Boot Life

[Zdub02]

Just curious how much life y'all are getting out of your leather boots? I'm specifically curious about the boots staying waterproof. I'm thinking I have unrealistic expectations with how long my boots last. Any tips for increasing longevity are much appreciated as well. I'm currently using a combination of mink oil and silicone waterproofing spray. Thanks for the info.

 

[justinspicher]

I’ve had the same pair of Meindl Denali boots for 15 years. I apply a coat of oil before each season. Haven’t had any complaints.

 

[madcalfe]

im on 2nd year with kennetrek mountain extremes and still looking new. As long as you keep them oiled and stuff them full of newspaper in the off season they should last a long time. unless your guiding then of course your gonna trash boots

 

[Bailer]

Starting year 3 on some Schnees Beartooth. Leather is in great shape and still waterproof. I’ve cleaned and oiled a few times a year. I think our nasty, rocky terrain will finish off the sole in another year.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Year 5 with Zamberlans, treat them with obenaufs regularly. They finally wetted out in a torrential rain while hog hunting this spring. But I hadn’t treated them recently and the leather was dry and caked with mud before the hunt.

 

[Poser]

I’m on year 5 with a pair of Zamberlans which I retreat regularly (anytime they get saturated) and just sent them off for a resole and rand repair, which I should have done after hunting season last fall. They are still waterproof though.
a boot specialists will likely tell your to expect to get 500-1000 miles out of a pair of boots before a resole or replacement. Ideally, a serious hunter should have 2 pairs of functional boots available to them at any given time since 500-1000 hard miles can easily be accumulated in 2-3 seasons. PCT thru hikers routinely replace footwear 2-3x during a thru hike.

 

[Eric4]

I'm on my third year of owning my Whites Outdoorsman boot and have been quite happy with my purchase. I wear them almost daily working in the sloped rocky vineyard, and they've held up great. They also get use for bow season, but tend to soak moisture up when in deep snow. I expect many more years out of em, since they can be resoled.

My father got 3 hard years out of his Lowa tibet GTX's before having to retire them as a mangled mess. The rubber rand is gone, and zero tread left, but the leather is in surprisingly good condition for someone who maintains nothing. Unfortunately this boot can't be resoled, so they've been designated as a zero-traction mountain slipper. He still likes to say "Whadaya mean? These boots is new" when he wears them. I gifted him a fresh pair for his birthday, so they'll likely survive another 3 years, but he's wearing them daily.

Neither of our boots stayed waterproof for very long. I don't think I'd trust many leather boots to be waterproof...

For snow, my Bora2s from Arcteryx, didn't soak up nearly as much moisture as my Outdoorsman boots.

Hope the anecdotal evidence helps!

 

[Stalker69]

Depends on how much you use them. I have buddies that only wear them for hunting. Some have boots for elk,different pair for deer, diffract pair if it’s hot, diffract pairs if it’s cold. And they last them for a lot of years. I buy a pair and wear them for work, walking the dog, hunting any and all things, fishing, rain, snow, going out, even church, basically every thing, every single day. I normally walk around 32,000 steps a day. And if I get a year out of a pair I consider them a good pair of boots. A lot of people don’t put many miles on a pair of “ hunting “ boots in years And years of use. So it all depends on “ you”, baby them, don’t wear them much should last a long time. Use them hard, won’t last nearly as long.

 

[nphunter]

I've never had a pair make an entire year without hydraulics pushing water through by the tongue. Zamberlan, Lowa, Meindl and currently using Scarpa. I'm hoping to not have the issue as bad with the Scarpa's since they are much stiffer and shouldn't flex and push water through. Most boots I ruin in a good year or two at most, went through 3 pairs of Lowa Tibets in about a year and a half, the boots held up kind of but the footbeds cracked and the soles wore out. My Meindl AK hunters have been great boots but were down to like 20% tread after two seasons and had to be re-soled. Honestly, if these Scarpas don't hold up more that a couple of seasons I will probably start looking for cheaper boots, it seems silly to pay 400+ for a pair of boots to only make it one or two years.

I also don't wear my boots daily, only for hiking, scouting, shed hunting, trail cam hanging and hunting or other activity's in the woods. I may be slightly harder on boots than most because I only wear a 8.5-9 and weigh 225, a lot more with a pack on.

 

[Zdub02]

Thanks for all the info guys. Looks like it may be time for me to invest in a new pair as I can't stand to have wet feet and my Meindl Ultralights leave me soaked just from walking through wet grass.