Having spent more days in the field this year than any others, I grew to rely heavily on key pieces of gear and equipment that would stand up to hunt after hunt. A hunter’s boots can make or break an outing (or season for that matter) and after a different boot failure last year in the middle of a Dall sheep hunt, I was ready to try something new. Research and conversations with other mountain hunters led me to the Crispi Guide GTX and after well over one hundred field days and hundreds of miles, I’m happy to report back.
I’ve broken in numerous pairs of hunting boots from other manufacturers over the years but none compared to the ease of the Guide GTXs. After only a couple of weekend hikes in the mountains around home, I felt comfortable enough to add a weighted pack and incorporate some side-hilling before guiding season.
Having had to switch boots mid-season in the past due to wear and tear, I had taken an extra set along in case my Crispis began to fail after the first few weeks of outings. I left for Alaska at the beginning of August with several hunts to guide and a full roster of mountain expeditions when I arrived back home. All told, I wore the same set of boots on Dall sheep, Alaskan and Montana moose, elk, deer, and bear hunts this year with no failures or issues. The rand on one toe is beginning to loosen but the sole, ten-inch leather upper, and all stitching has remained intact despite numerous river and creek crossings, loads that ranged upwards of 130 pounds, and days spent in the rocks of Alaska or gumbo mud of Montana. The Gore-Tex lining kept my feet dry (with regular waterproofing and conditioning between hunts) on all excursions but a week-long grinder of a sheep hunt where it rained incessantly and was capped off with several river crossings to get out of the backcountry.
I found the 200 grams of Gore-Tex insulation was a nice hybrid weight and kept my feet comfortable in temperatures ranging from 20-70 degrees Fahrenheit when actively hunting. The soles feature a heavy lug design and are crampon-compatible if extra traction is required; I found the traction exceptional and only utilized crampons on glacier and ice fields as needed. Worth noting, the heel cup captured my foot well and I had no issues with blisters or hot spots despite several days of heavy packs and rough terrain.
The Italian boot maker has been exporting high-quality outdoor boots to the US since 1984 so they know a thing or two about gaining and keeping customers. If you’re in need of a tough yet comfortable set of footwear, the Guide GTX is certainly worth consideration. Crispi stands behind their boots with a one-year warranty- if there’s a workmanship or manufacturing defect they’ll replace them in kind to the original owner. The Guide GTX has an MSRP of $490.00. Check them out at https://www.crispius.com/guide-gtx-boot and see the specs below.
- Insulated: Yes – Gore (~200 g)
- Upper: Water-repellent Nubuk
- Removable Footbed: CRISPI® Air Mesh
- Protection: Rubber rand
- Height: 10″
- Weight (one boot, size 10): 2.1 lbs