I have owned my pair of Crestas for 9 years and they are still going strong. They have been up pretty much every 4000+ peak in the White Mountains and through 9 New England winters. They are still waterproof, comfortable, and have some tread left on them. Crestas are really well build. They were comfortable right out of the box...definitely order a 1/2 size down from your normal size. They are pricey, but you would buy at least 2-3 of any other boot in the lifespan of these guys.
I have had 2 pair of these. They are supremely comfortable, built in the style of European hikers. Good tough leather but still somewhat supple. Goretex works as expected. Sole lug is aggressive enough for large packs in scree and similar loose soils. Sole is moderatly stiff for support, but this breaks down too soon. That would be my only complaint, that as a hiker it looses that stiffness. I wear them everyday to work as well as hiking. A very low profile heel makes them comfortable. They are good or say 25degree F in winter with cotton socks.
My first pair lasted me 9 years. Finally the leather was so cracked and split that I looked to replace them. The liner was gone in the heel area. The soles were worn off right down to the air pockets. The stitches were so old that being scraped hard they tore. Still, for all that, they were worthy of being used for work. If not for the holes that let dirt and water in, I might have pushed them another 6mos to a year.
I cannot say enough just how good these boots are. I own other big name hikers, and for extreme hiking I need a bit stiffer sole, but for say 50lb loads or under, these are my choice.
I live in NW Montana and like to get into mountain lakes that are off-trail, so they see some pretty gnarly terrain.
I bought a pair of these hiking shoes, and honestly, putting them on is almost as comfortable as crawling into bed. My foot is very wide and I typically have a hard time finding footwear that fits correctly. I have worn these boots several times already and really love them. Just now, my wife and I were on a walk and got caught in the rain. My feet stayed dry, and the shoes look as good as new. This was an excellent purchase I'll experience the value of for many years to come.
This is my third purchase of the Cresta Hikers. My first pair made it all the way on my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail after about 350 miles of hiking prior to the AT hike. With my second pair, I hiked the John Muir Trail and used them during three years as a ridge-runner. I have just started using my third pair. I have a high instep and wide feet and these boots fit me well and were broken-in without any problems. During all of my hikes, I have never had a blister nor any ankle problems. The soles worked out well on the smooth rock slopes in Maine. I might also mention that I always wear an inner and outer sock with these boots.
