Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting kennetrek mountain extreme boots

How do these fit - true to size or big/wide in the toe box?

Ture to size, very stiff... too stiff for my feet.

hhhmmm. Too stiff meaning the last doesn't ever bend or that the leather never breaks in and is uncomfortable?

I love the hardscrabble , but generally to stiff for me. I prefer flexible soles, close to the ground , however they are the best I have seen for keeping feet dry and safe.

How did they fit you Kevin....true to size or did they run big for you?

I wear 11 mediums in all of my hunting boots (4 pair) and the Kenetrek Mountain Extremes are true-to-size. By design, they are stiff and, at first, overly supportive (you will feel like Frankenstein when walking). Kenetrek indicates that it takes about 50 miles fully break-in these boots and they are spot on. I've had mine for over two years now and have over 70 miles on them. The mileage includes a tough CO backpack elk hunt, a drop camp hunt where I really put the miles on them. I've also got several deer and hog hunting trips on them as well. After all the miles and abuse they remain waterproof and are showing almost no wear and more importantly, they are comfortable. The toe box is not the largest of my boots, but is more than adequate for me. Boots fit is very personal but, I would highly recommend the Mountain Extremes. Also, don't give up on them if you get a blister on your first couple of hikes.

True to size. To box is fine but not tall. I have a bad stone bruise and tried to insole them with some backpack foam and it was a little tight . Note , really only because I have a bad stone bruise. Only one pair of shoes I have have I been able to do that with so I would t count it against them.

I should add , a lot like an ice climbing boot but with some flexibility after break in. I really like them as a rugged boot goes , but most of the year I'm more of a trail runner type guy.

I've never had a stone bruise with my Kenetrek's but, I will admit, I did have to try 3 different innersoles before I found one that best for my comfort needs. I finally ended up with Superfeet Green's and I'm good to go with any terrain I'm likely to encounter. I will say that I really respect Kevin T's posts and opinions as he has much more experience hunting and trekking than I. I have found his posts on this and other forums most helpful.

At 62 years old, I'm probably too old for trail running on anything other than flat ground and at fairly low speeds. I can only remember when I still had it in me to do so.

To be clear the boots were not the cause of the bruise, possibly slight fracture. That was embarrassingly a set of stairs in the morning , a slight slip while barefoot, and some new stone flooring at the bottom entry that was being redone. I wish I could say it happened it the back country , but it was a silly slip at home .
Sucks but it is getting better it just takes time

My only problem is they do not lock my heels in very well and the rubber rand started coming undone early on so I sent them back and it happened again. For my feet the perfect boot would be the heel of a lowa and toe box of kenetrek.

Based on all the input...I decided to pass for now. Thanks to all who offered their opinions and experiences.

I have owned both the ME and the hardscrabble. I got rid of the ME. I can wear the hardscrabble with some Kenetrek gaiters and be ready for any backpack hunt.

I picked up a pair of Extremes this past spring on a clearance rack. Fit my feet very well, are indeed stiff or were initially.

I put about 10 miles on them over a couple of days staking CRP fields (walking through a lot of chisel plowed fields) and my feet were a little sore, but since than they've been good to go and have loosened up enough to still be very supportive but not so stiff that I feel funny walking or even notice it.


Overall I like them and glad I made the purchase.

My favorite Boots hands down. Enough support for incline not too much for flat ground. I dont feel like Im walking in ski boots with them , I had to go with a narrow , but when these go TU ill get another pair.

These are a great boot but also a b*tch to wear during the break-in period. To those thinking of buying these, place a 2"x2" piece of mole skin on the back of your heel and that will eliminate much of the pain during the break-in. Now that mine are broke-in, I love them.

I bought some Zamberlan Vioz boots and they seemed to break in rather easily. I only have about 12 miles on them so far, but the soles feel fine, the leather tops are still too stiff. I plan to make a 12 mile trek with them tomorrow, so we'll see how they loosen up.

They are somewhat larger in the toe-box, so if you had slightly narrow feet, they might not work well.

Hardscrabbles with gaiters.

I have the Mtn Extremes and I agree they are tough to break in. I had to have my toe box stretched (twice) but now they are great! Glad to have them but I had my doubts at first.

I have a pair, they were true to size. Best advice I was given was to walk 100-150 miles on level ground. Boots break in well and then go to the hills. I never got a blister but initially they did feel a lot like ski boots, now they are great.
I actually find them so comfortable, they have become my weekend foot ware.

Friend that got blisters put them on and tried to go up a mountain.