Boots

[Andy Shoun]

the miccanyonboots have been renamed Joop boots in TAG country. The boots are French made for canyoneering. I don't know of a direct importer other than Mark Joop. Since the boots are made for canyoneering, it has me looking for other US suppliers of similar boots (5.10 Canyoneer, NRS workboot...) Similar qualities are needed for canyoneering and caving.

[graveleye]

ahh ok.. so the pic I got is the same as the joop-boots. They look pretty sturdy!

[Scott McCrea]

Andy mentioned the 5.10 Canyoneer and the NRS Workboot. I checked them out. Here's what I found:

5.10 Canyoneer: $59.00




NRS Workboot: $69.95

[nordicjw]

I have a pair of the NRS Workboot. I have been using them for about a year, no abrasion to them so far, never had cold feet. I wish the lugged sole was deeper, but it is a softer rubber so that helps.

[ooohfishy]

I have these:
Asolo Stynger GTX:

I love using these for hiking and backpacking...
Wondering if I can get by with this on my first (few?) caving experience(s)? Gore-Tex lining and I've climbed around big boulders (excellent) grip in Joshua Tree in these... BUT these rocks were dry...

I would love to upgrade to these:
Asolo Power Matic 200 Gore-Tex:


The above boots will set me back about $230. I know I'll get use out of them because I still backpack and do a lot of hiking... BUT should I bother bringing them to a caving experience????? I've NEVER owned leather boots before and I'm a bit confused because of them submerging in water... but there wasn't a "no leather boots" allowed rule for caving either...

I know for the water submerging everyone's recommending all rubber boots... but I'm more concerned about ankle support... plus I have big calves (for a woman) ;)

OH and another thing. I've never owned shoes with Vibram soles... do they REALLY make a huge difference? Grip wise?

Thanks!

[NZcaver]

OH and another thing. I've never owned shoes with Vibram soles... do they REALLY make a huge difference? Grip wise?

As I understand, the major advantage of Vibram soles is that they're hard-wearing - but they don't necessarily give better grip.

I've owned various Vibram-soled boots, and I've even taken a few of them caving. It's true the soles last a long time, but I find the soles quite "hard" - and in my opinion something with a little more flex will often give you better grip, especially in caves. Your experience may vary.

Personally, for the last few years I've been using a succession of CHEAP ($20) boots from Wal Mart. They're great - I just replace them every year of so. I started wearing these because my old waterproof Muck Boots don't "breathe" and are not comfortable to use in warm climate caves. Now I use the cheap boots when back in those cold and wet caves too - and on most of my hikes. With the help of Aqua Seal or Shoe Goo you can patch holes and prolong their lifespan a little. (Lava tubes can be particularly tough on boots - even expensive ones.) With some pairs I've needed to insert athletic insoles for extra cushioning, but others have been comfortable without them. And as an extra bonus in some delicate caves - some of these cheap boots even have non-marking soles.

[VACaver]

The cheap hiking boots from K-mart have worked well for me. Catch them at the right time when they're on sale for $9.95 and you can't beat it.

[graveleye]

my Joop boots got a good workout this weekend and I was glad to have them on my feet.

No, let me rephrase that. I was THANKFUL I was wearing them!!

[caverdoc]

I'm pretty happy with my Joop/Mic Canyon boots, have used them in really wet caves. In Lost Creek Siphon, MT which is very wet I used the NRS workboots (well, destroyed a pair...) in 2001-2002. Wore a pair of wetsuit booties under them and stayed warm in 35degree F water.

Of late I use the DPMS (direct pattern-molded sole) army boots left over from my service. They are about $20 at most surplus stores, give great support and FIT. The leather takes a while to dry out so I generally wear them in drier caves. After my two pair wear out in a couple years, I have some jungle boots to start destroying...

Dr J

[mabercrombie]

I have never worn them but I know people who swear by jungle boots.

[caverdoc]

I wore jungle boots for weeks at a time in 1986-88 while a Ranger at Ft. Benning, they break in so they're soft as moccasins. When you're speed-marching 12 miles over sand and asphalt that helps!
Cavers like them b/c they have drain eyelets to let water out and the canvas uppers dry faster than leather. You have to be careful that you get genuine GI boots, the cheap copies only last a couple trips.
DrJ

[JoeyS]

Doc, out of curiousity, where would one find genuine GI jungle boots and how much does the real pair cost? I've only seen the knock off version at our Nashville army navy surplus store (29.95 a pair or so mething like that).
I like my "bata" boots as you call them; did a 5 mile trip in Mammoth with em saturday, but not much support. I could try something else but if the GI jungles cost a Franklin, maybe I'll keep looking...

[BenC]

Real Deal GI Jungle boots are hard to find, they haven't been issued since the early 90's. Altama (the same ones who make the real deal ) still sell them for 60 bucks or so. If you are close to Nashville and you really want some drive up to Clarksville get on 41A and cruise the strip outside Ft Campbell. Since the new uniforms have been issued, Desert boots are the only thing authorized for wear ergo, pawn shops should have a good selection of Altamas. Just Don't get ripple soles or goodyears.

I really like these http://www.armynavysales.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=01&Product_Code=CF112&Category_Code=FOOT Just zip off the top and throw it away and you have canvas joop boots!

[Don Feathers]

Has anybody else tried Northerner Max boots? http://www.campmor.com sells them for 24.99. I've used several different brands of hiking boots (asolo, vasque and others) and really liked them, but for me the northerners have outperformed the other boots where I cave.(mostly TN & VA)They are not as stiff as hiking boots, but have much more support than the walley world rubber boots. Good cleated bottoms and the no slip grey part of the soles work better on wet rock. Like all boots they loose a little when the cleats get rounded off, but I don't miss constantly drying leather boots anymore.

[caverdoc]

If you google "wellco boots" (or http://www.wellco.com) you will find a company that makes many service-approved boots. You can also try ebay. I find great deals on boots at Einstein's, a Topeka surplus store. Bought a waterproof pair of desert boots by Wellco and an Edelweiss static 9.5mm rope for substantially less than the boots' retail.
Altama is the original company, but Wellco has license. They will have what is called "Panama soles" designed to grip well in mud. Lately they have stopped making them with a steel shank so they're even more comfortable. Originally the steel was designed to "protect" the foot from a mine blast but practical experience showed it just showered the foot with even more, secondary projectiles as the blast shattered it.
On a slight tangent, when I left the army in '93 I had 23 pair of boots! My time was in Special Forces, 3d Ranger Battalion and 2d Infantry Division in Korea. In SF and Rangers we were constantly being issued new uniforms and boots because our training tempo was so fierce that we destroyed them on a regular basis. I had about six sets of both black and green canvas jungle boots, multiple pairs of specialist mountain boots (on a mountain warfare team in Bavaria), urban combat boots (from Adidas, they finally went kaput last year), freefall parachutist boots (thick soles and no hooks to tangle in lines), dress "paratrooper" boots spit-shined to mirror gloss (and for inspection/dress green uniform wear ONLY!), etc
If I could lose 20lbs I'll have about 15 sets of BDU's to wear caving...
Dr K