Recommend me a boot (low volume feet)

[Ferrulewax]

I thought I loved my Crispi thors, but I am still getting heel slip. I think I need something for a lower volume foot, no matter how much I try to cinch them down I still get some movement- ending with two heel blisters and hot spots on the outside edge of my big toes after 2 days in the mountains.

Info: I am wearing a crispi 10.5 for the length, but just can’t get the fit right. I normally wear a 9.5-10, but a 10 in the thor felt short. I am also using a Sole Blue insole (thick) with a cheap thin flat insole beneath it to take up even more space. I am also wearing a pair of darn tough mid weight hikers. After hotspotting at the heels I removed the thinner insole and put on a second pair of socks. This seemed to help take up some volume, but I could still feel my heels (may have just been due to the heel already being irritated). I wonder if my heels aren’t sitting as deep as they need to be for good heel lock up, but without a thick insole my forefoot is swimming, and even with it I feel like there is too much room.

Any recommendations would be great! I would love something around the weight and stiffness of the thor- if not slightly lighter and more flexible.

 

[DooleyVT]

I have low volume feet and what ended up making the difference was a pair of custom footbeds. A buddy who works at a ski shop recommended and then fit them for me to my Crispi Nevadas. Incredible fit, not even a little bit of heal slip with great flexibility. My 11.5 felt short until the footbed. My foot doesn’t budge inside. I wore them 10 days straight in CO and couldn’t wait to put them on every day. Love them and solved a huge problem for me.

 

[TaperPin]

Normal width Asolo Fugitive or TPS 520 are closer to a C width. I can’t wear many of the popular D width boots without going through what you described.

These are popular hiking/backpacking boots and can often be found on eBay in nearly new condition for under $100, especially in your size. Not a lot there now, but they get new listings all the time. Other Asolo boots look similar, but many of them are not as substantial as these. There is a FSN 95 listed, and I’ve worn out a pair of those, but it seems they are slightly lighter weight, but not by much.

 

[Road_Hunter]

I’m on the opposite end of the spectrum, with very wide feet. I never found a boot i loved until i had a pair made to order to my measurements by Drews. Not sure I’d go with them again as they were bought by PE and clearly having issues when I sent the boots back in to be rebuilt. If you are ok with heavy, very supportive, old school boots, maybe try whites. The grizzled wildland firefighters I worked with swore by them. The guys that couldn’t afford whites bought Nicks or Drews boots, which are the same quality with out the same prestige.

They do require a break in. A couple 1-2 hour hikes preseason is usually all it takes for me. YMMV.

 

[CodeMonkey]

Hanwag Makra Pros + custom orthotics from a foot doc work for me and my narrow and low volume (top to bottom) feet.