goathunter
WKR
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2013
- Messages
- 857
Im starting to get worried my current boots won't make it through this season and I can't find a new boot.
Here is my (~8 year) history of a search for a mountain hunting and backpacking boot. My right foot is pretty much a 12 4E, my left an 11.5 3E. I really think there's alot of guys out there with wide feet, and it's crazy there aren't more options. And yes, I've called Lathrop.
From all my experience if a boot barely doesn't fit, it's not going to work. Because all of these boots have the 360 wrap rubber rand, and this just won't break in. The rubber rand holds the shape and the boot will fit like it does the day you try it on a year from now. And if a boot is too big, all of these boots have such a stiff shank, you will get heal lift.
If anyone has some other ideas please let me know I will try them. Or maybe this will help someone else out.
La Sportiva ???- bought too big, returned to REI. bought my size, too narrow. But so comfortable I wish they fit. Returned to REI.
New Balance 1500 Rainier - 11.5 4E. Backpacker's editor's choice 2009. Discontinued - why? The only boot to ever fit me. Wish they were 12's as the leather has shrunk from getting wet/drying by fire. Still wearing, had soles glued back on this year. But these boots are not heavy duty/stiff enough for carrying much weight, although I do. Still, if anyone knows of any new old stock I will buy them.
Kenetrek Mountain Extreme NI 11.5W. Loved these boots. Right big toe jams into wall of boot. Sent to Kenetrek recommended cobbler in Bozeman twice to have area rubbed out. Used them for a season. Still a problem. Sold on craigslist.
Lowa Tibet 12W - too narrow, returned. Nicest hardware of any boot I've tried.
Hanwag Alaskan 12W. So close to fitting - such well made boots.Right big toe/little toe jams into wall of boot. They have, among others, a straight last, and a wide last. I think if they made a "straight wide" last, it would fit.
Kenetrek Hardscrabble hiker 12W. Finally - a boot that doesn't cramp my right toe box. Thought I finally found THE ones. When I do find the ones, I will buy 3 pair. But, after a season, the toe box was roomy because they were too big, and I had heel lift issues. Sold on ebay.
Scarpa Kinesis 46. So close to fitting. Made at least 4 trips to the boot store to try, and ordered from Amazon to try for a week. Just barely too narrow in the toe box. Almost bought them. Returned.
Danner Mountain Assault 12 EE. Decent boots for the price. Not much padding throughout the boot though. Good room in toe box but was barely too small at first, got smaller the longer I had them on. Not super stiff. These run a little small. After wearing most of a day walking around indoors my right toe box was cramped - small and big toe driving into sides of boot. It was enough I know it would be bad after a day of hiking. Tried a 13 locally and it was way too long.
Scarpa Kinesis 46.5 (12.5US). Very close. Probably would have worked after much break in. Still too narrow - outer toes cramped.
Meindl Denali (2016) 12 EE. Enough room in the toe box (although feels like a true EE), probably because fit is 1/2 size big. 12US has Longer insole than the Scarpa 12.5US, but is narrower in the ball of the foot. Meindl has a straighter last which makes it feel wider. Too big though, returned.
Meindl Denali (2016) 11.5US EE. Too tight in the toe box with stock insole, stock insole is very thick. Trying really thin aftermarket insoles - SOLE Super Sport Thin, Superfeet Carbon, and thinner socks and I think these might be the ones. Hopefully after they break in I could wear any socks. Meindls aren't the widest widest boots I've tried on, Scarpa Kinesis last is wider (and curvier), but Meindls give more room somehow. Maybe they have more vertical space. Probably toe room like a 12W Kenetrek, but locks your heel in better. No heel slip even on the way too big 12EE.
I have a 11.5 EE Meindl Perfekt on order. I'm gonna compare to the Denali and keep one of them for the season and be done. Because the season i s a week away...
Here is my (~8 year) history of a search for a mountain hunting and backpacking boot. My right foot is pretty much a 12 4E, my left an 11.5 3E. I really think there's alot of guys out there with wide feet, and it's crazy there aren't more options. And yes, I've called Lathrop.
From all my experience if a boot barely doesn't fit, it's not going to work. Because all of these boots have the 360 wrap rubber rand, and this just won't break in. The rubber rand holds the shape and the boot will fit like it does the day you try it on a year from now. And if a boot is too big, all of these boots have such a stiff shank, you will get heal lift.
If anyone has some other ideas please let me know I will try them. Or maybe this will help someone else out.
La Sportiva ???- bought too big, returned to REI. bought my size, too narrow. But so comfortable I wish they fit. Returned to REI.
New Balance 1500 Rainier - 11.5 4E. Backpacker's editor's choice 2009. Discontinued - why? The only boot to ever fit me. Wish they were 12's as the leather has shrunk from getting wet/drying by fire. Still wearing, had soles glued back on this year. But these boots are not heavy duty/stiff enough for carrying much weight, although I do. Still, if anyone knows of any new old stock I will buy them.
Kenetrek Mountain Extreme NI 11.5W. Loved these boots. Right big toe jams into wall of boot. Sent to Kenetrek recommended cobbler in Bozeman twice to have area rubbed out. Used them for a season. Still a problem. Sold on craigslist.
Lowa Tibet 12W - too narrow, returned. Nicest hardware of any boot I've tried.
Hanwag Alaskan 12W. So close to fitting - such well made boots.Right big toe/little toe jams into wall of boot. They have, among others, a straight last, and a wide last. I think if they made a "straight wide" last, it would fit.
Kenetrek Hardscrabble hiker 12W. Finally - a boot that doesn't cramp my right toe box. Thought I finally found THE ones. When I do find the ones, I will buy 3 pair. But, after a season, the toe box was roomy because they were too big, and I had heel lift issues. Sold on ebay.
Scarpa Kinesis 46. So close to fitting. Made at least 4 trips to the boot store to try, and ordered from Amazon to try for a week. Just barely too narrow in the toe box. Almost bought them. Returned.
Danner Mountain Assault 12 EE. Decent boots for the price. Not much padding throughout the boot though. Good room in toe box but was barely too small at first, got smaller the longer I had them on. Not super stiff. These run a little small. After wearing most of a day walking around indoors my right toe box was cramped - small and big toe driving into sides of boot. It was enough I know it would be bad after a day of hiking. Tried a 13 locally and it was way too long.
Scarpa Kinesis 46.5 (12.5US). Very close. Probably would have worked after much break in. Still too narrow - outer toes cramped.
Meindl Denali (2016) 12 EE. Enough room in the toe box (although feels like a true EE), probably because fit is 1/2 size big. 12US has Longer insole than the Scarpa 12.5US, but is narrower in the ball of the foot. Meindl has a straighter last which makes it feel wider. Too big though, returned.
Meindl Denali (2016) 11.5US EE. Too tight in the toe box with stock insole, stock insole is very thick. Trying really thin aftermarket insoles - SOLE Super Sport Thin, Superfeet Carbon, and thinner socks and I think these might be the ones. Hopefully after they break in I could wear any socks. Meindls aren't the widest widest boots I've tried on, Scarpa Kinesis last is wider (and curvier), but Meindls give more room somehow. Maybe they have more vertical space. Probably toe room like a 12W Kenetrek, but locks your heel in better. No heel slip even on the way too big 12EE.
I have a 11.5 EE Meindl Perfekt on order. I'm gonna compare to the Denali and keep one of them for the season and be done. Because the season i s a week away...
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