Stiff boots not the way to go?

[TimberHunter]

Wanted to hear from the guys that have used stiffer hunting boots and transitioned to less stiff (but still a high quality boots). Did you stay with the less stiff or go back to stiff?

Context is western hunting, mainly off trail, decently steep areas hiking but not usually shale/rocky

Edit: also wondering if stiffer boots leads to more foot fatigue. What I’m considering stiff is Zamberlan lynx /Crispi brikstal


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[LCguy]

About the stiffest I can stand is a Lowa Camino. The one major issue I found with boots any stiffer than that is that your ankles seem to want to roll more. I think this is due to the inability of your foot to flex on/around obstacles. So, I like my foot to be able to flex at least a little bit to protect the joints higher up the chain. For reference i hunt some steep, rocky units.

Most people are wearing boots that are far too stiff IMO. You don't need mountaineering boots for hunting below treeline.

 

[Soj51hopeful]

I love the feel of my kenetrek mountain extremes on steep side hill or steep downhill. Everything else I hate them. I’ve gone to medium stiffness and won’t go back.

 

[svivian]

My feet hurt more wearing a stiff boot, especially when im covering miles so I wear a minimal boot 90% of the time. With that said there are certain times/terrain that's steep/slippery enough that I need to be able to "kick" my toe in and a stiff boot does that better for me.

 

[Samson7x]

I switched to a more flexible Lapponia and prefer this over a stiffer boot.

 

[5MilesBack]

For archery elk I like a flexible boot, all my favorites have a leather and cordura upper mix and are 6-7" tall. Even downhill skiing I've always left my upper buckles loose for maximum mobility and flex.

 

[wildwilderness]

For L48 western hunting I would always wear trail running shoes! Quiet for bowhunting and getting close. For any weight backpacking though stiff helps over the long haul. For Alaska Mountains, long packs in I have used the Briksdal SF and like it. For pure mountaineering I could see even stiffer being better, even the plastic boots

As to ankles some folk have weak ones and others don’t- I have never rolled an ankle though it seemed like I should have many times, even when I was in the military.

 

[eamyrick]

I switched to a more flexible Lapponia and prefer this over a stiffer boot.

Same. My everyday work boot is the Altra Lone Peak Hikers. In the mountains I forget I’m wearing the Lapponia which I think should be the goal of all footwear.

 

[TL406]

I’ve tried the trail runners and soft boots and gone back to very stiff boots most of the time. I have long, flat feet and they just can’t do the soft soles, especially carrying weight. If I’m just day hunting during archery season, sometimes I’ll wear softer boots. If I’m backpacking or any time during rifle season, I wear Briksdal SFs and will sometimes have Hey Dudes in a side pocket of my pack that I can switch into if I need move quietly on a stalk. It is a night-and-day difference in foot comfort between soft and stiff boots for me, favoring the stiff alternative.

 

[TimberHunter]

Same. My everyday work boot is the Altra Lone Peak Hikers. In the mountains I forget I’m wearing the Lapponia which I think should be the goal of all footwear.

Would you take the lapponia on a brooks range mountainous caribou hunt? How waterproof are they? It’s not sheep hunting but it won’t be the flat tundra style hunt


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[eamyrick]

Did 8 days bear hunting in the Alaska range with zero issues. Everyone’s foot is different. I would definetly try the solution at home in similar terrain for a bit to see how you fair. I run green superfeet in mine with zero issues. Backed out two elk back to back this year and zero foot complaints.

 

[TimberHunter]

Did 8 days bear hunting in the Alaska range with zero issues. Everyone’s foot is different. I would definetly try the solution at home in similar terrain for a bit to see how you fair. I run green superfeet in mine with zero issues. Backed out two elk back to back this year and zero foot complaints.

Good deal, thanks for the info. Like you said, everyone’s foot is different, just wanted to make sure the boot was up to the task as long as it fits my foot. Otherwise I’ll take the brikstals


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[Cactus kid]

I like stiff boots. I’m also kinda heavy and have no calves.

The Scarpa Ribelle have been my go to for everything- steep sheep mountains to doing work at a deer lease in Texas. The aggressive rocker makes long flat miles easy, and the stiffness is a huge plus when things get steep.

 

[aaronoto]

I run the gamut of high top “hiking shoes” as they call them these days up to summer mountaineering boots depend on what kind of terrain I’ll be in. My feet are more bothered by the lack of cushioned midsole on most stiffer boots than the lack of flex. I’ll say my Crispi Briksdal’s and Kenetrek Mountain Extreme’s have been a great combination of cushion, stiffness, and still enough rocker to make walking comfortable. If I’m not hunting, the hiking shoes have been my recent go to for just about everything that doesn’t involve packing out an animal. My mountaineering boots see little use unless snowshoes, a lot of rock, or real steep is involved as putting a lot of miles in them is not comfortable and tires the foot. If I could only have one, or I don’t know what to expect where I’m going, the Briksdal is getting the nod over the Kenetrek’s, only because I’ve kind of enjoyed the shorter height on them.

 

[fatlander]

I wore schnees granite pros for a long time. Bought a pair of kestrels to train in and fell in love with the lighter boot. I think I’ve got 4 seasons or so in them now. Don’t see myself going back to a stiff boot anytime soon. I’ve got a pair of schnees beartooths that I wear whitetail hunting when it gets colder, but they even feel like bricks on my feet compared to kestrels.


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[grizz19]

I can’t do soft boots, especially in nasty country or with a heavy load. Kenetrek mountain extremes have been the ticket for me. From The desert to up above tree line they are all wear

 

[rkcdvm]

Depends on the terrain for me. Super rocky , I like my stiff sole. Otherwise it’s more mid.

 

[justinspicher]

I’ve worn Scarpa mountaineering boots for the past ten years and won’t wear anything else. They are ridiculous to break in, but I love how stiff they are, very helpful for me in the terrain I hunt.

 

[Mtslackcountry]

Wanted to hear from the guys that have used stiffer hunting boots and transitioned to less stiff (but still a high quality boots). Did you stay with the less stiff or go back to stiff?

Context is western hunting, mainly off trail, decently steep areas hiking but not usually shale/rocky

Edit: also wondering if stiffer boots leads to more foot fatigue. What I’m considering stiff is Zamberlan lynx /Crispi brikstal


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The grey synthetic Brikstal is less stiff than the regular model. I used and liked them better this season. They are lighter and dry quicker. Cant imagine a better boot if you already use a brikstal these are a good boot to look at

 

[TimberHunter]

The grey synthetic Brikstal is less stiff than the regular model. I used and liked them better this season. They are lighter and dry quicker. Cant imagine a better boot if you already use a brikstal these are a good boot to look at

How does the grey synthetic hold up compared to the leather? Leather has been super tough (good thing)


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