L&S Lowa Cevedale tech-light hunters

[Aron Snyder]

it's the same as far as the fit goes, but I think the rand and midsole are a bit different.

What all has been changed from the original Cevedale Aron?

 

[Aron Snyder]

Boots I tested during the last couple years

Scarpa Kineses (great fit, but heavy as sin!)

Zamberlin 2080 Pamir (Heal slip like a mad man)

Zamberlin Vioz (Too wide for me and heavy)

Salewa Raven Combi (The "non blister warranty is a crock, as these gave me terrible heel rub.....leaked too!)

Salewa Rapace (Same as above and pinched my toe as well..... leaked bad too)

Kayland Apex Guide (Great boot, but tight in the toe....really tight)

Kayland Contact Rev (Fit better than some, but flexed a bit much for mountain hunting and had some heal rub)

Asolo Khumbu GV (Didn't get out of parking lot...hated them)

Las Portiva Karakorum (WAY TO TIGHT IN ARCH)

LasPortiva Trango Evo (SAME AS ABOVE)

Laportiva Pamir (Fit well and was pleased overall, but not as stiff as I'd hoped)

Lowa Tibet (Great boot, but heavy)

Lowa Sheep Hunter (Same as above)

Kenetrek Hard Scrabble (Rand came off and had serious issues with heal slip)

Hanwag Omega (Great boot, but a bit stiff all around)

Hanwag Mountain Light (Great boot and fit perfect, but wasn't as durable as Tech Hunter)

Hanwag Alaskan (Heavy, but great boot)

With boots it's all about fit, so some of these didn't make it out of the parking lot very far before I knew I was in trouble. Some fit well, but had other issues that we didn't really like (weight, material, leaking issues, stiffness, durability and so on)

 

[a3dhunter]

This isn't my actual review, but here's some info on the boots.

L&S wanted a flag ship boot that would not only work in sheep/mountain goat hunting environments, but also work just as well for hunting elk, antelope or turkeys in the low land.

The problem with most mountaineering boots is they're usually stiff as hell and don't allow for much articulation in the ankle area (feels like a ski boot). Having the stiffness is great some of the time, but a lot of people will have issues with heel lift/rub with a stiff boot and loose a bit of agility too.

So we knew that we wanted a boot that had a very stiff sole, but great articulation/flexibility in the ankle area. This would give you the best of both worlds (great for climbing in steep country, but also great for normal hunting)..... and the search began.

I ended up testing 14 different boots in the last 2 years for L&S and the Cevedale stood above the rest. I liked the fact it was semi crampon compatible, very stiff in the sole, but felt like a standard backpacking boot in the ankle. All of these things allowed me to climb like a madman on steep ascents (like a mountaineering boot), but also have the mobility/agility you find in a hiking boot (like a Salomon Quest).

For me, I need a toe box that is somewhat wide, but more of a medium arch width and a narrow heel cup. Most boots that are wide enough in the toe box for me will be WAY to wide in the heel and somewhat wide in the arch. The width in the heel is the big issue, as I get giant blisters on the outsides of them.

The CTH (Cevedale Tech Hunter) is also EXTREMELY light weight, and is comparable to the weight of most trail hiking boots. This makes a huge difference in fatigue throughout the day, as you'll be lifting less weight per step.

Ask away with questions, as I won't have the article up for at least another week.

Is it wider in the toe box than you're Mountain Lights that I tried on? or is it available in a wide? How would you compare it to the Lowa Ranger GTX?
thanks Aron.

 

[greyghostnw]

outside looking in.... looks too short for heavy load stability? curious as well.

 

[luke moffat]

To me my Lowas CTHs don't feel any wider than my Hanwag Mnt Lights...but YFMV

 

[Aron Snyder]

outside looking in.... looks too short for heavy load stability? curious as well.

As you can see by my list, I haven't worn many boots taller than the CTH.

I'm not a believer in the tall boot/more ankle support theory.

 

[greyghostnw]

As you can see by my list, I haven't worn many boots taller than the CTH.

I'm not a believer in the tall boot/more ankle support theory.

true.... depends on how the boot was built. a 8'' or 9'' boot for me allows less energy used to flex boot through transition.

 

[Travis1984]

Took them on their maiden hike this morning. Two miles round trip with 1100 ft of gain. First impression was good. They aren't as stiff as I feared they would be. The only issue I had a coming down I ran to see if my toes would slam into the front. They didn't! But I did notice my right foot was getting pressure around the rear of the fore/front if the arch. It went away wren I stopped running but I can still feel it now. I think I just need to play with the lacing and continue breaking them in.

 

[ol490]

I have a question for Aron or anyone else that has these. How stiff are the soles? I am looking for the stiffest possible as I have damaged big toe joints. I need boots that keep the big toe from getting flexed backwards. So the sole/shank must be very stiff and the sole must have some natural roll built into it so the boot transitions through each step without being ski boot like. Hopefully that makes sense.....
I am using cabelas Alaska hikers with decent success but am always looking for something better so I am wondering how these or other options stack up. By the way, I tried kennetreks and couldn't cure the heel slip.

 

[luke moffat]

While haven't tried as many boots as Aron, Ol490 I'd say the Lowa CHTs are pretty darn stiff.

That said given your aliment I think a set of plastic boots might be a better fit for you.

 

[dotman]

I have a question for Aron or anyone else that has these. How stiff are the soles? I am looking for the stiffest possible as I have damaged big toe joints. I need boots that keep the big toe from getting flexed backwards. So the sole/shank must be very stiff and the sole must have some natural roll built into it so the boot transitions through each step without being ski boot like. Hopefully that makes sense.....
I am using cabelas Alaska hikers with decent success but am always looking for something better so I am wondering how these or other options stack up. By the way, I tried kennetreks and couldn't cure the heel slip.

From some of the early reviews you may want to look at the kuiu boot, sounds really stiff. I'm just going off what others have posted so you may want to look mire into it before you drop almost $500.

 

[ol490]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

 

[TheTone]

For those that have used both how do these compare to the Tibets? I've gotten four years out of my current Tibets and am planning to order again soon, but these look like they may be worth a shot. I do not want to go stiffer than my Tibet's.

 

[Aron Snyder]

For those that have used both how do these compare to the Tibets? I've gotten four years out of my current Tibets and am planning to order again soon, but these look like they may be worth a shot. I do not want to go stiffer than my Tibet's.

They're lighter, dry faster, a bit stiffer, but the fit is close.

 

[jdmdavey]

ressurecting a dead thread..but did they run true to size??

 

[luke moffat]

I wear a 10-10.5 in nearly everything. I wore a 44 in Hanwasg and my other Lowa sheep hunters I've used. These feet perfect just like the other boots.

 

[Aron Snyder]

ressurecting a dead thread..but did they run true to size??

True to size for sure

 

[MattB]

I went up 1/2 size like I do with my Tibets, and the fits is as close to identical to a Tibet as I can imagine wearing new Cevedales and well worn Tibets side by side.

 

[Clarktar]

They were an exact fit for my feet as well. These boots are some of the best I have ever worn or purchased. I will actually be climbing Rainer, and St. Helens with them late this summer, as well as several peaks around MT. Will be good to strap crampons on them and see how they hold up...

 

[Kotaman]

In my size, they are longer than the Tibets. I always felt the Tibets ran a hair short. These fit more like my Lowa Sheephunters, Lowa Bighorns, and Hunter Extermes.