I wear Grundens rubber boots. They have all sorts and there MADE IN AMERICA. If you watch anything to do with jobs on the water you'll see the Grundens name. I've had the same pair for three years and I wear them every day,even in the summer. For some reason the heel doesn't go wonky,you know when only one side wears down..

 

Merrell moab 2 + FREE SHIPPING | Zappos

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Moab 2 fit into what you are looking for. They work and feel great for hiking shoes. They are shaped so you go over rocks and roots instead of trpiping/stubbing your toes and have a rock plate in them so you can walk over terrain that has a lot of protrusions without the bottom of your feet constantly getting poked and hurting. I have over a thousand miles in the pair I bought last year and they are holding up great. Merrell moab 2 + FREE SHIPPING | Zappos.com

Merrell moab 2 + FREE SHIPPING | Zappos

Free shipping BOTH ways on merrell moab 2 from our vast selection of styles. Fast delivery, and 24/7/365 real-person service with a smile. Click or call 800-927-7671.

www.zappos.com

 

Merrell moab 2 + FREE SHIPPING | Zappos

Free shipping BOTH ways on merrell moab 2 from our vast selection of styles. Fast delivery, and 24/7/365 real-person service with a smile. Click or call 800-927-7671.

www.zappos.com

Moab 2 fit into what you are looking for. They work and feel great for hiking shoes. They are shaped so you go over rocks and roots instead of trying/stubbing your toes and have a rock plate in them so you can walk over terrain that has a lot of protrusions. I have over a thousand miles in the pair I bought last year and they are holding up great. Merrell moab 2 + FREE SHIPPING | Zappos.com

Merrell moab 2 + FREE SHIPPING | Zappos

Free shipping BOTH ways on merrell moab 2 from our vast selection of styles. Fast delivery, and 24/7/365 real-person service with a smile. Click or call 800-927-7671.

www.zappos.com

They are nice shoes, but they are heavy if someone is ascending at 2 pounds. Just for comparison the Lone Peak 6 is 1 pound 5 ounces for the pair. If you are walking/hiking on mostly flat terrain it won't be an issue (like WI), but you can feel it going up after a few miles if someone reading this is in the Rockies. It's personal choice, but I bought Oboz Bridger mids for ankle support at 5 oz more to pair with my low sneakers. The Lowa Renegades were good in the past, but I heard they had a bad batch recently that are having delamination issues.

 

Shoes / Boots / Socks are a good start... Heres what I did. I took a note pad into each room & the closets of my house, my car & truck, & shed. I made a list of that I might need, was short on, and what was missing. Then I did it all over again a few days later. After that, I started filling in the blanks... looking at yard sales, ebay, drug & food store sales, and department store sales. Tonight I bought a pair of sneakers & a heavy blanket, both on sale & used a coupon... got both at 50% off. At some point, sales may become a thing of the past OR there'll be a sale but nothing in stock... remember the saying, 1 is none and 2 is 1.

 

Even though people say tennis shoes break down over time in storage I still have quite a few pairs I've purchased on sale. I've got hiking boots, trail running shoes, etc, and like BadSmell said I buy two if I love something.

 

good quality boots and socks. I prefer Salomon or GoRuck MACV. For warmer climates and or wet climates go with a boot that has drain holes. Its counter intuitive for some but you want your boots to drain and dry quickly. If you are actually moving through wet areas off of the concrete you wont keep water out no matter how hard you try. Its better to have your foot movement pump the water out and then dry quickly. GoRuck boots excel at this. For socks I only use Merino wool, my favorite is the sock by Kuiu..

 

The GoRucks are cool. I met Jason when they first started, my friend MIke did their first ascent challenge. What a cool culture they seem to have built.

 

Try gortex over the ankle hiking boots. You can wear hem late spring to early fall. Comfortable and probably priced $125 or so.

 

IMO, what the Military wears would be a good choice. Leg Infantry walks a real lot; so what they are issued has to be good stuff.
Or they couldn't walk far.

 

IMO, what the Military wears would be a good choice. Leg Infantry walks a real lot; so what they are issued has to be good stuff.
Or they couldn't walk far.

I would disagree, there are far better options in the civilian world.

 

I haven't had any for years, but I used to have what was called a camp shoe. It was very much like a shoe that was low cut, but the leather and build was like that of a decent boot with good traction for woods/trails etc. I used to prefer them to hiking boots, but I haven't thought about them for years, just wear the hiking boots now. Hiking boots IMHO are kind of tricky, some are super light - and some are heavy and rubber waterproof, can be tricky to find ones to like. I got a cheap pair on Amazon 3 years ago, was just going to order the same pair, and they appear not to be made any more. For years, if I find a shoe or a boot, for that very reason - I'll tend to just go ahead and buy 2 or 3 pairs of whatever it is, cause they stop making whatever or change all the names and can't find them ever again. Like dust in the wind. SOL

 

The advantage of military boots is they have wider variety of sizes, widths. So if your feet are oddball size that is an advantage.
Low cut is comfortable in camp but I like 6 inch high for a little ankle support.
With 2 pair of boots you can alternate and let boots dry out. Better for feet and boots last longer.

 

whatever else you do - don't fall for the fantasy part of some preppers - misguided believe there'll be malls full of new SHTF clothing and you can scavage all the used from homes and off the dead ....

if you're on top of current shortage events - you already saw and maybe experienced the footwear shortage - coming up there'll be winter clothing shortages on limited items >>>> if a full scale SHTF cuts off the offshore supply chain - the timing of the seasonal supply could find the warehouses & stores completely empty of the next season's needs ....

today's US population is one of light work and leisure - reflects in their closets - don't expect to find outdoor/work wear that's suitable for working & living in SHTFtimes for the remainder of your life - better have it in your own stockpile and in quantity and quality .....

goes for all the repair & maintenance items needed - boot & shoe soles come loose - better have your Shoe Goo handy ....

 

You can use Flex-Seal on rubber boots,it actually lasts..

 

I started running/jogging in the mid 1970’s. Running on streets and sidewalks can chew up soles really fast. Our incomes were on the low side and the Nikes, Brooks and Adidas shoes were really expensive for us. Solution was to shoe-goo the heck out of them. Yes, shoe goo works .

 

I certainly have the brands of footwear I like and others I do not like. It has mainly to do with fit, but also has to do with wokeness. I will NEVER buy Nike.... and others like them.

They cost a fortune, but I am also a Brooks fan, because I am big, heavy and tall.

I have a pair of handmade Danner's that I absolutely love and low-top Merrill's fit best and have lasted me the longest for "trail kickers".


Also, I just refuse to pay full price. Eventually, everything goes on sale and I tend to buy 2-3 pair of shoes every Black Friday in November, even if I don't need them immediately. I get them for 40-60% off and they sit in storage until I need them. The Brooks Beast running shoes I buy are $160 msrp. I have purchased them for as little as $85 when I wait months for a huge sale.

 

I live very rural so can't get by with tennis shoes and sandals.....them days are long gone. I wear either good hiking boots or cowboy style boots like Ariats that are really comfortable. The Merrel Moab Mids were my favorites, I probably have gone through 8 pairs of those over the years. They don't come in a 8" size though (too many fox-tails and goatheads around here) so I took a chance on some boots on Amazon called Magnums. Military style, super comfortable, highly recommended.....

 

Yep, no tenny-runners or sandals here, either. Fox-tails, goatheads, and mesquite thorns, then add in fire ants, scorpions, and buzzworms/"nope ropes" (AKA rattlesnakes)

I usually get by with Oboz hiking shoes, because my feet are jacked, but I DID mind my pair of Ariat's at the back of the closet, which I use on the MC. I DO have a couple pair of Magnums - got them back in my animal control days. Only problem is when I try to use my orthotics in them, I can't get my feet into them. It's too bad, because they are REALLY good boots.

 

Whichever non-waterproof, low tops are on sale. Usually it's the Moab.

 

For boots, I like Timberland. They are great for Minnesota winters.

 

Last month I had to make a trip to Albuquerque to visit the VA there. While in town I happened across a 5.11 store and found a pair of boots that have become my "Go To" boots. They fit well and are really comfortable as well as durable. I'd highly recommend them especially if you don't want to mess with 8" boots: 5.11® A/T Mid Boot

 

Thank you all. I feel like some lowtop Moab's from Merrell are the thing.
I absolutely get the other ideas, but for me the idea is to not stand out. I think this sort of light hiker is every where in 2022, so no one would notice.
I do not know what the future holds, but I do not see my part of Central Wisconsin experiencing too much physical destruction, so a simple, protective shoe seems like a smart idea.
Thank you.

 

Yes...Merrill has solid footwear. Good choice. Own (have owned) several pairs. Typically mid ankle "hikers". Both Gortex and non.
My personal preferences are for Asics trail runners. Merrill hikers. Redwing work boots. and Danner serious long term outdoor activities/hunting etc. A good pair of Cordura Nylon Gaiters is always at hand, being able to convert any pair of shoes to a more "terrain usable" option.

 

I got a pair of new old stock German Border Guard boots. Heavy leather jackboots with a high quality thick rubber sole. The shaft of the boots are lined and over 1/8 inch thick. They are heavy but I have worn boots most of my life. Also have a couple pair of cowboy boots but if I needed just one pair it would be the border guard boots. I also have a pair of Rock side zip boots They are feather light.

 

Salomon hiking boots were already recommended and I love mine, but something to fill the gap between tennis shoes and boots is their trail runners and hiking shoes. If you go their site and get on their email list you can get crazy deals that pop up regularly. They last years of daily use. Especially the Gortex ones. Men's Hiking Shoes | Salomon

 

see this.. its not uncommon and its not because the footwear is the best money can buy. When a guy is given a option to buy better foot wear he does EVERY SINGLE TIME.. its just a fact. If you can't allocate for the best civilian boots then get what you can but don't assume that if its issued its legit. ITS NOT!!

 

Danner makes a solid boot if they fit you. They tend to run narrow. A boot I really like is Bates side zip ultralight duty boot. They are really light and airy. Seem to last well too. They aren't in the catagory of "last boot you'll ever buy" but they're a solid choice and not very pricey.

 

Not a narrow foot. When I was in kindergarten I had both of my feet smashed, and the resulting healing left me with what amount to flippers.

 

(sorry... got my answer reading through the posts...)

 

A lot of injuries from boots are problems with fit, not the quality of the boot. Some injuries are from not breaking in or caring for the boots properly, the wrong sox, or improper foot care. Most recruits have no clue how a boot is supposed to fit, so they end up with the size the box fitting thing says or their civilian size, instead of what they actually need. Widths, many have no clue, either. Then, they just get the same size unless they buy non-issue boots. Most brick-and-mortar places that sell the other boots will help get the correct size and width.

I wear my jungles until they fall apart and then pull out the next pair (bought a buttload of my size when I found the real things, NIB, cheap). I loved them for both military and law enforcement use, and still use for yardwork, woods, hiking, etc. The steel plates were an absolute foot saver on multiple occasions.

Otherwise, barefoot or cheap rubber water sandals/flip-flops. Need to get a pair of super warm winter boots one of these days.

I don't have civilian shoes because they don't fit (not wide enough, short enough, or flat enough).

 

Danner makes military boots and so they come in a variety of widths, more than their regular boot models.

 

One more last bit. Someone I think made a mention of buying the NON WATERPROOF Moab. I am wondering why that is.

 

I have non waterproof. If I think I need waterproofing when I am out I wear waterproof socks.

I like the breathability of my non waterproof Moab’s. My thinking is with waterproof shoes it keeps water out, but also traps sweat in making it hotter and can lead to an uncomfortable situation

To be clear I have never owned waterproof MOAB’s but was faced with the same thought process as you when I got mine and sharing how I came to my conclusion