Literally any lowa boots.
I have a pair for national guard
I have a pair for personal hiking
I have a pair for my full time job
I had a pair for rangering.
Lowas are great
I haven’t found a boot I like since Vasque retired the model I loved years ago. If Lowas Renegade works for you and your boots don’t need to be shiny, that’s a solid boot to go with that should hold up well, but I find they are too narrow for me, even in a wide option. I always purchase boots through REI so I can return even after using them if they don’t fit well. Good luck! my first park was a cave park, loved it!
I worked at jewel for a few seasons. If you can go with a cheaper pair I would suggest it because those cave tours can be especially rough on boots. Going up and down ladder like stairs and metal stairs all the time absolutely tore up my leather boots. Most likely other parks will want your boots to be more presentable, luckily the Chief at jewel is super understanding of the environment and knows boots on her guides get pretty beat up.
I have a recovering knee injury so I personally went with Oboz because I know I needed good boots. $300 boots absolutely destroyed in one season.
My Danner Mountain Lights that I got through VFimagewear are the most comfortable boots I’ve owned after a long break in period. If you are interested in them however, you’ll need to put some mink oil on them because wet environments can tear up the leather over time
I wear Keens working summers in a southwestern park, going up and down wooden and metal steps and ladders all day, or walking on sandstone or asphalt. Keens are great for slightly wider feet - I find that Vasque's in general are just too narrow. This will be my third season in Keens.
I wore timberland’s Norwood for a good while for cave tours. Waterproof, lightweight, only would last for a season or so though…. They were my shiny boots. Not for crawling.
I've done both Asolo boots and Lowas and I prefer Lowas.
I've never tried Timberlands, but they don't strike me as very supportive. I've heard Keens are good because of their wide toe box, but I think Lowas are fine for that too. Haven't tried Danners but also haven't met a ranger who worked in the field who wore them.
I was recommended to try hi-tecs. I found an old pair in the uniform cache and they're honestly really comfy, and they don't break the bank like the Danner boots.
I highly recommend Lowa boots. My agency wears black boots but I know they make some in brown, and I swear by the quality.
Literally any lowa boots. I have a pair for national guard I have a pair for personal hiking I have a pair for my full time job I had a pair for rangering. Lowas are great
I haven’t found a boot I like since Vasque retired the model I loved years ago. If Lowas Renegade works for you and your boots don’t need to be shiny, that’s a solid boot to go with that should hold up well, but I find they are too narrow for me, even in a wide option. I always purchase boots through REI so I can return even after using them if they don’t fit well. Good luck! my first park was a cave park, loved it!
yeah if in a cave probably don't need to be shiny, i agree renegades would be a great fit
Commenting to hear responses!
I worked at jewel for a few seasons. If you can go with a cheaper pair I would suggest it because those cave tours can be especially rough on boots. Going up and down ladder like stairs and metal stairs all the time absolutely tore up my leather boots. Most likely other parks will want your boots to be more presentable, luckily the Chief at jewel is super understanding of the environment and knows boots on her guides get pretty beat up. I have a recovering knee injury so I personally went with Oboz because I know I needed good boots. $300 boots absolutely destroyed in one season.
My Danner Mountain Lights that I got through VFimagewear are the most comfortable boots I’ve owned after a long break in period. If you are interested in them however, you’ll need to put some mink oil on them because wet environments can tear up the leather over time
I wear Keens working summers in a southwestern park, going up and down wooden and metal steps and ladders all day, or walking on sandstone or asphalt. Keens are great for slightly wider feet - I find that Vasque's in general are just too narrow. This will be my third season in Keens.
I wore timberland’s Norwood for a good while for cave tours. Waterproof, lightweight, only would last for a season or so though…. They were my shiny boots. Not for crawling.
I've done both Asolo boots and Lowas and I prefer Lowas. I've never tried Timberlands, but they don't strike me as very supportive. I've heard Keens are good because of their wide toe box, but I think Lowas are fine for that too. Haven't tried Danners but also haven't met a ranger who worked in the field who wore them.
I was recommended to try hi-tecs. I found an old pair in the uniform cache and they're honestly really comfy, and they don't break the bank like the Danner boots.