Arxus or Meindl Owners Please Chime In

[TheWaypoint]

Now that my wife and I are empty nesters, I am going to splurge a little and upgrade to a quality boot.

Up to this point I have been buying and wearing Muck Arctic Pros for 20+ years. Before that I had some Irish Setter knee high boots.

I have never had a high end boot or worn a shorter hiking style boot. I think that would be lighter and more comfortable and probably make climbing the hill country of Indiana easier.

My feet sweat and freeze when it gets cold, but a quality pair of socks and mucks have made it bearable.

I am struggling to decide between the Arxus Primo Zip or the Primo LW. But, I really like the idea of a hiking style boot. I have decided I want to consider Meindl simply because I now know how beneficial and comfortable a wide toe box is and I guess they are the best for this, plus I have a wider foot.

In Meindl I am looking at the Eurolite Hunter 300 or the Comfort Fit Hunter 400. There is no place near me to even try a quality boot let alone Meindl.

I am in South Eastern Indiana, so Late October to November can typically have morning lows in the 20’s and highs ranging 30’s to 50’s.

If you have worn either of these brands I would love to get your input and recommendations.

Thanks and God bless.

 

[enkriss]

Order every boot wear them around the house and return what you don’t like. It’s the only way…

Meindls were comfortable till I was walking up steep inclines or kneeling down then they would pinch my toes really bad. They were not my favorite.

I can’t comment on the arxus/gum leaf boots never tried them. Been slumming it with lacrosse alpha burly and aeroheads for years.

 

[GeoFish]

I have always had a problem finding boots that fit.
I got the Comfort Fit uninsulated in size 14D and the 400's in size 14EE three years ago. With these and the Hollow boot socks I haven't had a issue with cold feet.
Best boots i have ever owned.
I also have the Comfort Fit walkers. Finally found a shoe that would last.

 

[HuntMeister]

I like my Meindls. I started with a pair of perfekt hikers back in 2006. They lasted around 15 years and many miles out west hunting Elk, Mulies, and Antelopes as well as here in Indiana hunting deer.
The replacements for those are what I think are the comfort fit hiker, I would say the same as the old perfekt hiker. I really like the cork footbed and I wore those boots comfortably down into the mid 20's.
I also bought a pair of what I think are now the comfort fit hunter 400 and I now use them when the temps get down below 30. They have the cork footbed as well.
Like has been said, just buy and try at home and send what you don't like back.

 

[TheWaypoint]

I have always had a problem finding boots that fit.
I got the Comfort Fit uninsulated in size 14D and the 400's in size 14EE three years ago. With these and the Hollow boot socks I haven't had a issue with cold feet.
Best boots i have ever owned.
I also have the Comfort Fit walkers. Finally found a shoe that would last.

My Hoka’s have been good shoes but they are wore out now…may give those walkers a look!

 

[TheWaypoint]

Order every boot wear them around the house and return what you don’t like. It’s the only way…

Meindls were comfortable till I was walking up steep inclines or kneeling down then they would pinch my toes really bad. They were not my favorite.

I can’t comment on the arxus/gum leaf boots never tried them. Been slumming it with lacrosse alpha burly and aeroheads for years.

I didn’t figure they would do that after they have been on your feet.

 

[Zero One Actual]

I have always had a problem finding boots that fit.
I got the Comfort Fit uninsulated in size 14D and the 400's in size 14EE three years ago. With these and the Hollow boot socks I haven't had a issue with cold feet.
Best boots i have ever owned.
I also have the Comfort Fit walkers. Finally found a shoe that would last.

Same here. 14wides. The Meindls are great if you have wide feet and need that width. If you don’t need the width, then do what @enkriss said and order several pair and return what you don’t like.

 

[TheWaypoint]

Updated with a poll. I’m curious what folks prefer and find most useful and why.

 

[krub6b]

Uninsulated hikers with thick wool socks keep my feet much warmer than insulated rubber boots ever did. Boot blankets can't even fix rubber boots for me.

 

[enkriss]

It’s a trade off. I do prefer the comfort and support of a hiking/hunting lace up. However if I can only afford to get one or the other it would be rubber boots. Sometimes they are needed. Creek crossing, swamps any wetness they are my go to. Also, ticks have a harder time climbing rubber boots and I have always had more ticks on me when using lace ups.

 

[bigmike23]

I have Gumleafs, which are extremely similar to Arxus boots.

It's tough to pick just 1, but if only 1 probably rubbers. There's tons of swamps and creek crossings round me.

There's so many boots round nowadays that are 7in tall or so. I can't believe how popular they are. Do people literally never run into water?

7in boots would catastrophically limit my hunting area.

 

[TheWaypoint]

Agree, I don’t understand short boots either. As badly as I want hiking boots, I often end up crossing water or trenching through muck. But I do have Wiggy’s waders in my pack but it’s not always convenient to put on wader to cross a 15” deep stream from 30 seconds.

Question about your Gumleaf boots. One of the reasons I want hiking boots is because trying to sneak through the timber in heavy muck boots is really difficult. You can’t hardly feel anything under your feet.

Do you find the sole of the Gumleaf’s to be pliable enough for navigating the timber quietly?

 

[enkriss]

Agree, I don’t understand short boots either. As badly as I want hiking boots, I often end up crossing water or trenching through muck. But I do have Wiggy’s waders in my pack but it’s not always convenient to put on wader to cross a 15” deep stream from 30 seconds.

Question about your Gumleaf boots. One of the reasons I want hiking boots is because trying to sneak through the timber in heavy muck boots is really difficult. You can’t hardly feel anything under your feet.

Do you find the sole of the Gumleaf’s to be pliable enough for navigating the timber quietly?

You ever get boots?

 

[TheWaypoint]

You ever get boots?

No and I’m still torn. A guy asked me to scout a new property he got permission on yesterday. First thing I always do scouting a new property is walk the creeks. Had my mucks on and was thinking how I really want a hiking style but I always end up in water.

But, I’m still eye-balling the Meindl Eurolight Hunter 300’s. I’ll have to decide soon.

 

[Topdog]

Anyone who walks miles a day and will be wearing a heavy pack at times, in varying terrain, a good quality mountain boot is a must if you think anything of your feet and joints, but for most whitetail hunters they’re over kill, if you’ve never had problems yet with foot or ankle issues chances are you don’t need them, but they don’t hurt anything either. Pick your poison, every rubber boot I’ve owned will yes keep you dry in swamps and small creek crossings, but do not breathe and my feet end up being soaked with sweat, defeats the purpose of wearing them if you ask me, good quality mountain boots breathe and will be waterproof for most ankle deep quick water crossings, wet grass, etc… for anything more wet than that I break out the Wiggy’s. I’ve yet to find a light hiking boot that does anything well worth a crap so I just wear my Lowa Tibets for everything, even summer scouting, they’re heavy, built like a tank, but work, I’ve owned 5 or 6 pair of Lowa Tibets and all have performed like they’re supposed to. These new Lacrosse rubber boots suck compared to what we had as kids, they don’t last for me, I plan on buying a pair of Arxus boots this summer at a show where I can try them on and get the right size, for normal whitetail hunts in farm country or small wood lots, plowing my driveway in the winter, I like a good rubber boot, the best I’ve found so far is my Muck Artic Pro for that scenario, and honestly I have no complaints with them yet, for I how I use them. And fyi I’ve owned one pair of Meindl’s and they were complete garbage, but…. they were China or wherever the cheaper Meindl’s are made, not the real deal, the best boots are all made here, USA, or Germany, Italy, etc… half priced copy cats, Asian made junk, sold by places like Bass Pro have always been a waste of money for me.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Now that my wife and I are empty nesters, I am going to splurge a little and upgrade to a quality boot.

Up to this point I have been buying and wearing Muck Arctic Pros for 20+ years. Before that I had some Irish Setter knee high boots.

I have never had a high end boot or worn a shorter hiking style boot. I think that would be lighter and more comfortable and probably make climbing the hill country of Indiana easier.

My feet sweat and freeze when it gets cold, but a quality pair of socks and mucks have made it bearable.

I am struggling to decide between the Arxus Primo Zip or the Primo LW. But, I really like the idea of a hiking style boot. I have decided I want to consider Meindl simply because I now know how beneficial and comfortable a wide toe box is and I guess they are the best for this, plus I have a wider foot.

In Meindl I am looking at the Eurolite Hunter 300 or the Comfort Fit Hunter 400. There is no place near me to even try a quality boot let alone Meindl.

I am in South Eastern Indiana, so Late October to November can typically have morning lows in the 20’s and highs ranging 30’s to 50’s.

If you have worn either of these brands I would love to get your input and recommendations.

Thanks and God bless.

I have both Gumleaf Viking and Arxus Nord Zip.
The viking are a great boot. for warmer weather but for the toe box is a little tight in my boot-length size. The next size up would open up the toe box but then it would be too long of a boot. The profile of the upper boot and sole is nice and slim. It's a great rubber boot for sneaking, they definitely are not "clunky" feeling when walking in brush. One observation...the little strip of "tubing" around the top edge of the boot may not be durable, mine shows some wear. I like to replace the insoles in all my boots with Superfeet insoles but the Viking's insoles are sewn in, no way to remove them. Consequently, I can't use Superfeet in the Viking.

I decided to try the Arxus when I needed to replace my "utility" rubber boots...the ones I use for chores, shed hunting, etc. So I now use the Viking for non-hunting and my Arxus are my boot strictly for hunting. I love the zip, easy on and off and can ventilate if I want. The sole is a little more stiff than the Gumleaf but it's not too bad. The boots do not seem clunky or bulky.
I do have one issue with them. There is an inner lining in the Achilles area and it kinda squeaks a little when I walk after a little sweat moisture forms. It's easily remedied with a little sprinkle of powder. Baking soda works but I use a tiny amount of activated carbon powder and it fixes the squeak and also adds some odor absorption.

As good as rubber boot are at eliminating ground odor, They do still have a bit of a "chimney" effect which can leave odor on foliage, etc that come in contact below the knee. I have a strict regime for how I handle my boots and I gotta say that I never have busts from ground odor. Deer do smell ground disturbance but there is never any type of alarm. Having odor free boots opened up a lot of options for stand placement and access routes. I used to avoid walking across trails in order to access stands. It often limited me from putting stands where they really needed to be. Such is an issue when hunting small properties with limited access routes. Ground odor can ruin a season.

One more thing, as good as merino socks are, alpaca socks are that much better. My feet seldom get really cold unless I'm hunting in the mid-teens or colder.

Arxus and Gumleaf boots border on being stupid expensive but if cared for properly, they should easily outlast the crappy rubber boots that are the other choice that seem to be the only thing available. I got tired of spending $150 every couple of years for rubber boots that don't hold up.
My Arxus are only 1 year old so at this point, I can't comment on their durability.

 

[enkriss]

I have been looking at the pioneer nord wides. They are 15% still having issue pulling the trigger…

If you are inbetween sizes would you get the larger or smaller?

 

[Allegheny Tom]

I have been looking at the pioneer nord wides. They are 15% still having issue pulling the trigger…

If you are inbetween sizes would you get the larger or smaller?

Tough call. I'm in-between sizes on just about everything I wear.
Call Arxus and you'll most likely talk to Jack Butler (I think he's the owner?). Jack is super helpful and patient. He's very careful to make sure you are getting the right boot, but like any footwear you'll have to wear them INDOORS to determine if the size is correct. My 1st pair of Vikings were too large. Jack generously sent me a return paid postage label. I have zero complaints with his customer service.

 

[enkriss]

Tough call. I'm in-between sizes on just about everything I wear.
Call Arxus and you'll most likely talk to Jack Butler (I think he's the owner?). Jack is super helpful and patient. He's very careful to make sure you are getting the right boot, but like any footwear you'll have to wear them INDOORS to determine if the size is correct. My 1st pair of Vikings were too large. Jack generously sent me a return paid postage label. I have zero complaints with his customer service.

He told me to buy both and return the one that doesn’t fit.

 

[enkriss]

the pioneer nord wide calves came today. Super nice boots… fit well seem like excellent quality construction. Can’t wait to put them to use