On a side note, did you encounter any of those notorious mountain lions & were you prepared in case of contact?.... I wonder what that 55lb pack contained?

No lions but I was prepared for them I went hiking with a guy that I could outrun :D

I brought a lot of water (5 L) some chow, a Jetboil stove, MSR titanium Kettle, instant cider and coco, a Kifaru Parahootch, heavyweight wool top and windbreaker, extra socks, panel marker, folding saw, strobe, lighter, Gerber multi tool, cellphone, medi kit, Miox and water filter, camera with extra batteries, space blanket - that's about it I think.

Dan

I love this shit.

Do the Parahootch and the hammock, next, brother.

:)

Java-
I split the thread off to a new thread for your hammock review. It deserved its own thread as it was a very good review. I didn't want it to become lost in this Bates boot thread. :cool:
-Saca



Link to new thread: Review of hammock http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...ead.php?t=5552

Good morning Mel, This kind of relates to boots and I'll keep this hijack short (Sorry Java Guy). First, I thought you had that hardened look about you Mel.

I spent 10 seasons logging in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, this was back when I was a skinny kid at 220 lbs. I wrapped many chokers around logs, mostly on the high lead and skyline sides. This has to be some of the hardest work on the planet. I was a rigging slinger, worked as a high climber and ran cat. I also worked chasing the landing for the high lead and sky line which was a 9 hour a day contest trying to stay out from under flying logs and cables while keeping all the rigging straight.
In the middle of all the above I ran just over two ton of welding rod for that logging operation both in repair and fabrication of components of heavy equipment.

This was my true start in working steel.

Logging boots, we called "corks" or caulked boots cost around 200 dollars and would last about 6 months at best. They hurt like hell to break in, all hard leather construction. Some of the new boots had "squeak heal" in them. Every time the owner stepped down he would squeak from the pain.

This is what caused me to pay attention in Java's thread here. Maybe Java is too tough to notice his feet. I'll find him some logging "shoes" to try out and see if he notices any difference. I doubt it.

Oh yeah, Your "little woman" is right.

Thanks, Mr. Harsey. That was a neat glimpse into the logging world.

TJG, great review and pics!

I'm impressed by what i read. Great review.

Out of curiosity, did you hate your oakley boots? I have a couple pairs i picked up, and i'm not impressed. I was just wondering if these bates boots remedy the SERIOUS problems I have seen in my oakley "Assault Boots".

I'll be on the lookout for these if they are as good as you say. The autolocking lace thing is an awesome idea.

Doug

Java, great review and pics! I wish I coulda stayed out in Vegas a couple more days and went hiking with you. I gotta get me a pair of those Bates and see how they work for me ;) .

Bill, sounds like you did it all in the logging business! Last pair of boots I used while setting chokers, were some caulked Danners from Hoffman Boots in Idaho. I started working with them right out of the box, with no break in, and never had a problem with hot spots or blisters. Great pair of boots, and Hoffman Boots has outstanding customer service.

Mel

Next time you are out here I'd be up for a hike, but only if you loan me an "Express" to play w/ :D

Fellow Logger, SIR Mel, No I did not do it all logging. No one wanted me to run shovel (log loader). I'd pick up a big log, start it moving sideways fast and fail to find the swing brakes, hit the 110 foot tower on the yarder and rung it like a bell that could be heard for 10 miles. This caused much bad langauge and no small amount of ill will, especially if someone had to dive off the edge of the landing to keep from getting kilt. I also scattered the whole rigging crew on a couple occasions so they asked me to go do something else.

Danners are the best shoes made for the woods, I couldn't afford them while logging (or so I'd thought) so I bought West Coast boots. You have to be extra tough to have worn those.

No - I don't hate them at all. It's just that they are a super hyped up pair of sneakers with lots of room for improvement. These Bates are the boots for me from now on.

Dan

...
 

Anyone know the correct name for these boots?

Ive looked on the Net and find a few options for Bates boots... do they have a particular model / part number Java?

Dan, That sounds like good thinking and would sure be an unusual test of the shoes.

In Oregon we have a very healthy population of mountain lions. I live in the middle of one of those "population centers" and have the big kitty kitties close to the house on occasion.

After reviewing a few livestock kill scenes by the cats I've noted that they go ahead and kill as much as they want and I suspect they get the fastest ones (sheeps, calves and last year, a young horse) first so they don't get away.

Let the other guy run first to see what the cat does.

Where or when are these going on the market? I've looked on the bates footware web site but to no avail.