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Expensive Hiking Boots?

Homebrew454 said:
I've only heard good things about them. I've looked at their custom boots but don't think I could talk the wife into allowing me to get them.
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If you have a footbed you like, you can buy their boots off the shelf at a fraction of the cost of going full custom. The L&S boots are the same either way.

When you go custom, you're mostly paying for consultation time with one of the L&S brothers, and you get their custom synergy footbeds. They advertise services like stretch and shave boot correction, but I guess you'd have to be really dialed in to your needs and particular to end up in that sort of back and forth.

I haven't tried mine with a different footbed, but would't hesitate to buy just the boot.
 
Homebrew454 said:
I've only heard good things about them. I've looked at their custom boots but don't think I could talk the wife into allowing me to get them.

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I hadn’t planned on it, but I tried on a pair of Crispi Nevadas at TAC & that had been my plan but they didn’t fit right. Tried a pair of zamberlains & same thing. Then I called L & S & they seemed pretty confident they could find a good fit. So all in it’s an extra $500 more than the boots cost on the website, but the customer service was top notch & your foot sizing is on file for next time with no additional charges… lastly once I was in at $450-500 ish for a pair of boots making sure I picked the right one that fit plus custom footbeds wasn’t a super leap. But I totally get that’s a huge commitment for boots. Don’t plan to go a different direction & these will last years…..
 
Bigterp said:
I hadn’t planned on it, but I tried on a pair of Crispi Nevadas at TAC & that had been my plan but they didn’t fit right. Tried a pair of zamberlains & same thing. Then I called L & S & they seemed pretty confident they could find a good fit. So all in it’s an extra $500 more than the boots cost on the website, but the customer service was top notch & your foot sizing is on file for next time with no additional charges… lastly once I was in at $450-500 ish for a pair of boots making sure I picked the right one that fit plus custom footbeds wasn’t a super leap. But I totally get that’s a huge commitment for boots. Don’t plan to go a different direction & these will last years…..
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If we're lucky they might have another Black Friday sale for registered customers on in stock boots. I screwed up and didn't take advantage. Seemed like they had the big sizes leftover.
 
thedutchtouch said:
Lowa renegade gtx, my first "high end" boot (quotes because they are on the cheaper/lower side of the high end spectrum) but seem comfortable enough, may get better insoles. Found a pair "used" from REI for a great deal, still going strong, may look for another pair in off-season in a stiffer boot, finding a deal being the priority as I don't NEED another pair yet. After owning one pair of good boots though they are definitely a need not a want.
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I'm in the same boat as @thedutchtouch. Have some GTXs. Have worn them for 3 or 4 years and they're still in fantastic shape but I'm looking into insoles now.
 
BTaylor said:
Show her the price of an e-bike.
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Yeah, trying to swing a Garmin Inreach Messenger ($300 plus subscription). She thinks it's a lot of money. I don't think she understands that when I say it is a "dead zone" where I'll be means absolutely no cell reception at all. No emergency services without it either.

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Bigterp said:
I hadn’t planned on it, but I tried on a pair of Crispi Nevadas at TAC & that had been my plan but they didn’t fit right. Tried a pair of zamberlains & same thing. Then I called L & S & they seemed pretty confident they could find a good fit. So all in it’s an extra $500 more than the boots cost on the website, but the customer service was top notch & your foot sizing is on file for next time with no additional charges… lastly once I was in at $450-500 ish for a pair of boots making sure I picked the right one that fit plus custom footbeds wasn’t a super leap. But I totally get that’s a huge commitment for boots. Don’t plan to go a different direction & these will last years…..
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Keep us/me :) posted on them. I may go that route next year. Just super high arches and I walk on the outside edge of my feet. The sheep feet help but I still get the same wear pattern on my boots as my running shoes. Orthotics might be the route for me to go but then there is the doctor office bills.

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Homebrew454 said:
Keep us/me :) posted on them. I may go that route next year. Just super high arches and I walk on the outside edge of my feet. The sheep feet help but I still get the same wear pattern on my boots as my running shoes. Orthotics might be the route for me to go but then there is the doctor office bills.

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I’ll give an update after my hunt & after the season. It was basically an orthotic consultation & custom fit for hunting boots.
 
Buy a pair of Rocky Whitetail Stalkers. They will be your friend.


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Bigterp said:
I’ll give an update after my hunt & after the season. It was basically an orthotic consultation & custom fit for hunting boots.
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How long did it take start to finish? From ordering the foot kit to receiving boots.

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Im in this same boat. I had a pair of slightly-to-big Timbs I wore last season that were fine with a thick pair of socks, but I knock around in 'em with normal socks.

I've been considering milsurp jungle boots and getting some gaiters for the bayous and marshes that are so common where I hunt - as opposed to a knee-high boot. But whenever the temps do get cold, that would be too-cool of a setup.
 
Bigterp said:
I’ll give an update after my hunt & after the season. It was basically an orthotic consultation & custom fit for hunting boots.
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I'll probably pull the trigger on these in spring. I'll see how my feet feel after my elk trip in my Crispis first though. Based upon my conversations with L&S though I'll probably need wedges to help my underpronation.

Interested in your take after season!

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Thought I would give an update on my Crispi Nevada boots. I wore them elk hunting with elevations from 9200 to 11400 feet for perspective.

First day we get to the parking lot and thunderstorm came through as we were getting ready. I threw my rain cover on my pack and we sat out the storm in the truck. 3 hours later we get out and throw our packs on. I'm immediately getting wet with water running down into my boots. I didn't realize it right away but my hydration system's but valve was stuck between my body and my pack's belt. By the time I got the belt loosened and pack off I estimate that 2 liters of water emptied from my water bladder.

I change out socks and emptied my boots. I figured it is Colorado and my boots should be dried out overnight or the following day. (My buddy had hunted here for 20 years and lives in Colorado, typically things dry quickly). I figure I will just change out socks during the ascent. We get about 2000 ft. up the mountain face and lightning and thunder again. Setup camp on a flat/bench for the night.

It rains overnight and ends about mid morning. We make it to where we planned on camp but the pond was empty. Scout for a new site and find one. Setup camp mid afternoon. Go hang up food and see elk in the meadow. All cows and they catch our wind. Rain comes again and lasts until morning.

Long story short it continues to rain, snow, and hail most of every day. My boots were never able to dry even though I'm sleeping with all my wet socks on my body and get them pretty dry each night. The boots continued to soak up water like a sponge due to the insides being wet, which I think the goretex brought the water in (I hate goretex).

So far no blisters but dreading the descent as I fear my feet will become a bloody mess as my feet constantly look like I just got out of a bath. Get to the bottom by the truck immediately take off pack and boots. My feet surprisingly have no blisters!!!!

Overall, I liked the boots but wish they weren't goretex. I still find it amazing that I had no blisters. As for the hunt, we were unsuccessful but I called in a 370 inch bull for my buddy that spooked. Wind was constantly swirling making it extremely difficult to hunt. I think the constant storms coming in caused the wind to shift.

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Glad that seemed to work better than expected with less than ideal conditions. I’ll give an an update as well. My L&S mountain hunters exceeded expectations on my elk trip I hiked 53 miles & was beyond impressed sidehilling. Steep declines were easy & I had to slightly adjust & relace on my first couple really steep inclines as not to rub my heels. But all in all dry feet & no hot spots of any kind & I had my Solomon gtx4s as backup & wore them 1 day & that was a mistake. I can’t give them a much higher review with the only downside being price.
 
I have a pair of waterproof insulated boots for cold weather and they have a removable 3M insulated sleeve that covers the whole foot. In the south it doesn't get super cold and these boots are awesome and the front is kinda like a duck boot and 100% waterproof. However, these are for short walks to get to my stand in cold weather. I would never hike in them because they don't offer that type of comfort. Also I don't use them in the summer because with the insulated sleeve they are too hot and if you remove it they're a touch too big and kinda uncomfortable. I wish I could remember the brand, I bought them with a gift certificate my Dad gave me for Christmas about 20 years ago.

Now we do a LOT of hiking and when it comes to a warm weather hunting boot or we go on a long hike I've bought two different pairs of Merrells. I doubt I'll buy any more of that brand. When I first get them they're like putting on clouds and that lasts about a week and then they feel like barefoot on concrete. Or that has been my experience.

We have a locally owned small town "outdoor adventure" type store here in town and I like the guy and try to support him. I bought some Chacos about mid to late July that still feel awesome and perfect for more manicured hiking trails but I wouldn't hunt or do rough country hiking in them, they're just not that type of shoe. However, if I can find where they make a hunting/hiking type boot I'll be all over them. So far all I see is light hiking and sandals.
 
JBDCPA said:
I've bought two different pairs of Merrells. I doubt I'll buy any more of that brand. When I first get them they're like putting on clouds and that lasts about a week and then they feel like barefoot on concrete. Or that has been my experience.
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That's beem my experience as well. That, and the lacing loops pulling apart the first time I tried hiking on a pair of Merrell hiking boots.
 
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