Cures for heel slip ?

[Floorguy]

The sportsman's up here don't have the Zamberlan guides they only have the 11" vioz and the expert ibex the vioz are the only one of the three that comes in wide. I really like the expert ibex's features but they aren't wide so won't work for me. The vioz are the most comfortable boot I have tried yet but I am going to order the 9" vioz as the 11" is just too tall.

 

[shaun]

Here is one technique http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6lHbsE89ces

I use this one and it keeps me solid
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cfHvThw2oE4&feature=fvwrel (I tie boot after the locks lace boot this way tie it again than finish lacing)

Hope it helps

I diddnt read but what socks are you wearing? You would be surprised the effect they really have

 

[Bloodworks]

One thing I found is that I'd get stuck on wanting a certain brand or type of boot and would try to make a square peg fit a round hole. Pronghorns always work better for me than Hanwags or Kenetrek ever did. Lowas are a no go as much as I tried to like them. Kayland seems to be a good match and La Sportiva has always worked. Try some boots that you'd normally overlook and you may be surprised. If they don't work in the first 15 minutes I've learned to let go.

 

[Shrek]

Thanks shaun , I'll give that a try. Maybe this evening but 4 miles with 59.5lbs in 90ºheat and 88% humidity without a breath of breeze has kicked my butt ! Heat just kills me.

 

[Biggs300]

Shrek, have you tried using a sock liner? My Kenetreks are extremely comfortable boots, but I too experienced heel slippage on my left foot. I have fairly narrow heels and after finding the best fitting insoles (I tried 3 different ones), I finally fixed the problem once and for all with a simple set of sock liners. They add almost no bulk and eliminated what little slippage I had left after finding the right insoles.

 

[Shrek]

I haven't tried a sock liner or the lacing system yet. With a blister the size of a half dollar on my heel right now I decided to give it a rest. I have 4 pair of darn tough socks ordered and by the time they get here my heal should be on the mend. I'll try the lacing and socks then. Very frustrating.

 

[shaun]

I haven't tried a sock liner or the lacing system yet. With a blister the size of a half dollar on my heel right now I decided to give it a rest. I have 4 pair of darn tough socks ordered and by the time they get here my heal should be on the mend. I'll try the lacing and socks then. Very frustrating.

Better to deal with it now than while hunting though

 

[Mike7]

I have Zamberlan Vioz boots which are very comfortable everywhere, except I have had the heel slippage issue as well when toe pointing off trail, like when chukar hunting. I feel like the stretchy lighter material on the back of the heel goes to low before it meets the thicker supportive leather. One thing that seems to help me with these boots is to wear a cheap short pair of thin slick nylon dress socks over the top over my Darn Touch merino socks, instead of wearing an inner sock liner (you can also put some Bodyglide onto you heel).

My theory is that this gets the main area of heat and friction outside of the wool sock away from the foot. Kind of like wearing inner wool glove inserts with leather gloves over when fastroping or hasty rappeling for anyone who has done these activities in the military (you would never wear the wool glove over the top of the leather glove because the wool is insulating you from the hot friction surface).

I will have to try that lacing technique in Shaun's link above also though, thanks.

 

[Biggs300]

Shrek, here is the lacing system I have found to work best on my Asolo's and I use a variation of it on my Kenetrek Mountain Extremes. It does work well for me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lHbsE89ces

 

[digger]

Thank you all.I am having the same issue in my Asolos.I've worn out a pair of these boots every year for about 5
years.I wear them everyday,,never had an issue before.

 

[Lawnboi]

What are you using for insoles?

 

[wyodan]

Lathrop can probably narrow the heel counter for ya. I talked to them about it before I started wearing hanwag. I had a heel slip problem as well when I wore lowas.

 

[rodney482]

I am using the Solomon quest and could not be happier.

Duct tape works great for heel slippage.

 

[LostArra]

>>I am using the Solomon quest and could not be happier.<<

+1

Rodney: are you using duct tape with the Quest? They fit my feet like a glove. This is the first boot that I could take on a hunt right out of the box.

Regarding heel slippage: try another boot. There are too many good boots out there to tolerate heel issues.

 

[Slim Jim]

I hear a lot of good things about the Solomon quests. I'm going to have to try them out next year

 

[Lawnboi]

Duck tape, mole skin, athletic tape are not going to fix the problem. Your heel is still slipping, you just have something to eat up the friction that causes the blisters.

Aside from totally ditching the boots to find another there are a few things you could try.

One would be new insoles, Find an insole that eats up some of the volume or cups your heel better. For some reason all these big name, expensive European boots come with absolute junk insoles!

I use superfeet insoles, not only because I like the arch support they give me. But I really like their heel cup when compared to anything I have tried. The superfeet heel cup hangs onto your heel and locks it in place, not to mention it is very comfy.

If they continue to slip, then maybe its time to try some new boots. Maybe a little more break in of the boot or your feet(if your not used to wearing a very stiff boot) may be in order.

 

[rodney482]

The tape will keep you from blistering.

As long as I dont blister then I dont even notice heel slippage.

Duck tape, mole skin, athletic tape are not going to fix the problem. Your heel is still slipping, you just have something to eat up the friction that causes the blisters.

Aside from totally ditching the boots to find another there are a few things you could try.

One would be new insoles, Find an insole that eats up some of the volume or cups your heel better. For some reason all these big name, expensive European boots come with absolute junk insoles!

I use superfeet insoles, not only because I like the arch support they give me. But I really like their heel cup when compared to anything I have tried. The superfeet heel cup hangs onto your heel and locks it in place, not to mention it is very comfy.

If they continue to slip, then maybe its time to try some new boots. Maybe a little more break in of the boot or your feet(if your not used to wearing a very stiff boot) may be in order.

 

[rodney482]

No I am not.. But I will pack it just in case!

>>I am using the Solomon quest and could not be happier.<<

+1

Rodney: are you using duct tape with the Quest? They fit my feet like a glove. This is the first boot that I could take on a hunt right out of the box.

Regarding heel slippage: try another boot. There are too many good boots out there to tolerate heel issues.

 

[todd kelly]

I haven't tried a sock liner or the lacing system yet. With a blister the size of a half dollar on my heel right now I decided to give it a rest. I have 4 pair of darn tough socks ordered and by the time they get here my heal should be on the mend. I'll try the lacing and socks then. Very frustrating.

Have you ever tried on a pair of Scarpa's? I went through a ton of boots over the years when I was guiding and always had one problem or another with a lot of different brands of boots until I was shown the Scarpa Liskamm (now called Wrangell) What a life changer. These boots fit like no other boot I have ever used before. No heel slip, no blown stitches or soles, they are so comfortable that after coming out of the mountains on a week long backpack hunt I don't even take them off for the 18 hour drive home. I forget I'm wearing mountain boots. I think they are worth the try if you can find a store close to you that sells them.

One thing I would do for sure is buy a good pair of insoles. Soles and Superfeet seem to be the best out of all the ones I have tried.

 

[Snyd]

Some times heel "lift" is more than just lift. It can be a little lift and then compression going back down. If you are confident the boots are right for your feet and if you have good insoles/orthotics and good socks, try a slight wedge heel lift under your footbed/orthotic. You can buy them or make them yourself.