Tough hiking boot brands

[fishmonger]

La Sportiva makes pretty narrow boots - at least their mountaineering models Trango and all related boots are narrow. Most people end up buying a larger size than what they usually need due to the narrow cut. Definitely a boot you should not mail order unless there's a liberal return policy.

[Carne_DelMuerto]

So, who makes narrow boots these days? Seems like it's getting harder and harder to find a narrow.

If I get a "medium," I usually wind up losing toenails because me feet slip forward on down hills, and, no, just lacing 'em up more tightly or wearing double socks typically doesn't take care of the problem.

HJ

Jim, this is purely anecdotal, but I've found that for trail runners at least, Vasque seems to fit my narrow foot best. I found a pair of Vasque Sundowner boots online for cheap and so bought them hoping the fitting would translate over to the bigger boot. It does fit snugly across the top of my foot and seems to keep it in place even though I can feel the extra space in the toe. I've only taken them out for a few miles so far, but I think they are going to do the trick.

As I reread your post it dawned on me that are asking about manufacturer boots labeled as "narrow." For that I have no answer, but I'll leave the above paragraph in case it's any kind of help.

[hikin_jim]

Actually, that is helpful. Most of the time I cannot find "narrow" boots/shoes per se but have to rely on manufacturers that tend to run a little narrow. I'll file Vasque and La Sportiva away in my mental file.

I totally agree with the prior comment that people with "difficult" (to fit) feet should not order via mail unless there's a pretty generous return policy in place.

HJ

[cgundersen]

I'm with fishmonger. I'm on my second pair of La Sportiva (Glacier) and they are the most comfortable boots I've ever found. Great for snow, scree, talus and bushwhacking. Broke in my last pair over Sawmill Pass with nary a blister. I've used Lowa, Raichle, Galibier and Asolo (all with Norwegian welt, and all with lengthy break-in needed) and had the soles fall off every pair at more-or-less inopportune moments. My original La Sportiva needed re-soling after ~300 miles, but the shop I use in west LA does a great job and I've had no problem with re-soles. The vibram wears out before the soles detach. The trailsaver design on the vibram soles of my new Glaciers was useless for anything but DRY trails, but I like the boots so much, I got new soles put on the new boots. Silly but true.
cg

[hikin_jim]

Trailsaver? Is that where they round off the heel?

HJ

[cgundersen]

Hi Jim,
I may have been kind in labeling them trailsavers, as I don't know for sure that the pattern (shown on the accompanying website photo) really is a trailsaver. All I know is that this pattern is a disaster for me on anything wet. Trading out to the old fashioned vibram lug soles and these babies are good to about a 75 degree angle on granite and work wonders in snow. Note that this website also has a lot of positive reviews of the Glaciers. I concur with most of them!

http://www.backcountry.com/la-sportiva- ... -boot-mens

cg

[hikin_jim]

OK, so this pattern (see photo) does NOT work. Have I got that right?



HJ

[fishmonger]

Note that this website also has a lot of positive reviews of the Glaciers. I concur with most of them!

http://www.backcountry.com/la-sportiva- ... -boot-mens

cg

My daughter loved them when they still fit her in 2009 - here near Guitar Lake near the end of a full Muir Trail



they were barely bruised after that hike. The after she use the Tango boots and didn't like them as much, even though they were lighter.

[hikin_jim]

Dang! Big boots for a little girl! Did you guys do so much hard snow that you needed heavy boots like that?

HJ

[cgundersen]

jim,
Yes, that is the pattern that was a disaster for me. As I said, it's fine on dry trails, but once things get slick, that pattern slides. Curiously, I just realized that La Sportiva puts the standard vibram lugsole on their next model up (Makalu), so next time, I'll probably get Maks.

fishmonger,
great shot; I wish I'd had such great boots at that age!
cg