New boot goofin’

I finally broke down and purchased myself a new pair of leather hiking/hunting boots last week. I’ve had my old pair for six years now and have put countless miles on them, taking them anywhere from the high desert of Washington to the alder thickets of Kodiak.

The tread was worn down and the leather was no longer waterproof. A day hiking in the muskegs would find my feet a bit damp. The rand was separated from the leather and the entire shoe was decorated in several coats of Aquaseal and Shoe Goo. The leather was cracked and creased and my third pair of laces were wearing thin.

It was a frankenboot if I’ve ever seen one.

These were the Crispi Guide GTX, a 10” tall, fully leather and waterproof boot made in Italy. They had 200 grams of Thinsulate insulation, just enough to keep my toes warm on cold hunts but not too warm for the early fall. Paired with a set of wool socks, my feet were not only warm when damp, but I also had the greatest proprioception as I’ve ever had in any boot. With a set of gaiters, I could quickly cross any piece of water almost knee high without fear of getting wet.

These boots have been great for my Alaska pursuits, ranging from hunting moose in September, to hunting blacktails during the rut in November and picking blueberries in August. The waterproofing and warmth never failed me despite the deterioration that comes with use and age.

The only times that I’ve had an issue with these shoes have been during the middle of summer when it’s hot. The insulation is a little too much and makes my feet sweat. I get easily overheated and then I feel like I’m walking around with weights tied around my ankles. It also took me a while to find a set of wool socks that I liked. I found the best socks to be medium weight merinos that allowed my foot to grip a little better within the boot itself.

And because I enjoyed these boots so much, I decided to replace them with the exact same model. It was long overdue and has been an item that I’ve been saving for and planning to acquire prior to the spring hunting season. I remember unpacking my boots at deer camp in November and telling everyone that this would be the last hunt that I would make with them. One of my partners responded by telling me that that’s what I had said on our Kodiak trip a year and a half before, yet here I was with a fresh coat of Shoe Goo still emitting that strong chemical odor.

Now it’s time to break in the new boots. I’ll be rucking around my neighborhood and taking them on short hikes to get them a little more supple and shaped to my foot. I could only be so lucky to get another six years out of this pair.