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.

 

[JollyRoger]

Narrow and low volume guy here too. Here’s what’s worked for me:
Asolo fugitive with Superfeet
La Sportiva Trango line with Superfeet
Lowa Ticam Evo

And my favorite so far:
Merrell Wrapt Mid. These are low volume, plenty of adjustment for low volume feet. Very grippy and comfortable. They aren’t as durable as the options above but they are awesome in every other regard.