hiking boots

[Chik]

I recently decided that my Chippewas should really retire.

I had actually been eyeing the stalking boots from Le Chameau for a few years now. Since I agree with many that they make the best Wellies money can buy (even after they moved the production of Wellies to Morocco -- the lace-up boots are made in Romania), I had been very curious once they made a return to offering lace-up boots, and the stalking boots seemed just the ticket for me.



It took less than an hour to break them in so that was delightful. As it says on the tin, the Michelin soles shed mud so effortlessly. In contrast, the Vibram soles on the Chippewas love to hold onto mud. On the matter of soles, another big difference is the construction -- the way the soles are attached are similar to many modern hiking boots, viz., they cannot be replaced unlike the welted construction on the Chippewas. I don't really think that will be a problem.

As the "Lite" hints, they are very light. Mine, at size 42 EUR, come in at 1600 g / 3.5 lbs for the pair compared to my Chippewas that weigh 2600 g / 5.7 lbs.

I found these reviews by 1) a Canadian search & rescue guy and 2) a UK-based gun interesting. On the sizing, I have wide feet (UK "E" fitting), but I don't find these to have a narrow fitting -- works just fine for me with thick socks.

They have another model with a shorter shaft for lighter weather conditions.

[Chik]

@j44ke, I'm obviously not doing something right with the IG links in the above post...

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJjlDEmp8eG/?hl=en => CJjlDEmp8eG between the IGM wrappers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm3odWhOgxo/?hl=en => Cm3odWhOgxo between the IGM wrappers.

Correct?

[j44ke]

@j44ke, I'm obviously not doing something right with the IG links in the above post...

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJjlDEmp8eG/?hl=en => CJjlDEmp8eG between the IGM wrappers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm3odWhOgxo/?hl=en => Cm3odWhOgxo between the IGM wrappers.

Correct?

Looks right to me. I think we are getting the cold shoulder from that spooky kid at FB.

Those look good. What is the quilted section on the shaft? Is it leather or a waterproof fabric? Lowa, Scarpa and Zamberlan also make what they call mountain hunting boots, but they look more like taller versions of some of their mountaineering boots. These from Le Chameau look to have more utility as all-rounders than those boots.

I've noticed more European (style - not Le Chameau) hunting boots around here, versus the more traditional leather Irish Setter/LL Bean/Danner "Upland" style or the ubiquitous Muck style. Seems to be especially de rigueur with the militia playboy set. That step down from those monster trucks is pretty high I guess. Don't want to twist an ankle and drop your AK.

[Chik]

Looks right to me. May be that we are getting the cold shoulder from that spooky looking kid at FB.

Yeah, the examples in the wiki thread are also not showing, so that seems to be the problem.

[Chik]

Looks right to me. I think we are getting the cold shoulder from that spooky kid at FB.

Those look good. What is the quilted section on the shaft? Is it leather or a waterproof fabric? Lowa, Scarpa and Zamberlan also make what they call mountain hunting boots, but they look more like taller versions of some of their mountaineering boots. These from Le Chameau look to have more utility as all-rounders than those boots.

I've noticed more European (style - not Le Chameau) hunting boots around here, versus the more traditional leather Irish Setter/LL Bean/Danner "Upland" style or the ubiquitous Muck style. Seems to be especially de rigueur with the militia playboy set. That step down from those monster trucks is pretty high I guess. Don't want to twist an ankle and drop your AK.

Ah, that's the 11" version, isn't it? I think they're difficult to come by these days.

The quilted part is also leather, nubuck to be specific but waterproof. I don't know whether that part is also "Terracare" leather, however.

I'm really pleased with them so far. And they seem to be on sale in the US, so that doesn't hurt either.

[Chik]

The militia boys are probably wearing models to emulate or identical to those supplied to the US military. I think it was during Desert Storm that I started to notice a different type of boot designs being worn, more technical, but I probably only noticed long after they actually started wearing them since I don't exactly follow the trend in latest military kit.

[j44ke]

Ah, that's the 11" version, isn't it? I think they're difficult to come by these days.

The quilted part is also leather, nubuck to be specific but waterproof. I don't know whether that part is also "Terracare" leather, however.

I'm really pleased with them so far. And they seem to be on sale in the US, so that doesn't hurt either.

What was your sense on sizing? I usually am a 10US/9UK, but the chart puts UK9 = US9.5. I’d lean towards going with the UK sizing as I’ve found that to be more consistent than US sizing. I could actually do with a tall pair of boots like this in winter.

[Chik]

What was your sense on sizing? I usually am a 10US/9UK, but the chart puts UK9 = US9.5. I’d lean towards going with the UK sizing as I’ve found that to be more consistent than US sizing. I could actually do with a tall pair of boots like this in winter.

A slightly tricky one, actually.

I am usually UK7.5 or EU41 for things like "dress" shoes/boots, desert boots, and espadrilles. I've always understood this to be US8, but my only recollection of actual purchases from a US brand were loafers from Paul Stuart that were marked US8 and made in England.

For Wellies and boots of this sort, I usually take UK8 or EU42 because I tend to wear thicker socks and want enough room to change the insole to something with more arch support.

Actually, I usually take UK8 or EU42 for sneakers too since UK7.5 or EU41 tends to feel a bit too short even without thick socks. Similarly for cycling shoes. Giro (Rapha) is EU42, and the label also says US8.75. Fizik is also EU42, and they say that's UK8/US9.

If my memory serves, I got the Chippewas in US8.5 specifically to accommodate thick socks but cannot confirm because the markings are gone.

Anyway, I don't know if any of the above actually answers your question, but it seems their size chart is consistent with my other purchases except I have precious little data on US size interpretation.

[Chik]

PS, I just checked my sneakers (all from Norman Walsh, made in England), and their label reads UK8/EU42/US9. I guess the tricky part is whether one is converting from or to US sizes. On balance, I think I agree with you that selecting based on the UK sizing might be the way to go.