So if the world/US went tits up, what footwear (brand and style) would you want to wear to walk/hike/run through the apocolypse?

Michael Yon, I believe, had a comment on this.

He covered a lot of demonstrations and fracases as a journalist, and noticed that you always see shoes and sneakers lying on the ground at the scene when sometime serious goes down involving a lot of people.

He recommended always wearing serious boots of some sort, so you don't get separated from your footwear if someone steps on your feet, or you turn your ankle, etc. (You can also lose low-cut shoes and sneakers in snow, mud, high water, etc.)

My guess is that old fashioned Army boots wouldn't be too bad to have on.

Bates Durashock temperate weather. Wearing them right now. Best pair of boots I’ve ever owned.

Limmer & Son's Lightweights.

Bombproof.

If you can fold the upper of your boot down onto the main body - its useless. If you can peel the shank of the boot backwards and touch the tongue - useless. This describes about 90% of the "tactical-military style" boots I have encountered in my lifetime.

I also like Bates, specifically the GX-4 "mid"-boot. A nice compromise of various types. Functional in a "situation" but can be used as an everyday street shoe.

quote:

Originally posted by RoverSig:
Michael Yon, I believe, had a comment on this. ...

Yeah. Flip-flops are a hard, nope.

Danner Ft. Lewis

Lowa Zephyr GTX Mid
https://www.lowaboots.com/mens...phyr-gtx-mid-tf-wolf

They are ugly as all hell but super comfortable, very very durable, lightweight but sturdy. While the soles and side lugs are ugly those side lugs do an awesome job of protecting the sides of your feet in rocky terrain.

Something that is comfortable to you and you know will work.

For me, I will go with my Keen boots. I have had a few pairs. Used them on both day hikes and multiday backpacking trips. The large toe box keeps my feet comfortable and they are not heavy.

I own both waterproof and non-waterproof. Unless it's cold or just a quick day hike I go with the non-waterproof. If it's supposed to rain on a multi-day trip I go non-waterproof. My experience is if it rains your boots are getting wet inside. Waterproof boots just don't dry out in the outdoors and you're stuck with wet boots for the rest of the trip.

Lowa Renegade GTX or equivalent for the SHTF.

Some leather Goodyear welted boots for the post apocalypse.

I've got a pair of these:



Zamberlan Vioz GTX

I've had some unexpected multi-day hikes in them, and am quite pleased with the performance. They live in my get-home bag now, but I routinely wear them on site visits at work.

I have danners, and matterhorns, bogs, and lacrosse boots...but when I think I'm going to need strong, sturdy, warm & reliable boots I grab my zamberlans.

My experience with boots is to avoid any molded soles and go with the Goodyear welted sewn construction. If it's really an apocalypse glue wont be available for long, but a smith will be doing well in barter or trade. He can't fix glued or molded import junk, regardless how how durable it might seem to last. Repairing it will need to be compatible with hand sewn techniques.

Five years in that will be all there is, and the shoemakers/saddlemakers then in business - locally - will follow those older types of construction.

That just leaves the few American suppliers who bid DOD contracts. There are practically no other shoe or boot makers in the US.

Went to Ebay to see whats available Milsurp and the Danner Marine boots are readily available in brown for 69.99. Just saying. Some are used - it'e ebay - and what is it with sellers of used boots not even cleaning the soles? Worn, ok, plenty of new out there, but still encrusted with mud from the last FTX? Really? Guys being guys I guess.

Get them at a low enough price and you could afford to resole them, point being, they aren't. Hmm. There is that thing where once out you get rid of all those things. I am. Finally. None of my boots fit me now so there is that.

If you are looking I've seen new issue boots in DAV etc as a donation. Goes to the above. And those are even less.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tirod,

Asolo Drifter Evo GV Hiking Boots

I’ve had a few pairs. I wear these daily. Best boots ever.

I’m not gonna be walking back to anywhere…

I wear Salomon Quest boots as my everyday footwear, and Original Swat 6" safety toes as work boots for over 20 years. I'm comfortable with either one if I had to grab a pair and go. Wool hiking socks makes a huge difference to me also.

I’m certainly no expert in footwear, but “best boot” probably depends at least a little on the person wearing them. For instance I have wide feet and not every manufacturer makes wide width shoes.

I have been wearing New Balance hiking boots for a couple years now and I spend a lot of time on my feet walking a lot of miles and they are probably the best boots I’ve owned. Are they the absolute greatest combat boot ever? I don’t know, but they check all the boxes for me personally so that’s what I’ll stick with.

I’ll tell you that they have held up extremely well too.

I have two pair of Zamberlan boots. 4014 and 5011. Mrs DF and the Jr Dfs all have Redwing Logger boots. One of the daughter-in-law DFs has the same Logger boots. I got her those for Christmas.

Lowa Zephyr GTX Task Force boots

Lowa Renegade's are also quite nice also when I want something a bit 'everyday' looking.

Approach shoes also work well for built-up environments where a boot can be too much, this works well when you need to be the Grayman, and fitting-in and being inconspicuous is necessary. I like LaSportiva's Boulder-X, a long-time classic in this area.

Danner