Kenetrek vs. Meindl vs. Lowa vs. ?

npaden

npaden

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Okay, I'm going to buy a new pair of boots. I think I'm over the sticker shock and willing to pay the price. Now I need to pull the trigger.

My previous experience with boots was to always buy the cheap ones for $40 and then end up wearing running shoes because they hurt my feet.

2 years ago I upgraded to a pair of Irish Setter Shadow Trek's (9") and a pair of Rocky Stalker's (8"). They were a big improvement, but the Irish Setters leaked and tore up pretty quickly and the Rocky's did pretty well, but are nearing the end of thier useful life.

I typically hunt in warmer climates and really don't need an insulated boot. I'm looking hard at the Kenetrek Hardscrabble hiker but curious how much different the 7" height would be than the 8" and 9" boots I've had for the last 2 years. Also looking at the Meindl Perfect (also 7")and Denali (9").

I've read up on the Lowa's and I think I want a stiffer boot than they sound like they are, but maybe I don't know any better because I've always had cheap boots. How much stiffer are the Kenetek and Meindl's going to be than the Irish Setters and Rocky's I have? My only complaints about the Rocky's are a tiny bit of slippage and getting a few hot spots on 8 mile plus off trail days. A 2 year life is a little short, but not totally unreasonable. I would guess I put 100 miles a year on them with most of that being off trail.

I upgraded from a Academy store brand backpack to an Eberlestock J107 this year so I might as well get the boots to pack out that load. I'll be going on 2 elk hunts plus a mule deer and an antelope hunt this year, plus some scouting in August and some getting in shape hikes as well so I'll probably put more than 100 miles on whatever boots I buy this year.

Any input is appreciated.

Thanks, Nathan
 
I guess I need to add Hanwag to the list after reading through Hardcore Outdoors reviews one more time.

Their Mountain Light seems like it might be what I'm looking for other than it sounds like they are kind of heavy even though they have light in their name. I'm afraid the Cheyenne may not be sturdy enough, it looks like of low for ankle support for me in my size 13's.
 
If you're worried about ankle support you may want to look at the Kenetrek Mountain Extreme. They come in a non-insulated as well as an insulated. I've been using the insulated version the last two years and love them.
 
Nathan,
I've had 2 pairs of Meindls and currently have the Lowa Sheep Hunter. I've had good luck with these two insulated boots, with the Lowas having more support. I too was looking for good non-insulated boots and finally bought a pair of Lathrop and Sons Alaska GTX. I've been wearing these for about a month and they are outstanding. Excellent support and fit. I wear a 13 and bought a 14 to allow for thick sox. Call them at
618-544-8782 and ask for "Dusty". These are great boots, reasonably priced and Dusty will take care of your needes.
MTShasta
 
The Hanwag Alaska does look like a pretty good all around boot and the price is not bad at all.

They also are available in 1/2 sizes even past size 13 so that would give me the option of getting a 13 1/2 which isn't available in most boots.
 
Go with the uninsulated Kenetrek Mountain Extreme!! Awesome boot with unbelievable ankle support. I've hunted with mine for 2 years in WY and CO, as well as here at home in AL.....I wouldn't trade them for any other boot.
 
It sounds like I really couldn't go wrong with any of these boots, especially considering where I'm coming from never owning a pair of really good boots in the past.

These boots are all twice as expensive as anything I've ever bought before, but they would probably all last twice as long and be twice as comfortable.

Right now I'm down to the Kenetrek Mountain Extreme NI - $359 at a few different places, the Hanwag Alaskan - $281 at Lathrop; or the Meindel Denali - $260 at Cabelas.
 
If you want support and lots of protection from rock on the balls of your feet Lowa Tibets have worked extremely well for me. They are lighter than some of the other boots mentioned above and still offer loads of support for steep, rocky terrain.

I tried a pair of Kenetreks and returned them. I felt like I was falling all over the place and was super unstable on loose rock. The heels and soles are so thick that it felt like I was standing on stilts. They had hardly any padding and the balls of my feet were on fire the first time I wore them. It may have been the kenetrek model I tried? I have been super impressed w/my Tibets. Everyone's feet are a little different so what works for me may not be the best for you.
 
Muddying the waters even further I talked with a friend who puts several hundred miles on his feet each year hunting and doing contract trail maintenance and he swears by his Asolo boots.

He specifically recomended the TPS 520 GV.

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Asolo-TPS-520-GV-Backpacking-Boot-Mens/ASO0023M.html?CMP_ID=PD_GOO001&CP=Google&CMP=KNC-Google&mv_pc=r101&gcid=S2000x134&keyword=&s_kwcid=TC|5484|asolo%20520||S|b|4598987655

Anyone here even heard of Asolo boots? Looks like they are made in Romania.
 
i have the meindl alaska hunter. they are great boots. throw away the insole and get some superfeet insoles. they are stiff, but offer great support.
 
My new favorite boot is the Kenetrek Mtn Safari. I picked them up cheap and like them better than my Kenetrek Mountain Extreme Non Insulated. If you are patient, Kenetrek has a sale room on their web site where they sell returns, one of a kinds, etc. for cheap.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jun-23-10 AT 02:08PM (MST)[p]Okay guys, this isn't working. I originally posted trying to decide between 2 or 3 boots and now I'm having to try to decide between 7 or 8 different boots!!

I think whatever I choose will be a HUGE step up from my Rocky Stalkers and Irish Setter Shadow Trek boots that I have now though.

I'm kind of back to the Meindl Perfect. It is one of the cheapest of the ones I've been looking at at $200 and it has a 4.8 rating out of 5.0 with 158 reviews at Cabelas. Some of the reviews that gave it a poor rating must have been a mistake as well as they say great things about the boot and then give it a 1 star rating.

The Hanwag Alaskan is still on the radar at $281 and the Lowa Ranger is now the radar at $280. Also haven't ruled out the Meindl Denali at $260. (Of course I haven't really ruled out any of the for sure yet!)

Waterproof is important to me so the Kenetrek Mountain Safari is probably not going to make the short list.
 
Check out the Kenetrek Hardscrabble Light. Waterproof, light, and great for early season hunting. Great great boot!!! There Mountain Extreme are great as well. I also have a pair of Hanwag Mountain Lights from Lathrop & Sons and with their custom foot block they are by far and away the best fitting boots I have ever had. Good luck.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jun-23-10 AT 03:46PM (MST)[p]You've got it narrowed down to some great boots. Fit should be the main concern now, and they'll all feel a little different to you. Buy from a place that allows easy returns and wear several different boots around the house for a few days. That isn't the greatest test, but it will show you the differences between the boots. Cabelas and Zappos are great for returns that way. If you can, get out your credit card and get several of the top candidates lined up and try them all, and then send back the ones you don't like or didn't fit right.

I've tried a lot of the boots on your list. You'll be happy with any of them. My favorites have been the Meindls. I've got the Alaskan Hunters, the Denalis and the Perfekts now. They are all different, and all great- it just depends on what kind of hunting and hiking you are going to be doing.

Don't let it drive you crazy. They are all way better than what you have now. Find one that fits and wear 'em out.

Here's a pic of the Meindls (perfekt, denali and AH) with the vasque sundowner and super hiker after they got done getting greased up.


Meindls.jpg
 
++1 on Lowa boots.I have owned both the sheep hunter and the tibet. Go with the tibet if you don't want the insulation. They are the same boot with the exception of the insultion and the tibet is about 1 inch shorter on the upper. I have never had to break a pair in.They are awesome right out of the box. I also heard great things about kennetrek and meindl but the Lowas have been so awesome, I haven't had a good reason to switch. Good luck. Your on the right path.
 
I prefer the meindls as well. I tried the hanwag alaska gtx's and they felt narrow to me. The meindl perfeckts have a narrow heal but a wide toe box. I wear em at work.... I'm a surveyor and I probably cover more ground than most. I get a solid year and a half out of them wearing them to work every day and hunting the backcountry as well. Just ordered my third pair.

"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
 
FWIW, I tried the Perfekt's and they just did not fit my feet comfortably. I ended up buying the uninsulated Denali's and they are the best boot I have ever owned or worn and I come from a long history of Danner devotion. You cannot go wrong with any mentioned. Just make sure you try them on to see how they fit your feet before you buy , if that is possible. If some of the higher end boot makers take molds of your feet to make your boots I would think that would be your best approach. Best of luck!
BB
 
npaden

You have read my reviews so you probably already know what I am going to say but it bears repeating.

I am very impressed and happy with my various Lowa and Hanwag boots but I also have a set of Asolos on my favorites list. Meindl makes a good boot and they might work for you but they just don't do it for me.

The point is, you have to try them on and spend a little time in them. Try on as many as you can then narrow it down to as as many as you can afford then take them home and wear them for an entrie day or two around the house with the same socks you plan to wear. Keep them in salable condition so you can return the ones that don't make the grade.

You are looking at top notch, high quality boots so now you just need to get down to the specific model that works best for you. At that point it isn't about what anybody else thinks, it is all about which model works for your intended purpose and what fits your funny, ugly, very unique feet.

Just don't get them too small. Remember that feet will shrink and swell as much as a full size range over the course of a trip so make sure you can handle the change with lacing and socks.

The best boots are the ones that are made well with quality materials by a reputable company that stands behind them and fit you properly.

Good luck and tell us what happens.

Wade
www.HardcoreOutdoor.com
 
Very good selection. Having been in the boot industry in the past (and work as a tester on occasion now) the key to a good boot is in the midsole. The Lowa, Hanwag, and new Schnee's (e.g. Beartooth) use PU and not EVA in the midsole. Most of the Italians (e.g. Asolo, Kenetrek (made in Italy), Zamberlan, Crispi, etc.) use EVA, Schnee's (also made in Italy) being an exception. EVA has great initial cushion and feels great (loved the feel of Kenetreks), but due to the "air bubble" construction of the material, it breaks down very fast and doesn't compare in terms of durability with most of the Germans and Schnee's. Also, the Meindl boots you get in the USA at Cabela's today don't come close to the ones sold in Europe. The Cabela's Meindl are the cheaper, lower quality Meindls that use cheaper materials, more stitching and EVA (which is cheaper than PU). The ones sold in Europe are easily compared with Lowa and Hanwag. The reason is cost, because Cabel'as wants to keep a certain price point. HUGE disservice to the American hunter AND Meindl. Congrats on the great boots...don't forget to get some great insoles!
 
Wade,

Are the ones you reviewed 6" or 8"? In the technical information on the review you say they are 8", but then at the bottom you say that they are coming out with an 8" this fall.

I have to admit that saving $80 might make the 6" a lot more acceptable! ;)
 
Lathrop & Sons tried to bring in the German Meindls to augment their outstanding Hanwag line with another high quality boot that was available in widths. The German made Meindsl, the good ones. Cabelas got wind of it and pressured Meindl to kill the deal.

Bummer, huh?

Wade
www.HardcoreOutdoor.com
 
paden

Sorry about the descrepancy. I will tighten that up a little. The Rangers I evaluated are between 6 and 7 inches. The new Ranger Hi is a true 8 inch boot.

Wade
www.HardcoreOutdoor.com
 
Big time. I spoke with Meindl when I was at the IWA in Germany this last March to see if they would bring them in, but the Cabela's pressure was too big. Hard to walk away from that money. I tried to convince them to bring the better ones in under the cover of it being an outdoor/hiking/backpacking line, but they seemed too nervous. Who knows, maybe one day.
 
If you want a killer deal keep watching for your size and brand on Sierra Trading. They generally have codes for free shipping and additional 20% off their already great prices. I bought a pair of Lowa Tibets last year and about 2/3% off!
 
Good info, guys.

If you have any more info on what corners are cut making the americanized meindls, I'd like to see it. I've worn them for at least ten years now and have never had one problem with any of the boots. I do use superfeet in all of them, if that makes a difference.

At one time I had a Lowa Tibet on one foot and a Meindl Alakan Hunter on the other. Those two boots, to my eyes anyway, look like twins, other than the name on the side. Throw the Hanwag in there as well. I'd assume that there are differences I can't see- is there anything besides the type of midsole? They sure looked and felt like practically the same thing. I went with the Meindl because to me it had a better fit. If there is something that actually makes a difference in the boot, I must have missed it.

I've put many hundreds of miles on my Meindls, and never had a problem or even one bit of complaint with any of them. Perfectly durable, sturdy, and just what I needed. What do the euro Meindls do or have that is improved? With such good luck with the ones I've had, I'm just wondering if it would be worth it to get the euros, when I've never noticed anything on mine that I would change.

Once I wear out another pair, I'll probably try those hanwags and see how they compare.
 
If you bought the Meindls 10 years ago, then they're not the same boots they sell today. Those first imports were just like the REALLY good ones sold in Europe, but to get a better price point once the dollar tanked, the choice was made to go with the cheaper, less durable Meindls. Don't get me wrong, even the Meindls Cabela's sells today are much better than any Rocky, Setter, Danner, etc. They just don't stack up in quality to Lowa, Hanwag, or the new Schnee's.
 
Well, the Lowas are going back and I'm keeping the Meindls that I tried on at Cabelas yesterday. I wanted to keep the Lowas and they do appear to be better quality (ringlets, thicker leather, etc.), but the Meindls just fit me better.

The other problem was the Ranger with the 6 1/2" height just wasn't going to work for me. The 8" height on the Meindl Denali just feels better and the boot overall seemed to fit better. The shocker for me was that they didn't have a regular in size 13 so I tried on a 13 wide and it felt great. Not sure if the Meindl's run narrow or what, but I'm usually not a wide.

Here are the boots side by side.
meindl_vs_lowa.jpg


Here's the Lowa Ranger by itself:
Lowa_Ranger.jpg


And the Meindl Denali by itself:
meindl_denali.jpg


When you add in sales tax and everything the Meindl Denali is actually $75 more than the Lowa Ranger and I really wanted to like the Ranger, but I decided to go with the boot that felt the best.

The Lowa would probably have broken in fine, but that 6 1/2" height just caught me right in the front of my shin and I didn't like the feel. It was a much stiffer boot that probably means it would last longer, but I'll just have to find out.

If I'm cussing them in a couple years I'll have to try out the Lowas or Hanwags then.

Thanks for all the input everyone. Hopefully the Meindl's aren't that bad, I'm probably not near as hard on boots as most of you guys are. I'm thinking I'll be putting between 150 and 200 miles on them before the end of the year though.

If I think about it I'll post some updates in the future on how they are working for me. First test will be on vacation in Montana coming up in early August.
 
At that level of boot, fit has to take priority over everything else.

I did mention the new Lowa Ranger Hi GTX right? An 8 inch version of the Rangers? They are out and available this month.

And yes, I think the Meindls do tend to run a touch narrow and the Lowas pretty close to true if there is such a thing. Fortunately, both are offered in Wide.

Good luck. Keep 'em cleaned and dressed properly and they should last a long time.

Wade
www.HardcoreOutdoor.com
 
Yeah, I know the Ranger is coming out in an 8" boot soon, that's why they were running the old model on sale right now.

I guess I need to get something to put on the leather. I haven't ever had leather boots before. All my others were synthetic.
 
I use a soft bristle brush and water to clean the crud off and then let them drip dry in the shade. After a couple of days when they are completely dry I hit them with a good coat or two of Camp Dry Silicone spray and that is it.

Wade
www.HardcoreOutdoor.com
 
Well, after thinking about it some more I decided to go ahead and order a pair of Hanwag Alaskan GTX's to make sure I check out all the options. I had kind of ruled them out because they are so expensive, but really after sales tax on the boots at Cabelas the Hanwags are only about $20 - $25 more depending on how much shipping costs end up.

I talked to Dusty on the phone and he wanted me to take some measurements on some of my other boots to make sure they sent the right sized boot for me so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to order them since I'm out of town today.
 
They ran a touch narrow on me but they are fantastic boots and Dusty will take great care of you. The lacing system is the best in the business and the insoles are outstanding.

Good luck with them. Interested to hear what you think.

Wade
www.HardcoreOutdoor.com
 
Listen to Wade, call Lathrop and Sons and give the Hanwag boots a shot.

Listen to Wade, GET WHAT FITS! As you get into this price range don't go with something just to save $25.

Again, make sure it fits. Don't buy something just because your friend has it or said it was good. All these boots are pretty good. Fit should trump all.
 
Well, I got the Hanwags in from Lathrop & Sons and they are a REALLY nice boot. Dusty worked with me and even took some measurements to make sure they sent me out the right sized boot.

Here's a picture of them in size 13.

hanwag.jpg


Here it is next to the Meindl Denali.

http://padens.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album07/meindl_vs_hanwag.jpg[img]

Again, I thought the Hanwag was a better boot than the Meindl just based on the feel and the looks of it. However, the Meindl fit better than the Hanwag. I tried taking the footbed out of the Meindl and putting it in the Hanwag and that helped quite a bit and I realize that I will probably not end up using the factory footbeds anyway, but the Hanwag had some slight slipping in the heel and the Meindl just fits much better.

The crazy thing is the Meindl is actually slightly bigger than the Hanwag, but the Meindl fit better.

I hate to send the Hanwag back, but I guess that's what I'm going to do. The Meindl really feels like it was custom made for my feet.

Hopefully it will hold up for a few years of successful hunting.
 
Again, fit has to be the deciding factor and at this level of boot, differences are fairly subtle. I would expect that if you take care of them the Meindls will perform well for you and last you at least a couple of seasons.

Good luck.

Wade
www.HardcoreOutdoor.com
 
Okay, the Hanwags are on their way back to Lathrop and Sons.

Before I sent them back I pulled them out one more time and compared them to the Meindl. On a side by side comparison I did notice that the Meindl was a lighter boot. In size 13, the Hanwag Alaskan weighed in at 4lbs 13 ounces for the pair and the Meindl Denali weighed in at 4lbs 4 1/2 ounces for the pair, a full 1/2 pound lighter. I realize lightweight isn't the most important feature in a good hiking boot, but I figured it isn't going to hurt either.

I'll get to work on breaking these in now that the final decision has been made for sure this time, no more boots to try out unless someone sends them to me for free! ;-)

By the time it is all said and done it ended up costing close to $50 to try on the 2 boots that I sent back, but hopefully it will be worth it to know that I have the best fitting pair on my feet this fall.
 
Well, I got my first hike in with my new boots.

The bad news is that I got a blister on my left heel on a short 3 mile hike! I thought they fit perfectly, but I'm getting a little slippage in the heel now. I laced them up pretty tight, I guess I could go to a thicker sock, but I really don't want to do that because I'll be wearing them in some pretty warm temperatures.

Any trick on tightening up a boot so the heel doesn't slip?

Thanks, Nathan
 
Probably my last update on this post.

Had the Meindl Denalis out for a week elk hunting in Wyoming.

NO BLISTERS!

Turns out the big problem was moisture and I started wearing some sock liners and that seems to have made a big difference. Also the weather was much cooler so my feet didn't sweat.

Packed out a couple 100+ lb loads in heavy downfall and brush with no issues.

n_elk_packout.jpg


Feet felt great the entire time.
 

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