Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Meindl boot failure

My last pair of perfekt hunters did the same thing this fall only on the front and I ordered the comfort Hunter from Mendel to replace them. 7 years old.

jackmountain;
Good evening to you sir, I hope that other than having the boots come apart on you that all is more or less as it needs to be.

While my information is now years old, way back when I picked up my Meindl boots up here across the medicine line - I want to say they are Dovre Extremes - they looked close to what Cabelas sold as the Canada model, but there were subtle differences.

That said, there's no way yours should delaminate like that and if you ever find out what caused it I'd be interested in hearing what it was.

Sorry I couldn't be more help sir, but I will add my hunting partner picked up some Santiam boots by Danner a few years back and he loves them. He's a bigger fellow and I've found larger folks tend to go through more boots than smaller chaps such as myself.

My old Hood Winter Lights from Danner were absolutely wonderful boots as well and once these Meindl die, I'll likely return to US made Danners with a stitch down sole.

Good luck with the boots and hopefully all else will be better this year for you folks.

Dwayne

I have two pair here exactly the same. One pair is nearly new.

Today’s rubber and glue probably aren’t what they used to be due to several issues. Seems like for many people it’s boots not worn often that develop rot, but maybe it’s just farther along when you notice it.

I’ve had a Cabelas branded Meindls and several Rockies disintegrate that sat for a year or so and have Meindls, HanWags, and Kenetreks that are worn regularly go many years before needing resoled.

I think you need two good pair of boots at all times in case one craps the bed.

Appreciate it Dwayne,
I think I’ll order the Santiams or the Canadians tonight. I’ve always had good service from danner and wore their Foreman GTX for years with the white wedge sole. Perfect for construction.

Undoubtedly and normally do. I wear boots everyday of the year and with these going down straight out of the box, I’ll be wearing my uninsulated perfekt hikers til my new ones arrive later this week. Supposed to be above freezing all week thankfully.

Yep.

Shelf life of the glue issue.

jackmountain;
Good evening again and thanks for the reply.

I just went on the Danner site and was looking at the difference between the Hood Winter Light, Santiam and Canadian.

The Canadian looks like a great skookum boot for sure!

The choice will be whether you want 400gr or 600gr insulation more or less then.

As I said, the Hood Winter Lights lasted well into the second set of soles being used for hunting, hiking and firewood cutting here in the BC Interior mountains. They're not as stiff for sure as they used to be, but then too they didn't need to be broken in nearly as long as the Meindl either, which were a bit of a task actually.

Good luck again and if you do find out an answer and feel like letting us know I'd be interested to learn what went on with your pair.

Dwayne

Almost looks like the material closest to the sole got ate by something all right. I've got about a 15 year old pair of Meindl Islanders not a Cabelas contract, bought from a small independent touch wood they have no issues anywhere yet.

I had it happen to a pair of Brownings. The attic heat in Texas killed them.

I had the Cabelas Mountian Hiker II boots which I’m sure were made by Meindl. Same thing happed after about 12 years of use (strictly deer hunting boots only). Cabela’s warrants their brand, I sent them in and got a new set of boots free of charge.

They’ve dropped the meindl line.

Truth

Haven’t messed with Rocky since 1997. Corn stalkers, all cordura. Wish you could still find those.

jackmountain,

I had a pair of Lowa Tibets that I had had for 12 years or so but had actually worn very little do that. I was told that age will do that to that type of boot construction but most people, unlike me, who purchase this type of hiking boots wear them enough to wear out the uppers and soles before they delaminate from age. You obviously had a little different issue since yours are not that old.

About those Danner Canadians, I had a pair of those I wore hard for many years (that's why I didn't wear the Lowa's much) and just gave them to my grandson an he is still getting good use out of them. They are a great boot.

Had this very thing happen to my Cabela's Meindl's this November while hunting with my Son. Had to Gorilla Glue the bottoms on to get through the 4 days opf hunting in Michigan. I called them "Frankenboots" because of all the expanded glue sticking out of the edges! LOL

Same thing here, looks like it's a trend.

I think it's called sole rot, I had a pair of Rocky's do it some years ago. My father recently passed and while cleaning out the garage he had a brand new pair of Browning Codura bird hunting boots, when I picked them up the soles disintegrated!

What you need is a USA made boot with a Goodyear welt, i.e. Thorogood.

Imagine if that happened while out in the field - miles away from the truck. That would suck and is a good reason not to ever purchase injection-molded soles - especially ones MIC.

I’ve had three pairs do that in the equatorial belt, one new, one near new and one a bit over a year old.

Agent in Singapore stopped dealing with Meindl over the issue. Best thing is to get them resoled with vibram.

Wore one pair for nearly a year in Tanzania, left them there for seven months and they were rooted when I got back. Had to do all my field work in Timberland shoes.

A brand new pair at home in Singapore were thrown out by housemate as he thought they were his and the soles looked like yours.

A pair I had for about five years here in Aus finally succumbed.

Shame, they are great for my feet.