Meindl Boots

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Spokerider

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Boots, boots, I need to get me some boots...... I hunt terrain from the wet coastal rainforests to alpine scree, and anything in-between.


Looking for some info on Meindl boots, the Glockner's in particular. Anyone try these? Wondering how they are for ankle support, comfort, waterproofness, and durability.

Tried on some Hanwag Alaskan's but they were too narrow for my wide foot. Nice boot though, also a german made boot.

Thanks.
 
I have a wide foot and love Meindl boots. I have an old pair of Napal Pro's right now and a couple pairs of their lighter gortex boots. I'm Looking to buy a new pair of heavy hiking/hunting boot from them right now but the Glockner's aren't made big enough for me. The Canadian's look great but again are too small. I may get the Makalu Pro GTX as they do come in my size.
 
I have owned four pairs of meindls and the Canadas are by far my favorite hunting boot.They are very comfortable,offer great support even for carrying a heavy pack and are still totally waterproof after much use.
 
I know you aren't asking about other makers here, but don't overlook the La Sportiva's. They are Italian made and my first pair have been incredible so far.
I got the Nepal Evo's and am in the process of breaking them in for a week long back pack trip this fall.
Crazy Davey guided me to them as his Dad used them for Guiding hunters for years in the Yukon. They have alot of experience doing this sort of thing and the trophies to prove it so I do my best to listen to them. They are Gor Tex and have an adjustable tongue for optimum ankle support/comfort. They are nice and light and go way above your ankle unlike alot of other mountaineering boots I looked at.
They aren't cheap but if they last a Hunting Guide for three years of harsh abuse, mine will go ten I bet. Helps rationalizing dropping five brown dollars and a couple green ones too.

Hope this helps,
Noel
 
The Glockners are shorter and are a bit stiffer than the Canada's.
An overly stiff boot can cause problems with your feet and are generally clumsy for stalking or still hunting.

Short boots let sticks, dirt, and other blister makers in. Go Canada or Canada Pro or whatever Meindle calls the tall hunting boot these days.

I have owned Vasque, Danner, Rocky, and more but, none have kept my feet as happy as the Canada or Canada Pro.

Have a budd that is very happy with the La Sportiva's (I would hope so for the money spent!). Quality looks first rate.
For me they would be way to hot for early season (hot) hunting



Good luck
 
I have two pair of Meindl's currently...one pair with 400gr and a pair of Alaska hunters with 200gr thinsulate. Both have gore-tex membranes and have served me very well in a variety of terrain and temps. I handled a pair of Lowa Sheep Hunters a while back in a store and they sure seemed like a well made boot as well. Maybe worth a try if the hanwags or the Meindls don't work for ya.
 
boots

I've used the canadas for about 25 years or more. I love them. I did recently read a review that said the type of leather has changed lately and when it gets wet, it stretches a lot and loses it's structure. I can' t say one way or the other is that is true. The ones I have are great, but you may want to do some research into the leather issue.
 
Spokerider said:
Boots, boots, I need to get me some boots...... I hunt terrain from the wet coastal rainforests to alpine scree, and anything in-between.


Looking for some info on Meindl boots, the Glockner's in particular. Anyone try these? Wondering how they are for ankle support, comfort, waterproofness, and durability.

Tried on some Hanwag Alaskan's but they were too narrow for my wide foot. Nice boot though, also a german made boot.

Thanks.
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For the type of hunting you are asking about the Meindl Glockner will probably be a decent boot and I am sure you will be pretty happy with your choice.

I have owned three pairs of Meindl boots and not one of them were worth a s**t for the type of terrain I spend time in(mostly rock and high country and not just hunting). My first pair I got 18 years ago.

I spend allot of time in rock, there are much better boots out there for this than Meindl's. But for a hunter who wants a boot for all around hunting the Meindl's are a decent boot at a mid range price. But if you want a strictly mountain and high country boot there are much better choices out there.

IMO the good boot companies out there have started to loose thier integrity to weekender's and light weight backpackers. Light weight is great, but if it cant take a lickin it aint worth a s**t to me.
 
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Crazy Davey. which model Meindls did you have? what boot do you use now or recommend? You said mid range in price:eek: I thought mine were expensive at about $350 a pair:eek:
 
Thanks for all of your replies fellas, it's good to hear opinions of those who have walked a mile or two in their boots.....

I had bought the Hanwag Alaskan's via mail order, as I was told they were a wide boot, and I guess that they are, but alas, still not wide enough for my EEEE width, so they're going back.

I went down to Viberg Boots in Victoria today and was fitted for a custom insulated hunter's boot just for me and my feet:D They oughta hold up pretty well for bashing around the west coast. They're going to use waterbuffalo hide for the uppers and airbob soles at my request with 400 grams of thinsulate. The boots will be custom molded for my feet. Can't get that through mail order........ Not a mountain boot however, so I guess I'll be looking for a pair of something else in the future.

As good as the Meindl's seem, I gotta be able to try'em and walk in em for a while first, and no local shop carries them..........and I could be doing the shipping thing back and forth for months searching for the right fit.

Gatehouse, which custom boots are you getting?
 
There's a dealer in Red Deer, AB...As RoBak said if they are as good as the Desert Fox they must good..I've found the Fox's a bit wide but I have long narrow feet I guess..

They served me well overseas (Awesome on desert rocks & used them to hike Kilimanjaro.
 
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Spokerider said:
Thanks for all of your replies fellas, it's good to hear opinions of those who have walked a mile or two in their boots.....

I had bought the Hanwag Alaskan's via mail order, as I was told they were a wide boot, and I guess that they are, but alas, still not wide enough for my EEEE width, so they're going back.

I went down to Viberg Boots in Victoria today and was fitted for a custom insulated hunter's boot just for me and my feet:D They oughta hold up pretty well for bashing around the west coast. They're going to use waterbuffalo hide for the uppers and airbob soles at my request with 400 grams of thinsulate. The boots will be custom molded for my feet. Can't get that through mail order........ Not a mountain boot however, so I guess I'll be looking for a pair of something else in the future.

As good as the Meindl's seem, I gotta be able to try'em and walk in em for a while first, and no local shop carries them..........and I could be doing the shipping thing back and forth for months searching for the right fit.

Gatehouse, which custom boots are you getting?
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Spoke---I think you will be happy with Vibergs--It's what I Use. They are tough like the Whites smokejumpers of great fame. Also completely rebuildable.
 
Redfrog said:
Crazy Davey. which model Meindls did you have? what boot do you use now or recommend? You said mid range in price:eek: I thought mine were expensive at about $350 a pair:eek:
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I don't remember the model name they used back then when I had mine but they looked exactly like the Himalaya MFS:

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On the first two pairs I had the leather softened and stretched much to fast, and the soles didn't last very long at all. My father had the same experiances with these. The third pair I had about ten years ago, the sole started to come off after a few months of hard use. That was enough for me. Back then these were roughly $350 a pair.

I tried Salomon's Super Mountain Guide 9's, the outside and sole held up very well, the insides wore out in about a year. Received another pair on warranty, same thing happened. I paid about $400. These are no longer made, I think I know why.

The LA Sportiva Lhotse I used worked very well overall, lasted about two and a half years of hard mountain use. The new boot that shares this name is a little different now, not as durable IMO.

Two of my favorite brands of boots no longer make the models that have worked the best for me over the years. First is the LA Sportiva Nepal Extreme. These are probably one of the best boots I have ever used. $595 is what they cost back a few years ago when they still made them. My father used these for about his last ten years of guiding in NWT and the Yukon and says they are by far the best mountain boot he ever used and he has been through more boots than I have :eek:. They make a new version which is called the Nepal Evo GTX, very close to the old version, just a few minor changes that I guess make them a little lighter. I think these are just over $500 now, Noel would know for sure.

Second is the boots I am using now and am on my third pair, the Scarpa Cerro Torre. My first two pairs lasted about 3 years each. When I heard they were not going to make these any more I bought one last pair about two years ago. I am just in the process of breaking them in now to get them ready for the summer and fall. $500 per pair. When these are done I will probably go to the new style Nepal GTX as long as they dont change it anymore.

I have used so many mountaineering boots over the years, I lost count a long time ago. The most frustrating part is just when you find a good boot that works well and lasts a decent amount of time, they go and change it on you and then you are back at square one. :bangHead:
 
Must weigh in here! I have had several pairs of Danners, and found that they leak after about 1 year. I wear them solely for hunting season, and the occassional SAR callout! The good thing is that I send them back to Danner, and they replace the for nothing! I know also bought a pair of Meindl Island Pro's, and have worn them of a few very wet hunting trips , and so far so good! The folks at AJ Brooks told me I must wax them in order to meet the warranty. I found this stuff on the internet called Obenauf's Heavy Duty Leather Preservative. Very good stuff, made of bee's wax, propolis, and other stuff. Could't find it in Canada, but they have no problem shpiing it here! Read on another forum (Western Canada Hunting Forum) about the Canada Pro being made of a different leather that stretches when wet! There is a good read there about them if interested!
 
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