Boots for the PacWest

[MoonshinerPSD]

Ive done some ag loggin over the previous summer, so I really had no need for cork boots, well i coulda used em, but decided against em.
Anyway im trying to get onto my local college's crew, and the work starts in january, so im looking for some good caulk boots that hold up to the weather and I wont have to keep applying grease/oil to them everynight. Id rather not pay more than a small fortune on a pair, but if I got to, i better.
Thanks

 

[slowp]

I'm thinking the Viking rubber calks. The orange ones. I blew out the more expensive green lace ones in a month. The orange ones pull on and were just over $100. And they'll go with the other OSU stuff.

Got a boot dryer? They will be damp inside from sweating. They don't dry out overnight without a dryer.

 

[Zackman1801]

+1 on being wet. my husqvarna rubber boots stay wet for a while if they get wet. but they work good and you can put caulks on them and take them off when and if you want to.

 

[MoonshinerPSD]

What are ya'lls feelings on the Hoffman boots with the leather uppers and rubber soles?

 

[Meadow Beaver]

I have a pair of the calked Danner Super Rainforest they are durable, light and gore-tex.

 

[MoonshinerPSD]

Where do ya'll pick up your boots from, expecially them Danners? whats a good size, as far as boot height goes? I have a pair of 10" Georgia loggers which i like, but if imagine a taller boot would add more stability. Would it be possible to have a local boot shop set up my georgia's for caulks.

 

[slowp]

It depends where you are located. I'm assuming you are going to work in the OSU forest, which is lower elevation. Probably not much snow. You won't really need insulated boots. No rocks, and where we did the planning project, pretty gentle ground. So, start with that. Whites are more of a dry climate boot, Wescos wetter, and the rubbers for where you'll rot your leather boots or snow. Take it from there. I have to buy expensive leather boots so can't tell you anything about the cheapies. I can find the orange ones in my size and they go almost up to my knees. Pretty stable. I put a felt insole in them, along with my orthotics. My feet will get cold in them when working in the snow, if I don't keep moving. That's all I know. And don't ever make fun of my feet!

These are the bad ones. The duck tape wore better than the actual boot.

 

[MoonshinerPSD]

So what leather boot would you recommend for the forests down here?

 

[slowp]

So what leather boot would you recommend for the forests down here?

A boot that will fit YOUR feet and be comfy to be in all day. Everybody's got their favorites. I'm waiting for a pair of custom $$$ boots to be made and making do with a blown out pair of Wesco calks--which run around $400
now. I'm wearing the Orange Vikings now that we're in the wet/snow weather. There's also the cheap Merril calked hiking boots that I see on rigging crew guys. It is what fits, and what you want to pay. A Hooktender swears by his Viburgs, another likes Hoffman's. You have to figure it out.

 

[056kid]

I dont know much but i dont know where your gonna get some caulks that "fit" for less than that small fortune...

as far as higth i wouldent go under 12"

 

[Farmall Guy]

I just got the pair of 16" hoffmans that I ordered a couple weeks ago, I havent worn them much yet but they were comfortable right out of the box. The 16" uppers do provide alot more support than the 9" red wings I've been wearing. I only cut fire wood and mostly on flat ground, these are the first pair of calks that I've bought so take my observations for what they're worth.

I went with the 16" so I could keep my pant legs out of the poison ivy around here more than for the extra support. In reality for support I only really needed a 10" pair. The calks definatly made a differance in the amount of sliping that I did while walking around in the woods. Sure is nice to be able to walk around with out slip sliding around in the mud and off limbs and what not. Not to mention the calk sole will keep me from wearing them in the grease and oil in the shop, that way they should last alot longer that my other boots. Diesel fuel has a way of eating leather after about 6 months of constant exposure, good thing the company buys my boots

 

[056kid]

I just got the pair of 16" hoffmans that I ordered a couple weeks ago, I havent worn them much yet but they were comfortable right out of the box. The 16" uppers do provide alot more support than the 9" red wings I've been wearing. I only cut fire wood and mostly on flat ground, these are the first pair of calks that I've bought so take my observations for what they're worth.

I went with the 16" so I could keep my pant legs out of the poison ivy around here more than for the extra support. In reality for support I only really needed a 10" pair. The calks definatly made a differance in the amount of sliping that I did while walking around in the woods. Sure is nice to be able to walk around with out slip sliding around in the mud and off limbs and what not. Not to mention the calk sole will keep me from wearing them in the grease and oil in the shop, that way they should last alot longer that my other boots. Diesel fuel has a way of eating leather after about 6 months of constant exposure, good thing the company buys my boots

####, ide rather poisen ivy up my pants ANY DAY than my boots!!!

 

[Farmall Guy]

At least with the boots I can clean them off good then wash good after, with the pants I end up with them in the laundry and handeling them a couple days latter after I forget where they've been (or ma ends up putting them in the wash, then I really hear about it)

I went with the 16" for other reasons also, one of which was to provide better protection for my shins when cutting small stuff. I've been whacked more than a few times just above a 9" boot with limbs and other debris. All in all I couldnt be happier with the boots, although I will say they were'nt cheap, but no where near what a pair of custom boots would have been either.

 

[MoonshinerPSD]

did ya get the hoffmans with just leather uppers and rubber lower, or all leather?

 

[Farmall Guy]

I got the all leather, I thought about the pac boots (and leather options) for a long time before I made my desicion. For me the leather made more sense because I wanted to wear them year round, I spend most of my time cutting in the summer and fall. In the winter I only cut when I need to. If I was going to be out everyday in the snow I would have went with the lined pac type boots, but because I was having trouble justifying the cost of one pair I couldnt bring myself to order 2 different styles right now.

 

[slowp]

High tops will protect your shins from getting banged up so much. But that adds to the cost.

 

[MoonshinerPSD]

Whats the difference between a Block and Spring heel? and do many of ya'll wear a steel toe?

 

[056kid]

I found that the spring gives more surface area and has a little less heigth in the heel. it is also very STIFF. I have a problem with rolling ankles, abd it hasent happend yet with my 12'' spring heel whites caulk loggers!