Good hiking boots

[SURFER]

I hike between 5 to 15km every weekend.  Looking for new hiking boots. My current boots are "K-Way Kili 16". Not bad, but soles to soft

 

Currently looking at the "Solomons Quest Prime GTX".

 

What other good hiking boots are available?

 

Where can I find the "Solomons Quest Prime GTX" in cape Town?

 

Cape Union Mart and Outdoor Warehouse do not stock them

 

 

 

 

[patham]

Hiking boots are a bit like bikes, lots of opinions, individual needs vary and just as much brand snobbery.

 

I always got best bang for buck out of my Hi-Tecs, even though you get salesman attitude if you look at the brand in a serious outdoor shop. I think my current pair is a waterproof Altitude, bought them 12 years ago.

 

Some of the CATs are great shoes, but I tend to wear them around town as urban hikers - they have been my go-to urban walker for about 25 years, just change the style as they start to look grungy.

 

Cape Union should do both of the above.

 

If you can tolerate plain leather hikers (i.e. without excessive padding in the soles and sides) and don't need fancy waterproofing, Groundcover in the KZN Midlands used to make awesome hand-made boots. Make a holiday out of the purchase too ! They also last forever, although the one sole of mine has started to delaminate after a mere 15 years of use. I never did use that pair for hectic hikes though, as I prefer more padding around the ankle.  

[sawystertrance]

These guys are specialists:

 

 

https://www.campandclimb.co.za/

[SURFER]

Thanks

 

Looking at the "K-Way Men's Mt. Evans Boot"   Currently on sale for good price (around R1660, new about R2100).  Got good service from K-Way.  At the price can replace after 18 months if needed.  Top of range Solomons go for about R3800

[Kranswurm]

La Sportiva

 

I have had a pair for years and they are one of the best

 

https://www.mountainmailorder.co.za/hiking/footwear/new-category/

[sawystertrance]

It also depends on what kind of hiking you do. Winter/Summer, Rocky/flat, sandy/firm etc.

 

I have Zamberlans and they're great but heavy and warm. 

[gummibear]

Hiking boots are a bit like bikes, lots of opinions, individual needs vary and just as much brand snobbery.

 

I always got best bang for buck out of my Hi-Tecs, even though you get salesman attitude if you look at the brand in a serious outdoor shop. I think my current pair is a waterproof Altitude, bought them 12 years ago.

 

Some of the CATs are great shoes, but I tend to wear them around town as urban hikers - they have been my go-to urban walker for about 25 years, just change the style as they start to look grungy.

 

Cape Union should do both of the above.

 

If you can tolerate plain leather hikers (i.e. without excessive padding in the soles and sides) and don't need fancy waterproofing, Groundcover in the KZN Midlands used to make awesome hand-made boots. Make a holiday out of the purchase too ! They also last forever, although the one sole of mine has started to delaminate after a mere 15 years of use. I never did use that pair for hectic hikes though, as I prefer more padding around the ankle.

Have a pair of Hi-tec PCT boots for when it’s dry but my Altitude IV get most wear.

 

Had them around 10 years now and just clean them with some leather polish every now and then.

Wore them to work for a few years and now they do 8-15km hikes every now and then.

 

They are waterproof and great on wet rocks and roots[emoji106]

 

 

 

[Stretch]

My hitecs are still going strong. Done many Berg hikes in them and now a few wet hikes in Ireland. Not the best.. But good bang for buck if you look after them.

[Ispeed_V]

Have a pair of Hi-tec PCT boots for when it’s dry but my Altitude IV get most wear.

 

Had them around 10 years now and just clean them with some leather polish every now and then.

Wore them to work for a few years and now they do 8-15km hikes every now and then.

 

They are waterproof and great on wet rocks and roots[emoji106]

 

 

 

Look similar to my old Army Boots - just without the inner comfort padding

[SURFER]

It also depends on what kind of hiking you do. Winter/Summer, Rocky/flat, sandy/firm etc.

 

I have Zamberlans and they're great but heavy and warm. 

 

All types of hiking (almost every weekend of the year).  What I found is that the soles normally do no last (12 t0 16 months). Loose traction (gets to thin).

 

Had a pair of Merrell boots, had them re-soled at Rock Sole.  Good quality sole (vibrant), will outlast the upper of the boots and me, but to hard for seriuos long hikes.  use them for short hikes

[Lou Zealand]

Make sure it has a Vibram sole and you're good to go. 

[SURFER]

Make sure it has a Vibram sole and you're good to go. 

 

agree

[patham]

agree

 

I'll pass on that. My Merrells with a Vibram sole might actually last forever as I really have not liked them and they get used so seldomly- I found the Vibram did not live up to the hype. I just kept on wearing my old pair of shoes way past their nominal replacement sell-by date....and just got a new pair of Cats to replace them, leaving the Merrells as an expensive  evolutionary dead end.

 

 

 

As I said earlier - opinions will vary.

[patham]

Have a pair of Hi-tec PCT boots for when it’s dry but my Altitude IV get most wear.

 

Had them around 10 years now and just clean them with some leather polish every now and then.

Wore them to work for a few years and now they do 8-15km hikes every now and then.

 

They are waterproof and great on wet rocks and roots

 

 

 

 

Maybe this belongs in the Do You Remember thread ? What was the old style of the Hi-tec 3/4 height (i.e. cut back ankle), non-waterproof boots called? I used to love them as daily wear work shoes, they were pretty cheap, but I always got 2 to 3 years out of them. Hi-Tec phased them out maybe around 2001 ?

[Mojoman]

I never got round to it but I was going to treat myself to some of these a few years back:

 

https://jimgreenfootwear.co.za

[gummibear]

Maybe this belongs in the Do You Remember thread ? What was the old style of the Hi-tec 3/4 height (i.e. cut back ankle), non-waterproof boots called? I used to love them as daily wear work shoes, they were pretty cheap, but I always got 2 to 3 years out of them. Hi-Tec phased them out maybe around 2001 ?

Like these?