Mountain boots

[Mulemania]

Ok here’s the deal, I’ve worn meindls my whole life, I have 6 pairs, (get them through work). I decided I wanted to try a much stiffer boot, the last couple years my approaches have been very very aggressive and the meindls wouldn’t side hill or toe in the way I wanted. After a pile of research I went out and bought some lasportiva Nepal exo gtx boots.... they are incredibly stiff, they make side hilling a joke and you can walk up a steep face like your on stairs, on flat ground they have a very nice rocker design so it’s smooth to walk not like ski boots or other mountaineering boots... my question is, is there any downside to wearing a boot that stiff for a multiple day trip, they are very comfortable also.

 

[Mt_elk]

People seem to love them if the fit is right. My foot tends to like a more flexible boot, stiffer ones tend to give me some heel rub. My feet are pretty F'ed up tho.

 

[Topo_trekker]

Stability on hard ground and trails. Also agility and navigating quietly. Because of the extra height and narrower soles of a true mountaineering boot, designed for snow and loose ground, it’s easier to make a wrong step and roll ankle on hard ground. You really have to be precise and lay your foot down parallel.

I have a pair of Lowa Mtn Experts which have a nice rocker too. I love them for late season and really rugged terrain but they suck on the trail. So it depends where I hunt. If i know it’s a 8mile hike in on a trail before I get to area, I go with a 3/4 shank boot. My feet get more fatigued from having the unnatural step/stride required by a full shank boot even with a rocker for a majority of the hunt.

If it’s rugged steep terrain for a majority right out of the truck Im going with full shank boot. Love them, just another tool with a specific use.