Boot Company Rant

[RAM190Hog]

This post has no real intent other than to voice a complaint and maybe industry guys will notice. I have a fairly narrow / low volume foot and struggle with boots being too sloppy in the field leading to slipping and inevitable blisters.

I dont understand the boot industry. I don't understand why a company like Crispi has something in the realm of 18 non-insulated boots, and 10 insulated models. I believe most are built on same last, maybe a couple like Briksdal are more narrow. I understand the different needs depending on hunts, but 18 seems ridiculous. Offer boots in 3-4 NI and 3-4 insulated models (vary height and maybe 2 stiffness options) and then offer actual different fits / lasts - width, volume, etc.

I am coming at this from the ice hockey world where most manufacturers of high end skates only have a few models, but they they offer 3 different "fits" within that model (narrow/low volume, regular/medium volume, and wide/high volume). I feel like this would be a much better carry over to the hunting world and actually get folks into a boot that works for them without trying on 20+ pairs / company's boots. I feel like the 18 models with such specific marketing is just a gimmick to sell more boots (I need an early season, archery elk, 8" synthetic, blah blah blah). Just make options that fit a variety of foot shapes and sizes!

That is all, discuss amongst yourself. Any recs for narrow / low volume boots welcome.

 

[TaperPin]

In custom boots like Whites I’m a C width, but nobody makes a hiking boot that width - narrow boots are too narrow (B width?) and like you most others with a normal D width are too wide.

There are probably other brands that lean a little narrow, but the ones that fit my foot well are Asolo with the addition of the green Superfeet insole. My search stopped with these two.

There are some models on the bottom end that aren’t supportive enough, but the Fugative is a good one at around 3-1/2 lbs a pair. There are other models I haven’t actually seen, but might work as well. The all leather boots are a bit heavier and more supportive, but the toe still flexes well. These are my standard steep country hunting boots, they work well with snowshoes if moving a lot, and perfect spring hiking on hard snow with crampons.

 

[RAM190Hog]

Thanks. I just tried on a pair of Asolo TPS520 and they felt pretty good. May pick up a pair soon.

I measure between B/C, so narrows can sometimes be too much. But many companies don’t even make a narrow width.

 

[peterk123]

This post has no real intent other than to voice a complaint and maybe industry guys will notice. I have a fairly narrow / low volume foot and struggle with boots being too sloppy in the field leading to slipping and inevitable blisters.

I dont understand the boot industry. I don't understand why a company like Crispi has something in the realm of 18 non-insulated boots, and 10 insulated models. I believe most are built on same last, maybe a couple like Briksdal are more narrow. I understand the different needs depending on hunts, but 18 seems ridiculous. Offer boots in 3-4 NI and 3-4 insulated models (vary height and maybe 2 stiffness options) and then offer actual different fits / lasts - width, volume, etc.

I am coming at this from the ice hockey world where most manufacturers of high end skates only have a few models, but they they offer 3 different "fits" within that model (narrow/low volume, regular/medium volume, and wide/high volume). I feel like this would be a much better carry over to the hunting world and actually get folks into a boot that works for them without trying on 20+ pairs / company's boots. I feel like the 18 models with such specific marketing is just a gimmick to sell more boots (I need an early season, archery elk, 8" synthetic, blah blah blah). Just make options that fit a variety of foot shapes and sizes!

That is all, discuss amongst yourself. Any recs for narrow / low volume boots welcome.

I have small ankle low volume feet. Finding a good ski boot for me is a chore because of the heel.

For me the schnees beartooth fit like a glove. Don't use liner socks. Just a medium weight stock is all I need, never a blister after countless miles. At four years old, they are basically shaped to my foot.

 

[gostovp]

You must have a pretty narrow foot because most European (especially Italian) made hunting boots to me run really narrow and lower volume. I don't measure a wide, but in most boots that are made in Italy I'd have to buy a wide just to get a normal fit. Crispi I'm pretty sure has 4 different lasts, and regular and wide within each last, and several models across each last. I agree, their catalog is pretty large, but so is HanWag's, Lowa's, Scarpa's, La Sportiva's, Asolo's, Salewa's, Zamberlan's, etc....

It does absolutely suck trying to find the perfect fit, and only having the ability to get most of these boots through the mail makes this process exhausting (and potentially expensive).

 

[Szwampdonkey]

Crispi basically sucks that’s why they do that. I wore them for 3 years and only acquired Metatarsalgia for my loyalty to them.

For your tiny narrow feet they’re too wide. But for my hobbit feet they are way too narrow and constricting. So couple that with a stiff boot and you’re headed for some pain and destruction of the inner workings of your feet. But do they care? Nope, add another model year after year then keep utilizing concrete and metal for the footbed. They got my money right so who cares. Now i gotta walk around with stupid Hokas on to “protect” my metatarsal bones.

Lesson learned, Crispi been “booted ” to the curb like my college girlfriend.

 

[gostovp]

I’m no Crispi fan either. None of their lasts fit my feet. And their stock insoles are the absolute worst of just about any footwear.