Narrow hiking boot reccos

**Abol98** · 05-10-2022, 10:30 AM

Don't think I've asked this here before. I have crazy narrow feet and want to add a 2-3 day trekking boot to my rotation. I have LL Bean Cresta in B width that do the job - really like them - however they're old school and not light. At all. Have been trying unsuccessfully to find a rugged midweight that shaves some ounces for hot summer backpacking but holds up to New England granite.

Off the table: Salomon. Love the brand in general but their outsole is not for me. Had a few dangerous slips on wet rock with the Outline and 3D and I'm just going to stay away.

Requirements: GoreTex, and Vibram outsole.

Tried the La Sportiva Nucleo which was close... but I'm in between sizes and messing with insoles ruined the heel fit - might try the women's on. Interested in the Danner 2650 line and Vasque Breeze AT. Anything else I should try on before purchase?

sf · 05-10-2022, 10:33 AM

I think Salewa got pretty narrow lasts

**Abol98** · 05-10-2022, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by sf

I think Salewa got pretty narrow lasts

Good to know. Moosejaw sells them, and there's a storefront by my house.

In a related observation, retailers who don't post photos of the outsoles when selling hiking boots should be forced to hike New Hampshire in Crocs.

**old goat** · 05-10-2022, 09:37 PM

IME the soles of every hiking boot I've tried in the last 20 years or more has sucked, whether it says vibram or not. Sucked meaning slippery when wet. I also had pair of fairly heavy hiking boots that had the Vibram sole worn down to the midsole at the toe end in 6 days of hiking. The problem is the sole compound. The only boots I've seen with what seems to be the Vibram I grew up with--Montagna Block-- are technical mountaineering boots. Vibram makes dozens of different kinds of soles and some of them must work but I don't know how you tell from a picture of the sole, or looking at it IRL, or reading a catalog description which of those dozens of soles a boot you're interested in has or how well it actually works outside the marketing dept.

**ntblanks** · 05-10-2022, 09:51 PM

x2 on Salewa and also Asolo. I've got a pair of Asolo Cactus gore tex w vibram soles. more shoe than meets the eye. narrow but not insanely so. old-school lacing allows one to reduce the width more than more modern designs. can be found for $120 at sierra. i prefer a narrow last/lv ski boot fwiw. 274mm feet w 103mm +/- width at the forefoot. head raptors 96mm last.

**brutah** · 05-11-2022, 07:25 AM

La Sportiva

**MagnificentUnicorn** · 05-11-2022, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by Abol98

Don't think I've asked this here before. I have crazy narrow feet and want to add a 2-3 day trekking boot to my rotation. I have LL Bean Cresta in B width that do the job - really like them - however they're old school and not light. At all. Have been trying unsuccessfully to find a rugged midweight that shaves some ounces for hot summer backpacking but holds up to New England granite.

Off the table: Salomon. Love the brand in general but their outsole is not for me. Had a few dangerous slips on wet rock with the Outline and 3D and I'm just going to stay away.

Requirements: GoreTex, and Vibram outsole.

Tried the La Sportiva Nucleo which was close... but I'm in between sizes and messing with insoles ruined the heel fit - might try the women's on. Interested in the Danner 2650 line and Vasque Breeze AT. Anything else I should try on before purchase?

Why do you need goretex? I’m always looking for shoes without a membrane. They breathe better, drain better and dry faster

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**pfluffenmeister** · 05-11-2022, 09:50 AM

I've been in Salewas for the last decade; good shoes.
Not sure if they're narrow or not, but I do have chicken legs.

**skis_the_trees** · 05-11-2022, 10:09 AM

Some Scarpas are wide, but I've heard some of the newer Scarpa cross over boots are narrower like the Ribelle. The Sportiva Trango series might check all your boxes, although I think they are 3/4 shank and may or may not be a bit stiff for summer hiking in New England. At least the grip on granite will be as good as any other boot.

Personally I don't like or use hiking boots, it's either trail runners, real climbing approach shoes, or a technical mountain boot for my uses. I used to live in NE and I would probably use a low top approach shoe if I anticipated a lot of granite scrambling. Some really amazing options in that category now.

**MagnificentUnicorn** · 05-11-2022, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by skis_the_trees

Some Scarpas are wide, but I've heard some of the newer Scarpa cross over boots are narrower like the Ribelle. The Sportiva Trango series might check all your boxes, although I think they are 3/4 shank and may or may not be a bit stiff for summer hiking in New England. At least the grip on granite will be as good as any other boot.

Personally I don't like or use hiking boots, it's either trail runners, real climbing approach shoes, or a technical mountain boot for my uses. I used to live in NE and I would probably use a low top approach shoe if I anticipated a lot of granite scrambling. Some really amazing options in that category now.

La Sportiva tx 4

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**Cruiser** · 05-12-2022, 06:35 AM

I may be way off base here but it seems like some la sportivas run narrower than others. I love the mutant for everything short of crampons and ice axe kind of stuff. It's slim and grippy for sure. So I picked some synthesis mid gtx's in the same size for a trip where I really wanted the membrane and they definitely feel like they have more internal volume. They're not sloppy but definitely not as locked and loaded feeling as the mutant.

**ASmileyFace** · 05-12-2022, 08:01 AM

Originally Posted by Cruiser

I may be way off base here but it seems like some la sportivas run narrower than others. I love the mutant for everything short of crampons and ice axe kind of stuff. It's slim and grippy for sure. So I picked some synthesis mid gtx's in the same size for a trip where I really wanted the membrane and they definitely feel like they have more internal volume. They're not sloppy but definitely not as locked and loaded feeling as the mutant.

You're not off base at all. The previously mentioned tx4 has a fairly average last that tends to fit most, while the TX Guide on the other hand has an ultra narrow last that works best with folks who are B/B- width for their size. Salewa also tends to run a little on the narrow side of the spectrum. Source: I was a boot fit specialist at a local gear shop.

For a 2/3 day trekking boot I'd recommend trying out the Sportiva Nucleo as well Salewa Alp Trainer Mid. Also I tended to fit narrower feet into the Zodiac Plus series from Scarpa. Either way getting into a store and actually trying these boots on is the only way to really get a good feel for what you want in my opinion.

**Abol98** · 05-13-2022, 05:31 AM

Originally Posted by ASmileyFace

You're not off base at all. The previously mentioned tx4 has a fairly average last that tends to fit most, while the TX Guide on the other hand has an ultra narrow last that works best with folks who are B/B- width for their size. Salewa also tends to run a little on the narrow side of the spectrum. Source: I was a boot fit specialist at a local gear shop.

For a 2/3 day trekking boot I'd recommend trying out the Sportiva Nucleo as well Salewa Alp Trainer Mid. Also I tended to fit narrower feet into the Zodiac Plus series from Scarpa. Either way getting into a store and actually trying these boots on is the only way to really get a good feel for what you want in my opinion.

Great info all. I came close to purchasing the Sportiva Nucleo II last summer, overall fit was great but was getting some “forefoot pucker” in front of the lace box. Will definitely give the TX series a look. Wasn’t sure which Salewa to start with either - they have a pretty big range - so that helps thanks.

Why boots and gore? Because I’m just old enough to be curmudgeonly and have trust issues. I actually do have a couple of low hiking shoes I use when appropriate (Solomons, Merrell capras) and plenty of trail runners (NB Hierro v6 fit best). These aren’t for that. I trust membranes with rain but prefer gore for actual walking on water. And I feel better with boots in the pemi and presidentials, and on Maine’s surlier peaks.

Thanks again y’all.