midwest_gearhead
FNG
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2014
- Messages
- 31
Just purchased some Lowa Baffin Pros, my first leather lined boot and first boot without a gore-tex or similar lining. Also my first experience with Lowa Boots! I also own some Kenetreks ME Uninsulated and they gave me blisters this year on an elk hunt, but have performed well in that past in cooler weather with heavier socks. So I've decided to try and look for a warm weather boot that performs well with a thinner sock and breathes better. My research led me to Leather Lined boots.
I'm still in the break in process and have not done any considerable hiking in them but my immediate impression is that they breathe much better than a gore-tex lined boots. Soles aren't as stiff as my kenetreks but I think they will suffice.
Being my first experience with leather lined, the fit seems a little different. My kenetreks and old vasques had the waterproof liner and that nylon material that was on the inside of the boot. The nylon material is like a soft cloth and although it is warm, seems to form to my foot really well. Everything I read with leather lined boots was that they had a superior fit and molded to your feet. I have not felt that "molded to your feet" fit yet, but I've only worn these boots around town for a few days so I'm thinking after I get some miles on these they will "mold" to my foot more and more.
I went with a size 9.5 and an orange superfeet insole. I have what appears to be about 3/4 of an inch between my heal and the back of the boot when I slide my foot forward, but when I lace them up and stand up and press down on top of the toe I have about a half inch to the end of my boot. A little concerned I should have went with the size 9, but I had to order them in so I didnt have a chance to try anything on before I purchased. I sized my foot in a brannock device and called lowa with the results, they said to go with a 9.5. So far the boot fits well everywhere else, heel cup is almost perfect for my foot.Anyone have any comment or experience on leather lined fit over time?
I'm still in the break in process and have not done any considerable hiking in them but my immediate impression is that they breathe much better than a gore-tex lined boots. Soles aren't as stiff as my kenetreks but I think they will suffice.
Being my first experience with leather lined, the fit seems a little different. My kenetreks and old vasques had the waterproof liner and that nylon material that was on the inside of the boot. The nylon material is like a soft cloth and although it is warm, seems to form to my foot really well. Everything I read with leather lined boots was that they had a superior fit and molded to your feet. I have not felt that "molded to your feet" fit yet, but I've only worn these boots around town for a few days so I'm thinking after I get some miles on these they will "mold" to my foot more and more.
I went with a size 9.5 and an orange superfeet insole. I have what appears to be about 3/4 of an inch between my heal and the back of the boot when I slide my foot forward, but when I lace them up and stand up and press down on top of the toe I have about a half inch to the end of my boot. A little concerned I should have went with the size 9, but I had to order them in so I didnt have a chance to try anything on before I purchased. I sized my foot in a brannock device and called lowa with the results, they said to go with a 9.5. So far the boot fits well everywhere else, heel cup is almost perfect for my foot.Anyone have any comment or experience on leather lined fit over time?