I new I shouldnt have done it but I did it anyways

[Zbowman1]

I bought a pair of Kenetrek mountain extremes last year even after reading a few bad reviews about them not working on all foot types. They were the only pair I could find to try on and they felt pretty good and the store. Shortly after my purchase my wife and I found out we were having are first child. My boots found a spot in my closet and didn't get much use besides a few day hunts. I didn't have a lot of time for a proper break in. So now that are child is here and things have settled down I decided to take a week off for archery this year since I didn't get much time last year. I grabbed my boots and headed for the hills around my house wanting to get some proper miles on them. After a couple of 3-4 mile hikes I know these are not going to work. I get hot spots on my left foot and blisters on my right. I replaced the insoles and did a 5 mile hike on flat ground with some friends this weekend and by mile 4 my feet were bleeding. I walked the last mile in socks though rattle snake country. This is my fault for not getting on this earlier, but I am at a loss. I need to buy something quick. All the searches I did here seem to point at Zamberlan or chrispi for someone with narrow feet? What boot companies stand behind there product? I know this topic has been beat the death here. Just hoping you guy can give me a starting point.

 

[krueger]

That sucks. Unfortunately I also made the mistake of buying Kenetrek Mountain Extremes last year so I know how you feel. I found that even after 100s of miles they don't get any better. These boots literally almost ended a 6 day backpack muzzleloader elk hunt last September in Colorado. Maybe you can sell them and use that money for an actual good pair of boots.

 

[Shrek]

Call Lathrop and Sons and talk to them.

 

[WillieIV]

I couldn't decide between the Kennetreks Mnt Extreme or the Crispi Idaho GTX. I actually purchased both and decided on the Crispi. Wore them a bunch in the store and at home before i finally made my mind up. I'll be honest, the kenns felt better in the heal but they are so stiff and the reviews i read scared me too. Crispi was a solid choice. They are great boots and so far the break in has been easy. No blisters or hotspots with 40 lb pack. I've only been treking 2.5 miles at a time but so far so good. Plan to do an extended hike this weekend.

 

[tater]

I have narrow heels, higher arch/lower volume feet. HanWags, Asolos, and Zamberlans are the three that i've found to fit the most consistently for me.
Try them on with a pair of Green Super Feet and your two pairs of socks and see what works.
I like the HW's and Norwegian welted Zams because they are rebuildable.

 

[Sboada]

Call kenetrek and tell them. Went through the same problem last year. I called them and told me that they recently redesigned the heel cup to make it fit better. They had me send mine back after half a season and sent out a brand new pair with redesigned heel. Night and day difference and now I can wear them all day without any issues.

I would start with a call to them. Not sure about everyone else's experience but they have treated me right.

 

[Sboada]

If they still don't work check out schnees. They seem to have a more tailored fit and I love me beartooths.

 

[Zbowman1]

I have narrow heels, higher arch/lower volume feet. HanWags, Asolos, and Zamberlans are the three that i've found to fit the most consistently for me.
Try them on with a pair of Green Super Feet and your two pairs of socks and see what works.
I like the HW's and Norwegian welted Zams because they are rebuildable.

tater, sounds like we have the exact same feet. I will check out the HW's. I am looking and Zamverlans now.

 

[kickemall]

I did the same thing as Sboada, night and day difference. I don't know what your going to use them for but Salomon Quest 4Dgtx is a hell of a boot, inexpensive and easy to get your hands on. I use them for everything now except below freezing.

 

[Zbowman1]

I just got off the phone with Kenetrak and they told me I needed to put a few more miles on them. I figured I was really close to 40 and they said 40-50 was were there boots broke in. I should have told them that these boots were a year old and probably not the newer model with the redesigned heel but I didn't think of that when I was talking to them. They gave me a few ideas like taking the insoles all the way out and that would drop my heal lower in the heal cup for the last 10 miles of the break in, He also told me I need to stay on flat ground until the break-in process was complete. Also, he said I could send them to him and he would use his machine to finish the break-in but he didn't think I needed that.

I will try these few things before they go up for sale and see what happens.

 

[WestDan]

I'm with kickemall on this. I don't have the Kenetreks, but I have the Salomon Quest 4d GTX and Lowa Bighorn's for colder weather. The salomon's were the quickest/easiest boots I have ever broken in and are now so comfortable I usually try to stretch their use. I like the Lowa's as well, but it's hard to get me out of the Salomon's. They are at least half the price of all the boots mentioned and worth a try if you have a truncated timeframe.

 

[murf45]

Lowas work for a narrower foot. They were too narrow for me though.

 

[kickemall]

When I got the newer Kennetreks I knew right away they were different and virtually no break in time so there is definitely something to the new design for my feet. On the older ones the heel slip was unbearable and I wasn't, and don't believe you should have to, going to put 40-50 miles on in boots that were tearing my feet up in a few miles. I have a narrow heel, low arch, wide toe. Good luck with your current boots but with that much problem I sure wouldn't trust them on a hunt.

 

[tater]

As a guy with what my wife calls a "hardcore boot fetish", i struggle with the concept of a 40-50 mile break in. I own a pair of steel shank/steel toed work boots that as a pup i took out of a box, wore for twelve straight hours on a green chain for four days, and then spent three off hunting in them. No blisters. No pain. No "break-in". They were $300+ boots back then, and i still wear them cutting firewood. Quality of fit and boot counts.

Well made properly fitted boots are just that. They either fit or they don't.

The other nasty thing to remember is at a certain point in life (usually 40's) those of us with high arches begin to quite often have changes to our feet (arches drop, pronate/supinate a bit and possible length change in toe box)

 

[boom]

buy some leukatape and call it good. the break in process can be long and painful.

 

[Rucker61]

buy some leukatape and call it good. the break in process can be long and painful.

Where's the best place to get the Leukotape?

 

[Buckman]

Where's the best place to get the Leukotape?

I just ordered a roll off amazon yesterday.

 

[nflesher]

Call kenetrek and tell them. Went through the same problem last year. I called them and told me that they recently redesigned the heel cup to make it fit better. They had me send mine back after half a season and sent out a brand new pair with redesigned heel. Night and day difference and now I can wear them all day without any issues.

Did they exchange your boots or give you a credit toward a new pair?

 

[littlebuf]

buy mole skin and duct tape and break them in. ive had kenetreks take the skin off my heels twice now on un broken in pairs. mole skin and tapped up and after 25-30 miles they fit great. and even if they dont do that for you mole skin and taping up will get you through the season

 

[Sboada]

They exchanged my boots. I sent them back to Bozeman and about two-three weeks later I had a brand new pair in hand.