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Boots, the expensive kind

If you say, I was too lazy to check before posting. But, that may or may not be the same outfit. I'm almost certain a friend of my dad who wore his Whites always, even to church, sent to WI or MI or some such state for them. We lived 90 minutes from Spokane, so he otherwise would have gone to them for fitting. But over fifty years later the original White could have moved out west, or the brand name purchased or recycled.

There were two contants in Idaho lumberjack apparel - White boots and Filson woolen outerwear.
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We spent a year in a camp upstream from Pierce (Cold Springs creek) and you're right about the boots. Most guys had two pair, one calked, the other not. Back then, the saws were Homelites, nothing was made in China, and the camp was a world apart. The Lucky Lager distributor delivered a truck load every other week.
We kids spent most days fishing the North Fork of the Clearwater or the creek. It was an idyllic existence, for a kid! WH
 
We spent a year in a camp upstream from Pierce (Cold Springs creek) and you're right about the boots. Most guys had two pair, one calked, the other not. Back then, the saws were Homelites, nothing was made in China, and the camp was a world apart. The Lucky Lager distributor delivered a truck load every other week.
We kids spent most days fishing the North Fork of the Clearwater or the creek. It was an idyllic existence, for a kid! WH
Was that before Dworshak Dam destroyed the lower N. Fork?

My dad grew up in Elk River, worked summers in the Forest Service before and after WW II, married my mother and bought the dry goods store and meat locker in Pierce in around 1950. Learned meatcutting from the previous owner, and had the locker full of elk after hunting seasons. Folks would come in and have him cut off what they needed from their carcass for the week. So the meat would age nicely over time!

Dad's father was a timber cruiser for Potlatch Forests Inc, the largest private landowner in the Clearwater. They built and manned their own fire lookout towers. The largest pure stands of White Pine in the world were in that region. Grandpa Harry would cruise and scale a timber allotment in winter on snowshoes, carrying his trusty cocker spaniel Rusty on one shoe, snow camping for days on end. He succumbed to a heart attack on one such excursion, at age 59.

What were called "calked" boots or "caulks" were more properly "corked boots" referring to the cork plugs in the soles gripping the spikes. Or so it was explained to me. A sign on the door of a store or tavern would say "No Corks Inside" and the wooden landing would be lined with logging boots. Those red fir floors were expensive to repair or replace!

My dad both drank and smoked Luckies - Lucky Lager and Lucky Strike cigarettes. The cigs had to be rolled up in the sleeve of a white t-shirt.

"It's Lucky when you live in the West!"

"LSMFT - Lucky Strike Means Fine Taste"

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My brother and I both got new boots last fall for a MT elk hunt. He got the mountain extremes and I got some Crispi boots (West River or something like that). After 50 miles, my brothers Kennetrecks gave him blisters during the wear in period about 2 weeks before the hunt. We chatted after I had my crispi boots that I was getting my 30 miles on prehunt, and we talked about sizing. Only reason I choose the Crispis over the ME's was the Crispi boots were way more comfortable for me. I also needed an 11.5 size. And I wear a 13 tennis shoe mainly for length. Mine worked great and we each put 60 miles on them in the mountains over 6 days.

My brother ended up returning his originals and getting a size smaller before the hunt. They fit better and no more blisters. He had to do another 50 miles in the 2 weeks before the hunt.

In the world of upper end boots, I think fit is the most important consideration. I tried on several and walked around the store a little with several pairs. I also brought with several pairs of wool socks and tried each pair I planned to use with each boot. I used my medium to light weight wool socks the most but the heavies would have been comfy too. We did a late October hunt.

Choose a comfy boot, get the correct size, break them in, and you'll be happy.
 
I may be the odd guy out here. I had plantar fasciitis in my 20s and am always on concrete. Sore feet is normal for me. I found the very stiff boots to be overkill for the vast majority of hunting I did. These are alpine boots and most people just are not hunting hard enough to need them in my opinion. I am back to using my salomons that I wear every day for hunting. I think a lot of this is advertising, most people dont need sitka clothes to sit in a deer blind either. Either way you had better try them on and make sure they fit, stiff boots are more prone to heel slip.


We don't hunt exactly the same terrain this side of the world but I have also gone from hunting in boots to hunting in Salomons and Merrels. I prefer the Merrels in sandy areas and the light weigh Salomons for rocky mountain areas
 
I'm surprised many of you still wear woolen socks, if by that you men 100% wool.
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I live in wool socks year around, some being a blend of course. In the USMC we were taught our feet were number one , clean feet , wool socks and foot powder got us hundreds of miles with little to no problems. I have since went with the Alpaca socks for the more demanding trips. I use the Alpaca cinches on the Mules and horses now and have not had any soreness issues in years. It is expensive but well worth it (my experience and opinion only).
 
I don’t do backcountry hunting but my Kenetrek Hardscrabbles have been excellent hiking boots. Heavy for modern hiking but the sole is supportive and rolls very well for a smooth gait. Just make sure you bring home the Kenetrek boot wax and use it properly.

I’ve tried many boots over the years and most just don’t fit me adequately well. I envy those who can put on most things and make it work for them.
 
Kenetrek Mountain Extreme boots suck. Anyone who has done real hard high country hunting in bad wet weather will tell you the same thing. People who say they are good boots are most likely pussy footing around on flat dry ground. And if you have any issues expect to pay for any repairs because Kenetrek won’t back them. Never been so disappointed in a boot for the amount of money spent as I have been with Kenetrek.

I’ve had everything from top of the line Danner, Whites, and Kenetrek to the most expensive Lathrop and Sons boots...
My favorite boot right now is the Crispi Wild Rock GTX. They are comfortable, almost no break in required, keep your feet dry, don’t need wax treatment due to a smooth leather finish, amazing ankle support for steep terrain, and are darn tough. I like the Wild Rock GTX so much I have two pairs just in case they decide to discontinue them one day.

Here is a full review of the Wild Rock GTX on Rokslide forum. During my time so far with this boot, my experience has been exactly the same.

 
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Something to think about if the boots are only going to be used occasionally and you are considering Lowa. I am apparently one of the unlucky few. This is straight from their website.

Hydrolysis - Boot sole separation​

Sole units will degrade when your footwear is used only occasionally and is stored for long periods of time. This is not a warrantable issue. Sole units degrade faster than if the footwear is worn regularly. Hydrolysis is a normal material aging process that occurs in all footwear with a cushioned PU midsole independent of the manufacturer. The process also occurs in automobile tires, ski boots or helmets and does not represent lower quality or even a quality issue in materials or workmanship.

There are two types of sole injection technology popular with outdoor boots: EVA and PU. LOWA uses PU Injected Technology, to extend the life of their boots.

I'm no longer supporting Lowa with my money. So far I have been happy with AKU but they are hard to find in the US.
 

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