$200 logger boot shootout

[SawAddictedFarmer]

What makes a longer boot a longer boot?

Wow. Stupid Auto correct.

 

[Catbuster]

Wow. Stupid Auto correct.

It is what it is, don’t worry about it.



This is a logger boot… And it’s a overbuilt example at 10” tall with an inch thick sole. These are my main fire boots for doing engine/hand crew work.

But, in general, a logger boot is:

-Lace up
-Over 8” tall
-Has an aggressive lug sole
-A defined heel. Usually, it’s pretty tall. That heel does two things, dig into the ground while traveling downhill and balances your body going uphill.
-All leather upper construction

 

[Woodtroll]

It is what it is, don’t worry about it.

View attachment 469027

This is a logger boot… And it’s a overbuilt example at 10” tall with an inch thick sole. These are my main fire boots for doing engine/hand crew work.

But, in general, a logger boot is:

-Lace up
-Over 8” tall
-Has an aggressive lug sole
-A defined heel. Usually, it’s pretty tall. That heel does two things, dig into the ground while traveling downhill and balances your body going uphill.
-All leather upper construction

Nick's Hot Shots? I too prefer the 10" height. Used to wear White's but their quality control got really bad. Been very happy with the couple pair of Nick's I've owned - they are my daily wear. Not many folks left in our department wearing these any more, mostly us old guys. The young ones are wearing those "Fire Hiker" boots or whatever they call them, and then only when they're actually out on a wildland fire, but they're not for me.

I'm one of those who can't wear flat soles. After a while they kill my lower back, especially if I'm having to stand still a lot.

 

[Catbuster]

Nick's Hot Shots? I too prefer the 10" height. Used to wear White's but their quality control got really bad. Been very happy with the couple pair of Nick's I've owned - they are my daily wear. Not many folks left in our department wearing these any more, mostly us old guys. The young ones are wearing those "Fire Hiker" boots or whatever they call them, and then only when they're actually out on a wildland fire, but they're not for me.

I'm one of those who can't wear flat soles. After a while they kill my lower back, especially if I'm having to stand still a lot.

Frank’s Fire Commander. Nicks quality has kinda gone downhill under its current management. Frank Petrilli used to run Nicks boots and has his own shop now building boots the way Nicks did 10 years ago.

 

[Woodtroll]

Frank’s Fire Commander. Nicks quality has kinda gone downhill under its current management. Frank Petrilli used to run Nicks boots and has his own shop now building boots the way Nicks did 10 years ago.

I've heard Frank's were good but have never owned a pair.

 

[mainer_in_ak]

Good posts fellas. Coupla more little weird observations on all these $200 boots:

When I'm hiking cable, chokers and my Lewis winch down into a gully, most of a logger heel is sunken into the foliage and muck.

Also, lace-to-toe boots actually do a little better hiking weight down steep terrain! You get that extra lace, cinching down right behind that big toe joint.

Whearas the boots like the Thorogood and Redwing loggers, laces start further up the foot and don't lock the foot in as well.

The Chippewa, Danner and The Carolina Loggers are lace to toe.

This has been quite the learning experience. I don't think October will be the end of my ramblings on all these boots.

 

[SawAddictedFarmer]

It is what it is, don’t worry about it.

View attachment 469027

This is a logger boot… And it’s a overbuilt example at 10” tall with an inch thick sole. These are my main fire boots for doing engine/hand crew work.

But, in general, a logger boot is:

-Lace up
-Over 8” tall
-Has an aggressive lug sole
-A defined heel. Usually, it’s pretty tall. That heel does two things, dig into the ground while traveling downhill and balances your body going uphill.
-All leather upper construction

Thanks!!! Very helpful!

 

[IffykidMn]

It’s funny you say that, I’ve gone away from the high heel and arch support as the years go by. I think part of it comes from them being caught or rebar mats doing bridge work, another part being easier to run equipment in, and the last being that with an 8” boot the shaft not being stiff enough after break in to keep the ankle supported as much as I like, and the logger heel leaves a narrower platform than I want when I’m walking beams sometimes, let’s call it, way up there. In a 10” boot the heel’s fine, but frankly I’m too lazy to lace up that tall a boot if I really don’t have a need for that much boot. Kinda the same for sole thickness. I was big fan of the 1” sole stack from Frank’s Commander, now I go for something a little more flexible.

Still don’t like wedge soles. Probably never will. I like having a heel I can lock in.

I got away from the stacked or high heel years ago after severely sprained ankle, I liken them to a lesser degree to watching the ladies trying to walk in high heels but same concept.

 

[mainer_in_ak]

I got away from the stacked or high heel years ago after severely sprained ankle, I liken them to a lesser degree to watching the ladies trying to walk in high heels but same concept.

That's a bit short sighted. These are loggers boots and when cutting trees on steep or muddy terrain, the heel profile is there for a reason. They aren't the ideal boots for hard pack or construction or ankle problems.

The height-difference of a loggers heel directly compared to a low heel forestry boot of the same brand, averages 1/4"-1/2". But this is a logger boot test by a guy that cuts trees for money. If you cant wear them because of your ankle issues, I understand.

Danner Super Rainforest vs Danner Logger:

 

[mainer_in_ak]

Nother observation on most of these boots regarding lack of false tounge:

I wish logger boot manufacturers that dont include a false toungue would think otherwise. Most of these boots only include false toungue that is nothing more than ornament or a decoration.

Couple weeks ago i was wearing my Redwing logger boots while limbing a bunch of birch trees. One tree branch was under tension that I didn't see. As I cut the 4" diameter branch, the branch spit back and sprung onto the top of my foot. The sharp edge of the cut branch sprung faster than i could escape. Like a #2 foothold bites a wolf's paw. Very painful.

Uncle Glen, a retired southeast Alaska logger called it: "no kiltie"( what he calls em). Just because the various manufactures missed the memo, dont miss out on extra armor for the top of yer foot against saws, a dropped chunk of firewood or a branch under tension.

Don't really care about color miss match on the redwings but ordered some from nicks boots. Danner got the memo about a proper false tounge:

https://nicksboots.com/products/false-tongues?srsltid=AfmBOore479kE28ONnEQIyBIGkd1MDDmTaAuoFzcbDtxs6mBlRu3O2zA

 

[IffykidMn]

That's a bit short sighted. These are loggers boots and when cutting trees on steep or muddy terrain, the heel profile is there for a reason. They aren't the ideal boots for hard pack or construction or ankle problems.

The height-difference of a loggers heel directly compared to a low heel forestry boot of the same brand, averages 1/4"-1/2". But this is a logger boot test by a guy that cuts trees for money. If you cant wear them because of your ankle issues, I understand.

Danner Super Rainforest vs Danner Logger:

As someone who gets paid to cut trees for a living and non firewood related.
Your provided picture shows what I was expressing in the high heel womens shoes reference having a taller heel and narrower than footbed ratio which IMHO increases the risk of ankle rollover as it was what I was wearing 30-40years ago before rolling my ankles.

I do like the idea of the caulks, but much prefer something with taller replaceable screw in caulks but not something one finds in inexpensive $200 boots.

 

[mainer_in_ak]

As someone who gets paid to cut trees for a living and non firewood related.
Your provided picture shows what I was expressing in the high heel womens shoes reference having a taller heel and narrower than footbed ratio which IMHO increases the risk of ankle rollover as it was what I was wearing 30-40years ago before rolling my ankles.

I do like the idea of the caulks, but much prefer something with taller replaceable screw in caulks but not something one finds in inexpensive $200 boots.

I literally said that if you cant wear them because of your ankle issues that I understand. Why keep repeating yourself?

I dont know how flat or steep your terrain is but I live in the steep stuff. My timber sale for white spruce saw logs through the State of Alaska is on the tallest hill from Fairbanks to the Canadian border. As are my privately owned parcels of Alaska birch.

The typical logger style boot works well for me. I will continue sharing observations of each pair of boots logging my spruce timber sale for the mill and logging my birch for firewood sales.

Is the title of this thread confusing?
Again, if these boots dont work for you, i really dont know what else to say.

My Alaska DNR spruce sale down near the ravine, mid-hill and my privately owned birch acreage top left:

 

[davidwyby]

I only wear my high heels in the soft and steep stuff.

 

[davidwyby]

Might have to give the georgias a whirl.