Mountain Boots, I might be the only fan

[t4halo]

I know, there too big and too heavy, but I enjoy wearing them. Anyone besides me still wander around the woods wearing heavy old boots? I just recently gave up my red laces.

Here is my favorite pair of Pivetta boots. Have another pair that are a little rough but very comfortable. Pivetta has a pretty nice history dating back to WWII and the American 10th MTN troops.

 

[BobHufford]

I had a pair of Raichle "Colorado" boots in the '70s that I wore about every day. Resoled them three times before I moved on -- although I have sort of regretted it since. I've come close to replacing them several times, but my head keeps getting turned by nice old hats.

Similar to these: (and red laces are a must)

 

[t4halo]

I’m a HUGE fan of Raichle also. I’ve put a lot of miles on this pair.

At one time not to long ago, Raichle boots were issued by the 10th Special Forces Group. Got me two pair.

T4

 

[GJ nord]

I use to when I lived in the hills of Northern England, have me a pair of repro ww2 Gegirgsjager boots, the snow clumps up a goodun due to freezing to the metal studs/cleats even if you add alot of grease around them.... but the grip they give is immense

 

[Michael A]

I don't know is these qualify, but I wear these old Scarpa quite often
Scarpa Hiking Boots by Michael A2012, on Flickr
12-8-2020 Today's Clothes by Michael A2012, on Flickr

Michael

 

[t4halo]

Michael, Scarpa makes some damn fine boots. Those definitely qualify!!


T4

 

[Michael A]

I'll agree they are a damn fine boot. Very comfortable and the ankle support is the best for sliding down side hills. I need to get them resoled one of these days.

Funny story how I came by these. I was living in an apt complex and I took my garbage out to the trash house one evening. There sitting on the floor right inside the door was this pair of boots. They were in unworn condition and the tag showed my size so I took them home. They fit great, but after I walked in them for awhile they would wear the heck out of the side of my foot. So I set them aside for a couple of years. Then one day I pulled them out and looked at them for awhile and I could see they had never even been broken in. So I worked some oil and wax into the area that rubbed me wrong and worked on it with my thumbs for a couple of hours until it softened up. Did the trick and now they are in the top two or three pairs of my most comfortable shoes or boots. And quite possibly the top.

Thanks,
Michael

 

[sal]

I have a pair of Meindl, which I really like

 

[belfastboy]

I know, there too big and too heavy, but I enjoy wearing them. Anyone besides me still wander around the woods wearing heavy old boots? I just recently gave up my red laces.

Here is my favorite pair of Pivetta boots. Have another pair that are a little rough but very comfortable. Pivetta has a pretty nice history dating back to WWII and the American 10th MTN troops.
View attachment 309463

I have multiple pairs of Danner boots, favourite footwear.

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

I have a nearly perfect pair of Pivetta 8s. Back then, all the Italian makers made similar, great boots. Even old Vasque are of similar and great build. Not that Vasque was considered a lowly brand at that point, but many in the USA recognize Vasque as THE Italian brand because Redwing distributed them throughout the 80s and were the marque brand in outdoor shops. They must have sold millions of Sundowner model boots in that period.

One of the problems with buying these older boots is our feet shape has changed in the past few decades. A lot of those old Italian and Swiss boots were made on lasts with thinner footbeds. You have to order up in size if you don't want your feet squeezed.

Remember when Colorado boots were the trend in the late 70s or early 80s? Made for Kinney stores. High quality Italian boots made in two models. You had the red lace, lower model, and then you had the dark brown leather/striped shoe lace/taller model. Kids walking around pavement in boots that weighed 4LBs per shoe. Like walking around town in cement blocks, and for why?

There aren't a lot of brands making this kind of boot anymore. Limmer still makes these type of true backpacking and mountaineering boots. Others might still have a model here or there, but they're few and far between.

 

[t4halo]

Here’s a pair of vintage Army issue Chippewa boots. They can be used in the Military ski bindings. They took about 5 winters to finally break in.

T4

 

[yellowfever]

Here are my Zamberlan Italian hiking boots. I’ve had these boots 30 years. I got them for hiking when I lived in northern England, from a super little independent outdoor shop run by climbers which has sadly closed since. I knew nothing about boots, but followed their excellent advice on what to get. They were comfy from the start, reliable, grippy and waterproof (if you treat them properly).

Over the years they’ve also been used for numerous muddy music festivals, snowboard trips and backpacking and having cared for them properly they still look great and function perfectly.

Zamberlan themselves are still going, still family owned (3rd generation now) and made in Italy and they celebrated their 90th anniversary in 2019.

https://en.zamberlan.com/post/1929-2019-zamberlan-90th-anniversary.html

 

[t4halo]

Yellowfever, thanks for the link. I see a pair of these Zamberlan boots In my future. I really like a good Norwegian welt.

T4

 

[yellowfever]

Yellowfever, thanks for the link. I see a pair of these Zamberlan boots In my future. I really like a good Norwegian welt.

T4
View attachment 309698

You’re welcome, glad it was of interest and thanks for the thread, a nice idea.

I’m no expert when it comes to hiking boots, but those climbers running the outdoor shop I got them from way back when clearly knew what a good boot was and set me on the right track!

 

[Short Balding Guy]

I wear my current pair of modern Lowe mountain boots frequently. Hikes through rougher terrain, snow situations, snow shoeing, chainsaw efforts, moving yard or beach materials and of course when weather makes them an essential.

The boots in the pic are a modern iteration of boots I have worn through the decades. They are ready for me with only the need to slip into a pair of Smart Wool medium hiker socks. Custom footbeds, originally installed for the infrequent backpacking trips, provide terrific support.

BTW: The Gannon beaver hat was soaked, but after drying, blocking and conditioning the leather sweat it appears flawless. My kit gets worn for its intended uses.

Cheers, Eric -

 

[yellowfever]

I wear my current pair of modern Lowe mountain boots frequently. Hikes through rougher terrain, snow situations, snow shoeing, chainsaw efforts, moving yard or beach materials and of course when weather makes them an essential.



The boots in the pic are a modern iteration of boots I have worn through the decades. They are ready for me with only the need to slip into a pair of Smart Wool medium hiker socks. Custom footbeds, originally installed for the infrequent backpacking trips, provide terrific support.

Cheers, Eric -

+1 for smart wool hiking socks, great warm comfy padded socks with nice ribbing that doesn’t cut your circulation off!

 

[Short Balding Guy]

+1 for smart wool hiking socks, great warm comfy padded socks with nice ribbing that doesn’t cut your circulation off!

Yellowfever; I have switched to some of the Smart Wool dress socks and they have become favorites.

Cheers, Eric -

 

[t4halo]

I’m a fan of Smart Wool as well but, I believe their quality is not what it was 15 years ago. When they first came out they were nearly indestructible.

T4

 

[Bushman]

I use these for hiking, as well as everyday wear. They're just a standard pair of steel toe Carolina Loggers, and even though they're heavy, clunky, and old, they're also made with high quality leather and stitching, they're waterproof, and most importantly they're comfortable. They've been up and down mountains, across the country, forgotten in a Reno hotel and shipped back to me, and saved my toes on a number of occasions. They're the most reliable boot I've ever owned and I'll swear by them.

 

[t4halo]

Bushman, Great looking pair of boots! Well worn and look very comfortable. Up here in Michigan we havent seen 30 degrees for a while and steel toe boots get a little chilly in the winter. Do they make that boot without the steel toe option?

T4