New boot break in
Equipment
Contributors to this thread:
I bought a pair of Han wag Alaska GTX, and they are by far the stiffest boot I have ever had. I usually wear a trekking boot, with a decent amount of flex. I have only worn the han wags around the house so far, and have noticed a little heel slip. I have a hard time really cinching the laces down as the leather is really stiff.
My question for you guys is: Should I be experiencing any heel slip? Or is it normal for a a little until break in?
I wear a 13 narrow, and the boots seem to fit great. But, I don't want to keep them if they are going to continue to slip.
Julius
Cheesehead Mike's Link
Julius K,
I also have the Han Wag Alaska GTX (11 wide) that I bought last year and wore all season on 3 elk hunts and deer hunting a little. They are stiff, but that's expected in a boot intended for heavy backpacking. I love mine and don't have any heal slip but I experimented with different ways to lace them and lock the lower foot in so they don't slip. I also put the Lathrop and Sons insoles in mine.
See my link and you can search YouTube and google "lacing hiking boots" and find a lot of options. There have also been other threads on the Bowsite about lacing boots and you might be able to find them with the search function.
Those are my favorite boots I've ever owned. Had two pairs and I do not recall ever needing them to be broken in. I used them on very long hikes right out of the gate with no ill affects. I can't say that about other boots I've used.
When I fieat bought my kenetreks I had some small heal slip. With the proper knots and different insoles I have pretty much eliminated all slip.
Julius, head to the nearest " indoor mall" to get some miles on them...then you will know for sure:)
Mark
I get a little slip on my Hanwags. I went to the hardware store and bought a roll of 3/4" wide Gorilla tape. A piece down the back of each heel prevented any hot spots. That stuff is almost as good as Leukotape. Sticks way better than duct tape. My boots have not really broken in yet.
Thanks guys. When I get home I will try lacing them up different first.
No experience with them but I agree with above, if I am getting a little heel slip I just add a quality thin insole and that helps a lot. Scooby
Hey bob, you ever have any issues w/ the adhesive getting stuck on your socks? I duct taped a few toe hot spots and it gummed up my darn tough socks, they had a sticky spot in them for a long time.
Julius,I'm not a huge backpacker /hiker but have broken in 3 sets of Hanwags.The Alaska GTX (2) and the all leather lined Yukon. Each pair had a little bit of fitting characteristic.I could always tell which boot was which coming from the same last. That said.....I much as I love the workmanship of HanWag you should consider trying other boots as the last of a different company will alleviate your heel slip .Your boots are your hunt.
i recently bought a very stiff boot for the first time. big difference from my Lowa Renegades and Asolo's. Out of the gate i could do long walks with no hot spots or other issues and felt the fit was great but i still felt they needed to be broken in to reach maximum comfort level and for me to get the laces how i wanted. it was just sort of clumsy feeling at first since the are so stiff. now with well over 50 miles on them, they are very comfortable and i can easily adjust how much or little i cinch the laces down. Lowa Hunter GTX Evo Extreme for reference.
Leukotape is the best stuff ever! I carry a small roll in my pack all the time! Heal slip will be killer on any slope. Get it figured out or get different boots. Hot spots are from rubbing, a good cobbler can get rid of the rub for you even on the stiffest boot! my Lowa's took about 50 miles to break in. but very comfortable once I got the hot spots taken care of. every persons feet are different. take the time to "REALLY" break the boots in and you won't be sorry.
Good Luck and good hunting,
Scar.
I tried heel locking with the laces and eliminated the slip that I was getting. I am going to wear them around the house for a while. Thanks again guys.
I have had no issues with gorilla tape balling up. It sticks really well.
I forget which maker it was but I remember on their mountaineering boot they plainly stated it will take somewhere around 50 miles to get them broken in, and not to really expect them to be before that.
There are guys that won't put 50 on their boots in two years...... others will get a hundred or more before the season starts.
"Hey bob, you ever have any issues w/ the adhesive getting stuck on your socks?"
Sticky side goes down :)
That lady in the video is smoking...
Sumbitch!...Wait which way is down?
Kenetrek advises 40mi flat ground break in.
Julius, wear them everywhere you can. I walk the most at work, kinda weird in a clinic but no need to waste my time not wearing them.
I have no experience with hanwags but a thorough break in is strongly advised, your feet and ultimately your hunt may depend on it.