New stalking boots.

arrowloopboy

Lads going to invest in a new pair of boots,i fancy meindls,not sure weather to go for the vakums or the drovre extremes.
Has anyone had both ?
The Drovres are a higher boot,i mostly shoot woods ,i've no hilll stalking,just wondering if this should determine the height of boot i get .

Cheers.... A

deeksofdoom

I have a pair of the Dovre extremes they are a fine pair of boots, waterproof, warm, comfortable and they'ld want to be for €220.

The only thing is you need to keep topping up the dubbin and need constant maintenance, thorns and briars are hard on the leather aswell.

DR6.5

I have meindl glockers and makalu, the glocker are a good boot, very good ankle support but are a bit heavier that the makalu, the makalu are a brilliant boot, they are really comfortable waterproof, i use them with sealskinz socks you feet are bone dry, was out today in the pissing rain and sleet and was bone dry.

If your covering a lot of ground when your stalking get either the makalus or the vakuum.

dr6.5

snipe02

i have a pair of dovres extremes i like the extra height and ankle support ive had them for a few years now and would not fault them but they do need looking after i recently acquirred a pair of haix boots and find them a great boot also but the meindls a little lighter if you go for the lower boot you will def have to go for gaters also

John_Rambo

Great sale on in Great Outdoors in Dublin, Meindl Makula MFS for €150!!

(I love the vakum though, amazing boot for rough terrain and long ascents and descents)

It wasn't me!

I have a pair of Meindl Burma GTX and love them. They're reasonably lightweight, tough as all hell, and plenty of ankle support, definitely saved me from a painful sprain or two. I've taken to wearing them absolutely everywhere, most comfortable pair of footwear I've got. Would highly recommend them.

IRLConor

DR6.5 wrote: »

meindl ... sealskinz socks

I don't hunt, but I can definitely recommend this combination for warmth and comfort.

Sealskinz are expensive, but like a good pair of boots they're worth every penny.

stick shooter

Well this year for the first time i tried le chameau and i was disgusted .So back to the meindl makalu for next season for me. I do a lot of walking and a good bit of hill walking .And i find meindls the best.;)

Tackleberrywho

I have a pair of Le Chameu several years now.

Not great in warmish weather, but in cold and wet they are teh bees knees

I wash them with the Garden Hose after use, rub in a bit of dubbin to keep the leather supple and reay for action again

I would also recomend Haix if you are stalking on relatively easy terrain (they have more flex than le Chameau, but your ankle can twist in them)

http://www.brixworkwear.com/ie/brand/haix/hunting-boot-walking-boots/haix-oregon.html

http://www.compare.ie/search_products.htm?searchText=Mens%20Walking%20Boots%20Mouflon%20Plus%20Le%20Chameau%20Boots&searchType=

stick shooter

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

I have a pair of Le Chameu several years now.

Not great in warmish weather, but in cold and wet they are teh bees knees

I wash them with the Garden Hose after use, rub in a bit of dubbin to keep the leather supple and reay for action again

I would also recomend Haix if you are stalking on relatively easy terrain (they have more flex than le Chameau, but your ankle can twist in them)

http://www.brixworkwear.com/ie/brand/haix/hunting-boot-walking-boots/haix-oregon.html

http://www.compare.ie/search_products.htm?searchText=Mens%20Walking%20Boots%20Mouflon%20Plus%20Le%20Chameau%20Boots&searchType=

tackleberrywho i am the only one to mention le chameau boots in this thread. I think it does not matter the subject and i said black you would say white , Just relax will you. I am on my second pair of la chameau and so is my mate that stalks with me so i think i know what i am on about . Stop following me around from thread to thread just to disagree with me ok

Tackleberrywho

stick shooter wrote: »

tackleberrywho i am the only one to mention le chameau boots in this thread. I think it does not matter the subject and i said black you would say white , Just relax will you. I am on my second pair of la chameau and so is my mate that stalks with me so i think i know what i am on about . Stop following me around from thread to thread just to disagree with me ok

I'm still on my first pair

They are NOT comfortable on hard ground
They are warm and dry in bog/marsh

Where I was tonight
(I near bogged the Jeep the place was so soft)

I've crossed streams and keep toasty dry
(mine are the high ones)

They hurt if I am climbing sandy hills but on soft boggy mass they are the Bizz

The Haix I have are Black and were issued to me, also Goretex but you can run with them on as they are far more flexible

I'm neither disagreeing or agreeing
Just giving my personal opinion

stick shooter

Ok the the ground that you seem to be on is a lot flatter . A lot of my stalking that i do is on boggy land and on open hill down in wicklow . The problem is if they weep at all and bog water gets in its nearly impossible to reseal them . Since september i am on my second pair of them and i am about th hand them back. I would stalk 2-3 days a week and cover quiet a bit of land and in my opinion the le chameau just dont cut it.

Tackleberrywho

Mine have not leaked **yet** I have them 4 or 5 years now.

If they leak they will leak where the toe bends.
I put some Areldite down the crack last year to fill it.


The Haix are great on hard hilly ground, but the soles are soft and wear out easily.

Perhaps the Acidic soil of the Forestry is harder on the glue holding the sole on than the alkaline soils of the Midlands.

I am worse than a woman for the amount of Boots I have

For fear of Annoying JohnGalway, I have great time for Ecco Boots in sring Summer :eek::eek:

stick shooter

It must be the acidic clay . because after morning one my feet were a tad damp . (just above the sole)Day two just after an hour and twenty my right foot started to get wet, dried them out and day three after a half hour my feet were swimming so brought them back and got a meindl treatment pack and treated them but too late the damage was done . So now i am on pair of boot no three this stalking season . very annoying .

FISMA

For some reason, the water level in Ireland appears to be the exact height of whatever wellies I am wearing at the time. Strange phenomena.

Thus, when you're crossing a ditch and lean forward, they always dip into the water.

I do not know if your area is swampy, however, mine is.

I always wear these.

Tackleberrywho

Where I shoot, I have Swamp, Bog, Sandy soil, Callows, Hills and Hollows.

I have three pairs of hunting boots

depending on the weather and where I am going, decides what i wear.

Waders are great fro crossing drains

Since the Heavy rain the drains are ~3" deep so no form of ankle boots work.

I do feel it really is important to assess where the OP MAINLY stalks to decide what to wear.

Some Stalking is around the shannon Callows where Waders are par for the course.

Some is in Hill country where a short ankle boot works, and some is in a mixture where a medium high boot is required

John_Rambo

Some boots just don't suit some people. Some peoples feet are hotter than others, they are wider, longer, higher. Some peoples gait is very different to others. I can't wear Meindl Burma's, my foot is the wrong shape, I's say It wasn't me! can't wear Meindl Vakum's. Tackleberrywho and stick shooter the boots might suit or not suit you, doesn't mean the boot is bad. However, I would never ever buy high end boots online, you really need to be fitted to see if they are right for you. Worth the extra €20 or so.

Anyone try these this year?

GixxerThou

I wore douvre extremes all last season, changed to the vacuum this season and I think they are a much better all round boot. I has brumas for years and loved them but the douvres were not as comfortable and took me a long time to break in. The vacum are very good though, one morning on the hill broke them in and they are super comfy!

ronn

i use aigle boots, never had a problem with them e130.00,, bit akward to drive the car in them (bit high on the ankle) grand if you drive a jeep

bunny shooter

Meindl all the way

Rosahane

Try Meindl Taigas, high leg, full weight leather and comfortable enough to wear all day. The Malukas are designed for usung crampons so are more rigid than necessary for shooting which makes them tiring to wear as they are so rigid.

The Taigas are specifically designed for shooting, same high leg design as the high army /combat ones - can't remember what they are called
The Army ones are designed to be more flexible and lighter and have thinner leather and more flexible soles than the Taigas.

Hunter21

Jack Pyke boots are great, waterproof up to about 5 inches above the ankle and really warm. Good in hot weather too. All for €100 mighty value!