Need a new pair of Loggers

[mrwardy]

I am in the need of a new pair of Loggers (steeltoe).
I have worn Chipewaa (sp.) in the past but they didi not seem to hold up too good. My last pair were Red Wings, man they were not a good boot for what I paid. $250, not even close to water resistant and fell apart too quick.
I was just wondering what everybody is wearing?
I would like to spend less than $200, but if the boot is worth it I can scrounge up some more funds.

Thanks Jason

 

[forestryworks]

i don't think you'll find a boot that holds up well for less than $200...

i never have

just walking puts a beating on a pair of boots
imagine what working in the woods does to 'em

look into whites, wesco, viberg, hoffman or even red dawgs from bailey's

 

[clearance]

Viberg, the cats meow.

 

[Zodiac45]

Viberg, the cats meow.

+1 except that he'd be lucky to get one boot in his price range.

Jason, for that money Chippewa superlogger is about as good as it gets. I like mine and they've lasted well, but I'm a freak about greasing them often. You might look at Baileys Red dawgs but even those are in the high $200 range. Whites, Vibergs, Wesco, Hoffmans are all made to order and are big bucks.

 

[mile9socounty]

I have myself a set of Wesco's and Hoffman half breeds. They suit me pretty well and have lasted a good bit of torture so far. Best thing is, I didn't have to pay for them. All hand me downs.

 

[abohac]

Danner's

I am in the need of a new pair of Loggers (steeltoe).
I have worn Chipewaa (sp.) in the past but they didi not seem to hold up too good. My last pair were Red Wings, man they were not a good boot for what I paid. $250, not even close to water resistant and fell apart too quick.
I was just wondering what everybody is wearing?
I would like to spend less than $200, but if the boot is worth it I can scrounge up some more funds.

Thanks Jason

I answered a post a little bit ago and talked about the Danner boot I have. I'm a farmer and a firewood cutter and hunter and I think I'm pretty hard on boots. These boots not only fit really well but have lasted longer than anything I've ever owned. However, a guy out west (where Danner's are made) said they were not good enough and didn't hold up. For what it's worth, I've had darned good luck with Danner's and will buy another pair.

 

[bonnieville]

+1 except that he'd be lucky to get one boot in his price range.

....for that money Chippewa superlogger is about as good as it gets. I like mine and they've lasted well, but I'm a freak about greasing them often.....

What do you use to grease them? I bought the Chippewas a few months ago. They are very comfortable, I haven't had them long enough to comment on durability. I'm also not a logger.

 

[Humptulips]

Shoe grease

I use some kind of animal fat (not tallow) mixed with beeswax. Bear grease, coon grease something like that about 10 to 1 with beeswax. If you have cheap shoes and want dry feet use a higher percentage of wax. The wax seals the shoes and the grease softens the leather.
The more wax the harder it is to work into the leather. I melt it in with a heat gun set on low. Be careful though, don't get the leather hot, just warm. You can wreck the shoes if you get impatient and apply to much heat.

 

[slowp]

The bad thing I'm noticing with my Wescos, other than the price of replacement spikes, is that the left boot is poofed out over the sole. I think it is because I walk side hill as much as I can with that foot downhill. The other ankle is bad so I try to not have it downhill but that's kind of hard to do when zig zagging through units harassing loggers.

 

[Bushler]

Caulks or slick shod? For slick shod boots I go to Sportsguide and buy whatever the best deal is on whatever brand. I go though boots like poop through a tall swede, averaging a couple three pairs/year. The best cheap boot deal I've tried lately was an Itaska I-Travel slip on. They were 'normaly' priced at $275 on sale for $80 ( I'm a glutton for a 'deal') and they have outlasted anything else I've ever tried.

Running equipment does that to boots, the old dozer and loader pedals and controls eat the sides out of the boots pretty fast.

Caulks? I like a feather weight quality boot. They last me a long time. I like the Danner caulks with cordura uppers. There's a rubber soled model too.

 

[Zodiac45]

I use some kind of animal fat (not tallow) mixed with beeswax. Bear grease, coon grease something like that about 10 to 1 with beeswax. If you have cheap shoes and want dry feet use a higher percentage of wax. The wax seals the shoes and the grease softens the leather.
The more wax the harder it is to work into the leather. I melt it in with a heat gun set on low. Be careful though, don't get the leather hot, just warm. You can wreck the shoes if you get impatient and apply to much heat.

+1 Yep Mink oil with beeswax works well and you can get it premixed.

I also check out Sportsman's Guide too. He's got some good deals on occasion if you look around.

Nothing wrong with Danners Abohac. I've got some Acadia's (the cordura upper model they use for calks) that I've had for years. I don't wear them everyday but they've been great.

 

[fsfcks]

I was just researching boot greasing because Nikwax is not cutting it, and am about to order this from Bailey's. It is highly recommended in various forums where people, including loggers and fire crews, chat. Obenauf's heavy-duty LP preservative should only need applied once or twice per year, with intermediate applications of Obenauf's 100% Natural LP Boot Oil. Product links:
http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=25980&catID=
http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=25985&catID=

 

[Jaredm]

go with the vibergs.

 

[hammerlogging]

Hey slowp, I just threw out a pair of wescos that had rolled out on me so bad it was ridiculous. Thats right, threw out. Lots of steep side slopes, actually, entirely steep side slopes, unles going straight up and down. Anyhow, another pair I'm getting rebuilt is geting sized down to a C width, maybe that will help.

 

[slowp]

Hey slowp, I just threw out a pair of wescos that had rolled out on me so bad it was ridiculous. Thats right, threw out. Lots of steep side slopes, actually, entirely steep side slopes, unles going straight up and down. Anyhow, another pair I'm getting rebuilt is geting sized down to a C width, maybe that will help.

That is depressing. I don't have much of a selection in my size to be choosy.
I hiked into some helicopter units today and the left boot was a major pain on the flat. My new spikes arrived. I'll install them tomorrow. Maybe I should put new ones on the outside and leave flatter ones on the inside. The really fast guys are going to start up next week with 4 cutters so I'll have to mark out skyline corridors and sharp spikes are needed for that area. Twinkle may get a rest.