Custom Made Boots

First post, welcome to BPL. I had not heard of a couple of these companies so thanks. I wear a 15 and can empathize with your struggle. That being said and this being BPL do you really need boots? I know there are still a few who prefer them to trail runners but see less and less boots on the trail every year. I’ll assume you’ve tried Altras for extra toe room.

Altras were a  great start but i’m about a pinkie metatarsal’s width too wide for them.  I’ve tried Keen wides a size or two too big but still too narrow.  I’m a borderline hallux varus /a hallux adductus. Like opposite of a bunion, my big toe is straight and even angles outwards, so it pushes the rest of my foot to the outside.

Since I have ankle stability issues (overpronation) I thought I’d start with high tops.  I’ve heard theories that even though they might not actually rigidly brace the ankle, they do provide sensory feedback to help the ankle correct.

These shoes I posted and commissioned are actually pigskin suede high-top sneakers with an extra-stiff sole.  They’re the same leather as he uses for his running shoes.  You could get this with mesh pockets for ventilation, but I wanted something more water resistant for 3.5 season activities.  Steve at Hersey can make as minimalist a trail shoe as you want – low cut, mesh, less leather reinforcement.

Have a pair of custom Esatto Classic Hikers I purchased about seven years ago and still wear on every hike.  Went to order a new pair 11/2019 but unfortunately the business has changed and now is a scam.  Lost nearly $1K.  Do not patronize this business.  Please review BBB and WA Consumer Affairs sites before even thinking about it.

Thomas, are you saying that Hersey is a scam, or some other company?

They look heavy

I used to wear Danner boots.  Portland company.  They look like those in the picture.  Maybe they would be able to get better fitting shoes/boots for you

Stumphges, I saw Esatto listed above as one of the custom boot maker choices.  My comment is only directed to Esatto and would again strongly recommend avoiding this company.

Trailrunners from many brands have similarly high sole stacks with the same vibram megagrip compound outsole and similarly thick  mesh lining on the uppers.

What part looks heavy Jerry @retiredjerry?

Danner makes everything from 8in tall boots that weigh 13oz per half pair to 5in boots that weigh 31oz per half pair. The 4.5in mesh lined  Jag series, that the pictured boot reminds me most of, weighs 17oz per half pair; heavier than trailrunners, but very similar to ‘hikers’ such as the merrel moab 2 ventilator.

Everyone thinks leather is heavy, but most leathers are splits that weigh less than high denier nylons, etc. It is a shoe’s sole stack and to a lesser extent its construction that have the biggest impact on its weight; not the upper material.

@peter-p Do you have a weight estimate?

After two rounds of sending back shoes to Hersey and endless (6 months turnaround when he said 6 weeks without updates), I gave up on that company – each pair fit worse, slipped on my heel, one of them gave me nerve pain for a couple of months.  Along with horrendous customer service.

I got a pair of VERY heavy danner style all leather boots from Crary (the adoptive son of Danner) – excellent service – they take a cast of your foot, laser scan it,  and design the last straight from your foot; they’re also a full-service orthopedic shop, so it came with excellent orthotics to correct my pronation.  For the first time in my life I’m able to hike more than 5 miles without pain!

Now working on a model of trail runners based on LL Bean’s Katahdin sneakers. Those should be a bit lighter than the boots.

17 ounces per shoe isn’t bad

I guess you’re right that I have the impression leather is heavy when it isn’t necessarily

Maybe that’s based on designs that are decades old that were heavy, the fact that they’re leather is only part of it

Wolverine is another similar style of leather shoe that’s somewhat heavy, similar to Danner