Spurs and Arch Pain

[rico]

Yea. His name was Dr. Jellyfinger. That should have been a clue?

 

[JeffGu]

@rico: "How's the old bunghole, doc?"

Dr. Jellyfinger: "Fine, but your tonsils need to come out."

 

[Stihlmadd]

Good points!

Towards the end of your post you mention arch support. Is this a feature that is built into boots completely separate from the shank construction? As in, is there a scenario where you could have a shank built like a tank, but still have no arch support?

You can purchase off the shelf or custom made inserts to alter the interior of the existing boot to suit your situation.
remove the factory supplied inner from the boot - its usually not glued in place.
not all good boots have the quality of construction both inside and out sadly.
I have three types of boots - for gaffs dry - Pfanner Zermatts
- for gaffs wet - Arbortec AquaFell
- for pruning and limited gaff time - ArbPro Evos.
I had to take a craft knife to alter the Aquafells outer arch where the gaffs curve up from the arch to the ankle had tread bleeding into the gap so I gained more surface area contact.
the Arbpros have a small heel step so the gaffs don't lock to the boot as well as I would prefer but as I say I keep the climb time in Evos and Gaffs as low as I can.

Pfanners Zermatts are indeed a Tank of exceptional quality - like a King Tiger II .

for the custom arches contact Southsidetrees podiatrist...

 

[Jimmycrackcorn]

You can purchase off the shelf or custom made inserts to alter the interior of the existing boot to suit your situation.
remove the factory supplied inner from the boot - its usually not glued in place.
not all good boots have the quality of construction both inside and out sadly.
I have three types of boots - for gaffs dry - Pfanner Zermatts
- for gaffs wet - Arbortec AquaFell
- for pruning and limited gaff time - ArbPro Evos.
I had to take a craft knife to alter the Aquafells outer arch where the gaffs curve up from the arch to the ankle had tread bleeding into the gap so I gained more surface area contact.
the Arbpros have a small heel step so the gaffs don't lock to the boot as well as I would prefer but as I say I keep the climb time in Evos and Gaffs as low as I can.

Pfanners Zermatts are indeed a Tank of exceptional quality - like a King Tiger II .

for the custom arches contact Southsidetrees podiatrist...

So are your saying those insoled can have the ability to stiffen up the foot bed if you want it to? Like change the support system?

I've heard of Super Feet insoles, but i don't think those are stiffening anything... Or are they? I've always thought insoles were mainly for comfort.. like walking comfort.. but i guess they could really do anything at this point in time whereas tech has come a decent way.

You sure have the collection there.. I bet some of those are more expensive than a cheap set of spurs! At least you have a selection to rotate through so your not EDC'ing them to death in 6 months. I think allowing boots to completely dry out after wearing goes a long ways towards their longevity.

I deff gotta pull the trigger on something soon.. the sticker shock is just killing me though.

So... your suggesting an appt with Dr. Jellyfinger may have a lasting impact on my comfort? You think he gives five finger discounts for decent referrals? Shit... I'd bet your walking on your feet in whole new way after leaving there![emoji23]

 

[TreeSmithAK]

Do you know if that Construction has a dedicated flex point, like up in the ball point of your foot? I mean it has to have some flex.. but not feeling the spurs would indicate it's nice & hard under the arch, maybe while leaving the flex elsewhere.. right?
The Scaffels price point are definatley lower than those two, which is attractive, but i wonder if I'm just buying the "chainsaw protection" & if you take that away are they just a cheaper climbing boot, per say.

I don't know that flex is designed in, but if there is any, its quite forward in the boot towards the toe box.. mountaineering boots typically are stiff enough so if you step on a pointy rock, the boot stays flat across it.. which actually takes some getting used to since they feel as comfortable as your favorite hiking boots, but act like cinderblocks on your feet...I've not tried scaffels or any other arbor-specific myself so can't offer comparison directly to those, but mainly because when I started doing this stuff I don't think any existed, and went through the same process you did trying to get my footwear game dialed in. And though none of the mountaineering boots are chainsaw specific, i cannot imagine a quick hit on the toe is going to get through the toe cap & stout leather the mtn models being discussed here have to offer.

So far as sticker shock goes, I hear you.. but to me, boots are literally the most important tool I own, and always have been.. we're in our saddles a few hours a day, but our boots are on us from the time we step out the door til the time we're hanging our gear up for the night... the rest of our body is truly relying on our hooves to make it through the work day. The La Sportiva's, I've gotten 3 years out of.. but even if you kill a pair in a year the daily cost of having them, cheaper than a coffee. I'd tell you one thing though even if you bought mountaineering & found they weren't perfect for your work day, but you are in the outdoors otherwise, you'll find a use for them. I actually wear my big boots even on the weekends most of the time, because I've become so reliant on how they make my feet, tools.

 

[Jimmycrackcorn]

I will say it again. La Sportiva Makaklu's and Hoffman modified Meindle's are the best spur boots I have used. Both offer crazy good arch support and are generally all around comfy boots. I will say that the Makalu's are probably a better all around boot. They have all the arch support of the Hoffman's, but are a little easier to walk around in.

For me the all around comfort of mountaineering boots is the major selling point. I've had the best whites loggers, every model of Danner known but for the last decade have climbed solely in mountain boots. La Sportiva Makaklu's are pretty much hands down the winner for comfort & not feeling too bulky.. though the Scarpa Wrangells give them a true run for their money, near identical fit & feel to them. The soles are constructed so stout, you'd be hard pressed to not think they were steel shanked. Zero flext in spurs. Part of the design of mountaineering boots is to bash through deep scree/big rock.. so they are usually toe-capped with material & between that & a much tougher toe box, tend to serve as tools to me.. meaning I can kick through a 1" dead limb & not feel a thing. The ankle support is far superior to logging style boots too, its actually constructed, and not just a sheet of leather leading up over your ankle, so your foot stays put in them... Typically they are gore-tex as well, so water isn't a problem both from intrusion, as well as sweat.. I know someone mentioned summer use but a good pair of mtn boots, it shouldn't be too big a deal since they do have breathability designed into them... All my years were in the pacific NW so I wasn't dealing with desert heat, but feet being hot was never an issue even on 90 degree days. I'm now doing transmission power line clearance in alaska which is involving lots more hiking & tons less climbing, and I can't imagine wearing just a pair of leather loggers anymore.

@Rico

&

TreeSmithAK

Seeing as you both own Malakus, what sizes do you guys wear & do you feel you should have bought bigger or smaller?

What are your typical needs in terms of wideness? Do you feel you should have bought EE wide? Or is that something youve never needed anyways.

TreeSmithAK -
As far as the Scarpa Wrangells go.. same questions apply..

Personally, I'm always having trouble with steel toes, I've only owned one pair in my life where I could not feel the steel every step i took.. So your sizing feedback on these two would be appeciated..

 

[rico]

I

@Rico

&

TreeSmithAK

Seeing as you both own Malakus, what sizes do you guys wear & do you feel you should have bought bigger or smaller?

What are your typical needs in terms of wideness? Do you feel you should have bought EE wide? Or is that something youve never needed anyways.

TreeSmithAK -
As far as the Scarpa Wrangells go.. same questions apply..

Personally, I'm always having trouble with steel toes, I've only owned one pair in my life where I could not feel the steel every step i took.. So your sizing feedback on these two would be appeciated..

I generally wear a size 10.5-11 boot, and my foot is on the narrow side. My Makalu’s are size 44 and I wish I had gone up a size. Width is fine but need a little more length (Story of my life).

 

[Jimmycrackcorn]

I

I generally wear a size 10.5-11 boot, and my foot is on the narrow side. My Makalu’s are size 44 and I wish I had gone up a size. Width is fine but need a little more length (Story of my life).

Thanks for the update Rico..
So hey.. in a YT reveiw, I heard that the Malaku's aren't waterproof.. that they have something called Drybest or something.. Can you comment on the Drybest? I'm suprised at their price point & big name brand that they don't just use Goretex. Unfortunately, the only luck I've ever had with "waterproof" stuff is with name brand gortex.. I may have to make a compromise with these.

 

[TreeSmithAK]

I

I generally wear a size 10.5-11 boot, and my foot is on the narrow side. My Makalu’s are size 44 and I wish I had gone up a size. Width is fine but need a little more length (Story of my life).

Thanks for the update Rico..
So hey.. in a YT reveiw, I heard that the Malaku's aren't waterproof.. that they have something called Drybest or something.. Can you comment on the Drybest? I'm suprised at their price point & big name brand that they don't just use Goretex. Unfortunately, the only luck I've ever had with "waterproof" stuff is with name brand gortex.. I may have to make a compromise with these.

When it comes to Euro designed/manufactured footwear, especially mountaineering stuff (in my experience) always go up a full size... I'm normally a 9-9.5, I think I've had one pair of tens.. this most recent purchase of the Kayland boots, a whopping 11 to finally get a not-tight fit.

 

[evo]

La Sportiva uses a silicone impregnated leather. You can walk through puddles when new with out getting wet toes. Mine are well worn and still keep my feet mostly dry dragging brush all day in the wet wet