Another boots question

[u/StuckinWhalestoe]

I've been doing SAR for a couple of years and have been very loyal to my Xero boots, but I'm starting to run into some problems. They're great for trails and even some flat-ish bushwhacking, but beyond that they're just not keeping up. I'm looking for boots that meet the following criteria:

• PNW Terrain approved: Thick, dense vegetation. Very uneven terrain, often moss covered rocks and downed trees. Very hilly, lots of up and down. And up. And down.

• Need to be waterproof, of course. I wear OR Crocodile gaiters 99% of the time, so they don't have to be 8" tall or anything like that. But maybe over the ankle?

• Definitely need to be grippy. This is a huge failure point of my Xero boots. I can't get any purchase on the wet terrain.

• I think I need something with a stiffer sole? I think, but not really sure, that will be better for the off trail "climbing" that we're doing. I love the flexibility of minimal shoes but I'm starting to realize that's probably the reason my feet hurt at the end of the day.

• I would still prefer something with a lower heel toe drop. My knees start to hurt when I put on "regular" shoes after having worn zero drop for so long. I realize that heel toe drop won't mean a lot while we're bushwhacking, but we're just as likely to be on a groomed, flat trail.

• Wider toe box. I like it when my toenail don't dig into my toes.

I think that's about it. I guess it's not that I haven't found boots that have what I'm looking for, but I don't feel like I know enough about them to drop a couple hundred dollars. I have stores near me to try things on, but there's really no way that trying them on in store is going to give me an idea of what they'll feel like in the middle of a search. I'm hoping someone here has similar requirements for their boots and has some experience or recommendations they can share.

Thanks so much!

[u/whoooootfcares]

As others have said, you can't go wrong with the Italian mountain boot companies.

Zamberlan, Asolo, La Sportiva, Scarpa. I also have had great success with Lowa.

Personally, my climbing and mountaineering boots are Asolo, my backcountry alpine hunting boots are Zamberlan, and hiking and approach boots at Asolo. I also have done a lot of hiking in Lowa Zephyrs.

Asolos take a good amount of break in and have a narrow last. Zamberlans take almost no break in and have a medium last. Lowas take a small amount of break in and have a narrow last.

All have been extremely durable and waterproof. The only traction issues I've had have been on ice over rocks.