Hiking boots recommendations?
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I am in the market for a good pair of hiking boots and wondered if anyone here had some recommendations. I’m going to Nepal in December and am planning on doing the Manaslu circuit, which is about 12-14 days and goes up to 5106m on the Larke Pass. Last year I wore my Viberg service boots (2040 last) and loved them, but only went up to a little over 3800m in dry conditions. They have a nice stiff sole and the fit is great. As you can see in the picture, they are a roughout CMX leather.
This year I’ll be going into colder temperatures and am expecting snow for at least the Pass. As much as I love my Vibergs and how they feel and perform, I think that this trek will be pushing their and my comfort zones. Their downside for this trip is that they aren’t lined (cold) and they are not waterproof. I’ve been looking online at hiking boots for the past couple of weeks and seem to keep coming back to either Scarpa or Keen - influenced some by local availability. I want to be able to try them on and make sure they fit properly before breaking them in. I’ll be going into town on Tuesday and plan on going to a local outfitter and trying on different pairs of boots and seeing what works.
Do you have any recommendations for a good pair of hiking boots that have a fairly stiff sole, a wider fit, and waterproof? The terrain is a lot of dirt paths, rocky staircases, metal suspension bridges, scree, boulders and snow. What has worked for you?
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@Denman-John You’re definitely in the part of the country to find the perfect pair. My thoughts are the Scarpa’s but I’m biased as that’s what I see most of the time. Finding the perfect pair is just trying them on and asking for recommendations from the experts. Luckily for you Vancouver is a Mecca for advice.
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Danner Mountain Lite and Zamberland GTX have always been my go-to. The Danner is super versatile where the latter are very technical and stand out a bit.
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Highly recommend checking out Russell Moccasin, the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned and the hiking models are exceptional.
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Personally, when going above 5000m and into wet conditions, I wouldn't play around with 'heritage boots' and go for something technical. Especially, if you're going to use crampons you'll need something from category C or D. But you're probably aware of that. I've done a few 4000s and 5000s with La Sportivas and was never disappointed. Used an older version of the Trango Alpine GTX on Mt. Kilimajaro.
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I can only agree with @endo my go to for high altitude mountaineering and hikes are the La Sportiva Evo. I wore mine on several 4000m climbs, waterfall climbs and alike and trust these. If you ask me this is not the climate where you want to wear nice boots, they need to work and be reliable.
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Good article on boots that might be of interest: https://www.switchbacktravel.com/best-mountaineering-boots
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I've had a pair of Scarpa boots for over a decade, and they're incredibly supportive, durable, and waterproof. I've been using hiking boots since I was a child, and nothing has come close. Highly recommend. And as other have said, skip the heritage boots and get something technical. They cram features into contemporary hiking boots and that usually means high water resistance, insulation, support, ergonomics, and durability.
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I like Keen and these are my second pair of Pyrenees. First pair lasted 3 years of heavy use. While shopping for a replacement I tried on boots from many companies but nothing seemed to fit as well as the Keens. Everyone’s feet are different though so try on stuff until you find which fits best.
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I've been selling a lot of hiking/climbing/mountaineering equipment as a part time job as a student. I'd recommend visiting a proper outdoor retailer and get some professional advice. Plenty quality boots (Meindl, La Sportiva, Hanwag, ...) will serve you well, but it's important to get the intended purpose and fit of the boot right.
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@Denman-John I would check out the Scarpa Phantom 6000. Great high elevation boot and on the lighter weight side.
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If you can find them in your area, there is a Pennsylvanian brand called Topo Athletic and they make a fantastic hiking boot called the Trailventure Waterproof. The part that got me to switch over to them from almost every other shoe is the wide toe box design. Fits my weird feet well and makes hiking much more comfortable for tougher spots. $185 USD last time I bought, if you have access to Zappos usually they do 25% off during Black Friday with free shipping so I usually will grab a pair every year. My last pair took 3 years of beatings before I had to replace. I’ll wear this boot (hopefully) for life now. It’s just the one made for me. Keen is also a great brand. Oboz is also great too. Waterproofing will help trap some heat in so you may not need any insulation… but 200-400g may help at those high points.
