Having walked on the Appalachian Trail through Virginia, I wanted a pair of boots tough enough for the rugged and wet West Coast of Tasmania. I could hardly wait to test these boots and they did not fail me. They are both comfortable and warm and I feel 'sure footed' whilst wearing them. 'Cresta Hikers' are different from my previous boots and no leaches attached to my feet!
I made this purchase based on Backpacker magazine's review and all of the reviews I saw all over the internet. (There was no LLB customer review section until very recently.) Everybody was right! These boots are wonderful. They broke in very, very quickly, fit perfectly, and I am surprised at how well the fabric/Gore Tex construction breathes. My feet don't get hot, not at all like they do in another pair of all-suede Italian boots I previously used. I'm still impressed when I wear them at how well they fit around my ankles, not that I've ever had problems with that with other boots, but these things just feel good. Note, these fabric/leather boots are still backpacking boots, not light hikers. They are stiff-soled and they are not at all light. I won't be sneaking up on bigfoot in these things. My pair of 14EE = 4.5 lbs. How can you go wrong calling up LLB and buying the best boot they offer? You get what you pay for with LLB.
These are the most comfortable boots I own. As a Diabetic I wanted a boot that was comfortable and protected my feet. These boots do it all and I am supper happy with the fit and comfort of them, I also purchased the Cresta boot socks in medium and heavy weight they are a great addition to this total system. If you can't tell I am extatic with these puchases. L.L. Bean has done it again with another great product.
When I wore these boots the first time for a group hike, they were noticed by my companions for their appearance and quality. After seven miles, the length of the hike on moderate trarrain, I was elated to find no blisters or sore spots on my feet. The boots were very comfortable and I felt no foot fatigue. Do wear medium or heavy weight socks to insure your feet fit without any sloppiness while trecking.
