Hanwag hiking boots

[artie]

Has anyone had problems with leather hanwag boots shrinking over time?  The first couple of years I had my hanwags they were great but now I can't wear them as they are too short. I do not think this is a problem of my foot expanding wider as I get older but it seems the whole overall size of the boot has shrank. Advice on the net is too cut your loses and do not bother trying to have them stretched but to buy a new pair.  If this is a problem only with hanwags then I would want to try a different brand.

[JIMMY 808]

Never had hanwag boots but have had lots of cowboy boots shrink.  Maybe buy a new pair and keep them well oiled.

[MAV]

Even high end boots can get wet and dry shrink. Lube them up squeeze into them and see if they stretch back a bit. Unless they have holes in them id give that a try.

[sheepguide]

Best thing ive found for shrunk leather is to get the leather good and wet. Wear it then until it drys. Wet leather will stretch some. Once dry and still on the foot treat the leather with oils or what ever you use. This is the only thing I've found helps. I've done it on hiking boots and my riding boots!!

[Lurch]

I have now had 4 pairs of Hanwags.

2cnd set were bad - started to separate - back to Lathrop and Sons and they sent me another set.

The first pair I had suffered the same fate as yours - not the boots fault at all, but an issue with me not keeping them lubed up with:

http://www.grangers.co.uk/product.cfm?cat=16&productid=17

You can pick this stuff up from MEC or Lathrops.

[340]

Most people that I know that use them are a little fruity, just sayin'

Could be totally separate from the boots though, just thought it was a weird coincidence.

[Alberta_huntress_83]

Irish Setter Elk tracker leathers 1000g boot all the way....great value, insane tread and wear capability. Just my preference. And they make 200, 400g boots too. Usually only about $130/pr too. MEC hates hunters lol...they give ya the stink eye if you set foot in there with Real Tree or camo on...

How much are the Hanwags usually? They sound very high maintenance....

 

[sheepguide]

Hanwag are a top end boot. I'd give them a go but after running my Kenetrek Mountain Extremes for 3 hard years of mountain hunting/guiding with no wear or faults I'm pretty sold on them. But down the road I may give the Hanwags a try. Just shows that every make can have faults, there isn't one make that is 100% bomb proof.

[walleyes]

Most people that I know that use them are a little fruity, just sayin'

Could be totally separate from the boots though, just thought it was a weird coincidence.

Valuable input once again..

[340]

I guess it is true what they say: sarcasm on the internet is like winking on the phone...

[Lurch]

Irish Setter Elk tracker leathers 1000g boot all the way....great value, insane tread and wear capability. Just my preference. And they make 200, 400g boots too. Usually only about $130/pr too. MEC hates hunters lol...they give ya the stink eye if you set foot in there with Real Tree or camo on...

How much are the Hanwags usually? They sound very high maintenance....

I know other people who have had great luck with Irish Setters too.

Depends on fit and how and what you use your boot for too.

The Hanwags have a tremendous durability in my opinion (like meindl, kenetrek lowa etc have for others). Not even in the same category as the Settters IMHO - but they are designed for different use. They also have the best support I have found - which is nice for heavy loads under load.

They are a bit of a pain to keep conditioned - but at around 350 bucks (Alaskans) you kind of want to protect your investment.

Way less maintenance than a wife or misinformed hunting buddy (right 340?)

 

[Alberta_huntress_83]

Thanks Lurch....maybe when I get into sheep I'll step er up a notch and try these higher emd boots
 I still haven't graduated Bull Elk hunting yet lol, so don't need anything too fancy as I hike up to about 20km/d and do alright with the cheaper boots. I treat them a few times a season and they have served me well. I have a tendancy to wreck nice $hit so I might have to wait til I grow up a bit lmao thx for the insight...I appreciate any and all insight and experience you guys have to offer

[Lurch]

My wife ran a set of those Irish Setters for years - very great value for the money.

And if you ask my wife she will tell you how careful I am with my things - not. I am not as bad as MAV, but stuff needs to be fairly resilient to last in my world too.

And don't take my comments as gospel - I can bullsh1t just as good as anybody.

[Alberta_huntress_83]

Well its nice to know other ladies rock the Irish Setters lol. I'm frugal. And I burnt my last pair wall tent camping the week between xmas and new years one boot fell off the wood box and landed on the wood stove filling the tent up with rancid burnt rubber and synthetic smoke nothing like piling out of the tent in -22c in the middle of the night in your onesies! Id rather three pair of IS boots to one pair @ $350 lol. But just me and my needs lol.

[artie]

Hanwag boots are pricey so when they shrink it hurts both your foot and your pocket book.  I buy my hanwags from Monods in Banff. Over the last thirty years I have bought alot of good equipment from Monods at Calgary prices.  The only issue is the park pass to get in there. I was out hiking today in the crowsnest pass and found my feet were getting cold in the leather redwing hiking boots I was wearing. I once remember sking and camping in the winter in the Columbia icefields and I frooze my toes.  The only thing was I did not realize it until I was back home sleeping in my own nice warm bed and my toes started hurting so I looked and they had turned black on the tips. So I went to a old Scottish doctor at a walk in clinic and he said so you froze your toes what do you expect me to do about it; next time wear wool socks. so much for doctors.

[Alberta_huntress_83]

@ Artie....ouch. Do you have permanent damage now? Doctors are useless. Totally
 Sorry to hear though man, I hope you're ok now!