What was your reason for choosing it over some other brand?

Danner Mountainlight II. I like a full grain boot for backpacking and these fit me well. I, along with many AT through hiker friends (I am not one) do not think favorably of goretex leather boots. My wife and I have always had good luck with Italian boots especially Scarpa, Asolo, Raichle and Lowa. However, these generally fit a narrower foot.

Dropout,<br><br>For my money (he-he), and excluding extreme cold, Army issue combat boots with some modifications are ideal. First of all, I'm used to them (been wearing them 12 years now) and given that the Army gives me them for free and gives me new ones when they wear out, I won't spend money on commercial boots. I do modify mine; I have new soles put on them (I like the "waffle" design with no heels), spongy insoles and I generally have the toe boxes removed (although I haven't really been able to figure out if this really helps). Works great for me. The mods usually cost me less than $25.00 per pair. I also have one pair left "as issued" for military schools which require issue boots and a pair of professionally shined jump boots for inspections and class A occassions (which, in the Guard, are thankfully few and far between.) The only downside is the "military" look. The money I save on boots gets spent on replacement socks. Army issue socks, as a rule, suck. The SmartWool brand socks are great. <br><br>I wear Georgia steel toe boots to work. I love them. One of my coworkers, who bought a pair on my reccomendation, HATES them. Figure out what works for your feet. Try a lot on until you find them.<br><br>Andy

I wear Otomix Stingray boots everywhere: to work, for martial arts training, and hiking -- no matter how cold or wet it gets.<br><br>I live in Florida, so I'm lucky that such a lightweight shoe will keep me warm throughout the year.<br><br>I gave up on the idea of waterproof footwear last year after reading several lightweight and ultralight backpacking sites and Ray Jardine's book. The Otomix shoes get wet, but they dry out fast.<br><br>I also like the idea of training in the shoes I wear every day.<br><br>They are surprisingly rugged and long-lasting. The last pair I retired went for seven years, alternating each month with another, identical pair, which I'm wearing as I type.<br><br>Bear

I've been through all too many pairs of Timberland daily wear/hiking boots and sent most of them back for replacement. The cloth inside behind my heel seems to wear through every time. Maybe it's an issue with how they fit?<br><br>I also had a pair of Vasque Clarion GTX for about 6 months before trading those in for some Zamberlan 631 Civetta GT RR boots. The Zamberlans (also Italian) have lasted the longest so far, (about 2 years) and I wear mine almost every day. Too bad they're getting that mildew smell now. Febreeze hasn't helped, anyone have any ideas?<br><br>As I said, I'm pretty happy with the Zamberlan Gore-Tex boots, but I do notice they don't breathe as well as others. I'm sure that contributes to the mildew problem. Is that the main concern with Leather/GoreTex? (other than price)

Yes, exactly. The guys at Walisi Yi, a camping store ON the Applachian Trail have a very negative opinion of Gore Tex in leather boots because they are hotter, less permeable and initially less form fitting than plain old leather. Walisi Yi is about 5 days in from the start of the trail and they get a ton of feedback from thousands of hikers about what is working and what is not. After having Vasque Sundowners (an otherwise excellent boot), I noticed the difference and will not have leather Gore tex boots in the future.

I don't know about Florida. You might not need boots at all there. lol . If boots are used I think it might be better in the longterm to wear thick leather, i.e 2.8 mm. I agree that thin leather dries out quicker, and feet breathe better. I usually destroy socks because of a habit my big toe has of pressing against the top of the boot. Where the leather is thicker the sock lasts longer. I go for the Scarpa Delta. I've thought about buying 6 pair of these boots now, for the price keeps going up every year. Thick leather is best for most enviroments outside the extremes of the rainforest and the arctic.

If you get that mildew smell wash them out with liquid soap and dettol, and retire them for 6 months, but stuff them with some cotton.

It goes without saying you should wear cotton socks next to your skin in warm weather, changing them often. In hot weather, especially on a trail like the appalachian, you should change your socks several times a day.

Thick leather makes me much more comfortable in snake country. _________________________________________________ PROVERBS 21:19

Historically, my favorite is Peter Limmer. Bought in the 60, custom made for my feet, and worked beautifully for many years,<br><br>For what you can get right now - Vasque Sundowners. They fit me well, and are extremely versatile from sea level to Sierra snow. What works for you is the boot that fits your feet best, and that is as light as possible for the trips you make. Don't worry about Gore-tex one way or another - fit is everything.

Dropout: The Otomix boots I wear aren't leather at all. They're a cloth boot. The cloth is thin except around the ankle, where it's padded a bit. There's very little arch. The sole is a thin layer of very durable rubber.<br><br>Think of a moccassin made from modern synthetic materials and you'll have a close picture.<br><br>http://store.yahoo.com/otomix/stingrayboot.html<br><br>Bear

Dropout: Things which "go without saying" often trigger the most lively discussions here! <br>I don't think it goes without saying that you should wear cotton sock next to your skin....or ANYWHERE. I like the polypro. liners, silk liners, or even SmartWool. Personally don't like any cotton clothing in outdoor/survival situations.<br><br>How about some other opinions?

Cotton Kills.

I wear a pair of merrills that I got about 8 years ago. They are Gortex lined and nylon outer with some leather on stress points. 3/4 steel shank waffle tread with a low heel. I haven't done much extreme cold with them but with smart wool they have been fine to 0 degrees F. The Goretex has maintained waterproofness through all I have subjected them to. The upper is showing some seperation from the sole at this point but that should be remedied with some shoe-gue.<br><br>Perhaps it is because you wear cotton socks that you feel it necessary to change your socks several times a day. I find a thin wool sock or wool/nylon sock for summer travel very comfortable in the appalachian White Mountains durring summer. I actually wear knee-high wool/nylon dress socks in summer. I like the Smart Wool for winter. I don't find it necessary to carry more than two pair of socks so that I can alternate on alternate days. <br><br>Of course I do carry three or four pairs and usually only use two. The extra are for redundancy. Socks wear out and waterproof boots are only waterproof in water shallower than the boot is tall.

I think I speak for any human who's feet perspire, cotton is best for summer, especially when the boot itself doesn't perspire well, i.e. goretex lined. The last thing you want is for wetness to build up on the boot lining. Go for cotton under wool, change the cotton twice a day, the wool once every 2 days.

In the summer your feet will actually perspire more if you wear anything other than cotton next to your skin, especially polypro. Cotton when it soaks cools the foot, reducing the rate of perspiration. The foot only perspires coz it's warm, so cool it down the simplest way. The other point I'd like to make is having a pair of thin cottons under wools or any other thick sock is the damp cotton acts like a 2nd skin, moving with the foot, reducing the chance of blisters more than from any other technique. No sock sticks to the foot better than wet cotton. Of course, you understand I'm referring to warm weather. In the winter the rules change, that's where the polypro comes in.

I Leurve Gore-Tex lined boots, wouldn't be without them...<br>But, here's a tip... Don't polish them. Use a little liquid wax or mink oil, not the kiwi... This allows the membrane to breathe as it should.<br><br>For those that are "in", no... it wont wash with the RSM.<br>

I don't do a great deal of summer hiking, but fall and spring I use my 2nd pair of limmers, as the limmers i bought in 76 are just good for working now (to many rebuilds) In winter I use Koflach Vertical.<br>I never had gortex boots but i suspect your feet get wet anyway.....<br> I wear silk/poly blend socks year round with smartwool hiking socks. I just don't care for cotton and don't own any

Selous vellies from the Courteney Boot Company in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Crazy expensive, built like tanks, made from super tough (legally harvested) game hide, incredibly comfortable, and they are also a nice family run business. I have five pairs in all, all made from cape buffalo. One pair is more than seven years old, and I expect to get at least seven more years out of them before they will need new soles. <br><br>In the US, they are available from Westly Richards, and I think they also have distributors in the UK and Australia. If you feel adventurous they are considerably cheaper if you order them directly from Courteney in Bulawayo, but try to organize a safe way to get payment to them as the Zimbabwe postal service isn't what could be called the full shilling.<br><br>As far as socks go, I get whatever looks like a good deal at REI. A nice thing about the Courteneys (and other veldshoen) is that they are quite comfortable worn without socks (if it is warm enough). <br><br>I have no connection with The Courteney Boot Company, other than being a very happy customer for 7 plus years.<br><br>Cheers,<br><br>Gary.