Since we talk a lot about the junk that’s out there whats the good stuff that are folks finding thats worth buying today. I have a pair of C E Schmidt work boots from TSC I can’t seem to wear out. I actually had to put on a second set of shoe laces on them that I had in a junk drawer. They were made in the Dominican Republic it says on the tongue still after so many years.

That company is out of business now they carry a Ridgecut brand now not sure if that’s the same quality or a cheap replacement brand. I had some Wolverine boots in the past that lasted many years but now most reasonable priced ones are glued junk like the others that are offered today that don’t last.

My wife just bought a pair of Kenetrek hiking boots for mountain hike/climb expedition. She ordered and tried on all the "good" brands including Danner and Rocky. She said they suck so I took her to "The Boot Shack" here in town. They actually measure your feet and have all sizes and widths to fit YOUR feet. The Kenetreks have a lifetime warranty on the soles, they will replace as long as the leather upper is in good enough shape to support the repair. She says they are the most comfortable shoes she has put on her feet, which is saying something, she has more shoes than most shoe stores stock lol. They were $445.00. I think these were made in Romania or Italy, can't remember.

lots of factors out there for example what some people may say is a good boot others my not find because of what they use them for i have yet to find a boot that can last more than three years in my outdoor life style i hunt basically ever month of the year except july and august and than i have hound training so i have two pairs of boots always on the go 400 grams of thinsulate or less and 800 grams or more since i enjoy walking lots of boots are to heavy or the rubber breaks making them not waterproof anymore

My buddy swears by Crispi brand boots they are in the $250-$400 range.

If you buy a $80-$140 pair now you would be lucky to get a year out of them.

On year 4 of my Crispi Guide series hunting boots. Wear them easily 250+ days a year. All trapping season, 4 - 5 months straight bird hunting and hike in them all spring and summer. Very minimal wear so far. Tread on the soles is still only probably 50%. I expect to get another 2 years or so out of them. Downside was there was a long break-in period. Upside is they are super comfortable all-season boots. Also, the only boot I have ever found that is still waterproof on year 4. Usually my past "waterproof" boots were getting my feet wet after a few weeks or months.

Any footwear that is not made in the USA or a European country is junk. They might be comfortable for a short period, but so are flip flops.

Unfortunately but thank God the only boot I can wear are xero zero drop and vivowear barefoot. I have lowa and several others that are collecting dust .

Well, for 22 years up until a month ago I was a climber and loved the newer style Royer climbers. Moving over to our forestry side of the utility, I just ordered a pair of these Hiax forestry boots. Good thing my employer will cover $450 of the cost.

For trapping its surplus bunny boots when the daytime highs are under -20, Dryshod arctic and summer boots. Usually just sketchers for driving to summer ADC jobs then the Dans waders or chesties come out. The odd time I’ll wear a Keens hiking boot though.

Crispi will be the cheapest boot you will ever buy because of the years you use them. I'm hard on boots and do 100's of miles in back country and the pair I have now are 8 years old. I do though do the regular maintenance and care all boots needs.

Thorogood boots are the best boots I’ve ever owned bar none!! I have’nt been through them all but I’ve wore enough brands over the years to know and subjectively compare!

I am dying for intel on good trapping boots that’ll get a lot hiking out of them. Lmk!

Tried the Thorogood Amercan Heritage work boots for around the acreage and wont ever go back to Redwings....had them 7 years and they are still going strong. Keep them treated with obenaufs....

Yup, that is how I keep mine treated!

Im not sure the model that is 250-maybe when Camofire website was going? I have the uninsulated Altitude i think theyre 375 now-350 when I bought them. I had to take the first pair back because the toe was falling apart. So far, these have been good. Laces are complete junk, though. For an almost 400 dollar pair of boots, they should provide better. The main thing for me is my feet dont hurt after walking for hours pheasant hunting and they havent leaked a drop. My last 2 pairs of Danners were complete junk

Midway USA has them on close out often.

I where Hoffman felt pacs in the winter, probably the best boots I've ever had. Comfortable walking boots (heavy, obviously) and I just got a new pair, the last pair lasted me close to 15 years. I think I had the rubber lowers replaced four times, possibly five in that time and replaced several pairs of felt liners, but the leather uppers were still good. The leather was still good when I got the new ones, but the stitching was all coming apart and to have that repaired plus replacing the rubber lowers again was going to be about the same price as a new pair. I will say the new pair has much larger rubber lowers, when I put my custom insoles in them from my old pair there was at least 3/8" of slop both side to side and front to back. Amazingly enough they still seem to fit my feet fine without my feet slipping around in them, and seem to be warmer (probably due to the extra airspace). The wider soles took a few days getting used to driving though, before I didn't try to step on the clutch and brake or gas and brake at the same time. And even though they don't say they are waterproof, they are one of the only pairs of boots I've owned that my feet don't get wet in! I wear them seven days a week for 4 1/2-5 months a year.

For summer boots I have tried many different brands, Crispi Guide boots are a very well made boot, I know several friends that wear them, unfortunately all the Crispi boots have no arch support and even with custom insoles I can't wear them. Some of their other models don't seem to hold up as well, and I know several guys who have had issues with the newer models of the hiking boot type leaking (older models were as waterproof as rubber boots). Kennetreks are the most comfortable boot that I have ever put on, but from the houndmen I know that wear them (a lot, as compared to deer and elk hunters that wear them a few weeks a year) they are about 50% on whether you get a waterproof pair or not, so for their price point I've never broke down and bought a pair. My last two pairs of summer boots have been Schnee's, first pair was the Granites, hardest boot I've ever owned to break in, I had 800 miles on them before they were fully broke in. But once they were, they were as comfortable a boot as I've ever owned, lasted me over two years and even with the soles completely worn off they were still waterproof. Next I bought a pair of their Beartooths, much lighter and cooler boot (the Granites were the warmest "uninsulated boot" I've ever worn, due to the padding) and no break in to them. But while they never hurt my feet, and there was no break in, they were never as comfortable as the Granites were once broken in. Cheaper also, but they have a year warranty and within a couple weeks of it going out they started leaking like a sieve (may have a little earlier, it hadn't rained in a couple months) and before they were 15 months old the leather on the right boot had an inch long split in it where it bends right behind the toes. Left boot the leather was still in good shape and soles are at least 50% on them. I can list a lot of brands I have tried and been unhappy with, but since we are talking about ones I have been happy with I am about out of options. I used to wear Whites caulked loggers, those are a real quality boot, that are custom made to your feet and hold up extremely well, but the second pair I got, I had the lace to toe design (no reason, it was just an option I checked) and because they are made out of very heavy, stout leather, hiking up hills they always rubbed on the top of my foot, just back of the toes. On fairly level ground or going downhill they were good. They are also the most expensive boot listed.