Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Good Boots for $250 or less ?

So the old Danner Pronghorns are wearing down and it is time for a replacement. Have checked the Kenetrek's and the Schnee's and they look great. But what about someting in the $250 range. All ideas are welcome !

Rick

you get what you pay for--no more no less.

Try Keen Oregon PCT

Lowa Camino is my light climbing boot......superb quality made in Italy

I bought these a couple years ago and like them much better than the Pronghorns

Cabelas

If they don't fit your feet it doesn't matter what they cost. I have narrow feet and it is real hard to find a company that still makes a boot in BB width. Most are just 'medium' width and they try and sell you a footbed to make up the difference. I', still looking now that Vasque quit making the Sundowner which I have worn for 25 years.

Vasque has a line of backpacking boots that work well for hunting: the two St. Elias GTX boots, the Summit GTX and the Bitterroot GTX. All are available somewhere for a little over $200.

I have a pair of a discontinued line that have served me well for more years than I care to remember, on rocks, in wet and in snow. They are still waterproof and bullet proof. I buy mine at REI because they have knowledgeable sales people who will ensure that you will get a good fit.

I have the same problem (A width) and these are the best I've found. The last is pretty narrow.

http://www.danner.com/product/hike/danner-light-ii-6-brown.html

I've used the Vasques like mudhen suggested with good results. Just got a pair of Lowa Renegades that I might like even better.

I liked my danner pronghorn boots but by about them middle of their second hunting season they are on their last leg. Trying the Meindl Ultra Light Hunters this year and so far I really like them. We will see if I get more than two seasons out of them.

I've used a few different including Danners, Whites, but lately I've been using Merrell hikers in hot weather, and the Danner Elk hunters from Cabelas when it gets worse. Later in the year I've been using White Pac Boots or Georgia insulated loggers depending on where I'm at.

Like BeanMan said though, how they fit is most important. I probably won't buy another pair of the Whites because they hurt my feet to walk a long way in them. Nice in a stand though. The Georgia boots keep out more water than the Danners even when the Danners were new. They fit well but are a disappointment for dry feet.

I just got a pair of these and so far I like them a lot. Very comfortable and lightweight. Haven't worn them in the mountains yet, but will in a couple of weeks.

http://www.basspro.com/Irish-Setter...ng-Boots-for-Men/product/13062610310931/

Irish Setter Elk Hunters are a good boot for the money. I've had a few pair. Gonna splurge on Kenetreks next time though. mtmuley

Asolo Sasslong's from Sierra Trading Post - $139 with their sale. Normally was $199.

+1 to Sierra Trading Post and Asolo! Great boots and price.

This is the boot that I've been looking at (not hands on but in the catalogue) Did they run large/wide for stated size? I was a Danner Pronghorn wearer until the quality went south and the price went up.

I have 6 pair of Danners for various hunting applications. The Danners made in the US are far superior to those made in China. The Pronghorns I believe are mostly made in China and are not as waterproof as Danners made here. 4 of the 6 are US made especially for rugged hunting conditions. The 2 Chinese made I use for Turkey hunting so they don't get the hard abuse the others do.

Just recently bought a pair of these for an upcoming elk hunt:

Danner East Ridge

A little heavier than the pronghorns, but seem very well put together. Hoping the soles stand up much better to AZ's rocks than other boots I've had.

Can't say too much else about them yet, as I've only just started to break them in. But they look promising at this point.

Ordered 1/2 size above normal. Very comfortable so far, and will have room in them for a nice pair of wool socks and liners.

Had a pair of the Meindl Perfect 10's. Never again. Very stiff boot, squeak like crazy, and wore the soles out on them in two seasons, opening up in the toe area of the sole. They just can't handle climbing in the rocks. Was glad when it came time to trash those boots.

Great boots....I have two pair

1 pair is worn out and the other pair is just now broke in at 2 years

Problem is they are heavy. .......just shy of 6 lbs a pair

i have bought about every name brand boot i could find in the last 15 years besides having custom boots built by different places,,

hands down the best boot i have found , and i have 4 pairs of them, are the cabelas meindel perfekt hunters, 400gr insulation and goretex,,, easy break in, great support, 100 lbs in the backpack or riding my mule,
will be buying another pair this season, couple pairs have hundreds of chukar hunting miles on them, bare soles, lether pretty ruff, cant bear to throw them away, always need a knock around get muddy fishin boot in the spring,,,

Going for the Danner east ridge myself when the time comes.

Sierra Trading Post has good deals. Also watch ShoeBuy.com for deals. I caught a 30% off for Lowa Tibets.

Have you got a link for these? I'd buy 2 pair just to have them. They are discontinued now but are great boots.

I wore a 10.5 D in the danners and wear a 9.5 D in the Meindl. The Meindl seems to be alittle wider towards the toe area.

I have to agree with Gristle and others on the Asolo Sasslongs. It is a shame they have discontinued their production. Also, Sierra Trading Post is a great place to buy hunting and camping gear. I have a pair of Sasslongs, Kenetrek Mountain Extremes and Irish Setters. The Sasslongs took no time to break in and are one of the most comfortable boot's I've owned. This is my second season with them and they have held up well. Great boots for the price. Maybe they will bring them back and if they do, I will buy a second pair for sure. My Irish Setters are decent boots but showed more wear than expected after their second season. The Kenetreks are excellent boots that I use only for mountain hunting. Just my opinion, they are expensive but well worth the cost if you do any mountain hunting at all.

Thank you laker.

I HIGHLY recommend staying AWAY from Rocky boots.
I had a pair that were nearly new spilt the sole accross the bottom under the arch. REALLY not good on a backpacking hunt

+1! They used to be good boots, now they are not just cheap but cheaply made. As stated, you do NOT want a boot to come apart on you in the middle of a hunt and some of these can do it. I really don't know how they stay in business any more

I just happened to find the sale on the website when I was looking for boots. Didn't realize they were discontinued or I may have bought more than one pair.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/asolo-sasslong-gore-tex-backpacking-boots-waterproof-nubuck-for-men~p~83043/?filterString=mens-hiking-boots~d~360%2Fasolo~b~1120%2F&colorFamily=05

They email you the discount once you sign up. At the top of the page it tells you an additional 30% off. Great boots even at $199.00.

I love Danners and you are correct the China and the USA are not the same!

I bought a pair of these a couple years ago.

Very nice boots, slightly narrower than Meindl Hikers.

http://www.zamberlanusa.com/catalog/index.php?lang=en&pg=prod&idprod=54&idcat=2



Think I paid around $230 off Amazon.

Sadly, the Sasslongs are no more. Glad I laid into several pairs while they lasted. Best fit for my narrow foot. Just about everyone else makes boots that are just too damn wide.

Did the same while the Asolo Lhasa was still available, which is similar in fit and construction, but taller and more robust than the Sasslong.

Closest boot to those two that they appear to make now is the Bajura... no idea on availability. Sasslong is still shown on the Asolo site, but STP hasn't had them in a while and they were listed as close outs...


Good luck.

Thanks anyway Scott.

I drove to the Greenville SC Cabelas yesterday and ended up buying a pair of the Meindl Perfekts. Like laker said, they do seem to be a little wider in the toe box but they do fit and feel pretty good.

^^^^^THIS!

Tag

I was miffed when the Asolo Sassalongs were discontinued. Then the sales gal at STP said "try the Asolo Power Matic 100's". If anything, they are more comfortable than the Sassalongs.

Casey

This too -

I have abused these boots for the past two years. Far and away the best hunting boot I have ever owned.

I will second this recommendation, especially if you like a boot that is a bit wider. I wear mine extensively, been from the NM-Mexico border mountains, thru the Grand Canyon and all over NM and western Wyoming. On my second pair as I just plain wore the first ones out.