I’m looking for something like this too. I bought some Lake MX146 which on paper, seemed perfect but they fell apart in a matter of months with minimal use so I’m giving up on them.
Must haves for me,
- Aggressive tread and grippy sole.
- Membrane based waterproofing.
- High ankle.
- Chunky enough to be protective.
Out of everything I’ve found so far, the front runner looks like the new Shimano EX9 but that’s about the only thing available (that I’ve found) that seems to fit the bill.
I’m considering trying to learn to ride flats again so I can just wear hiking boots. Then there a million options to suit any budget.
I wonder whether stuff like the XM9s didn’t sell well enough and that’s why they’re no longer made? It seems to me that there’s a gap in the market for a proper mountain boot for mountain biking.
Maybe it’s too niche these days because everyone is too busy schralping berms to spend time in actual mountains?