Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting In Never Ending Quest For Quality BP/Hunting Boots...

Look at the Lowa's that have the Climashield in them. I never did try them with insoles, it may very well be what I'm rocking by this fall.

I agree, the 400 gram level of insulation is about right in a boot for Montana. I usually run that in a Danner from September bow season all the way through the finisher.

I had Lowa's... they KILLED my feet.

Brad:
I'm curious as to the "type" of foot you have where Lowas kill your feet.
Does this have to do with "high volume vs low volume", wide or narrow heel ?

I realize everyone's feet are different and I'm fortunate that Lowas fit me like a custom boot so I frequently recommend them. The glove leather lining in some models is especially nice.

Brad,

Any more use out of the Crispi boots? I too have a narrow heel with a D width and am having a difficult time finding a boot that doesn't give me blisters on steep ascents. I'm currently using the Hanwag Alaska GTX, and while they are beautifully made, I can't seem to lock the heel in place no matter how I tie the laces. How many miles do you give a pair of boots for break-in before saying they're a no-go?

Thanks,

Jason

I just happened across this thread and gave my Cabelas Mountain Hunters and they are made in Romania, any idea what boots come out of that country. I too would like to find another pair before mine shoot craps.

Thanks,
Nick

I have had a very hard time trying to find boots that fit my narrow heel and wideish foot and are able to lock my heel in place. Tried the Lowa Sheep Hunters, Kentrek Mountain Extreme, and Cabelas Meindel Perfekts. None would lock my heel in place. I also tried the Asalo Sassalongs which locked my heel in place but were a bit narrow and short (may have to try a 1/2 longer and the wide version of those). After reading this forum I bought a pair of the Crispi Hunters. The Crispi's seem to be the boot for my foot! I tried them around the house and couldn't detect any noticeable heel lift. Then finally decided to try them outside and took them out deer hunting for a day and the heel stayed locked in place as well. Glad I found this forum as I was beginning to worry that I'd never find a boot that fit and not to mention shipping boots back and forth to/from AK is expensive. Thanks!

Regarding the Event lining, I have a pair of Schnee's Hyalites with the Event lining and my feet sweat like none other in those boots. They pinch my ankles at the base as well.

I tried a pair of Pronghorns once and they pinched me in the same place. They were my brothers and I borrowed them for a day to go on an impromptu elk hunt with a friend. Same size feet, he loves them, and I don't like the feel of them.

Hanwag Alaska GTX boot system.


http://www.lathropandsons.com/

i love my pronghorns. i've always been a die hard danner fan. i wear the new danner hikers for hiking. i saw somewhere that it's the boot the 10th mtn. division has issued to it's troops. love danners.

EXACTLY!!!!
Got mine last summer. Put 'em on right out of the box & took a 1 1/2 mile hike on a ski trail with my packboard & a bag of water softener salt. Wore 'em up north on our sheep/caribou hunter with nary a problem. Best boot I ever used.
Bear in Fairbanks

I thought it was Miendel, I could be wrong but I could swear that the mountain hunter by cabbalas was the same boot as the Miendel Canada boot. The big difference between the boots were the cheaper leather on the cabela boot but there was insulation in it which was not offered in the Miendel line up. I have been using a pair of miendel Tiagas for 6 years and can't seem to kill them and am also running a pair of the Lowa GtX extremes. Both are really comfy boots but lack the insulation that your looking for Brad.

Nope, not Miendel... they were initially made in Italy, then production went to Romania (the lower-labor-cost Italian equivalent). The Mountain Hunters came with 400 Gram Thinsulate... damn I miss those boots!

Update: spent the hunting season with my Crispi's. Nice. FAR more comfortable than the Kenetreks.

Got a small hot-spot/blister on my smaller right foot heel, left foot perfect (as usual)... going to do some research to "shrink" the right boot. A thicker orthotic on that side may help.

Regardless, they'll stay with me for now.

Brad, ditto for results on the Mountain Hunters--would you say the Crispi outperformed the Hanwags for you in the heel?

I have a pair of Danner Combat Hikers and with superfeet's copper insole they are damn comfortable. I have the same insole in my super rainforests and will probably get another set to go in my Raptors, Grouse, and Frontiers. I am a Danner man I just didn't like the old Pronghorns and I haven't tried the new ones. I recommend everyone else take a look at the new Copper Superfeets though, damn comfy.

The Hanwag is about the only 400-ish gram "Mountain Hunting Boot" I haven't tried... friends say they're stiff and built a bit big... sounds like the Lowa to me, which didn't work... but who knows?

have not tried the insulated model, only the un-insulated--had good luck with them but boots seem to be a bit like barrels...

i'll have to try the insoles. my feet are pretty dang caloused. i go barefoot alot of the time so i don't usually have trouble with the soles of my feet.