What height boots do you prefer?

[MyKneesHurt]

That makes some sense to me, and if so-called barefoot or zero-drop boots solve pain or balance issues for someone, go for it.

However, it seems to me that many normal boots have no or only trivial heel lift. For example, look at the Muck boots Robin pictured above. The heel and sole seem about at the same level. Looking at my Irish Setters, the lugged sole elevates the entire boot but only lifts the heel fractionally above the sole. By the way, these boots shocked me with their comfort. I expected a stiff and bumpy ride out of the box, but they are as cushioned and pillowy as any casual or running shoe I've owned.

I very much have gone for it. I'm glad you've found a pair of boots that suit you.
I've owned several pairs of Mucks, LaCrosse, etc (we call them 'moon boots') and find them utterly miserable to walk in for any distance over maybe a quarter of a mile. If I could find a comfortable pair I'd love to have thme.
I think you'd have to look at the actual footbed inside to see what if any heel lift that particular boot has, but who knows, it may be close to a zero-drop.

 

[tketcham]

I've owned several pairs of Mucks, LaCrosse, etc (we call them 'moon boots') and find them utterly miserable to walk in for any distance over maybe a quarter of a mile.

I've been using a pair of Muck Arctic Pro boots for many years and like the boot a lot. I used to wear them for winter forestry work and would walk for miles through snow in steep terrain and they did well. Not as stable as the lace up Grizzly leather pac boots I had but the Muck's were much lighter, which I liked. And the Muck's make a good snowshoe boot. I use them with MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes. I agree with you about certain other brand models but the Muck Arctic Pros seem to fit me just right.

 

[Gamma1214]

hmmm ?!

I think something like this

Well, no offense but, from the pictures of you that I've seen, they look great on her but I doubt that you have the legs for it. You're welcome to post pictures and prove me wrong.

 

[Robin]

I've owned several pairs of Mucks, LaCrosse, etc (we call them 'moon boots') and find them utterly miserable to walk in for any distance over maybe a quarter of a mile

Well that may be your experience but I doubt if Glenn will be doing any half mile portages, Mucks are used by many in construction and farming daily.

 

[Punkinhead]

My wife and I use Mucks for muddy and cold weather riding in the UTV. I've never tried walking in them for miles, but we both find them comfortable and warm to wear all day and for shorter (1/4 mile or so) walks. I personally wouldn't use them in the canoe because I kneel and I don't think they'd have the flexibility. If the weather doesn't call for barefoot or thin sandals I prefer minimalist hiking shoes or trail runners. I like Altra Lone Peaks either in low cut non-waterproof or ankle height waterproof. I like Lone Peaks because they have a wide toe box and I hate having my toes pinched the way most trail shoes do.

 

[snapper]

@ErktheRed - Wow...sorry I missed your post. As to my mukluks, I'm on my second pair since I wore through my initial set. I love the lack of weight on my feet and the ability to stay warm in truly cold conditions. One of the reasons I wore out my first pair is because I'd use them for everything. I snowshoed in them and even wore them with universal bindings on my Hok skis. I sewed holes in the canvas that developed over time more than once. I still pull out my old pair from time to time when conditions aren't optimal; saving my new pair for the deep cold, dry snow days we still get from time to time.

Bottom line, they were definitely worth the investment; which is why I finally broke down and got new ones when it became necessary.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time....be well.

snapper

 

[MyKneesHurt]

Well that may be your experience but I doubt if Glenn will be doing any half mile portages, Mucks are used by many in construction and farming daily.

I know. I live on a farm, and I've worked construction most of my life. I've never seen anyone on a jobsite with Mucks.

 

[Jmharrick]

In general I prefer a mid-height boot that offers some ankle support. I like the added insurance against a twisted ankle.

For paddling, portaging, tripping I wear the Astral Rassler 2.0 water shoe and love them. Not necessarily boots, but they feel more stout than shoes, have great grip, drain well, and offer ankle support.


For everyday wear, long walks, hiking in the woods I wear Oboz Bridger mid waterproofs. These are the most comfortable boots I have ever worn. I’m on my second pair. I bought a pair for my father in law and he swears by them and wears them every day.


For cold winter days walking in the snow, ice fishing, or hunting, I were the Muck Arctic boots.

 

[ppine]

I was sleepy and misread the title. What height boobs do you prefer? It reminded me of when my
Dad asked my Mom near the end of her life what her bra size was. He wanted to buy her a sweater.
Her reply was "38 long." We all got a laugh out of that one.

 

[Alan Gage]

Like Robin I've been a fan of Redwing 606 boots. I've never felt the need to go higher than that (6"). In very deep snow I simply slap on a pair of gaiters.

Otherwise I prefer a low cut shoe, preferably in plain leather. Like @MyKneesHurt I've started using zero drop shoes and have grown fond of them. I haven't worn my Redwing 606 boots in over a year (last winter was extremely mild) and I just started wearing them again last week. I was startled how tall the heels felt and because of that I'm finding them a bit uncomfortable. I might have to try those Jim Green boots he mentioned. How is the traction on snow and ice?

Alan

 

[MyKneesHurt]

How is the traction on snow and ice?

Alan

I regret to say I don't know yet - it was 65 degrees in Virginia yesterday. They are definitely not cold-weather boots, though.
When I lived in Maine I was never without a pair of slip-on traction aids - YakTrax or Kahtoolas. At the risk of too much thread drift, the Kahtoola microspikes are amazing, I've done trips to the desert southwest in January and they were indispensable on icy rock and packed snow.

 

[petit.conan]

For shoulder season I usually wear the 10" LL Bean Maine Hunting Shoes or Hunter Tall rain boots (15"?). Ten inches I find is just enough to let me step out of the canoe onto shore without leaving any paint on the rocks. The rubber in both boots stays very soft around the freezing point. If it's hot and I don't mind wet footing I just wear a pair or Columbia Drain Makers or New Balance minimus trail runners.

Winter boots I love the Sorrel 1964 Pac boots or just lined ruber boots, whatever brand is on sale at the hardware store this year.

 

[Seeker]

I use boots for different things...

for canoeing, I have a pair of neoprene NRS Boundary Boots, and they come up to just below my knee, for which I am grateful.

for hunting, and canoeing before the NRS boots, I have a pair of Muck Boot Edgewaters... again, almost knee high.

for snow, I have a pair of Sorels; can't remember the model... but also knee high to keep my calves warm.

for hiking/backpacking, I don't wear boots; I wear hiking shoes; low quarter, easy on/off. I have tried ankle high, and in the military i had shin-high boots, but hated them. Far prefer the low quarter freedom of movement, ease of drying, ease of on/off.

 

[Keeled Over]

Waist high breathable waders with comfy wading boot. Sometimes a 13" high insulated Kamik.

 

[Blukanu]

If the situation necessitates boots, then it likely necessitates a tall boot. Thats my philosophy so I get them as tall as I can.

If not wearing muckmasters I’m in crocs or an old pair of running shoes. In summer, no matter the footwear, I’m usually kicking them off and going barefoot in the canoe.

I don’t find the muckmasters that uncomfortable for distance. This time of year thats what I wear (with a good pair of socks) for a casual walk around the neighborhood. Usually 1.5 - 2 miles loops.

 

[Odyssey]

re Winter work 'n play. I miss my gaiters. Originally bought for backcountry Nordic touring they became sensible everyday wear for whenever I'd step off the cleared paths and roadways, which was often. The reverse is true nowadays, I seldom wade thru the deep fun stuff. On the rare ocassion I need to step into white bliss I make sure my inner layers are tucked in while my outer layer is flapped over the top cuff of my mid-height boots, to shed the snow. Nobody likes cold and wet down the inside of yer footwear. Felt lined Sorel pack boots or insulated Bog boots work for me.
I've tried keeping my feet constantly dry when tripping, but decided eventually that wet footing was fine, even in cold October waters. Barefoot in watershoes is quite comfortable. Changing footwear for the portages is fast and easy. That means dry hiking socks and shoes. If boggy encounters get in the way then the extra prs of socks I have stashed come out to play. I used to take rubber/neoprene boots but they were so rarely "needed" I started leaving them home. I love leather boots but inevitably they get wet, and soggy squelchy days are less than ideal on the trail or in camp, so they too stay home. So my feet are wet-ish from put-in to take-out, and warm and dry on trails and in camp.

 

[Black_Fly]

@Glenn MacGrady Sorry, I assume people are familiar with it because I've spent so much time in them. A 'zero-drop' shoe is a shoe with no elevated heel, so that the foot rests parallel to the ground, much as it would while barefoot. ('Zero-drop' is used interchageably with 'barefoot'.) The modern barefoot trend was kickstarted by a book called "Born to Run" by Chris McDougall, about the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico, famous for running enormous distances in nothing but homemade sandals. McDougall also posits that a lot of running injuries are due to over-engineered footwear reducing the ability of the foot to function as evolution intended.
The thinking is, no heel-lift is a much more natural position for your feet to be in, and thus easier on your whole body. It can relieve plantar fascitis, knee problems, and lower back issues, because the shoe allows your body to distribute weight more naturally. In my own case, they've virtually eliminated lifelong knee and shin pain, and I've noticed improvement in balance, circulation, and foot flexibility.
'Ground feel' is something of a marketing hook, and thus what the majority of barefoot shoe makers advertise - think something along the lines of a synthetic moccassin. By and large it's rather pleasant hiking in them, but of course the next man may prefer something different. At a quick guess I would say I've done upward of 300 hiking and backpacking miles in zero-drops; close to 400 if I include portages. My coldwater paddling shoes are NRS neoprene booties, which are zero-drop by default, and yes, I've banged my ankles plenty of times.

What's great about Jim Green's offerings is that they've made barefoot boots with a decent sole, something that a nail on a job site won't immediately penetrate, and with decent leather, that looks like an actual boot. I've had a nail go entirely through my foot while wearing Lems (one of the zero-drop shoe makers that promotes 'ground feel'), and that's something you only want to happen once.

The AR8s I mentioned are definitely not a zero-drop, they're much more of a rugged, stiff boot with a lug sole. JG is also introducing a "rugged" trooper boot next year that's essentially a Pacific Northwest logging boot - much stiffer and with a giant lug sole.

Earth Boots? I wore the earth shoes for a while in my youth. They were supposed to be easy on the joints, back. Is that the case for the boots? I don’t remember feeling different but I didn’t have the physical problems I have now.

 

[Black_Fly]

I have used Chota Quetico Trekker boots, which are no longer made, replaced by a newer version at a higher price. As far as I know, these boots are only available through Piragis in Ely MN. I settled on these boots for the ankle protection and support which became important as I participated in Wabakimi Project trips. After several earlier trips using the Teva water shoes which I liked, I needed a replacement as the Tevas and my feet and ankles took a beating.View attachment 144619feet and ankles took a beating while portaging and wading in Wabakimi.

What size you use in the Trekkers? I have a pair in size 12 that are too big for me. Used them once 15 years ago. If they’ll fit you you’re welcome to them.