Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game rocky boots....sole rotting away

anyone else take their rockys out of the closet and find, for no obvious reason, that the sole on one or both boot is literally rotting, crumbling, peeling and falling apart. 3 guys in my camp have this issue. i called rocky "customer service" and recieved zero satisfaction!

You couldn't give me a pair of Rocky Boots, complete pieces of [bleep].

You mean like this???




Rocky boots just plain suck!!!

I have a pair in the closet that had never been worn outside the house and the soles disintegrated on them too!

Yep. Didn't buy new ones, either. I went to another brand.

The soles were so rotten you could dig big chunks off with a fingernail. They probably would've lasted about 50 yards on a hard surface.

Thank Danner unless you want to really spend a lot...and they're not perfect anymore.

Friend of mine showed me a new pair he has had for 3 - 4 years, sitting on a shelf in his garage, soles are disintegrating away.

i had the same thing happen with a pair of rocky's
i called them they replaced the soles at no cost, i had 2 pay for the shipping 1 way. won't be getting another of rocky's

Irish Setter Elk Trackers that I picked up in 04 are my favs my 04 Pronghorns are great too but no longer available

1 pair was enough for me to avoid them like the plague.

Not only did the soles come apart, the things leaked like a sieve from day one.

My daughter shredded a pair of Rockies in a five-day hunt out here. We haven't given them a second glance since.

1+ on the Elk Trackers even if they are made in China. Took time to break-in, but well worth it.

I agree! My Elk Trackers with 200 grams of thinsulate are the best boots I've owned in years.

I buy a pair of Cornstalker's every year. They don't sit in a closet long enough to deteriorate. They are my farm chore throwaways. Mud, horse and cow manure take its toll.

I had a pair for years when they were made in Ohio and one day the soles just crumbled out from under my feet. I really liked them but I won't buy another pair of Hunan Chicken Chinese Rockys.

Soles on my Bear Claws rotted and they leak, junk plain and simple! I just paid $300 for a pair of Alaska Hunters (Meindel) from Cabela's, worth every penny!

Whites. They can be rebuilt and are made in America (Wa).

US made Red Wings Or US made Danner's. Unfortunately, Both brands now make some models in China and you have to check the label before buying them.

I've worn these Danner wildland boots for years and now they have discontinued the model.
Danner Flashpoints

rocky boots...PURE JUNK...if there over a year old there CS dept treats you like a POS, i walked mine down to slicks while hunting, didnt even know they were coming apart till i slipped and busted my tail.

After the hunt, getting back in my pickup i saw little bits of the "tar-ry" soles in the floorboard.

Gunner

What he said

Ha one pair and threw them away. Worst boots ever.

Red Wing now has almost all of their boots made in China - not just some.

My "issued" Rocky's did the same. I had them resoled with Vibram's because the leather was in near perfect condition. I usually buy Danner's, the stitched down models are still made in the USA.

Well crap! That wasn't what I wanted to hear. I've been wearing my current pair for about 2 1/2 years now and I haven't needed to look at boots for awhile. I guess I'd better check and see if I can still find a pair of US made RW's to put back for the day when these finally wear out.

I recently gave my son a pair of Rocky boots new in the box. I had bought them a few years ago and put them in the closet. He wore them one day and the soles came apart. Apparently, this is a common problem with Rocky boots.

I had a pair of Rocky Pronghorns that lasted a few years, early archery this year I noticed my feet were getting wet just by walking through a damp field, when I got back to my hotel room I noticed the bottom of them were disintegrated and took pics to show my wife I needed a new pair.

did a little bit of research on the internet and found Rocky avoids them like the plague....went ahead and threw them in the nearest dumpster and hunted with my Lacrosses.

Anyway I also will not be buying any more Rockys...too bad really cause they were fairly comfortable.

Had a pair of new Rocky Snowstalkers fall after a couple years in the closet. The soles started deteriorating and cracking.

This is a long known Q/C problem Rocky has known about for years.

Bottom line is don't ever buy their products again, never!

MtnHtr

Hmmm - I bought my first pair of Rocky's about 6 years ago (can't remember the model). They were on sale at the local Funstore, and were just in my price range. They seemed comfy enough, and were still going strong at the three year mark. Flush with cash at that point, I bought a second pair. "New" pair is also now at the 3 year mark and still keeping my feet dry, and the soles have not disintegrated. Wound up offering the old pair to someone in temporary need of dry boots at the time of the new purchase - that person is still wearing them 6 years out from new. Perhaps its the ND flatlands we hunt, but I've had no problems with mine(other than stinky feet syndrome)......


Kaiser Norton
Kaiser Norton

Had the exact same problem on a pair of Rocky boots and that hardly been worn. Tried to get Rocky to replace or repair them and they refused. Have never purchased another pair and never will.

After reading that most of Red Wing's boots were made in China I had to go look at the model I've worn for years and happily they are still US made for now anyway. I think these are classed as work boots but I wear 'em for everything.

Red Wings

Wolverines King Caribou

I've been wearing these for 6-7 years but only hunt in them. The soles have held up well for me but I also waterproof them each year.

I've had many pairs of Rocky Boots over the years...and on every single pair the soles literally disintegrated while sitting in my closet. The first time I thought it might just be a defective pair...but it happened to every single one of them. They are the worst pieces of [bleep] that I've ever put on my feet and I will never buy their [bleep] again! I know exactly what you're talking about.

Danners were the biggest pieces of crap I have ever owned. Same with a couple of buddies. We joke that their slogan should be "twice the pain, twice the price." I've had drier feet in flip-flops.

Meindl or bust.

I have a pair of Rocky Bearclaws that I bought from another guy after he wore them just one season. I have had them for 5 years now and just started to see the soles breaking down this year. Other than that, they have been good boots, warm and waterproof. 6 seasons is OK for a pair of boots in my book, but I think I will look to another brand for the next purchase.

15 or so years ago I had a pair of Rocky's that the sole seperated on after not even a year. Rocky replaced them and I got a couple hard seasons out of them, that included quite a bit of ranch work.

I received another pair for X-Mas back in '97 (don't ask why I remember that) they/I put on a LOT of miles. A couple years ago the soles ended up looking like the first pics in this thread.

For my hunting boots I have a pair of Danner Pronghorns that are holding up well (non-insulted) and two pairs of Irish Setters. One 800g pair and another 1600g pair.

1600g pair are my ice fishing and later season archery boots, the 800g pair I wear almost daily. They really fit me well and have been more than happy with them for a reasonably priced pair of boots.

When I was working in the Power Line Crews for Alabama Power Co.
the Rocky boots were real popular with the Linemen when we had to go off working storm jobs in Nasty weather.
I bought a pair after my Climbing boots kept my feet wet for days.
They were nice at first and I bought several more styles of the rocky boots to hnt and work in,They all had the soles rot away in less than 2 years.
Around this time a lineman told me to try a boot that looked just like the Rocky Cornstalkers nylon boots,
I bought a pair of NorthLake boots,Nylon upper and lower,Gore Tex,Camo,400 gr insulation,15 years later I still wear them every hunting season soles are still good,no leaks.
AMRA

Rockys are not real boots. high camo tennis shoes.

When looking at other brands, are the Kenetrek worth $100 more than Meindl? Has anyone had both?

I have been there, done that. I have nothing good to say about Rocky boots, or the company.

What he said. If you cannot afford Whites look at Double H. A lot less and I have gotten years of hard use out of them.

I just encountered this problem with my boots. I thought maybe I had left them near a campfire or something and weakened the rubber soles. Apparently they are just crap. It's nice to know I didn't ruin them but it sucks that they are pieces of crap!!!

I had the same thing happen to my Meindls, used them 4 times in 4 yrs. Most of their life was spent high and dry in a closet. Took them out for a stroll this year while moose hunting and when I got back the foam between the sole and the boots uppers was discintegrating.
These boots were Cabelas line of Meindls ( like that should make a difference) but after contacting Meindl they advised me since they were Cabelas line that Cabelas is responsable for any warranty issues, but Meindl would resole them at a cost of $150 plus shipping fees. I contacted Cabela's and they gave me a gift certificate for 2/3 the original cost.

I think it should and I think it does. Meindl makes boots for Cabelas to Cabelas specs, not to Meindl's. In comparing my Meindls (from when Lathrop and Sons carried them) to a very similar pair of Cabelas branded boots of a co-worker, there appeared to be a difference in build quality to me. His didn't last as long as mine...

Danner, American made, are the best boots I've ever worn.

The stuff form China is junk like all the rest of the boots made in China.


Not at all impressed with the two pair of Hanwags I bought from Lathrop and Sons

Take a look at these Hanwags with the bent eyelets.

Another dissatisfied Cabelas Meindl boot owner: Cabelas Returns. There was also a discussion a few yrs ago the leather was inferior on the Cabela's version Meindls. Seems Cabelas is getting a good ride on Meindl's reputation and their customers are buying disguised junk.


MtnHtr

Irish Setter boots have always given me long wear and dry feet in wet conditions.The Elk Tracker line is a great boot.

Yes, with multiple pairs. I don't buy Rocky boots any more.

Which Rocky's have bad soles ? The Chinese made Rocky's come with several different types of soles and then there are still some USA made Rocky's with yet different soles. Can't say I've ever owned a pair of Rocky boots myself but I don't think I'd paint the entire line with the same brush considering all the different styles, points of origin and obvious differences in materials/construction.

Interestingly enough, I've only had one pair of boots rot--my Meindls that I bought while in Germany. That said, I'd definitely try them again though, based on all the good reports I hear.

My only pair of Rocky's are holding up very well. They aren't my most comfortable boot, but the durability is not in question.

Mine did the same thing after about 3 yrs of owning them - the SOB's fell apart on me while hunting!!

Luckily had spare pair of boots in truck & was able to keep hunting for the day.

Well, that does seem unusual for Meindl from what I have heard as well.

Everybody I have talked loves their Meindl's and the only "complaint" is that they do not fit everybody (suprise).

I suppose every company can let a bad batch of a product out once in a while.

Did you contact Meindl? Most German companies really stand behind their product and they might do something even outside the warranty period (perhaps they know that they had a bad batch of leather get by them or the like).

John

Danner cannot even use a plastic heel cup anymore. They are cardboard...

Not the last pair I bought this past year.

Had a couple of pairs of Rocky Stalkers and they were pretty comfortable; nice and soft sole and no shock to the feet, legs, etc. but after a few years the soles crumbled between hunting seasons and it was "what the heck?" I too thought it might have been because I got them too close to a campfire while sitting around camp but after seeing everyone's comments, I don't think that's the problem. That was 20 years ago. Right after that, I bought two pairs of Danner's over a period of three years. I believe they were called "Predators" and were made for Cabela's before the newer version by the same name. One pair had "bob" soles and the other standard Vibram. Well this past elk season I finally had a failure where the outer sole of the "bob soled" boot came loose at the heel. Fortunately it was on the way out of the timber to the horses after downing a nice 6X7 so even though it was a little clumsy, I really didn't give a rip! Twenty years out of a pair of boots is pretty good in my opinion. Since Danner has a repair/re-sole service,I'll send them back and have them re-soled; see if I can't get a few more years out of them. The other pair is still going strong even although I will admit that one of the loop eyelets has pulled out.

I must have gotten lucky with the two pair of Rockies I bought in my life, both of which I still have. I have a pair of Rocky Expedition boots (not made any more) that I have used over the last 15 years. The only issue with the soles is that the intermediate cushion layer is cracking some along the edges but they are still reasonably waterproof. I have another pair of steel toe Rocky work boots going on 6 years. These are still in very good shape and are worn primarily in muddy and wintry work conditions.

I don't normally buy Rockies but both of these boots looked and felt right for the price, and time has proven them a good investment. Based on these reports I don't know that I would chance any more.

Not true one the redwings. Yes, there are some chicom's but I have a catalogue on my table right now... Plenty of USA boots in it.

thanks to those of you willing to respond. one of the many values of the campfire.

Have Danners, Redwing, and Rocky's two pair of Rocky's and on both the soles fell apart! Won't buy a third.

Chris

Had a pair of Rocky's about 15 yrs ago that the soles crumbled on.Called Rocky and was told sorry,we won't do anything about it and if I didn't like their product I could shop elsewhere.I took that advice to heart.I'll go barefoot before I'd ever buy anything from them again.