Boots?

[Charles de Ribeau]

I've been twice and can't remember which boots I took. I leave in 3 weeks for an Eastern Cape PG hunt. I'll be wearing long pants and ankle gaiters. My question is should I take my Meindl hiking boots, my Vaque hiking boots or Vasque mid hiking books. The standard Vasque are slightly lower than the Meindl but definitely lighter and with mesh and leather uppers, they would be cooler. The Vasque mid are much lighter and about 1 1/2 inches lower with leather and mesh upper. The Meindl are very sturdy; lots of support; all leather; definitely would be hotter.

What's your opinion?

 

[crackerman]

I did 33 miles in 7 days in Jim Green Rangers. I vote Meindl, all leather with good support and take some shoe spray for the sweat smell.

 

[Flipper Dude]

The question is….. Why do you have 3 pair of hiking boots? See, if you only had one pair, you wouldn’t find yourself in this predicament. Paradox of choice is a terrible burden. I avoid it at all costs.

(Home you don’t take offense at my injection of levity……sorta)

 

[Charles de Ribeau]

The question is….. Why do you have 3 pair of hiking boots? See, if you only had one pair, you wouldn’t find yourself in this predicament. Paradox of choice is a terrible burden. I avoid it at all costs.

(Home you don’t take offense at my injection of levity……sorta)

I didn't mention the cool - cold - sub-zero weather boots. I have too many of lots of things - starting with guns and knives.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I didn't mention the cool - cold - sub-zero weather boots. I have too many of lots of things - starting with guns and knives.

Too many guns, or knives? Not possible!

Back to the boots. I wore my regular "hunting boots" on my first safari. Too heavy, stiff and noisy for stalking close. My PH and his brother who was also a PH, wore chukka boots. Single ply suede uppers and soft rubber soles. Not expensive and light so I got a pair before my next trip.Much quieter and cooler than the boots I wear here. So which ever you have that's lightest and quietest.

 

[wesheltonj]

(1) RSA Northern Cape took my Merrill low hikers, should have take flip-flops, all sand. (2) Zambia, again Merrill low hikers perfect, no problems other then hot. (3) Tanzania took my Lowa Trekking boots. Most days overkill, however on 2 days glad I had those and not the Merrills.

 

[Firebird]

Are you in the mtns in the east cape or something more flat?
I would take lightweight hiking shoes or low boots. Much of what I hunted in the east cape could be managed in trail running shoes-waterproof but that’s not necessary

 

[steve white]

(1) RSA Northern Cape took my Merrill low hikers, should have take flip-flops, all sand. (2) Zambia, again Merrill low hikers perfect, no problems other then hot. (3) Tanzania took my Lowa Trekking boots. Most days overkill, however on 2 days glad I had those and not the Merrills.

Tanzania is really hot, at least to me--the Lowa boots were OK in the heat?

 

[TnKen]

I used the Lowa zephyrs high in the Eastern Cape last year. I didn’t wear gaiters and had no issues with stuff getting in my boots

ZEPHYR MK2 GTX HI - BLACK

This updated version of the Zephyr GTX Hi is stronger, more technical, more durable and even higher-performance than the original Zephyr GTX Hi. Standout features include tear-resistant split leather/Cordura® upper, a locking ankle eyelet, a lace holster, instep protection against rope abrasion...

www.lowaboots.com

 

[Rumrunner]

Whichever pair you don’t look forward to getting off your feet at the end of the day.
Or you look forward the least.

 

[JimP]

I agree with the above,the pair that you can wear all day and don't need to take off as soon as you get to your room.

For most of my hunts anymore I wear a light weight Crispi hiker. My feet feel almost as good at the end of the day as they did at the start.

 

[wesheltonj]

Tanzania is really hot, at least to me--the Lowa boots were OK in the heat?

They were ok. I was wearing Smartwool hiking socks with them and cloth ankle gaiters. Most of the time it was open plains and overkill. But two days we went up “foothills” steep, and rocky. Lots of sliding on rocks.

 

[The creed]

you could park all 3 and every mile or so, you try another one to see how it fits.

 

[Andrew62]

I wore Vasque mid hikers on many safaris, at some point one of the trackers asked for them so I left them behind. For the past several safaris I have worn Oboz Sawtooth hikers from Sportsmans Warehouse.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

GoRuck MacV-2... they are like having air on your feet they are so light.

 

[Altitude sickness]

That Goruck boot looks like the old standard issue with a new sole design. The name sounds like an homage to Mac V Sog ?

 

[Altitude sickness]

MACV-2 - Mid Top - Briar + Coyote

THE LEGACY CONTINUES The MACV-1™ modernized the Vietnam-era jungle boot, and the MACV-2™ continues that legacy with an all-new outsole for unprecedented traction and even more support. Suitable for the needs of Special Forces soldiers who spend a career on their feet, all over the world, with...

www.goruck.com

This version looks more like the African Velle
Of course missing the sew through sole. which keeps the soles from separating.

Last year I took two pairs of well worn high quality ankle high upland boots. We logged so many miles, both brand of boots soles separated. Luckily the camp manager had someone in camp repair both. sewing the sole at the toe. They used cords from old tires to sew

 

[Philip Glass]

I've been twice and can't remember which boots I took. I leave in 3 weeks for an Eastern Cape PG hunt. I'll be wearing long pants and ankle gaiters. My question is should I take my Meindl hiking boots, my Vaque hiking boots or Vasque mid hiking books. The standard Vasque are slightly lower than the Meindl but definitely lighter and with mesh and leather uppers, they would be cooler. The Vasque mid are much lighter and about 1 1/2 inches lower with leather and mesh upper. The Meindl are very sturdy; lots of support; all leather; definitely would be hotter.

What's your opinion?

Not the Meindl. I'd go lighter just as long as there is some ankle support.

 

[AZDAVE]

of the ones you mentioned the Vasque mid would be the ones I would take.

The biggest problem with boots we have here is that the soles are to hard and stiff to make good stalking boots. Danner used to make a lite weight stalker that had a soft sole designed for bow hunters was a great boot I wore them out 4 safaris ago and like anything that works they decided to make it better and the fit and sole are different (AKA Sucks as a stalking boot) ok I will get off my soap box

In 2018 I bought a couple pair of the wildebeest boots while on safari and wear them on most hunts.

 

[mdwest]

That Goruck boot looks like the old standard issue with a new sole design. The name sounds like an homage to Mac V Sog ?

looking at that boot makes my hips, knees, and arches hurt lol...

if youre old enough to remember the green jungle boot.. youre OLD! lol..