Anyone ever use mountaineering boots for hunting the rough stuff?

[CountryslickR]

Check out Lathrop and Sons.  I ordered a set after similar frusturation you are talking about- one Danner per season....  Anyway, love them.  Great support and great fit.  I was freaked a bit about buying boots on line, but it's worked out great for me.

 Check out the Alaska GTX's!!! They are by far the best boot ive ever worn...no break in period!

[sisu]

Check out Lathrop and Sons.  I ordered a set after similar frustration you are talking about- one Danner per season....  Anyway, love them.  Great support and great fit.  I was freaked a bit about buying boots on line, but it's worked out great for me.

 Check out the Alaska GTX's!!! They are by far the best boot I've ever worn...no break in period!

I'd like to have a set of these in hand. Looks like a real well made boot from the on line description, but I would never order a set without trying them on or at least have free shipping back if there was a problem. This description is not entirely accurate: European lasts are known for their ability to accommodate an array of feet. This specific last features a generous amount of volume in the forefoot and a very narrow heel. What it tells me is the boot is made on an Italian last even though they are a German company. Each country has different lasting forms as I said earlier in the thread. Traditionally German and Austrian boots have a large toe box and a medium heel.

From what I am reading this is a VERY high quality boot and the price reflects that. Too bad there is not a retailer in west of the Mississippi so you could try the different models on.

Here are a couple of real good links to footwear guides.
This first one is specific for hiking to mountaineering boots hiking-mountaineering boot

And this one is a real surprise. Apparently there is a school school in Pt. Townsend, WA. The first link is all about what the man can do for you in regards to a last. Once you have the last all you need to do is find a real cobbler and get a pair of custom boots made or shoes.
shoe school

This second link shows all the different lasts. If you have hard to fit feet and can afford custom footwear this is the route I would go. shoe lasts

[CountryslickR]

When you order from Lathrop and Sons they have the option of sending in measurements of your feet, photos, and an outline..kinda like Whites or Nicks.....they ask you what sizes of your other boots, shoes, ect....then, if they dont fit right, they have great constomer service and are more than willing to work with you...just my experience...but yes it is not the funnest waiting on a boot that you have not tried on when buying online....

[sisu]

Thank you for posting the information about this company. Finding well made boots with quality is hard now a days, so getting feed back from folks that have used the product & experienced the customer service is great.

[Special T]

I have a pair of La Sportiva i summit-ed Rainer in... not really good hiking boot but good climbing boots.... Was a really big fan of Raichly boots when they had Vibram soles.... don't know if they ever went back to them or not... I really like the Vibram soles.. worth the extra $$$$ they are the Pinochle of ANY  tread on a boot. 

[alecvg]

I go with Lowa Mountain Expert GTX.  Love them.

http://www.rei.com/product/780836?preferredSku=7808360072&cm_mmc=cse_froogle-_-datafeed-_-product-_-7808360072&mr:trackingCode=EE97071B-81F9-DE11-BAE3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA

[Vek]

I wouldn't mess with plastic.  Lots of guys up here insist on them for hunting sheep - they really have only one redeeming feature and that is if you find yourself having to cross a slide that's super hard underneath and slick.  Otherwise, you can do everything else the same or better in the right flavor of leather. 

I've not yet met a molded-sole boot that I like.  I liked the fit and lightness of the La Sportiva Trango S, but it would get chewed up pretty bad where I hunt sheep.  Might be a good option down there where you're not on rock or moraine the whole hunt. 

I've used the same pair of Alico Guide from sierratradingpost for the last three sheep hunts, and they are currently in Seattle getting resoled at Page's.  The leather upper is none the worse for wear.  Mine are slightly different looking than the ones offered on the website now - they are smooth leather up the back and have an additional eyelet above the ankle.  They basically suck for just walking around, but are like gold for when you're loaded heavy on steep stuff.  MEC up in Vancouver sells a similar boot from Gronell.  Old norwegian welt boots are hard to come by these days. 

[Ray]

I agree with you Vek. The Trango S and boots like it could get chewed up real bad in the rocks. Although they are supposed to accomodate rock climbing and I have a pair which I used to climb on some mountains (Forbidden Peak twice and Mount Stuart), they are simply not an extremely durable boot.

Everyone likes a different feel, fit and has good reasons for choosing their particular boot. I would recommend a leather boot and would avoid a plastic boot at all costs. Other than that I have nothing more specific on recommendations.

I have always preferred the fit of an ASOLO hiking boot. Similar to this. But that's not a recommendation - except for me...

[Yeti]

I recently bought the Meidl Perfekt and I was not impressed with them.  I had the 7" instead of the 10".  The traction was good but the fit was less than desireable for a $220 shoe. There was plenty of time for break in period and the roughly 34 mi of hunting.  I am on the hunt again for a good shoe.

[swanny]

The Scarpa Inverno's are VERY popular for many hunters in Canada and Alaska, I have fielded tons of calls from them on this particular boot and plastic boots in general. They are relatively inexpensive and have the removable liner so you can throw it in your sleeping at night and they are nice and warm when you wake up in the morning.
http://www.rei.com/product/780182

Fit is definitely the hardest thing to figure out with mountaineering boots. A lot of companies are starting to have two or three fits in their line now as well, so just because one boot does not fit well, a different boot from the same company may be wider in the toe box or heel, etc. My current boot is the La Sportiva Karakorum, climbs well, hikes well, stays dry, and it isn't quite as stiff. It also does not have the typical skinny foot fit that La Sportiva is known for. The one thing I really like about this boot is the lacing system, the last eyelet before the hooks actually locks the lace in place so the bottom doesn't loosen up when you try and tighten the upper part of the boot.
http://www.rei.com/product/793828

For sure get in and try on as many of these boots as you can. They do all fit different as mentioned and it really can't be done just shopping online. Also, make sure you break them in well, couldn't tell you how many phone calls I have taken of people coming in from Florida to climb Mt. Rainier next week and they are just now buying their boots.

[Armadillo]

Alot of the mountaineering boots ive tried have too tight of a fit in the toe box, I might end up trying Meindles Alaska hunters