What boot that's actually foot shaped now?

[swavescatter]

NM wilderness hunter here. Lems daily wearer. I like my Altra Lone peak 9's and for wetter/tougher conditions I like my Crispi Lapponias. You can try these both out in person at REI/Sportsmans.

 

[Roughneck]

FYI - I had Hanwag Alverstone II in a wide size and they were narrow for me. Their wide fit like a regular.

I agree with this 100%

 

[hand skills]

I do have very high arches/instep and have to use orthotics or I will be in heavy pain before too long, so I have to be able to fit a stiff orthotic.

How stiff a sole are you looking for?

The AKU Pilgrims are a unique combo of ultralight boot with good support and moderately stiff sole.

Break in took some time (50mi?!) but I'm really liking them - traditional sole, anatomical footbed and modern ultralight upper.

For me the soles are even a bit too hard for pavement/ashphalt, but they feel right at home in rough terrain.

Biggest weaknesses is the soles get hard and slippery in the cold (freezing temps). I see you are from NM though, so the strengths of this boot might fit your environment well.

I developed plantar fasciitis from crappy footwear on concrete at work.

Got mad, cause I'm not an old guy yet! Did the research, invested in high quality, anatomically correct footwear

Now it's Lowa Z-6N on concrete, Crispi Lapponia lites around town and Aku Pilgrim HLs for training hikes.

Sidehilling in the AKUs rebuilt strength in my ankles and 'cured' my plantar fasciitis.

For whatever it's worth

 

[icampbell87]

Hanwag makes quality boots but their lasts and lack of labeling which last is used for a particular boot is frustrating. They have a web page that explains each one but you really have to look at the description of a boot to know what it’s made on. They have a last for bunions, straight fit, straight fit extra, alpine wide, and extra narrow for no good reason also known as the Alverstone II. Some models are available in regular and wide so the box will say wide. Some are only made on the wide last so those won’t get labeled as wide. Currently I’m using the Makra Trek pro in a half size up. Best fit I’ve found for feet like ours. I’m curious if a full size up would be better or just too much.

I ended up finding a pair of Hanwag Makra Pro's in a half size up, apparently the alpine wide last, and buying them from Gohunt (on a good sale).

I appreciate yours and everyone else's feedback, I'll see how they do!

 

[youttriggered]

Topo athletic has that last, and they’ve come out height a boot, topo trailventure. I don’t have them and can’t speak to them other than the last.

I have several pairs of running shoes from topo and I do my UL backpacking trips in the Topo trail venture 2. I love the shape but they are not hunting boots. They will not stand up rough terrain under weight especially on higher angle elevation.

 

[Blockcaver]

For the original poster: Meindl "Perfekt" Hunter (10" with 400 grams insulation) and Hiker (7" uninsulated) boots as sold by Cabelas prior to the Bass Pro buyout were exactly the fit I need....wider fore foot and narrower heel....with a larger rear heel pocket for my bony heels that have bumps on them. They never give me heel blisters like every other boot I've tried when climbing and require no break-in for my foot.

I bought several pairs of each for closeout prices around the merger time and am still in good shape boot supply wise 7 years later.

If I was you, I'd contact Meindl USA and see what the closest boot to the old "Perfekt" models are and try them.

Note: I bought a pair of Meindl "Islanders" as sold by Meindl Canada that I've had over a decade that are a stiffer boot with a smaller heel pocket and narrower fore foot.....they give me heel blisters when climbing and don't fit good like the Perfekt models do. I'll never wear them out as they are only used for short duration on flatter terrain...even though they are a stiffer mountain boot.

 

[fatlander]

There’s two trains of thoughts with mountain hunting boots.

Stiff and heavy for rough terrain.

Light and flexible that requires more training on your end.

The later is what I suggest. If you condition yourself to the lightest most flexible boot you find comfortable, you’re going to be more effective in the mountains. The EXO guys covered it well: what’s harder 100,000 leg lifts with 2.5 pounds or 100,000 leg lifts with 1 pound? You’re also going to be in better shape when you get to the mountains, because of the extra training to condition your feet to lighter boots in steep terrain with weight on your back, which makes you more effective.


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