Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

That's a great boot! I had leather ski boots (telemark) made by them - few shoes on the market today can match their quality and comfort.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

[quote=rmalarz]Dave, I've been wearing Merrell Moab boots for the last 14 years. I purchase mine at REI.

Tracht3

Solomon,oboz,merrill

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

I also recommend the Merrill Moab line of boots. I picked up a pair the slip-ons in 2014 at REI, got 4 years out of them. Great for short days hikes and very comfortable.

fvatcha

I recently bought a pair of Salomon hiking/trail running shoes from REI. They are very comfortable and fit very well. REI has a very good selection of hiking shoes and boots as well as a good return or exchange policy. They have a great variety of hiking socks as well, which add to the comfort of a well fitting shoe. Just bought a couple of pairs of Smartwool hiking socks which are thick, soft and well cushioned. Going back to buy a few more pairs.

smada2015

I bought Redwings, going on 4 years, great pair of boots. Still waterproof after 4 years of hiking.

msettanni

Ditto on the Limmers. Best boots money can buy as far as I'm concerned, but I have to quibble with Gene51 regarding the break-in. They come in light-weight, medium-weight and standard, but all are robust, all-leather boots that do require some break-in for most people. Peter Limmer himself recommends a specific process for break-in, but once you get through it you'll find they are the most comfortable, stable boots available. Customs are even better, but have a one to two-year wait. Buy a pair of Limmers and you'll never regret it. They also make a walking shoe which I also own and wear daily. Again, they are all leather, robust and extremely comfortable.

Harp Loc: Albany, GA

Take a look at ECCO. They are light & very comfortable. Amazon/Dillards or most major department stores or walking shoe shops have them. It's all I wear for all occasions!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

The different boot weights are all about the number and composition of the mid soles and the type of leather used on the uppers and the mid and standard use thicker vibram soles. He makes 4 different boots - standard, mid-weight, lightweight and ultra-lightweight.

The ultra-light boots use a 1 layer polyurethane rubber midsole and a 2.4mm nubuck upper , 6mm vibram sole, are are his softest boots.

The lightweight has two 2.5mm composition rubber midsole and a 2.8mm waxed rubuck upper and same sole.

The mid weight has a single 5.5mm rubber midsole, 3mm top grain chrome tanned upper, and an 8mm vibram sole

The Standard has the same midsole, 3.2mm top grain chrome tanned upper, and the same vibram sole.

I have only gotten the standard, and as I have said, even though it is his heaviest duty boot, I have used them without breaking them in, as Peter Limmer suggested Here:

http://www.limmerboot.com/Limmerfinaltextscreen.pdf

However I have discussed this with him and he said that he is not surprised, particularly because I hike regularly and my feet are already conditioned. I generally get to a great level of comfort within a day or two of use. Interestingly enough, my second pair felt exactly the same as my first pair. In the two year wait for my second pair, I used a pair of Fabiano #36 boots, and a pair of Pivetta Eigers, both of which were amazingly good boots but never fit me properly. I had to break them (and my feet) in all over again, and still didn't enjoy the fit. My entry into heavy boots were a 1969 vintage Lowa Civetta mountaineering boot, which I bought to use with crampons in winter - so I could hike in the Adirondacks and Catskills in NY, White and Mahoosuc mountains in NH. I had them for 3 years and though I had the right size, they never fully broke in.

But as I said in an earlier post - everyone's mileage may differ.

TJ Coelho

I have used Red Wing and Timberland. You must try them on in a store with the socks you intend to wear with them even if you intend to purchase them online. The only ones I have purchased online without trying them on first were LLBean boots, the ones with the rubber lowers, no LLBean store even close at the time. They fit fine.

Beemer

If you are near an REI, go there. They are knowledgeable, friendly and honest.

msettanni

No argument here Gene51. Limmer boots are, as you said and I dittoed, the best hiking boots made, period! And if the fit was so good you could wear them right out of the box without any hotspots, so much the better. But based on the testimonials of hundred of people online, that is not the common experience with Limmer boots, nor was it my experience. Most have to break them in, if only because that is the nature of the extremely robust and thus stiff leather Limmer uses. In any event, what does it matter? Whether there's a long break-in period, a short one, or none at all, they are worth whatever it takes to get them to the point they function as intended. Once there, the user (OP) will be one happy hiker/photographer/dancer. It's just great to still have a company in the world so passionate about their product that profit is secondary and quality is primary. I hope they live and work forever.