If you can only buy one pair you’ll have to compromise more.
BattleDrill3’s posts starting on page 4 of this thread are highly educational on the subject matter.
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?48689-What-boots/page4
What part of GA are you in?
I’ve moved away from hiking boots altogether for logging-type boots. They will take a massive ass-whipping, and are great under loads. I’ve blown out so many Merrells I’ve sworn them off completely. My grass cutting shoes are Merrells with the soles super-glued on.
I tend to be horrific on boots (40+ hours in the woods a week will do that to you). If you want bomb-proof boots that excel off-pavement, or well-maintained trails, loggers are second-to-none.
I was pretty much hell-bent on either hikers or combat boots for work, until a couple of the older guys I was working with turned me on to loggers. I thought they were nuts, but gave them a chance in 2011, and the same pair is still holding up rather nicely years, and untold miles, later.
They are about the most unstylish, uncool, things there are, but they work, and if I want a lightweight recreational hiking boot, I’ll pick up a pair of non-steel toed loggers.
My workhorse boots are Georgia Steel-Toe Low Heel Waterproof Logger Boots. Unlike every hiking boot I’ve ever had, after almost three years, and daily beatings they are still waterproof. I’ve recently added some Chippewa Super Loggers to the rotation. I’ve only had them for about three months, so I can’t comment on the overall nature of them. So far they’re pretty whoop ass.
If I’m working around paved surfaces, I will still throw the Asolos in the mix.
I am probably the dissenting voice here, but I will NEVER go back to hikers again for hard-use boots.
This post is useful (https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?48689-What-boots&p=743006#post743006) But, a lot of the specific boots mentioned are old and may not exist.
After trying several types of boots I settled on the Garmont T8 (they also have the T6, 6in upper). They are hands down the best boot I’ve ever owned. Cool in the summer, warm enough in the winter, drain holes for water, and amazingly comfortable. On top of all that, they hold up like nothing I’ve seen. I still wear the same pair of T8’s that I wore through Range School in '08. They have multiple deployments, schools, and miles upon miles of ruck marches and still not a ripped hole or separated sole. You won’t be disappointed. Just my thoughts based on experience.
I can’t claim vast experience with boots but I can say that the one pair of Merrell hiking boots I bought with Vibram soles and Gore-Tex uppers have been incredible.
They’ve been up and down Mt. Humphrey’s twice, on many lesser hikes in the Phoenix area, on my feet when hunting and shooting and camping. I’ve had 'em for almost 10 years. All I do to maintain them is clean the dust/dirt/mud off of them with water and a nylon brush.
Incredibly, the soles show almost no wear. The only significant wear is on the inside. The backs of my heels have worn holes in the lining.
A lot of it depends on your foot. I’ve had good experience with Lowa, however prefer Danner Melee Mids in brown breathable material. Very neutral stable boot. Seems like your environment is about the same as mine. I’ve tried the Gortex route and during the summer it made me sweat more than a whore in Sunday school.
Not to derail. But I’ll never forget hiking Mt Humphrey with my old man and getting caught in a wicked hail/lightning storm well above the treeline. Didn’t think we where gonna make it back.
I’ve had good luck with vasque hiking boots, had the same pair for a few years now thought I’m not sure which model.
loggers are tough as nails but heavy too. I have a nice pair of Irish Setter loggers that I never wore because of the weight so I stripped of the soles and had the light weight Vibram sole put on. world of difference…