HANWAG MOUNTAIN LIGHT GTX BOOTS

[GurrCentral]

I have the Hanwag Alaska boots w/synergy insoles and absolutely love them, comfortable from day one.  If you haven't spoken with the guys and L&S, give them a call, very helpful and friendly, they'll take good care of you. 

I second this!! I too have the Alaska's and they are awesome! Thinking about looking onto the mountian lights or the cheyanne's...let me know how you like them! I use superfeet insoles, and have no problem with slip ect.. And.....Lathrop&sons have great customer service!

[Forks]

The issue Steve told me about was that stitches were failing on some pairs and Hanwag was not standing behind their product.

Wow!  I haven't had that problem.  Was that just in the Mountain GTX?  How do you like the Khumbu II?  I might need to look at those once my Trango's wear our.  Looks like those are 1/2 the price!

According to Steve it was only in the Mountain Lights. I almost went against his advise because they seem like the perfect boot. The Khumbu 2 worked well for archery and muzzy elk. I also used them 12-15 days chasing birds when it was dry. Aron Snyder from Rokslide said he would shred a pair in a year, so if they last me three or four I would be happy.

[jbeaumont21]

Thanks guys for all the feedback.  I'm really surprised to hear the issues with the eyelets and the stitching and that Hanwag wouldn't stand by their product. Every other review I have read raves about how awesome the Mountain Lights are and how much they love them.  Like Forks said I am still tempted to go against the advice and still get them.  It s a lot of money so I will do as everyone suggests and give Lathrop & Sons a call first.  Maybe they have made improvements on the boots.

[RadSav]

Thanks guys for all the feedback.  I'm really surprised to hear the issues with the eyelets and the stitching and that Hanwag wouldn't stand by their product. Every other review I have read raves about how awesome the Mountain Lights are and how much they love them.  Like Forks said I am still tempted to go against the advice and still get them.  It s a lot of money so I will do as everyone suggests and give Lathrop & Sons a call first.  Maybe they have made improvements on the boots.

In my experience Lathrop has stood behind everything!  Communications have been good, service has been good and they have made every attempt to make things right with me.  I even tried to pay them for the extra pair of boots and they wouldn't take my payment information.  The service was so good I felt guilty getting anything for free.  And BTW I now have their foot beds in every single pair of hunting boots I own...they are GREAT!  I will never waste my money on Super-Feet ever again.

I've worn my Mountain Lights quite a bit here in Washington.  And the area I hunt for elk is pretty dang steep with a lot of slash piles to stumble through coming out in the dark.  Not a single stitch problem yet!  It's just those darn eyelets without the separate rivet.  Unfortunately if I was to have them replaced with a Kennetrek type of eyelet the Goretex would be damaged.  At least that's what my cobbler tells me.  I will have that done once the Gore-Tex fails and they start to leak.  Then I will have about the finest dry weather boots ever!

[jbeaumont21]

Talked with Steve and ended up going with the Lathrop & Sons Lowa Cevedale GTX Tech-Light Hunter. I had him custom fit the synergy foot beds too.  Hopefully my feet will love me for it. I'm planning to do a St. Helens hike in June so should give them a good test.

I think I may have gotten the last size 11 he has until October when the next shipment comes in.  Guess these things have been very popular and are flying off the shelf. 

Also learned more about the Hanwag's.  I guess the company was recently sold and like any other large corporation they care more about how much profit they can make versus providing a good quality product.  I was dead set on getting the Hanwags until talking with Steve.  I think I will be very happy with the choice I made.  I'll let you all know how the Lowa's work out.

Jesse

[JLS]

Man those look like a nice boot!  Those will work great for St. Helens.  I've used mine with crampons a lot.