Achilles pain/strain mountaineering boots

[JasonM]

Still working on trying to break in a pair of Scarpa grand dru. I can wear them easily for 6-7 hours just doing whatever around the yard etc, no pain or discomfort. I throw the pack on (30lbs) and go for a 4-5 miler in relatively rugged terrain (western pa mountains) and I start to get some Achilles pain discomfort.

Pretty much any other boot style I use I don’t experience this. I was hoping to get these broke in for a mountain goat hunt next fall.

I’m guessing at this point I may just have to accept my feet don’t like them…..for backpacking or mountain hiking? Might have to just use them for yard work ha ha.

 

[Skerhunter]

Had this same problem before! I did not find a “fix”.

Lacing differently did help some but still caused issues. For me it seems to be the pressure of the boot on the back of my leg.

I can’t 100% blame the boots either because I also dealt with tendinitis around that time. Not sure if that was the start or something else was the cause (one year bothered me rucking the next was running).

 

[JasonM]

Had this same problem before! I did not find a “fix”.

Lacing differently did help some but still caused issues. For me it seems to be the pressure of the boot on the back of my leg.

I can’t 100% blame the boots either because I also dealt with tendinitis around that time. Not sure if that was the start or something else was the cause (one year bothered me rucking the next was running).

Ya can’t blame the boots

 

[fngTony]

How stiff is that area of the boot? There’s a trend now with many brands of implementing flex zones of softer material, might be worth trying something different.

 

[JasonM]

How stiff is that area of the boot? There’s a trend now with many brands of implementing flex zones of softer material, might be worth trying something different.

The grand dru is stiff throughout. Like walking with a 2x4 under your feet stiff.

 

[Macintosh]

You are used to your boots flexing naturally, so the pivot point of your foot is under the ball, not out by your toes. Boots like this aren’t flexible enough to bend like that, so the pivot point as you walk becomes under the tip of your toes. It puts more stress on your calves and Achilles tendon, which it sounds like is what you are experiencing. You need to work up to it and develop your connective tissue as well as muscles, connective tissue takes forever to strengthen. Don’t know where you’re going, but those are some burly-ass boots to use for anything other than vertical ice climbing or wearing crampons up a glacier. There is a real learning curve to wearing boots like that, especially in blocky, rocky terrain where it’s easy for them to make you more stumble-prone than you would be with a slightly softer boot. Most people benefit from some steep hikes and scrambling up the steepest terrain they can find, both for strengthening legs and ankles, as well as just getting used to wearing them in terrain.

 

[JasonM]

You are used to your boots flexing naturally, so the pivot point of your foot is under the ball, not out by your toes. Boots like this aren’t flexible enough to bend like that, so the pivot point as you walk becomes under the tip of your toes. It puts more stress on your calves and Achilles tendon, which it sounds like is what you are experiencing. You need to work up to it and develop your connective tissue as well as muscles, connective tissue takes forever to strengthen. Don’t know where you’re going, but those are some burly-ass boots to use for anything other than vertical ice climbing or wearing crampons up a glacier. There is a real learning curve to wearing boots like that, especially in blocky, rocky terrain where it’s easy for them to make you more stumble-prone than you would be with a slightly softer boot. Most people benefit from some steep hikes and scrambling up the steepest terrain they can find, both for strengthening legs and ankles, as well as just getting used to wearing them in terrain.

This is extremely helpful. I’ve noticed exactly what you are saying I feel more confident and stable in a softer boot especially in bigger rocks. Overall I also feel more nimble in softer boots. I’m headed to southeast BC for goat. My normal go to boot is the old lowa evo hunter extreme, which I know isn’t made anymore but I do have a brand new pair in the box squirrlled away.

Thank you for pointing all this out.

 

[JasonM]

Not sure how slick the rocks are in southeast BC but the hard sandstone we have here in western pa can be real slick after it rains and is damp for a week. The grand dru definitely doesn’t stick to these rocks like some other boots I use.

 

[Macintosh]

Not sure how slick the rocks are in southeast BC but the hard sandstone we have here in western pa can be real slick after it rains and is damp for a week. The grand dru definitely doesn’t stick to these rocks like some other boots I use.

Likely its the stiffness, the more surface-area contact on the rock, the more friction there is. A soft sole conforms so it provides more surface area contact. Its also possible its a harder rubber compound, but scarpa is generally pretty good so guessing its just the stiffness. Also wet eastern lichen on polished rock is the slipperiest substance known to science.

 

[JasonM]

Makes sense. Seems like a lot of the softer soles boots have a tread pattern that doesn’t have as large of void space between lugs.

 

[ElPollo]

You are used to your boots flexing naturally, so the pivot point of your foot is under the ball, not out by your toes. Boots like this aren’t flexible enough to bend like that, so the pivot point as you walk becomes under the tip of your toes. It puts more stress on your calves and Achilles tendon, which it sounds like is what you are experiencing. You need to work up to it and develop your connective tissue as well as muscles, connective tissue takes forever to strengthen. Don’t know where you’re going, but those are some burly-ass boots to use for anything other than vertical ice climbing or wearing crampons up a glacier. There is a real learning curve to wearing boots like that, especially in blocky, rocky terrain where it’s easy for them to make you more stumble-prone than you would be with a slightly softer boot. Most people benefit from some steep hikes and scrambling up the steepest terrain they can find, both for strengthening legs and ankles, as well as just getting used to wearing them in terrain.

@JasonM

Mac is on it here. Wearing a pair of stiff boots regularly can cause a lot of pain and mobility issues in your feet, calves, knees, and hips. Mountaineering boots basically stop your feet and ankles from moving like they are supposed to. I would be evaluating the expected terrain and reconsidering whether or not I needed that much boot. Most people overestimate their need for stiff boots and underestimate their need to condition and strengthen their feet and ankles.

 

[JasonM]

@JasonM

Mac is on it here. Wearing a pair of stiff boots regularly can cause a lot of pain and mobility issues in your feet, calves, knees, and hips. Mountaineering boots basically stop your feet and ankles from moving like they are supposed to. I would be evaluating the expected terrain and reconsidering whether or not I needed that much boot. Most people overestimate their need for stiff boots and underestimate their need to condition and strengthen their feet and ankles.

all valid points. Much appreciated. I may be overestimating the need for such a boot. I didn’t realize how much a true mountaineering boot changes the way you walk.

 

[chasewild]

That boot is probably overkill for 99% of hunts. The Lowa GTX, scarpa zodiach tech, etc are plenty for BC Goat.


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[Ecampbell25]

Personally I get why people like stiff boots for goat/sheep hunting.

I have tried them and they didn’t work well for my flat feet.

The stiffest boot that has worked the best for me is the kenetrek mountain guide. (They just work for me)

I used them last year on my late season goat hunt and have used many other brands but the kenetreks just seem to work. I’ve never had to break them in either.

Find a boot that works and stick with them.

Just my 2cents

 

[ElPollo]

all valid points. Much appreciated. I may be overestimating the need for such a boot. I didn’t realize how much a true mountaineering boot changes the way you walk.

I wore wildland fire boots and stiff rubber-randed mountain boots every day for 30 years and it messed up my feet and ankles pretty good. These days I’m wearing Vivo Forest Tracker ECSs, which are basically a moccasin with rubber lug sole. One of my hunting partners thinks I am nuts to scramble up and down rocky slopes and wear them in mesquite spine desert country, but my feet, ankles and knees have not been this pain-free in years. You might not go with something that minimal, but you certainly don’t need the Scarpas unless you are alpine mountaineering.

 

[MThoundhunter]

I've been using the grand dru's for the last 8 years and I'd say if they aren't comfortable by now they never will be. Pretty stiff boot but didn't require a lot of walking for me to "break" them in. Main reason I use that heavy of a boot is because I'll walk on mostly rocks for weeks on end and my feet do not bruise or get tender in these boots. My opinion they are overkill for most hunting applications but for guys like myself with soft feet it's all I hunt in now.

 

[JasonM]

In addition to the scarpas I’ve been working with I’ve also inherited a pair of Lathrop and sons encompass which seem to work very well for me, I’ve taken them rucking many times this past summer and have no pain. They are lighter and I definitely am more nimble with them. I never went really heavy with the pack wearing them (40 lbs) but I’m thinking they may work better. I feel like I could put way more miles in with them in a day than any other boot in my arsenal at this point.

 

[TaperPin]

If they are so stiff it changes your stride and hurts your foot, I would say there’s only a 10% chance those boots will ever work well for you. There’s a chance your foot will toughen up and the boot might relax with wear, but usually they should fit and feel like they conform to your feet nicely from the first week.