Cole Haan Air Hunter – $154.32*
($228) | Allen Edmonds Cortina – $199.00 ($350)
*You’ll need to use the code BOOTSALE at checkout to get this price from Endless.
These are not the bland hikers you wore in the Scouts. Instead, they’re a blend of rugged enough for a short hike construction (maybe longer?) and drool worthy style details like that plaid around the top of the CH.
It’s hard to imagine that either pair would get you from Maine to Georgia on the Appalachian trail. But if you’re the type who wants a pair of go-to, good looking boots worthy of pre-dinner hikes and relaxed trips to the mountains, then maybe these are worth a shot.
The Cole Haan
The Allen Edmonds look incredible. Made in Italy, simple, and can be recrafted. Marked down as part of the ongoing Allen Edmonds Holiday Select Styles Sale.
Time to choose. If you had to pick one, which would you lace up and wear? Or is it Gore-Tex or nothing for you? Leave your take below…
Left: The Cole Haan
Gore-tex for me. They look nice, but they won’t get me through Philmont.
I’d get the AE’s and some red laces like on the Cole Haan.
cole haan for me. I dig the red laces and the plaid detail
I like the styling of the Cole Haan better.
AE’s not available on endless.com
These boots look like you are trying to hard. I like both brands for what they are, but outdoor/hiking brands, they are not. I’d stick with a brand like Vasque that gets you both rugged style and supreme function.
I agree. I will stick with my Vasque Sundowners.
Sierra Trading Post always has some very nice Italian made hiking boots that are the real deal compared to the “posers” above – I send the comment that these boots will not make it 2 weeks thru Philmont or a summer as a Ranger….
What’s pornography? You know it when you see it, right?
Ditto for a certain category of clothing that borrows the style that comes from high function and then removes the function. I have no idea if either of these boots fit that criteria without picking them up and looking them over, but they’re certainly suspect.
Because I can’t articulate a hard-and-fast rule for the line I hate seeing crossed, I’m hesitant even to declare the line exists, but it does. Carhartts on the back of someone who never works outdoors; the MHS on Brooklyn sidewalks (below Pendleton hunting jacks); “motorcycle” jackets with flimsy leather and no kevlar; the M65 on the back of a 20-year-old; school scarves but it’s not your school; service pins as fashion statements. Hiking books that were never designed to see the trail.
Unearned credibility? Borrowed cache? I don’t know what you call it, but you know it when you see it. Don’t be that guy.
Cole-Haan all the way!
Yeah, that’s correct. Click the link and you’ll head to AllenEdmonds.com, where they’re the stated price of $199 (the “*” is only next to the CH)
I believe the word you’re looking for is “poser.” And while I see what you’re saying, if these can do the same job my ugly as all hell (but wonderfully functional) Keen boots can do… meaning, get me through my 1-hour thrice a week hike, then also get me out to dinner afterward, all while looking much better than my current option?
Then I think they successfully blend both sides.
There can be something more fun to drive between a minivan and a ferrari. But, I do absolutely see where you’re going.
No one ever said they’d get you 2 weeks through Philmont. C’mon now.
Just bought those Cole Haans a few days ago, and they’ll be in the mail today!
Read the article again.
I’m just jealous you get to go hiking three times a week. Sweet.
I like the AEs a *lot* more. I just held the Cole Haan boot yesterday in a CH store. The fit and finish is just not quite there. I don’t personally like the plaid collar, either, but that’s personal taste. The AEs look like they might be resole-able–can’t tell for sure. If so, you could actually put a good Vibram on there in the future.
But at the same time, if you’re looking at the AE for $200, you should probably just look at the Merrell Wilderness Canyons. They come with three different lace colors, and would be a superior boot to either of these in the function department.
Asolo Powermatic and swap the laces out with red ones… OK they aren’t very stylish, but nothing beats them, figuratively or literally.
It’s one way to get unchained from the computer. Otherwise, I’d go mad. But I always pay for it on the back end (making up that hour after dinner, on the weekend, or more often than not, both.)
Well at that point, I’ll just stick with my Keens 🙂
I spent a good part of my childhood in the mid 80s following my father into the mountains wearing boots like these. He’d picked them up at used gear shops years earlier when his passion for hiking and mountaineering began, god only knows how old they were. They worked, but the upgrades we eventually made to more appropriate technical gear was a no brainer. My feet will never be able to thank me enough.
I can’t help but feel a bit nostalgic when I see somebody rocking a pair of these. Something about that fat red lace on dark leather that strikes a chord and brings me back.
You’re right though, these versions aren’t designed to see the trail. And neither is that thrice rolled selvedge denim.
But…you can’t help everybody. I suppose all you can really do, is hope that the person who bought Cole Hahn hiking boots(heh) thinks they’re fashionable long enough to prevent more consumption of the resources the originals were meant to help enjoy. And I suppose you should also hope, for the good of the man who bought these to try hiking in, that he’s stocked up on plenty of moleskin.
Ahem. Again… No one is saying… y’know what, never mind. And also, duct tape > moleskin.
I recently picked up a pair of LL Bean “cresta hiking boots” in the brown leather, added a pair of red laces and I’m really impressed with how cool they look.
Granted, I bought them for actual hiking, but I’m surprised to find that they look good enough to wear around the city (and they’re comfortable too).
No disrespect..sounded a bit harsher (and much more pretentious) on re-read than it was intended. If you, or anybody else gets enjoyment out of them then more power to you. They both definitely look sharp.
Fashion’s just odd I guess… people wanting to associate with an image then that image becoming trend. I’m sure I’m just as guilty as anybody. I own no epaulettes for my should strap adorned jackets. My motorcycle jacket really only sees true utility for a few months each summer when it’s nice enough to ride. I guess this one struck a little closer to home for some reason. And like Jim said above, I’m probably just a bit jealous you actually get out 3 times a week to hike.
That number has been dwindling as of late. More like 1-2. If that. And like I said, it’s something I pay for later on. But yeah, I wear Keens when I do hike. Most of the time. But I’d love to take those AEs for a spin. I honestly think they’d hold up just fine for my short jaunts.
I did. I answered the last question at the bottom. And I concurred with it in that I won’t get super-duper mileage out of them.
I’m a big fan of the Hiker Boots from Timberland’s Abington line.
Unfortunately I can’t seem to find them for comfortably under $200 these days. It’s a real shame I didn’t pick them up from Bonobos when I had a chance; they were in the sale section for months BELOW $100 ($90 I believe) but when I finally decided to pull the trigger they were OOS.
For those prices I’d rather have the re issued Danner Mtn Light form the Stumptown collection. I have them and love them! Gore tex and can buy multiple colored laces. Made in the USA!
Dont worry I definitely see the poser-ness here too
Very true Joe, just think you can spend your dollars elsewhere and get better for less or slightly more w/ more “street cred!”
I’m not concerned about street cred.