I know there?s a lot of boots out there and everyone has their favorite set up, or still searching for that go to combo. So I thought I?d give my feelings on what I?ve come to enjoy plus a pair I?m trying out Incase it helps someone in their quest for what works for them.
I?ve been elk hunting for along time and the boot I?ve come to love is the Salomon 4D GTX light weight flexible boot. This boot fits me perfectly and is unmatched in comfort with my experience of light boots. They enable you to go very fast and allow for some pretty stealthy stalks. These boots are relatively inexpensive however, I can only seem to get about 6-8 months out of them before they seem to just unravel. I spend a lot of time watching sheep in the desert in some really nasty bluffs so that is what I chalk that up to. I do cover hundreds of miles in those 8 months usually, by the time they fall apart they?ve really covered some ground in nasty stuff so I don?t have a big issue with that. They have been mostly waterproof in very wet conditions for me as long as I?m wearing gaiters. Light moisture they work great without gaiters. The boots fit true to size and feel like I?m wearing a trail shoe with ankle support. However, another complaint is once you break that 100lb threshold in a pack these aren?t stiff enough for me. While wearing these boots I try to stay in that sub 80lb range in my pack. Overall I really love these boots and their comfort brings me back over and over.
The next shoe that has become one of my favs on an elk hunt is the Salomon Speedcross. These are what I wear if the terrain is favorable and I just want a very light option. I wear these shoes with gaiters and work wonders in areas with lots of meadows and grassy areas with minimal rocks. I know lots of guys use them in the high country but I just don?t trust my ankles with them. If I?m in mostly flat terrain or rolling hills it?s the speedcross and gaiters. I?ve only packed out one elk while wearing these shoes and stability wasn?t as bad as I thought it would be. However, I would not recommend these while packing lots of weight.
Both the GTX 4Ds and Speedcross have been my set up for about 4 years now and I have been a fan of them. I have worn multiple pairs of both and keep buying more due to the fact the just work solidly for me and I have minimal complaints.
However, I?ve really been searching for that stiffer, more durable boot that is comfortable under a 100lb load. I don?t normally go more than that and really try not to break that number if possible. It?s not that I can?t, I just don?t want to. But if I have to I really want a stiffer, stronger boot.
I thought before I went for the Lathrop & Sons route, which I probably still will to give them a fair shake. I wanted to try the Salomon X ALP MTN GTX for the price I get with my military discount.
The Salomon X ALP MTN GTX so far seem to be a very quality built boot. They?re stiff, yet flexible enough to be very comfortable and not feel like you?re walking on wooden blocks. The have a solid toe cap that seems will hold up to the rough terrain I spend a lot of time in. So far I only have about 10 miles on them and they are performing just as I expected from a Salomon shoe. I have yet to test them out in water or really a long distance hike but will soon. The toe box is rather narrow which I like and the stiffness is comparable to a La Sportiva Trango Cube but with a little more comfort. I will be sure to get more up on them as the hikes continue. So far I?m at 10 miles on only two hikes and I enjoy them.
Thanks again for letting me put my thoughts out there on these in case anyone has been considering trying any of these Salomon options. I hope this helps someone at some point.
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I?ve been elk hunting for along time and the boot I?ve come to love is the Salomon 4D GTX light weight flexible boot. This boot fits me perfectly and is unmatched in comfort with my experience of light boots. They enable you to go very fast and allow for some pretty stealthy stalks. These boots are relatively inexpensive however, I can only seem to get about 6-8 months out of them before they seem to just unravel. I spend a lot of time watching sheep in the desert in some really nasty bluffs so that is what I chalk that up to. I do cover hundreds of miles in those 8 months usually, by the time they fall apart they?ve really covered some ground in nasty stuff so I don?t have a big issue with that. They have been mostly waterproof in very wet conditions for me as long as I?m wearing gaiters. Light moisture they work great without gaiters. The boots fit true to size and feel like I?m wearing a trail shoe with ankle support. However, another complaint is once you break that 100lb threshold in a pack these aren?t stiff enough for me. While wearing these boots I try to stay in that sub 80lb range in my pack. Overall I really love these boots and their comfort brings me back over and over.
The next shoe that has become one of my favs on an elk hunt is the Salomon Speedcross. These are what I wear if the terrain is favorable and I just want a very light option. I wear these shoes with gaiters and work wonders in areas with lots of meadows and grassy areas with minimal rocks. I know lots of guys use them in the high country but I just don?t trust my ankles with them. If I?m in mostly flat terrain or rolling hills it?s the speedcross and gaiters. I?ve only packed out one elk while wearing these shoes and stability wasn?t as bad as I thought it would be. However, I would not recommend these while packing lots of weight.
Both the GTX 4Ds and Speedcross have been my set up for about 4 years now and I have been a fan of them. I have worn multiple pairs of both and keep buying more due to the fact the just work solidly for me and I have minimal complaints.
However, I?ve really been searching for that stiffer, more durable boot that is comfortable under a 100lb load. I don?t normally go more than that and really try not to break that number if possible. It?s not that I can?t, I just don?t want to. But if I have to I really want a stiffer, stronger boot.
I thought before I went for the Lathrop & Sons route, which I probably still will to give them a fair shake. I wanted to try the Salomon X ALP MTN GTX for the price I get with my military discount.
The Salomon X ALP MTN GTX so far seem to be a very quality built boot. They?re stiff, yet flexible enough to be very comfortable and not feel like you?re walking on wooden blocks. The have a solid toe cap that seems will hold up to the rough terrain I spend a lot of time in. So far I only have about 10 miles on them and they are performing just as I expected from a Salomon shoe. I have yet to test them out in water or really a long distance hike but will soon. The toe box is rather narrow which I like and the stiffness is comparable to a La Sportiva Trango Cube but with a little more comfort. I will be sure to get more up on them as the hikes continue. So far I?m at 10 miles on only two hikes and I enjoy them.
Thanks again for letting me put my thoughts out there on these in case anyone has been considering trying any of these Salomon options. I hope this helps someone at some point.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
