Time runs. It does not walk - it runs. Approaching V1 getting ready to rotate and take off to then fly, in fact. For every year it seems, it goes faster...

Had occasion to, again, buy a new pair of boots. Seems just last week, when friend FC visited me in 2013 for some Damwild hunting here in Germany and we went to pick up new boots.

Been three years...

The Meindl Island with GoreTex in a 10.5 wide is my boot.

Digging around in the shop, I even found the pair that, bought in 2011, had taken me into 2013.

So, I took a picture:



From left to right:

2011 Meindl Island GoreTex -

1 Season in Alaska, guiding for Dall Sheep and two seasons in Germany









2013 Meindl Island GoreTex -



3 Seasons in Germany

2016 Meindl Island GoreTex -

their roads need yet be traveled...

Looking over the boots, some thoughts come to mind:

- Water kills 'em
- Torsion is tough on wet boots
- Both the older pairs were toast by their second pair of laces
- A resole is out of question for both - albeit the 2013 pair had much better structure in the boot for the much more worn sole.

- In light of the face to face comparision, I think, I should just through away the 2011 and 2013 pairs; neither is fit to serve as "back up."

I wish I could still get Meindl Island Pro's. My one and only pair was the best boots I've had. Now I just get Meindl's version that they make for Cabelas.

Damn - you'll take pictures of EVERYTHING! If I didn't know u was German, I'd swear you were Japanese!

That drainage in 2011 Alaska was hell on boots, for sure. I'm surprised you got 2 more seasons out of 'em.

Here's hoping I get to the see the new ones in Fall, 2017, somewhere in the Rockies.

FC

A picture of the soles:



Pointer, do you not hate it, when they change a good product on you?

A trip to Europe in your future?

Curiosity killed the cat, neccessity is the mother of invention and so forth...

I wish there was a trip to Europe in the foreseeable future. They can be had in Canada (AJ Brooks), but Cabelas is the only listed Meindl dealer in the US. The Cabelas version aren't too bad, but not as good as the "true" Meindls IMO. That said, Hoffman Boots carries a Meindl boot that I may try the next go around. I just need to see if they come uninsulated.

http://www.hoffmanboots.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=VLOGGER