1

I go for ankle protection becasuse of old football injuries. Cross post on the mountaineering hiking section there is some good operators on that site.

Edited by: redwhitewine

2

Im not familiar with your boots but depending on what you are doing I would recomend a heavy duty boot with good ankel support.

If you are doing the Great Walks then you can get away with any old things, seen plenty of people on them in Teva sandles, although you will be frowned upon if wearing those. The back country tracks though require sterner stuff. Again, depending on where you go you have to be prepared for un-bridged river crossings and mud so your boots might stay permanently wet. You could also be on some very rough rocky "goat-tracks" where you'll need the ankel support and resistance to scree and other sharp rocks.

Try not and buy boots here in NZ. They are very expensive, so bring them from home.

3

Thank you both for the reply.

my plan is to do mostly great walks, but also 2-3 treks ranked as tramping traks by the DOC, and hence my dilemma.

4

If your "boots" are these things (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/vega-gtx-p184547) then I would not wear them on anything other than on a couple of hour bush walks or a Great Walk. No ankle support, no scree resistance, and have the laughable "fully waterproof" claim... yeah, waterproof except for the big hole in the top where water will pore in!

These are not suitable for back country tramping tracks.

5

yeah, those aren't boots, those are a walking shoe.

I wear high, full leather boots. Not so much for the ankle support, as I've never had much trouble with it, but when you're tramping in NZ you do end up going through a fair bit of mud and water. Having high boots that really are waterproof is such a bonus. Good boots and thick wool socks will take you anywhere.

I definitely recommend reconsidering if you are going to be doing anything like the Tongariro crossing, which has loads of that scree stuff yarmoss mentioned. Good boots on that stuff makes a massive difference.

depending what time of year it is, you may not mind having wet muddy feet and socks, but I'd prefer not to. Also only you know how strong your ankels are and how prone you might be to twisting. NZ tramping tracks (that aren't great walks) are known for being some of the roughest tracks in the world. It's a strange thought when you've grown up here, but having walked lots of other tracks around the world it is true. Even supposedly really challenging tracks like the GR20 in Corsica have nothing on NZ tracks (barring the rock climbing sections!)

6

my boots are the mid version which are higher than the regular Vega's. however, I will change them to something more robust as you guys suggest.

thanks !!

7

Do you know what tracks you are going on? We might be able to give you advice as to what to expect if that will help you with your boot selection.

8

hey yarmoss,

my initial list comprises of:
rees dart
able tasman
gillespie pass
milford sound
routebern or Kepler
mount cook (i'm not sure what the two day trek is called)

in the north island so far only decided on tongariro crossing, any suggestions?
cheers

9

North Island: lake waikaremoana, if you're not there at a peak time,
and
any of the tracks in the whirinaki forest.

rees dart & gillespie would probably require something fairly solid, wouldn't it yarmoss?
ATNP is piss easy (I wouldn't do it, myself, can you kayak it instead?)
Milford Sound is a highway
routeburn or kepler would probably need something pretty solid too.

tongariro crossing, like I said before, has a stretch of loose rock/scree/scorier in the middle section, and you'll want something that will keep the scorier out of your shoes (do you wear gaiters?) and something with good solid tread.

10

Rees/Dart has river crossings so you'll get wet boots on this one. If you do the Cascade Saddle side trip then you'll be heading up a glacial valley with scree and lots of glacier tailings. You'll want good boots for this trip.

Able Tasman is low altitude forest walks and beaches. You can get away with hiking shoes here.

Gillespie Pass is my favourite track in NZ. The climb over the actual pass is 500m straight up and down again, and there are numerous stream and river crossings along the route. If you don't use the jetboat or start at the Blue Pools then you'll have to wade across the Makarora right at the start! You'll want good boots for this trip. If you can spare an additional 3 days then I highly recommend tagging on a trip up the Wilkin to the 3 lakes up at its source (this is on top of visiting Crucible Lake). Simply gorgeous terrain up there. Makes a fantastic 5-6 day round trip if you catch a jet boat out (6-7 days if you walk the whole way).

By Milford Sound do you mean the Milford Track? Its a Great Walk, you'll be fine in hiking shoes (unless it snows!). Likewise on the Routeburn and Kepler. The Routeburn is the best in my opinion as it has the most varied terrain.

At Mt Cook I guess you mean the climb up to Mueller Hut. I havnt done it myself but its all glacial terrain around there. You'll want good boots.

Tongariro will need good boots as you are on volcanic scoria, despite being a Great Walk. Mt Taranaki has some good walks on it too.

Edited by: yarmoss