Stiff boots not the way to go?

[Wrench]

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.

I have the Wrangell and Gran Dru's and when I compare the build quality to a crispi or kennetrek the difference is laughable.

I would like to try a Wrangell upper on a slightly softer soled, sticky rubber sole.

 

[Speaks]

I went from medium boots like pronghorns to Crispi and they were real hard for me at first, I pushed through with people telling me they were better and I would get used to them. I did more or less.

Then I switched to Vivos and used them for more and more use cases to the point where they are just about all I use now for everything. I had worn largely barefoot shoes in day to day life for years so not really sure why I didnt translate it into hunting boots earlier.

Short of needing some of the overboot type crampons I dont see using a stiff boot anymore.

 

[justinspicher]

My most worn scarpas are the Fuegos. I’ve had them since 2015 and have a few thousand miles on them.

 

[WRO]

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


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I get 18 months a pair if I’m lucky, i usually run them about 80 days a year and they crap out around 6-700 miles.


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[R boar]

I'm all in on minimalist boots. I wear stiff scarpas for mountaineering if I need real crampons (like hood, rainier, etc type mountains) but otherwise minimalist boots no matter how steep, rocky, cliffy, whatever.

Some of it really is personal preference, and whether you can "get away with" wearing more flexible boots. Some people may need years to adapt or it just might not be the way you like to walk or have your feet feel. So I don't try to convince anyone it's the right way, but it works well for me and many others.

 

[Bubblehide]

My most worn scarpas are the Fuegos. I’ve had them since 2015 and have a few thousand miles on them.

I have several different pairs of Scarpa's boots; the Fuegos are thee most stiff, unfortunately, they are slightly undersized for me. (All my others fit well (at 1/2 size larger.))

I prefer a bit stiffer boot than most, it appears, but I've never been disappointed in any of my Scarpa's (other than the one pair being slightly too small). But people have different preferences.

 

[Mtslackcountry]

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


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I wear them almost daily in this winter and put 15 days hunting and they seem basically new. The Synthetic looks like leather but drys much faster. Doesnt seem to strech when soaked and doesnt shrink. Seems like all of my full leather boots seem to shrink in the toe box overtime and when things are really wet the leather takes for ever to dry and the boot needs major tightening because of stretch. I used to treat my leather boots constantly. I havent touched the synthetic and dont plan to. If I had to guess the soles will be shot before the synthetic leather is shot.

 

[Jimss]

You would be amazed how quietly you can stalk in lighter, less stiff boots vs tall, stiff boots with thick soles. When covering miles while scouting and hiking it definitely is nice wearing a lighter, more flexible pair of boots. The new products used in today's boots are generally lighter with more shock absorbing features.

I bought a pair of Kennetrek Mtn Extremes and returned them the day after I tried them. They were super stiff, heavy, with extremely thick soles. I felt like I was on stilts trying to negociate steep, rocky terrain. They are about the stiffest, heftiest boots I have ever tried.

I have a pair of Lowa Tibets that are similarly taller but still fairly heavy. They also are difficult to stalk quietly because of the weight, stiffness, and relatively thick soles...although not nearly as bad as the Mtn Extremes. The only time I use my Tibets is in really deep, wet snow due to being taller than my other boots and they are extremely waterproof. They are bomberproof since they are all leather with few seams.

I have around 5 pairs of different Crispis. My preference is lighter weight, less stiff boots. I prefer them way over stiff, heavy boots even when hunting steep, rough country like Alaska dall sheep and mtn goat carrying hefty loads. My legs are thankful at the end of the day with lighter boots and I can cover a lot more country in comfort. I find this even more important as I get older.

 

[mtnbound]

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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I found years ago that stiff boots reduced foot fatigue. I went from using flexible boots like Danner Pronghorns and Crispi Idahos to stiffer boots like Hoffmans and stiffer Crispis. What I noticed was my feet did not feel beat up in the stiffer boots especially after long rucks. I do also use Sheep feet insoles. My favorite boots have been Crispi Kenai, Colorado and Briksdal. I wear Crispi boots everyday at work.
I went through two sets of Vivo ESC and liked them until I devolved foot pain in one foot so I no longer wear them and stay with Crispi boots.

 

[Kurts86]

In the last 5 years I’ve gone from La Sportiva Trango Cubes to HOKA Speedgoat GTX. At this point I’m really liking the less stiff option that happens to be the equivalent of my HOKA Clifton’s I wear daily and run in.

I have a narrow foot and I have always had a lot of heel slip issues even with narrow Italian boots. I will blister on my heels and the balls of my feel in stiff boot but not in flexible ones. I can train up to a stiffer boot and manage hot spots but it’s a big effort. With less stiff boots I just don’t think about my feet.

The one downside to trail runners is that cactus pokes right through the uppers unlike a leather boot. Beyond that minimal stiffness high cushion footwear works for me.

Footwear is a personal thing. You just have to experiment and find what works for YOU.

 

[dgfavor]

This is about as stiff and heavy as I ever wear anymore.

These are getting into 3rd year of heavy use and they literally look no worse for wear - been on sheep, elk, mule deer, chukars, rucking, etc. They have never leaked a drop of water either. I honestly didn't think they'd last a week. I do think I am more conscious of where I put my feet (see cactus reference above) with less on them so that probably helps with footwear longevity. Xero Ridgeways. :

I never have figured out why folks think heavy and stiff is the way to go to haul loads...other than boot companies of course need to pick some feature to market.

Stiffness and lack of ground feel really handicaps our natural neuromuscular pathways that keep us upright...I don't wanna pile drive into the ground ever and for sure not with 70lbs on my back!

Too much important shiz going on down there to just lock 'em up! :