KENETREK MOUNTAIN EXTREME 400

[SJB358]

Ordered a pair of these from Sierra Trading Post. They are running about 400.00 from about everywhere else on line, but STP had them for 236 delivered. You need to enter a KEY CODE in order to get the additional 30% off while you are checking out, but they seemed like a really good price and I have wanted to try Kennetrek's for awhile after seeing them in Scheels. I am going to be hunting in Idaho during the 15 Oct season this year, so I wanted a good boot to handle the clod and still be a good boot with a ruck on my back. Check them out if you need new boots. Just an FYI, they are meant for wearing, they are mountain boots and super still, meant to carry weight in rugged terrain.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/kenetr ... rFamily=01

Here is the Keycode to enter to get the additional 30% off SITESMART412

http://www.kenetrek.com/prodinfo.asp?number=KE-420-400

I kinda hate not having them till I get home, but I should be able to break them in pretty quick. Looking forward to wearing them to honest. After seeing them at Scheels, I knew they would be rugged boots meant for hard use. They will be a good compliment to my Asolo's.

 

[6mm Remington]

Scotty I have read lots of good stories and revues of these Kenetrek boots. I hope you like them and they work out for you!

 

[IdahoCTD]

I have a pair of Mendle's that I bought about a year ago that look almost identical. They don't break in easy and I still wouldn't consider them broken in. They are stiff but have plenty of ankle support.

 

[6mm Remington]

I have a pair of Mendle's that I bought about a year ago that look almost identical. They don't break in easy and I still wouldn't consider them broken in. They are stiff but have plenty of ankle support.

I have a friend who bought a pair of Mehdle's, wore them for quite a while, and just didn't like them. He said they hurt his feet and he never got used to them. Have you been happy with yours? I guess like anything, not all feet are going to fit/work in all boots.

 

[IdahoCTD]

I have to make sure I lace them up right or the tongue digs into my shin. Other then that they fit OK. Prior to these I've used Danner's almost exclusively but their quality has seriously gone down hill since the late 90's. The Danner's fit my feet better but buying a 200.00+ pair of boots every other year because they leak and fall apart is a lot IMO.

 

[SJB358]

I have a pair of Mendle's that I bought about a year ago that look almost identical. They don't break in easy and I still wouldn't consider them broken in. They are stiff but have plenty of ankle support.

I have a friend who bought a pair of Mehdle's, wore them for quite a while, and just didn't like them. He said they hurt his feet and he never got used to them. Have you been happy with yours? I guess like anything, not all feet are going to fit/work in all boots.

That is kinda what I meant by they were stiff. Heavy duty mountaineering boots should be a little stiff and feel pretty rugged as they are meant to hold lots of weight and last. Boots that are comfortable are good for flatland, but you need support in the mountains and rocks. Boots that flex are no good for carrying alot of weight on your back. Plus, the more they flex and "feel comfortable" the faster they will wear out. I am hoping the Kenetreks are all of the boots my Asolo 520's are. Those are my favorite so far.

 

[Elkman]

sbj358 says
Heavy duty mountaineering boots should be a little stiff and feel pretty rugged as they are meant to hold lots of weight and last. Boots that are comfortable are good for flatland, but you need support in the mountains and rocks. Boots that flex are no good for carrying alot of weight on your back. Plus, the more they flex and "feel comfortable" the faster they will wear out. I am hoping the Kenetreks are all of the boots my Asolo 520's are. Those are my favorite so far.

I have a pair of "La Sportiva" Glaciers, that I wear for the really tough ground. They took two seasons to break in, and are heavy and stiff. But you can walk straight up hills on your toes and not stretch out your hamstrings. Mountain boots are just that, "mountain boots".

 

[DrMike]

They look like a pretty good boot, Scotty. I also tried a pair of Meindl boots, but finally returned them.

 

[Songdog]

I wear Lowa Sheep Hunter GTX boots for my serious backpacking work. My wife threw a fit when I dropped $250 on them. 5 years and a few miles later... they're still going strong. Any of the good boots Asolo, Kenetrek, Lowa... are a savvy investment... as long as they fit well.

 

[SJB358]

I wear Lowa Sheep Hunter GTX boots for my serious backpacking work. My wife threw a fit when I dropped $250 on them. 5 years and a few miles later... they're still going strong. Any of the good boots Asolo, Kenetrek, Lowa... are a savvy investment... as long as they fit well.

Bingo, I learned as a young Marine. All the high speed gear in the world doesn't do a bit of good if your feet can't get you to the fight! Boots are a piece of gear I will not compromise on. They are more important than cartridge, bullet, and the rifle!

 

[Songdog]

Bingo, I learned as a young Marine. All the high speed gear in the world doesn't do a bit of good if your feet can't get you to the fight! Boots are a piece of gear I will not compromise on. They are more important than cartridge, bullet, and the rifle!

Great glass..... and great boots are paramount..... the rest is arbitrary.

 

[EOD Diver]

Good deal Scotty and thanks for the heads up. Let me know what you think of 'em after a season and knocking around in Idaho. I tried some on and liked the way they fit. I've got a skinny/narrow low volume girl foot and have a hell of a time finding a boot that fits. I went with the asolo experts when they were discontinuing them and they went on sale. It's got the lite 3 footbed, which I consider a little too stiff for really stepping it out. Wife's got some asolo tps boots, that she got at schnee's in MT, and loves 'em. Again, thanks for the heads up and keep us posted.
Joe

 

[SJB358]

No worries Joe, I sure will. Asolo's are still my favorite. 520's are the heat in my eyes, tough and very good for climbing.

 

[6mm Remington]

I've got a skinny/narrow low volume girl foot and have a hell of a time finding a boot that fits. Joe

:lol: :lol: Me too! I'm 6'3" and I wear a size 9, well actually it's now a 9 1/2 because my arches have fallen a bit, but still those can probably be considered skinny low volume girly feet!

These are Danner Trophy's. Either these or the Danner Canadian model boots are still very good I feel, but then they are about the only Danner boot still being made in the USA. They got a pretty good workout this last fall on my mountain goat hunt! Look at those sissy little old feet. No wonder I have balance issues. I don't have enough platform under me!
David

 

[SJB358]

but still those can probably be considered skinny low volume girly feet!

Yup, I agree! :wink:

 

[IdahoCTD]

I have the opposite problem. I have really wide feet which is just as hard to find boots for.

 

[DrMike]

David,

I refuse to snicker about your girly feet. I commend you for being sufficiently secure to admit your condition. You're definitely a "take charge" sort of guy.

The Danners are great boots, however.

 

[EOD Diver]

Ha! Since we're all swappin' sea stories and making confessions, the truth is that I'm rolling a W's (that's womens', not wide) size 11 in Asolos. It's the same damn thing as a M's 9, but more narrow. At least, that's what I tell myself when I start feeling sad and embarrassed. David, I feel your pain, only a little less I guess, as I'm only 5'10".The funny thing is how I came to this realization. The last two years I put in a lot of miles up and down bow hunting elk. I tried Scarpas and two Zamberlans and was having to duct tape over the half dollar sized holes in my heels just to get around the mountain. Nothing seemed to work. I bummed my wife's Asolos (without permission mind you) and they fit like a glove. I mistakenly thought I wanted something a little stiffer for carrying my 65lb pack way back in there and went with the Asolo Expert GVs, which were on sale due to being discontinued. Well, believe you me, that inflexible lite 3 foot bed is not the best for knocking out the miles and the toe box doesn't have near as much room as my wife's boots. The worst part is that my wife still gives me hell about "stealing" her boots, my girl foot, and my disappointment about my own pair of boots after all the research I did. Sometimes, you just can't win.
Joe

 

[6mm Remington]

David,

I refuse to snicker about your girly feet. I commend you for being sufficiently secure to admit your condition. You're definitely a "take charge" sort of guy.

The Danners are great boots, however.

Mike and Joe you should see some of the crashes I have had! Pretty spectacular even if I have to say so myself! Sometimes they aren't even that horrible, just really awful for the person involved in it, mainly me! You saw the pictures where I am this big stud packing my buddies ram down off the mountain. We had changed packs for a bit as of course he wanted to haul the head and cape.

I take it for about a 1/4 mile and tell him that his pack is much too heavy, you need to put some more weight into mine! We stop and take one front quarter out of his pack so all he has is the head and cape, tenderloins, and one front quarter. We load his quarter into my pack. I now have both rear quarters, one front shoulder. Now I'm not so sure this was a good idea after all because it feels like I now have about 100 pounds in the darn thing, or more.

We head down the hill, which is nice because every bit of it is downhill to the truck. Only bad thing is the last half mile is really steep, rocky, and nasty. I made it off the mountain without a single spill, a couple near crashes, but I did not go down! That in itself is a miracle. We hit the bottom and find a spring and we take our packs off and fill up our water bottles and drink as much as we can as we are dying of thirst.

We finish up drinking and put our packs on and assist each other to our feet as they both are pretty heavy. I bet I didn't take six steps and I stepped in this big hole that was covered with grass. I went down on my side and onto my back and was laying there on the ground on my back like a turtle that could not get up. I was not about to unstrap the pack and get in a good position and put it on again. He was laughing so hard he was crying. I rolled over onto my stomach with much effort, got up onto my hands and knees, and stood up. All the while I'm getting so much support from him that it was just amazing. All of this took place at the bottom of the hill and only about 1/2 mile from the truck, on flat ground! :shock: :mrgreen:
David

 

[EOD Diver]

David, that's a funny damn story. Two years ago, I got the bright idea that I'd mountain bike into the back country with a full 10 day load out. The wife was really worried when I about killed myself pedaling away from the truck towards the trail head. That was an interesting hunt that I managed to live through and looking back on it, I'm really glad I didn't fill out my tag that week!
Joe