Hiking boots for rocks, heat and humidity

O

Osmigo

New Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2025
Messages
3
I'm new, this is my first post here. I slowly moving towards some new hiking boots, to replace the cheap boots I have that don't fit and hurt my feet. I can spend up to about $150-$160. Most of my hiking is in south central Texas, in some large local state parks and natural areas, where I take long, all-day hikes over rocky terrain (see pic) and often in very hot, humid weather. I need a boot that breathes well (obviously) and can take a LOT of abrasion and that provides good ankle protection and support. FWIW, I'm 5' 11" and weigh 220 lbs.

I know the Danner Mountain 600 is good, but I've read that it's not good for sweaty conditions. Bass Pro Shop (15 minutes from me) has Keen Voyager Mids for $149. But I've read several reviews about them coming apart. Jeez, it seems like any boot you look at, some people wear them for years, and somebody else says "they fell apart in 10 minutes!"

Any tips would be appreciated, it's been a LONG LONG time since I bought some new hiking boots. Last time was some Vasque Hiker II's back in the middle 70s!
wolftrail.JPG
 
Last edited:
I have used scarpa kailash boots for many years. Midweight
 
Bob said:
I have used scarpa kailash boots for many years. Midweight
Click to expand...
Scarpas are apparently first class, but at $300 - $350, they're a little over my pay grade!
 
Last edited:
Osmigo said:
Scarpas are apparently first class, but at $300 - $350, they're a little over my pay grade!
Click to expand...
They don't wear out fast.... Cost averaging
 
Second the Scarpa Kailash Trek. Army Rangers have used them. If they fit me better, I'd still be buying them. But, they aren't in your price range. You can look at the Merrell Moab boot. Not in the same class as Scarpa's but a good, decent boot. Stay away from GTX.
 
Per OldBill's comment "Stay away from GTX." Wise words. It has become more difficult to find boots without "waterproof" layers, and sometime I have purchased these out of frustration over finding decent, relatively inexpensive alternatives. I have never had a pair of "waterproof" boots stay water resistant for more than first few days on a long trip; they inevitably and always start leaking. Once they do, your feet remain wet far longer than when wearing non-waterproof boots because the GTX layer prevents the wet boot inners from ever drying out. And boots get internally wet anyway when you wear then when fording streams, which happens in the backcountry. Or when walking through higher than boot top wet vegetation as seemingly benign as an early morning dew soaked grassy meadow.

If you take multiday walks where weather conditions change or spend time in wet areas, it is guaranteed that you will get wet feet and you will want your boots to dry as quickly as possible.
 
i’ve broke my right ankle once I sprained my ankles too many times to count had to hike out of the back Country 10+ miles a couple of times I went away from the hiking boots and now I wear either trail runners or I wear my Chaco sandals out below us a picture of Lake Georgetown. I too am in central Texas and I use hiking poles when necessary with all the rocks and things and they make a big difference too I found out I didn’t need the heavier boots, but I could go with some of the trail runners like I said and they work out well you just have to find the ones that fit you. I also put different inserts in the trail runners and that helps with the rocks and things for the bottom of my feet
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1191.jpeg
    IMG_1191.jpeg
    417 KB · Views: 2
The Trout Whisperer said:
i’ve broke my right ankle once I sprained my ankles too many times to count had to hike out of the back Country 10+ miles a couple of times I went away from the hiking boots and now I wear either trail runners or I wear my Chaco sandals out below us a picture of Lake Georgetown. I too am in central Texas and I use hiking poles when necessary with all the rocks and things and they make a big difference too I found out I didn’t need the heavier boots, but I could go with some of the trail runners like I said and they work out well you just have to find the ones that fit you. I also put different inserts in the trail runners and that helps with the rocks and things for the bottom of my feet
Click to expand...
Sorry bout the lack of punctuation…I used the voice recorder and forgot to say period after th sentence.
 
Osmigo said:
I'm new, this is my first post here. I slowly moving towards some new hiking boots, to replace the cheap boots I have that don't fit and hurt my feet. I can spend up to about $150-$160. Most of my hiking is in south central Texas, in some large local state parks and natural areas, where I take long, all-day hikes over rocky terrain (see pic) and often in very hot, humid weather. I need a boot that breathes well (obviously) and can take a LOT of abrasion and that provides good ankle protection and support. FWIW, I'm 5' 11" and weigh 220 lbs.

I know the Danner Mountain 600 is good, but I've read that it's not good for sweaty conditions. Bass Pro Shop (15 minutes from me) has Keen Voyager Mids for $149. But I've read several reviews about them coming apart. Jeez, it seems like any boot you look at, some people wear them for years, and somebody else says "they fell apart in 10 minutes!"

Any tips would be appreciated, it's been a LONG LONG time since I bought some new hiking boots. Last time was some Vasque Hiker II's back in the middle 70s!
View attachment 144974
Click to expand...
In the 60s, 70s, and 80s I used heavy leather Vasque Whitneys. Then when Ray Jardine's PCT Hikers Handbook came out I switched to inexpensive running shoes. My pack with five days of food was 40 lbs when I was young and wore heavy boots, 30 lbs when wearing the running shoes. Now the pack is about 20 lbs for the same number of days. My pack, quilt, sleeping pad and tent together weigh about 5 lbs. Those four items also cost about $1800. It's too bad I couldn't afford that when I did most of my long distance backpacking.

Also, hiking 15 miles with leather boots was a major achievement. Lightweight gear extended my ability to make miles by at least two decades.

Now, in my early 70s, I wear Merrill Moabs. They are stiff enough to buffer feeling rocks, but light enough not to notice them on my feet. I wear the low-tops, but met a fellow last week while backpacking in Lassen National Park wearing the high-tops. I asked if they made a difference in terms of ankle stability. He thought for a moment, and unequivocally replied, "No!" They are in your price range. They also go on sale twice a year on the Merrill website.

You don't need boots unless you're carrying more than 40 lbs in your pack. Danner Mountain Lights are still made, but they're $400+, and are made for narrow feet.

Be sure to get shoes/boots wider than you normally wear. Your feet expand after a short time hiking (and as you age). Trying something on in the store - the shoe/boot should swim a bit. If it's snug it's too narrow/small. You want your forefoot to have obvious room! You can lace the shoe/boot so the forefoot is loose and heel/ankle tight. I wear a 14EEEE which if I could find, would expand to 14EEEEEE. I am not exaggerating here. If it feels too wide in the store, and too long, it's probably just right.

An important point is that since switching away from leather boots, or boots that are too tight, and/or too small, I have not had a blister - and that's the last 30 years of backpacking. Insoles have helped with that I believe.

In my opinion, goretex boots are an excellent example of how marketing creates a need, and then a market that addresses that need with a product (Line). They are fine for wading through puddles, but once wet, stay wet for days. I walked through a couple creeks last week in my Moabs and within an hour the shoes, while not dry, were no longer soaking. My socks were damp but not wet. 10 minutes of airing everything out and it was like I hadn't waded a couple creeks. Running shoes dry out even faster. And no blisters...

The key to using modern footwear is insoles. Toss the ones that come with shoes/boots. They are pretty worthless out the door. Here's an overview what's out there. https://www.outdoorlife.com/gear/best-insoles-for-hiking/

Another key is using two poles. If you have "weak ankles" which most of us do because we walk on flat surfaces, poles are an excellent buffer against turning an ankle. While they don't stop falling off an 1 1/2" high rock, they will keep you from falling so far you sprain ankle enough to not be able to hike. Modern shoes/boots do not protect the ankles like those old Vasques, no matter what a manufacturer claims.

Modern hiking shoes/boots aren't built to last like those old Vasque boots. Now the merrills last me two years before I toss them. One year if I wear them around town. (I also don't hike more than 20 days a year now) Running shoes should be tossed after being worn for six months, or 600 miles if you hike that much, probably the Merrills too. This is opinion of course. Go to "thetrek.co" and look at what long distance hikers wear, and find their discussions of footwear that works for them. Postholer.com also has forums that discuss gear.
 
Used a brand new pair of sportiva wildcats off trail in the Beartooths. We're destroyed after that one trip. Went back to the Kailash GTX .... They are suede and not much heavier and have lasted multiple off trail trips since ... Price is about twice, but if they last years longer it averages out the cost in the long run.

I do use other insoles, but do not use poles.
 
Bob said:
Used a brand new pair of sportiva wildcats off trail in the Beartooths. We're destroyed after that one trip. Went back to the Kailash GTX .... They are suede and not much heavier and have lasted multiple off trail trips since ... Price is about twice, but if they last years longer it averages out the cost in the long run.

I do use other insoles, but do not use poles.
Click to expand...
Yeah the Wildcats are not built as rugged as the Ultra Raptors. I've been used the Ultra Raptors for about a dozen years. On rough terrain like the Beartooths, I typically get about 600 out of them. I could get more, but find that my feet are happiest when I replace them before the need is dire. They are definitely on the "beefier" end of the trail runner spectrum, so they make sense for rough terrain while still offering some of the comfort of trail runners vs boots.

All comes down to compromise, no matter what you choose.
 
Man, thanks for all the replies. Yeah, those old Vasque Hiker II's were like a couple of cinder blocks, but back in the 70s in the John Denver era I hiked all over Rocky Mountain National Park in them, as well as around the limestone trails of the Texas hill country. Dang things were indestructible. I wore them pretty much 24/7 back then! Everywhere I went.... "klonk, klonk...."

I agree about changing the insoles. I also agree about the "waterproof" that seems to dominate the advertising. I don't need waterproof that bad; down here (San Antonio area) your feet sweat too much already.

Been looking at some Moab 3 Mids. Only negative to those is those little fabric lace hoops. Metal ones are much easier to pull the lace through, and more durable. Not too big a deal. The local Bass Pro has them for $149. Those Garmonts might be pretty good, but I don't know anywhere around here to try some on. Will keep looking.
 
As a side note, there are many brand new Merrill Moab boots on eBay right now for about $50, shipping included. This is a great price for boot that I get 1000 miles plus of trail use before they are too trashed to use in the wilderness; then I use them for local day hikes. I have no commercial relationship to any of the various vendors.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Don't like ads? Become a BCP Supporting Member and kiss them all goodbye. Click here for more info.

Back
Top