I have had 3 pair of the Cresta hikers and love them soon to buy my fourth pair. Lots of hiking with scouts. I hike to work at times just 2 miles away and usually wear them as casual shoes. I retire my old boots to yard work...still going strong. Soon to buy my next boots to break them in at Philmont, NM. Love the boots!!!
I have just wrecked through second pair of these hiking boots. The first pair lasted 7 years, and I thought it was a great boot. The leather wore decently well and the boots performed and supported my feet in a great way. Eventually when the glue between the sole and the boot started to give way and the boot was no longer waterproof I bought another pair. So after 7 years of no blisters or twisted ankles and a lot of hiking, I started to break-in my new pair of Cresta Hikers. But within the first two months the sheen (or paint) on the leather wore off like it was veneer plastic coating and left the leather raw. I tried to protect it with leather treatment but it didn't work. The leather LLBean now uses on these boots performs poorly and does not last. It's been only one year and I will be returning the boots because the leather is horribly split and is completely detached from the rubber on both boots. I don't believe the boots are made in Italy anymore like the original ones I bought were. I will not be getting this boot again and would not recommend anyone get this boot unless LLBean goes back to making them with the material and quality they used to.
I have had a pair of these for many years. To be honest, I wore them only as "casual wear" for a good while. This was a mistake. I should have pounded on them sooner.
Last August, I took these boots to the Boundary Waters for a week long solo trip (well, it was me and my dog). This is no small undertaking, since what you bring is what you have. I couldn't trust my feet to just any old boot for this trip. A footwear failure could a a serious problem.
These boots were excellent. I hiked portages with steep grades, rock, mud, loose gravel and wet tree roots with up to 60 lbs on my back.
These boots handled everything with no issues. They also kept my feet dry until the rain started. I had no issues with the waterproofing as long as I did my part to keep water from coming in through the big hole on top. I did get wet feet, but that was my fault. The lining was waterproof after years of casual wear.
I have a few pairs of more expensive boots, but if I had to buy a pair of hiking boots today, I'd go with these.
They are beat up and well used. They are still very comfortable and still going strong. I read some of the negative reviews and I have not had the same experience. They continue to be a superlative boot. Climbed the loop trail on Tumbledown last year with them and they were worth their weight in gold. No regrets, I would buy them again.
