Hiking Boots / Made in America

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northernsurvivalist

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Looking for a pair of comfortable hiking boots made in America.


8''

- made in USA

- wide

- water proof

I hope someone has some suggestions. Even a comfortable military boot made in USA , will do. As lon as It's super comfortable.


Thanks.


Hooah !
 
Good luck with your search northern survivalist - so much footwear production has gone offshore. This is especially true with lighter outdoor footwear.

If you're willing to consider Italian production (it's the historic home of some of the best hiking and mountaineering boot manufacturers), you might want to check out some of the more expensive Scarpa and La Sportiva boots. Zamberlan is also a good Italian manufacturer but they don't have the same presence in North America.

For US boots, check out Danner. Not sure what is still made in the US.
 
I have usa made Danner hikers. They are comfortable for walking around. I am not an avid hiker
 
for summer use, look into Hersey shoes. Made one pair at a time, custom molded to your feet, right here in the USA. Tell them I sent you, they will charge you double! :)
Nah, great guy who makes a fine sneaker and hiking shoe. If your looking for something tougher, custom made hiking boots are available, Hersey can point you to a maker or two.
I have been wearing a pair of their sneakers (Hersey) for a little over a year, and I have a custom all leather pair they made me for work...light weight, water proof pig skin, and basically tough as hell. Many long distance athlete's swear by them. My feet have never been so damn happy.
Price point is in line with top of the line sneakers and hikers, they will outlast them by years, and can be re- soled.
 
I think the world of my Schnee's Hunter II's. Made in Bozeman, Montana. Doing even the sloppiest work in the wet NW winter my feet stay warm, dry and comfortable. I put those on, I never give my feet another thought. A buddy feels similarly about his White's, made in Spokane, WA.

You'll pay a little more for these quality American made boots but it's worth it. After 5 years I sent my Schnee's back to Bozeman to be re-soled. Costs less than half the price of a new pair. And they come back good as new. If I continue to care for the uppers I expect they'll be fine for 10 more years.
 
I'd recommend Limmer Boots made in New Hampshire. They've made exceptional boots for hiking/mountaineering for generations. Admittedly, i've never owned a pair - i've usually bought Italian mountaineering boots and my current hiking boots are made not far from me in Slovenia (another mountaineering country).

I've had Danners and seem them in use while on active duty - they were also great quality, though they have a very particular fit and toe-box.

I used to work in a climbing/hiking retail store and was able to receive alot of instruction on boot-fiting and "fit is it!!!!" (presuming excellent quality materials/construction/design). If it doesn't fit you perfectly - no matter who's name is on the box - they become expensive pain-makers. I'd recommend trying before buying - though that's hard if you're nowhere near the boots.

If you've got the $, a pair of custom-made boots from a reputable maker will give you a level of confidence that's well worth the price. When i tie on either my LaSportiva "Nepal Extreme" or Alpina "Peak" boots (neither are Custom btw), i can look up a hard route/trail or whatever and know without a doubt my feet/boots won't fail me.
 
I bought a pair of Danner Mountain Light II's from the factory store in Portland this past fall. They are great boots made in the USA and the employees are super nice-very customer oriented. Definitely try them on before you buy and make sure that you wear them in for a few days. Each manufacturer has a different shoe mold and in the case of hiking boots, you don't want to find out that they don't fit half way through a 20 mile hike!
 
I have a pair of Danner Hood Winter Lights, brown 8", 200 grams of Thinsulate. They are very comfortable, I've had them a couple of years. However, they seem to have taken a pretty good price jump since I bought mine. I also have the Schnee's rubber bottom hunting boots, they are very warm and comfortable.
 
Call me crazy, but I love my L.L.Bean Maine Hunting Shoes. I wear them EVERYWHERE and they're comfortable, flexible, and waterproof. I can feel the ground so well in them it's almost like being barefoot--in the best sense of the word.
 
okay, you're crazy...but I too like the Maine hunting shoes. LL Bean also offers the Cresta Hikers, great 6 inch boot.
 
Hey guys,

I don't want to sound like a douchebag but I don't think some of these boot suggestions are made in the USA.

The LL Bean Cresta Hikers for instance are "Imported" and many of the Schnee's leather boots are made in Italy.

I realize that everyone is trying to be helpful, but only a small number of mass produced or custom footwear is still made in North America. And that's a shame.
 
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