Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Asolo Sasslongs

Tossed one of my old pair of Danners in the trash awhile back and have been looking for a good deal on early season backpacking boots, something not as warm as my Lowa Sheephunters. Had my sights set on the Lowa Banffs but never found them on sale? Was looking for an all leather boot with few seams for less leak possibilities. Took note of E's suggestion of Asolos when I stumbled upon these Asolo Sasslong boots at Sierra Trading Post.com:





With a coupon, these were $144.00 shipped. Initial thoughts so far:

1. They fit like a glove, minimal break-in anticipated and very comfy.
2. Not sold on the rands yet but time will tell.
3. Typical European boot construction.
4. Quality construction and materials
5. Excellent ankle support.
5. Not bad for under $150.00 shipped.

MtnHtr

Mtnhunter, how stiff are they in the sole? I've been looking at the same boot at Sierra, wishing I could try a pair on. That's a terrific buy if you like them and they fit.

Ok,

The soles are stiff, not as stiff as my broken in Sheephunters but very close.

As for sizing these Asolos fit a bit narrower than my Sheephunter, both in 10W. If they were the D width I probably could not wear them. As they fit now, they are still comfy with a liner and med weight sock.

Fwiw, they are made in Romania for those that are curious.

MtnHtr

Thanks for the info. My feet are wide, and with the narrower or only medium sizes, the ony way to get the right width is to hang a bunch of empty boot out the front. That's a recipe for stubbing toes, not good in sheep country.

So far, it looks like I will buy Scarpa as I can get a wide size and the uncut bellows gusset I want. I wish they had a rand like the Sassalongs, because sharp rocks and scree abraid and cut the sides of my boots quite a bit.

Asolos will be stiff in the sole--that seems to be the style of European boots (and Asolos are very "European"--but seem to be trying to break into the American market).

In December of 06 I walked into Sierra Trading Post and found a pair of Asolos (FSN 95's or something) that were an in-store special for $45. I tried thenm on, liked them not knowing anything about these models, but I could tell they were an excellent boot. Took them home and checked things out on the internet--turns out they were sold only in Europe, and sold for about $200. I've snapped up other Asolos before and since that were on sale at STP, and have been satisfied with them.

Casey

You're right, Asolos tend to be built on a normal-narrow last. I like a wide toebox, and all my Asolos just barely make the grade in that regard.

Casey

Interesting boot. Look rougly similar to my FSN 95's except they are all leather. They a Gore-Tex boot ? I can't make out the little tag on the side of the boot.
I'm planning to buy another pair of Asolos myself. I saw a new boot that is constructed just like the fabric version of their TPS 520 GV, which was called the TPS Highland GV's. Have a pair of that are all but worn out. The newer ones are called something else and are a different color, but, from what I can tell are the same boot. They feature a special triple layer, shock absorbing sole that I've found really works on those long, steep, downhill trails.
I've found that Asolos tend to run wider than many other euro made boots. And the funny thing being that the wide pair of size 11 FSN 95's I tried on weren't quite as wide as their standard width pair. I bought the standard width pair.
As always, I insist on trying a boot on before I buy. I've had lots of unacceptable boots comne to me through the mail. Usually they were too narrow. I had one pair that refused to "break in" after five months. One of the things I look for is that great fit and no break in from the get go. That I have found in all of the five pairs of Asolos that I've bought in the last seven years. Currently, I'm still using two pair which are in good shape, while two others are very close to being too worn. E

E,

I agree, great fit is everything in a boot (well - one of the main factors), I took a chance on fit by mail.

The boots have GoreTex, Vibram sole and the wide fit:


MtnHtr

Doggone, you would mess up my mind with the news that they come in wide sizes. That is tempting... Undoubtedly an outstanding boot for the price.

I have not had good luck with ordering most things I wear on the internet, unless I knew the item and had held it in hand before I ordered. If you send it back with shipping each way, you blow any savings. Also, tempting as the price is, the Sassalong doesn't fit all of what I'm looking for in a boot. Golly I wish I could try it on. Will go looking in boot stores today.

FWIW, here's what I want in a boot, and I am actively shopping. If you know a boot that fits the following criteria, I'm interested.

One piece leather boot, no seams or stitches below the ankle except for up the heel, with a folded bellows gusset/tongue. Very stiff sole, one notch short of a full mountaineering boot that doesn't bend at all in the sole. I'd like a rand, and as minimally lined and insulated as possible. Gore-tex lining optional. Mid height preferred. Bonded sole rather than Norwegian welt. As light as possible. Lower cost than one of the custom boots would cost. I have a wide foot but am not hard to fit and don't have trouble with blisters or the customs would be a lot more enticing.

So far, the Scarpa I think it is M3 or LS3, something like that, is the closest I've found. I tried a pair and they fit me in 44.5 xxx or whatever their alphabet letters are for wide. $249 at a local store, and $218 is the best I've seen so far on the net.

I'd buy another pair of my old One Sport Moraine's if I could find some.

OK, you might like the Asolo TPS 520 GV's. They come in Wide like the above boot(s). I've submerged them many times in wet meadows, streams, slush, etc. and never had them leak. One coating of Nik Wax per season. Don't know if they are stiff enough for you, but I'm certain I don't want anything stiffer. Work beautifully when side hilling on rock. BTW, so do the FSN 95's listed above. They, the 95's, are my favorite boot, as long as they still have plenty of sole left, for the treacherous loose rock, desert ranges where I hunt. The same country that Jack O'Connor called the most treacherous of all the sheep ranges.
I'm not sure just why that is. The boots don't feel quite stiff enough. I can tell you that side hilling, off trail, on steep, loose rock slopes is my toughest walking.
Maybe it's becasue they, the 95's, allow some feel for the rock under my feet as well as the laterial stability I need. Not sure. E

Eremicus, thanks for the info. I didn't get out to a boot store today after all. I need to try some more boots.
I don't hunt in as abrasive a place as your desert rocks, but some days spend virtually the entire day on very steep ground, with most steps sidehill, often slippery. That is tiring on lower leg and foot muscles if you don't have a stiff platform under your foot, as you described. A sole and shank stiff enough for that kind of ground is stiffer than I prefer for trail hiking, but for steep country hunts I take the trade off in favor of the off trail boots.
I have a couple of pairs of softer soled boots that I wear when I won't be on that kind of steep ground for more than 20-30 minutes at a time. They are sort of a mountain hunter's upland boot, good for trails and moderately steep ground with a medium load. Ironically, I don't care so much if they wet through easier because I almost always come back to a warm dry place for the night on such hunts.

Grain leather boots with the bellows gusset have been the most water resistant of any leather boots I've tried, but I haven't tried the Asolos you mention. They would probably do. My problem isn't wading so much as saturated alpine brush acting like a water spray and scrub brush on the boot for hours, sometimes in granular snow, while the boot itself is flexing. Each stitch hole is a potential portal, each scrub brush stroke and flex is working water into seams and stitch holes.

In my experience a good boot (with a gaitor or some way to keep water out of the top) will keep the inside dry in such conditions for about two long days, including a bivy night outside with no further drying or adding water repellant. A leather hiking boot that will stay dry longer is rare, even with Gore-tex, and my Moraines would go for several continuous days of that kind of stuff.

And then, a good many hunts are in drier conditions and I know the Asolos would work well for those. Sheep live in dry country, anywhere in the world. Coastal blacktails near timberline, Roosevelt elk and coastal mountain goats test the waterproofness of boots far more than sheep, mule deer, whitetails, Rocky Mountain elk or the places I hunt moose and caribou. I hope to get down to REI next week and will see what they have in Asolos.

Scarpa was on my list, but I never came across my size on sale. I took a chance on the sizing, as I did with the Lowas and hit paydirt again. Another brand and I may not be so lucky? I'll probably stick with Asolos for a mid - height boot, am already thinking how nice it would be to have some TPS 520s. I've put about 4 miles on the Sasslongs so far and they feel almost broken in - very comfy.

MtnHtr

Those really look a lot like the Lowa Banff's. I have had a pair of Asolo's for several years now and find them to be great boots.

Last spring I stumbled on a pair of the Banff's in my size at a tiny backpacking store. They had been returned and were selling them for $75 with no box or papers. Took a little longer to break them in than I expected but I am really liking them as well.

I know they don't hit every one of your criteria at the same time, but Meindl's "C" level boots especially the Perfekt, seem like they might work for you. I'm definitely thinking of trying a pair of Canada Pro's next go around.

They just made my list. Thanks for the post.

MtnHunter,

How high do these come up over the ankle? At that price, I might have to spring for a pair of those.

Got a pair of PowerMatic 400 GTX boots on the way through REI. These are the fabric version of the TPS 520's. E

PM sent.

MtnHtr