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).

 

[Predator_SD]

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.

 

[norcalkh]

I'm in the same boat. I've tried Lowa, Meindl, Crispi etc. and I can't find a boot that will fit my more narrow foot . I've been chasing a boot that matches the fit of Whites with a waterproof liner for a long time. I also like a taller boot which really limits the options as well.

 

[Blacktail247]

I also have a hard time finding boots that fit right. I have settled on the Hoffman explorer and the meindl comfort fit for a boot that runs on the narrow side/low volume. The meindls offer a little more room in the toe box but yet keep my feet from moving around.

 

[BigDuckHunter]

I think you hit the nail on the head as to the “why”. There’s a lot of research behind the marketing power of lots of different models. They’re gonna sell a lot more boots if they size them to fit 90% of the population and convince you that you need a super light and thin boot for the summer, a million gram thinsulate boot for the winter, a super stiff titanium construction boot for “tough hiking”, and then another in between after you figure out the rest suck. Also, in having 30 different models, they take up more shelf space and you spend more time looking at their boots at Scheels, cabelas, etc. Just look at Reese’s, they’ve got like 30 different combinations of chocolate and peanut butter.

FWIW, I’ve got what I assume to be pretty average feet as most of the models of boot I’ve tried have fit really well. I also bought into the marketing of needing the super heavy insulation for the winter and super stiff heavy boots to carry anything in the mountains before I knew better. Most companies do a good job with marketing and get enough people to buy into it to continue parroting their talking points. And everyone’s idea of perfect is a little different than the next guy so one particular model isn’t going to appeal to everyone.

 

[S.Clancy]

They are selling boots for the general public, and having a narrow foot is not gen pop. I have had good luck with Scarpa and la sportiva personally. Specifically the Kinesis Pro and Aquelibrium LT.

 

[Trogon]

Boots are just like scopes, its much easier to market features and lifestyle rather than the things that matter like fit and quality of construction and the consumer doesnt demand any better. Euro brands like la sportiva, asolo, scarpa will run low volume and narrow but generally the durability is horrendous (exception being full leather versions). Comfort is bottom of the barrel with a rock hard sole and a piece of paper for an insole. Do even get me started on goretext. You'll be lucky if it lasts 2 years. But try to find a pair without goretext so your feet are not sweating in a leaky garbage bag, good luck.

 

[gostovp]

Boots are just like scopes, its much easier to market features and lifestyle rather than the things that matter like fit and quality of construction and the consumer doesnt demand any better. Euro brands like la sportiva, asolo, scarpa will run low volume and narrow but generally the durability is horrendous (exception being full leather versions). Comfort is bottom of the barrel with a rock hard sole and a piece of paper for an insole. Do even get me started on goretext. You'll be lucky if it lasts 2 years. But try to find a pair without goretext so your feet are not sweating in a leaky garbage bag, good luck.

So true on the Goretex. It just doesn’t last in boots because they flex so much and are put through hard use. And then if you put a more traditional boot dressing on leather boots to try and waterproof them, that will just clog the Goretex pores and the garbage bag analogy is even worse. I have a pair of RedWing heritage boots for work/fashion that are just leather… if i condition them and wear good wool socks my feet still breath WAY better than when wearing my hunting boots ( and they are pretty water resistant when treated properly). I recently picked up a pair of GoRuck Mac V boots for training… GoRuck specifically makes these boots to be NOT waterproof ( they even have drain holes in them) . They are a single layer of leather, and there is no extra padding in them to soak up water or sweat. They are meant to get wet and dry fast. Build quality isn’t the greatest but I workout in them all the time now and my feet feel great, and they are 100% dry by the next day when I go to workout again… would I wear them on a mountain hunt?… likely not, but it would be cool if a boot manufacturer made something similar, maybe a bit burlier with a Vibram sole and good underfoot comfort… I bet they would be great in most all hunts that weren’t in a totally wet environment…

 

[thbrock07]

Agree with the point of the rant. I have a narrow heel but narrow boots don't give me enough room in the toe box. Most Crispis and Lowas are comfy for me, but too sloppy in the heel.

I've had good luck with Hanwag boots. Seems like their "wide" versions still have the same width heel and only open up towards the toe box, which helps me out a lot. The Alaska is almost perfect but not quite narrow enough in the heel for me. Still a great boot, though, and I use it a lot. The Alverstone is on a narrower last and is great in the heel for me. I use the wide version to open up the toe box and the heel is still snug. Haven't tried them yet but the Tatra would probably be about the same from what I've heard.

I've been interested in trying the Schnee Beartooth... Is there anyone with a similar situation who has tried the Hanwags I mentioned and can compare with the Beartooth?

 

[Trogon]

So true on the Goretex. It just doesn’t last in boots because they flex so much and are put through hard use. And then if you put a more traditional boot dressing on leather boots to try and waterproof them, that will just clog the Goretex pores and the garbage bag analogy is even worse. I have a pair of RedWing heritage boots for work/fashion that are just leather… if i condition them and wear good wool socks my feet still breath WAY better than when wearing my hunting boots ( and they are pretty water resistant when treated properly). I recently picked up a pair of GoRuck Mac V boots for training… GoRuck specifically makes these boots to be NOT waterproof ( they even have drain holes in them) . They are a single layer of leather, and there is no extra padding in them to soak up water or sweat. They are meant to get wet and dry fast. Build quality isn’t the greatest but I workout in them all the time now and my feet feel great, and they are 100% dry by the next day when I go to workout again… would I wear them on a mountain hunt?… likely not, but it would be cool if a boot manufacturer made something similar, maybe a bit burlier with a Vibram sole and good underfoot comfort… I bet they would be great in most all hunts that weren’t in a totally wet environment…

Ive been looking at those same boots, good to get some feedback. Might have to finally pull the trigger on them.

 

[duchntr]

LaSportiva’s trango and aquialibriam boots work well for my narrow low volume foot.

The scarpas I tried were slightly too wide but still pretty narrow.

I’ve heard Salewas are narrow but have no personal experience.

I have had no luck with “hunting” brand boots fwiw

 

[6mm Remington]

Try Hoffman Boots: I have a pair of their pac boots and really like them.

I have a pair of Whites boot also which are just excellent. Mine are not the ones below.

Crew Boot