Ankle Support, Full Grain Leather, One Piece Leather, Wicking Lining

Cold Weather, Harsh Terrain, Heavy Loads

Female, Kid Carrier, Mountain Person, Pack Sled Puller, Water Hauler

Feels true to size

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I (a woman) buy men's footwear when I want it to be built to take weight (up to twice mine) and serious use (and not be pastel colored). I prefer leather because, properly cared for, it lasts decades and conforms without weakening. So I was excited to see a one-piece full-grain leather boot for such a price. It fit like a glove (with heavy sock + liner sock) out of the box. Which means it'll have just the right give after wearing around for awhile. The padded, well-gusseted tongue contributes to the ankle support and is easy on my high instep. I also like the position of the locking lacing cords above the d-rings (another instep issue). I worried I had ordered too small (38.5, when I usually wear 38-39), reading the description, but I went with the euro equiv. of my actual foot measurement in mm. The tread tends to hold snow, but not rocks, and is shaped to allow a little rocking on flat surfaces, so it's not too blocky while breaking in around town. It's a good stiffness for most things short of ice climbing. As with all such boots, it needs lacing and sock adjustments according to pack weight and while breaking in. I use Obenauf's Heavy Duty Leather Preservative exclusively. Well-greased, these are warm enough to wear in the snow, but maybe not for -30 plus windchill. I'm used to cold toes, and these stay warm longer than I expected.

Ankle Support, Arch Support, Great Traction, Sturdy/Durable, Water Resistant

Heavy

Cold Weather, Harsh Terrain, Heavy Loads, Long-Distance Hiking

Environmentalist, Professional/Guide, Rock Climber

Feels true to size

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

This is the way Boots used to be made. There would not be so many Hurrah, Yay! Compliments about this boot if most of the stuff sold to us here in the US wasn't such Junk! It used to be that Raichle, Vasque and many others had Boots that where hand made in Italy. Like the Raichle $pir!t made in Italy for that Co-op I'm a member of called R3! It was just like this boot almost exactly, only Lighter. Now that once great boot is made in Romania or some place and it is junk, they sold their souls for money. Folks I work, in the Mountains for the Forest service and I am a rock climber too, I live for the outdoors and I will tell you this is about as good a boot as you can get now. The Italian boot makers are still the best. I have compared them all. You can also get this boot in widths, got the wide size and it feels great. I wish all the other boot companies would repent of their ways and regain the contracts with the Italian craftsman instead of selling us cheap junk from china and former soviet block countries. And I DON'T want GORE TEX!! Why does everything have Gore tex in it now days? The Boots Breath better without it! THIS IS THE WAY BOOTS USED TO BE MADE!!!

Ankle Support, Arch Support, Great Traction, Sturdy/Durable, Water Resistant

I have no cons

Day Hiking, Harsh Terrain, Heavy Loads, Light Loads, Long-Distance Hiking

Avid Adventurer

Feels true to size

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

My girlfriend and I both have a pair of SL M3 boots we love them. They take a little break in time and a few short hikes will do the trick. Between the two of us we hike 60 to 80 miles a week in rugged terrain, and no problems at all. These boots hold up to anything we can dish out. I’ve been wearing Scarpa boots for years and recommend them to anyone looking for a true hiking boot. Not some department store look-alikes.