My mom was just over for dinner and was wanting to know what I wanted for Christmas. Without missing a beat I told her a pair of Russell Moccasin PH boots.
I have feet that I can never find boots to fit off of the shelf [shaped like Bananas (12C)], and have been researching custom made ones. Russell's keep popping up, and I have even found some good threads on here about their boots. Needless to say, she cut me a check tonight to go ahead and order a pair.
Before I go and spend my Mom's money, I want to make sure I'm doing the right thing. I would like to hear from those of you who have a pair of PH boots from them, and tell me about your experience with having boots custom made to your feet. $350 seems like alot of money, but I have been spending $200 a year, the last 12 years, on Redwings that fit in the beginning, but quickly stretch. The last 2 pairs of Red Wings I have bought have been total crap, and I more than likely will never buy another pair again. Granted the Red wings are used for work, and the Russell's will be used for just camping and hunting, so they will see less use and wear which will allow them to stick around longer.
If you do have a pair, please post a picture of yours, and tell me how old they are and if you would buy them again and why. I'm also looking at different color options they have available.
Thanks in advance all,
Mike
You will get a lot of differing opinions. I dont have the ph I have the hc hunters. I personally had a lousy experience with the company, I dont like the boots. They do not fit good, give me massive blisters, are not close to being water proof etc. They are well made, although mine have the one boot off center from the sole. I would never order another pair. They also were late on the promised date. Make sure you do your research before dropping the coin.
I had a pair and lost them (left them on the bumper of my truck), and they were fantastic. Mine were the Hiker model. I had them for 6 years and they just got better with age. With care, they'll last you a decade or more. You can get them resoled when needed, too.
I highly recommend getting them. I have a set of Danner Mountain Lites that are on their third resole and their 16th year. I'm getting ready to order a new set of Russell's, though. I have a wide forefoot and a narrow heel and most storebought shoes/boots are a compromise. I'm thinking about the Turkey Hunter model.
My experience was definitely different than Bigrivers. There are other custom boot makers out there, too.
That's what I'm trying to do now. Thanks for your honesty.
I ordered a pair of Mohican Stalkers a few years ago. My feet are wide in the front and narrow in the back, so standard lasts don't fit very well. I was looking forward to having a pair of boots that actually fit my feet, and carefully drew an outline of my feet on their diagram.
I don't think they made the boots from the drawing I made of my feet. The boots were tight in the front, and loose in the back, like boots off the shelf. I tried to like them, as they were well made, cost a lot, and I had to wait a long time for them, but like Bigriver above, I got tired of getting blisters on my heel, and finally gave them away.
I have read of many people who love these boots, but that was not my experience.
I have a pair of there tula tula's and there great for what they are (moccisons so no sole)I took them to texas pig hunting and was just planning on wearing them occasionaly, and ended up wearing them the whole week. And it rained hard a few days and my feet stayed pretty dry. But I did have the stitching come un done. Sent them back and they restitched them right away. So ya I say they are good but 300.00+ probably not.Good luck
I ordered a pair of the lace to toe hunting boots a couple of years ago, and a pair of shoes. The shoes were great and the boots were never right, toes curl just thinking about them. Measured carefully etc. sent them back blah blah, finally got a decent price selling them here though. Sure hope they worked better for the gent I sold them to than they did for me. Sometimes you win other times not.
I bought a pair off of the sale list. I love them, they are a tad wide in the heel, but I added an insole and everything is fine. Mine are the high country hunters.
I had a pair of the PH boots, maybe the worst money I ever spent. Very poor fitting, and I expected the opposite.....
I'm a Russell Nut. Here is my opinion. The RM Turkey Hunter is the best boot made for warm weather though light cold, and nothing else compares. I'd wager $2K that there isn't a snake that can get through them and with a light wool sock they'll do until it freezes I have a pair that I wear all the time, hot or cold, and you'll have to pry me out of them.
The Safari line....I have a pair of PH's. The uppers are canvas and the boot is leather. Very soft and I wish mine had the rubber crepe sole, but I have a genuine boot sole that does just as well, i suppose. The PH...in any form...is not a cold weather boot and if you're in Michigan, most of the time...2 seasons atleast, it's cold there. If you're hunting early fall then the PH will be fine for you but don't be fooled, the PH is NOT a cold weather boot. it's much more designed for the deep south in Fall and early Spring.. The PH is an African boot. looks great with Levis on the right guy, but totally uselss in most US hunting situations.
I forgot to add this thought.....the Safari PH looks great on pretty women with long legs in warm environments. We all love girls like that, but from a practical point, it don't measure.
Ok...let's see how long it takes my posts to be deleted..
I along with a couple friends have had less than stellar experiences with Russells from the PH to the Sheep Hunter/HCH. Sent you a PM.
Well, if not the russells, who else has a narrow (12C) foot? What boots have you found that actually fit your feet, and feel comfortable for a couple years?
"The PH is an African boot. looks great with Levis on the right guy, but totally uselss in most US hunting situations. "
It wasn't anything to do with weather that caused me concern with these boots. If they would fit me in Africa, they oughta damn well fit me in Michigan.
I own 6 pairs and won't treat my feet to anything less. The PH's I have are my absolute favorite. They cradle my foot just perfectly and fit my narrow (12B) feets just fine. I wear em in the field. I wear em in the office. I wear em to Church.
Did I leave anyplace out???
I bought a pair (don't remember the model)at the Dallas Safari Club show a couple of years ago. Mind you the salesman from the factory measured my feet and legs and did a foot outline. After waiting many weeks I received a pair of boots that fit no better, maybe worse, than the samples at the show.
I immediately returned them for a full refund. The factory did not seem to be the least bit concerned that they had provided such an ill fitting boot.
Back to Danners.
I just recieved my Mohican Stalkers and they fit very good, went down to the factory and got measured right there. I used them for gun season they were cold but it was 18 degrees on opening morning. Comfortable and waterproof so far.
I have a pair of the High Country Hunter boots and the Lace to Toe boots and would suggest you spend our mother's gift money on a pair of White's boots. They are also made to order and actually fit the specs you supply and are twice the boot compared to Russell's.
I own several pair of HCH and SH,I love them but far to be perfect,after a while they can't stay dry, when elk hunting in the rain,where you can't rewaterproof them everynight.The soles are not always flat on the ground like already said.
I Can second Toejammers recomendation of the Whites. My next big money boot will be Hoffmans
I don't have a pair, but have tried alot of the other ones. I use MUCK Boot, the top I fold down like a firemans boot, so if deep water like other day pull it up and cross creek. Warm too, yesterday was 10 with windchill, and only had rag wool socks on, good boot for money, but each there own.
Boots and foot wear are very subjective for each person. I loved my Russell's and still have a pair left, but:
Owned Russell's since the 60's. But the last couple pairs I had in the 90's, the quality fit and boot itself just did not seem to be there anymore.
Switched to Danner's since and have not looked back.
The comments here about fitting are correct. With both pair of mine I ordered my size after tracing my foot, etc. and had to send them back in each case for a refitting. After Russell made them fit they were great, but like anything else I suppose, it took awhile.
I have a suggestion: Call Russell Mocassin and tell them about any concerns you have. Be straight with them on this. Ask them to describe their fit guarantee and refund policy. Then decide.
I'm a Russell Mocassin owner (High Country Hunter) and it's the finest boot I've ever owned. No boot covers 100% of all situations, and mine don't either. For what they're intended, my boots outperform every other good (and I've had some very good) boots I've owned over 40 years. I've hunted rough country from Northwest Territories tundra to Utah canyonlands and covered many miles a day with a pack on. They might not suit everyone, but when I pull on my HCH boots I know my feet are NOT going to be a problem for me. Mine are 9 years old and I'd buy them again in an instant.
I'm disappointed for those who had bad experiences. I believe them. I just know that boots and feet are like bows and arrows: extremely subjective and one man's pleasure is another man's pain.
I own a pair of the PH and the Tula Tula. Finest boots I have ever owned. I wore the Tula Tula on a week long elk hunt in Colorado and they performed excellent. The PH are my main boot. From Grouse hunting to making firewood I always have them on. The fit has never been an issue for me. I have two different size feet. I did go to the store and have them measured not that should make difference. Due your due diligence and research them all. They are close to my home so I went and visited the store and felt comfprtable spending the money.
I have a pair of PHs, terrible fit. I have a 10D foot and received a 9 1/2 EEE. I should have sent them back but tried to make the best of them. They are so wide the eyelets touch when I laced them up and they were still loose.
I added a thick insole to take up some room and wear very thick socks to make them wearable.
They have almost no support while transversing a hillside but are pretty comfortable on level ground.
My left foot is slightly bigger than my right and they got it reversed when they made the boots.
Overall I am pretty dissatisfied with the boots and recommend you look elsewhere for a Christmas present.
Dont think that if you have them do the tracing it will be any better, I drove 3 hours to have them measure & trace & they still got it completely wrong. It was a waste of 455 bucks for me. I have since bought Meindel from Cabelas & have been a happy hiker. I have super high arch & narrow 12a/b feet. You could try them & send them back if you didnt like em. I would sell mine barely used for cheap.
I have been wearing Danners for 30 yrs. I used to have 11B feet and with age they are now 12 1/2C. Danners always seem to fit great. Redwings used to be great boots but most of their boots are made in china now so the quality has dropped. Give the Danners a try.
I have these Russell Turkey hunters since the early 90's. They are the most comfortable boots I have ever owned.
(http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/earljeff/Russellboots003.jpg)
(http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/earljeff/Russellboots002.jpg)
i've never tried Russell's because they don't(didn't) offer gortex. for custom boots i would look at white's. for others i would look at Schnee's boot line and LL beans "upland hunter" it is an interesting boot that has huge adjustability. i just bought a pair and i'm currently using them elk hunting so far i'm pretty tickled with them.
matt
Really surprised at the bad fit stories. I've owned 4 different pairs. PH's were resoled 3 times and the canvas just wore out. Those were without a doubt the most comfortable boot I've ever owned.
A word of caution. If you order DON"T get the sole called Huez. It has little ridges the zig zag from left to right. At times when walking your foot hits a stick and rakes along those ridges making a zzzzzit noise.
Bowmania
I was surprised to be a bad fit story myself, for 450 bucks expected more. If I hunted fields and flat ground they might have worked out. As soon as you get on the steeps with side hilling and extreme surfaces the boots were a complete disaster. Really tried to like them-live and learn.
I love my HCH's. They are water proof and very comfortable for hunting. Not for walking around in town with. Must be the design. But I can hunt in them all day for Elk or whatever and have no problems. I would recommend them. As a matter of fact, all of us in our Elk hunting group wear them.
We got most of ours from the sales they have. I know my brother mailed his back twice to have them refurbished, etc. They come back looking like new. I grease mine all the time and have never had them leak.
i have 2 pair one is high country hunter..very well made great fit..but so damn heavy they just wear me out..you dont need gortex with the hch's never had wet feet even crossing shallow creeks an streams..i use them bowhunting at home had them for about 7 years now...other is a pair of cape buff ph's kinda dissapointed in the fit. i forgot about the problem with my hch boots one had the sole so far off center a blind man could see it an they sent them anyway had to send back an they fixed them...
I had to send my back twice & that is part of my problem with them. I had to pay shipping twice because of their mistake & they still are not right. It is getting to the point I dont want to drop more money on them. Mine soaked thru right away.
Nice people but as a company they don't seem to be able get anything right. I've got two pairs and had to make 4 trips to the factory to get everything just about right. I finally gave up and just wear them as they are. Don't know how they got such a great reputation. Maybe they were better in the past.
Dave
I sent this email to the Russell Boot co, wonder if I will get a response.
Your boots are often a topic of discussion on the various hunting sites.
I ordered a pair, mighty poor fit but I added huge insoles and wear very thick socks to fill up the "extra" space.
I don't know if you are interested or not and really want to know what your customers think of your boots. Here is a current discussion about your boots on a site frequented by over 6000 traditional archers and hunters.
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=096809;p=1
The bottom line is with over 50% of the people who buy your products dissatisfied with them you all might be looking for a new job unless you can do a better job.
I suspect this email will go straight to the delete folder but it needs to go to the company president.
Eric Krewson
Eric the top man at the Russell is an 80 year old,
Ralph (Lefty) Fabricius.
Perhaps address your note to him personally and hopefully we can help out this company.
QuoteOriginally posted by Eric Krewson:
I sent this email to the Russell Boot co, wonder if I will get a response.
Your boots are often a topic of discussion on the various hunting sites.
I ordered a pair, mighty poor fit but I added huge insoles and wear very thick socks to fill up the "extra" space.
I don't know if you are interested or not and really want to know what your customers think of your boots. Here is a current discussion about your boots on a site frequented by over 6000 traditional archers and hunters.
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=096809;p=1
The bottom line is with over 50% of the people who buy your products dissatisfied with them you all might be looking for a new job unless you can do a better job.
I suspect this email will go straight to the delete folder but it needs to go to the company president.
Eric Krewson
I too would like to know if you get a response. I plan on calling them tomorrow and telling them about the advice I have received, both good and bad, and see what they offer in the way of a fit guarantee and also fill me in on their return policy. Also let them know that I really want to buy a pair of their boots, but not if there is all these problems in a small minority of their clients.
I went to Bass Pro Shop yesterday, and tried on a few pairs of Danner boots, and had the same problem I have when buying boots off the shelf elsewhere. The heals were way to big, and the toes were squeezed in. The only thing I have left is a custom made boot if I want a good fit, but that is even sounding like a pipe dream. Is there any other custom boot maker out there besides Russell's?
My pair of south 40 birdshooters has been very good BUT I replaced them with Danners this season. With Russells track record of unsatisfied customers I didn't want to chance it. I also did my research before spending my $. No thanks.
I did quite a bit of research last spring before ordering a pair of Russells. I have had the same problem as others have mentioned regarding the heel and toe fit of standard "off the shelf" boots. Over the years I have tried most of the high quality boots available, including White's loggers. After experiencing problems with plantar fascitis and more recently bunionettes I decided the only alternatative would be boots custom made for my feet. True, Russells are high priced, but considering the tremendous amount of money I have spent on other boots that didn't fit right I felt it was worth the risk to try them - in spite of reading a number of negative comments on this forum.
I opted for the minimalist design - no arch support or heel wedge and using the Munson last. I ordered the Tracker with a thin Newporter sole- really just a lace up moccasin with a sole, but built like a true moccasin to cradle the foot with a single piece of leather. The Tracker also is made with Russell's waterproof leather.
I had to send the first pair back because they were too big, even though I traced and measured carefully. The second pair was better, and I needed them badly, so I kept them even though I have to use a heavyweight wool sock for them to fit correctly. It took from March until the end of September to get them.
I do have to say, in spite of these difficulties, that they are the most comfortable boots I have ever owned, and they were worth the wait. In fact I decided to order another pair, knowing full well that it will probably take another 6 months to get what I want.
The fact is, I was not able to find any other options. I wear boots every day of the year, either for work (I'm a surveyor) or hunting, so boots that create unhealthy feet don't work for me. If you have average enough feet to be able to get a good fit with other off-the-shelf boots, then Russells are probably not for you. I, however, am now paying for 50 odd years of trying to cram my feet into boots that didn't fit right, so the Russells are worth both the money and the waiting time.
Incidentally, no leather is totally waterproof, but my experience with GoreTex hasn't exactly been stellar in that regard, either. In really wet, muddy or snowy conditions, I still have to go with Beans hunting shoe or Schnees insulated pack boots, neither of which is as comfortable to wear as the Russells.
Sorry for the lengthy post, but I have found that a person can be no stronger than his weakest link. No matter how well you keep your body in condition, your feet can limit what you potentially can accomplish.
I really like Schnee's
But I don't have special size needs other than a wide shoe. They're not going to be as expensive. They WILL be waterproof
Good luck in your quest!
I have the 13 inch Hunter II boots and really enjoy them
I bet you could get what you need from them by calling and discussing it with them
The Russell folks explained to me that their moccasin toe boots are built to wider specs than the typical mass production boot. My boots are wide too, and they allow my feet/toes to spread out completely inside the boot...the way nature designed the foot for walking. I can't wear a boot that squeezes my foot. If I wanted my Russells to have a snug fit, I'd discuss this with them, and maybe do the foot tracing with a thin sock.
I'm somewhat surpised when I hear people say that have things like plantar fascitis and other foot issues, then try to wear a mocassin....Kevin is right...a mocassin is the LEAST supportive shoe you can wear because its, well, like a second skin- there's very little support...even less than a Bean gum-soled shoe.
If you have foot issues, you shouldn't consider mocassins as hunting wear.
Like someone very smart posted already, your feet are the only thing that gets you where you want to go- they need to be the highest priority- warmth, support if you need it, and protection from wet- all things that can sabotage a hunt fast.
My "Muck" boots are looking better and better. Most comfortable rubber boot I've ever worn. Russell has a good name but way to many negative comments here for me to spend top $$$$ for their product. :dunno:
I wore out a pair of stalkers, can't bring myself to throw them away. It took six years of everyday use.
When I order another pair I'll do the drawing using very thin socks. They were just a hair to loose in real steep country ( I did order the heel counter)
I ordered the creep rubber sole and while you can see big circles of leather thru them now the glue has held fast. I used them in snow several times without any problem but the tread wasn't made for it.
I had a very good experience with Russel and plan to get another pair.
My only experience with them was 5 or so years ago. I never ordered my boots (I forget which ones, very expensive though) because the customer service was so awful.
I have wide feet--I wear a 14 EEEE sneaker. I asked a lot of questions, and the replies were very slow. When I got a reply, it usually didn't answer the question. Finally I was told that their sole material didn't come wide enough for me (after I sent in foot traces). This was a period of weeks, maybe months, before I was finaly told they couldn't build a boot for me.
Aparenty I got to the right person adn got a nice reply.
Dear Eric
Thank you very much for the information you have supplied us with below. We always want to hear from our customers whether they are satisfied or not. I printed off your e-mail and went to the site you have listed below and printed off all the comments and am giving copies to Ralph, the owner, and Sue our production manager.
Did you contact us about your boots not fitting? We always try to tell our customers that if they don't fit we want them back so we can either adjust the fit or make a new pair at our cost. I pulled your production tag from 2009 and made a note on them that they didn't fit and were way too big. Ralph said he will be calling you.
Sincerely,
Patty Briski
Office Manager
I've been wearing Russells for years- the same ones for the most part. I have a pair of Grandslam Sheephunters that I love for really rough terrain and a pair of ols PHs that I wear the most, especially early season here in Kentucky and they performed real well in the West Texas bush country on a February hog hunt. I have had some trouble in the past with a pair of toe lace Russells with a very high top but that has been my only bad experience with them in forty years and I have to take some of the credit for the fit issues because of the extremely high tops I thought I wanted.I also have a pair of Art Carter chukkas that are really comfortable. I'll continue to use them. GY
After reading your post Eric, I called Russell's and asked to speak with Ralph the owner of Russell Mocassin's. He quickly responded "This is". Well, I reached the top, now I had a bunch of questions. First off he wanted to say he read all the posts, and stated if there was a problem with the boots, they should have been sent back, because they will make them 2,3,or more times to get them right. They want their customers to be happy. We talked about different types of boots for my application (settled on the Safari PH), and then he gave me different sole options available and wanted to know my application again (settled on the vibram air bob). Ralph volunteered to mail me a pair of boots with this sole to make sure it is what I want, then asked for my address to get them in the mail. He said they have taken on some jobs that they probably shouldn't have and after a couple trys, the customer was always happy. He also said they are running on about 90% satisfaction and return customer rate. This spoke volumes to me. The last question I had for him was how to do the measuring when I have doctor prescribed orthotics for my feet? Ralph told me to print off the measuring form on their website, fill it out as described, then mail those measurements in along with my orthotics so they can take the final measurements and then send the Orthotics back in a couple days. My boots, he said will be ready in 4 months from then.
I have decided, I'm buying a pair of their Mocassins. After speaking with the owner, I'm very certain they will make a pair of boots that will make me happy. You don't stay in business for 100 years if the quality/customer service just isn't there.
I will post back how the whole process goes. Stay tuned for updates.
Mike Vines
By the way I have forgotten a pair to dry on a log next to my camp on the Grand mesa,Colorado during elk season.If somebody had found them please will he send me a PM.
QuoteOriginally posted by cacciatore:
By the way I have forgotten a pair to dry on a log next to my camp on the Grand mesa,Colorado during elk season.If somebody had found them please will he send me a PM.
if they are a 12C, send me their coordinates. LOL
QuoteOriginally posted by cacciatore:
By the way I have forgotten a pair to dry on a log next to my camp on the Grand mesa,Colorado during elk season.If somebody had found them please will he send me a PM.
if they are a 12C, send me their coordinates. :bigsmyl:
The company president called me as well, very nice and was willing to make my ill fitting boots right now matter what it took.
I was really surprised to get such a response.
It was my understanding if the boots had been worn off the carpet in your home they could not be sent back. I was wrong, Ralph said send them back, he didn't want a bunch of dissatisfied customers.
Cor! That's great news Eric! I don't have a pair & at the price, I never will, but it's nice to know that a quick off-the-cuff EMail can get things back on track.
I know several russell boot owners and all have said they are the only boot they will wear. Of course most of them are bird hunters, 20-30 miles a day for pheasants. Someday I would like to own a pair.
Eric, did they say they will reimburse you for the shipping back & forth to get them right?
QuoteOriginally posted by Bigriver:
Eric, did they say they will reimburse you for the shipping back & forth to get them right?
The guy is sending me a pair of boots to see the quality, try on and also see if I like the type of sole I picked out. I couldn't care less about the shipping cost after customer service like that.
I guess I was asking eric about his in need of fixing pair, sorry I butted into your thread with an opinion.
I meant no disrespect to you. I was just voicing my opinion as well. He never mentioned to me anything about return shipping, for I never asked about it, but like I said I'm very happy with the customer service so I will gladly pay the shipping if it requires it.
Sorry for any confusion.
Certainly glad to see the dialogue between the company and its customers. As a business owner I know that bad experiences result in way more talk than any good experiences.
I had a pair of the very good German-built hunting boots. They were a thing of beauty, and I broke them in nicely. I then took them to the NWT on a caribou hunt, where I proceeded to wreck my feet in them. I had multiple blisters, and 4 discolored (purple-black) toes after a 10 mile day. I barely saved my feet and was able to continue hunting only in a very limited fashion. I returned them and ordered my Russell HCHs. I went back to the NWT a year later, and I hunted as hard as before. Dry feet...happy feet. Not one sore spot. I don't think the Russells are made any better (per se), but I know mine were made for my feet and they fit my feet like a custom bow grip fits my hand. I've logged a bunch of miles in them, and have not had as much as a hot spot in 9 years of ownership.
I just wish everyone's results were as good. Yes, very expensive. So are most of my custom bows...Sitka Gear...etc. I'll probably spend more hours in my boots than I will with any of my bows.
I own a pair of High Country Hunters and short PH boots. First thing first, I love both pairs. As long as your measurements are taken exactly as Russell Moccasin suggests then you should receive a very comfortable pair of boots. Things to consider: weather, crossing creeks occasionally, snow, rain, and terrain you'll be hunting. Once you've figured out these variables, choosing your boot/sole combination might be a little easier. My HCH are my go-to boot for most hunting situations out west, warm and cold (September through December). The PH boots are great for leisure, light-hiking, and warm weather hunting in dry climates. Once again, your measurements are critical and the type of socks you'll be wearing are important too. I measured my feet several times to ensure my measurements were correct, wearing the socks I normally hunt in. When measuring the circumference of your feet around the ball, instep, heel, ankle, and leg, make sure you pull the tape snug. There is a long wait, but as long as you've measured correctly I don't think you'll be disappointed. On a side note, I did have a concern about one boot, but they were more than happy to fix the problem if it persisted. Needless to say, every time I put them on my feet thank me. Enough said.
I have 2 pairs, the TLC "Woodcock" uninsulated and the "Mountain Climber" with 400 g of thinsulate. I love them. Sent my TLC's in this summer to have them resoled (they are from 2002/3) and they are like new. I've worn my Russells in lots of places from out West (MT, ID and CO) - some pretty steep stuff - to Canada (BC and above the Arctic Circle in the NWT) to the basalt country in the NT Australia, and of course hundreds of miles of whitetailing in the midwest without a complaint. For what I do the TLC's are the best all around boot I've ever owned and a perfect "10" for fall/early winter for me.
Interestingly, a couple years ago I developed plantar fasciitis in my right foot from a combination of steel toed shoes and concrete floors at work and the ONLY shoes I could wear comfortably for about 4 months without special inserts were my TLC's. Didn't make sense to me since there is not an obvious arch support, but it is true.
Ryan
Ryan, that's interesting- since I suffer from plantar's myself I'm always looking for input.
If you listen to your podiatrist- as you stated- that flies in the face of what they always seem to recommend.
I know when I have a flareup, every day, in any shoe, is torture.
Ray, I had a bad case of plantar about five years ago. I never went to a podiatrist, but I reviewed lots of information on the internet and tried several different orthotics.
I finally cured it, for the most part, by using an orthotic from "Footrest.com" and by doing some stretching excercises. I figured that as long as I used the orthotics in whatever boots I wore I would be OK.
However, after 3 or 4 years I began to have other foot problems, namely bunionettes on my right foot - from boots that still didn't fit right (Danners). I figured out that the orthotic was not allowing my foot to be itself (as in barefoot) after reading the book "Born to Run", and that led me to try the minimalist theory.
Running with minimalist shoes helped to strengthen the tendons that cause the plantar flareup and I had to work through a re-currence of that pain. My problem was that I had no boots to wear that were minimalist.
After reading about Russell's work in that department, I decided to order the pair of Trackers I described in my previous post. I wear them virtually all the time and have had NO plantar pain. Yes, that does indeed "fly in the face" of podiatrist advice, but the cradling effect of the moccasins, along with the Munson last that allows my toes to splay out and not be cramped makes all the difference in the world.
Sorry for the long post, but anyone who has ever suffered from plantar problems knows what I am talking about, and if my experience can help even one person, it is worth the effort.
As I said before, if you have average feet that fit well in over the counter boots you can disregard everything I have posted.
Greg,
Well stated. I've always been a believer in the minimalist footwear theory. Nature made our feet the ideal 2-legged bearing/balancing tool without shoes or items. I've never ever had an arch issue, fascitis or other problem. I specifically look for boots that have no arch support. My feet are absolutely the most comfortable and useful in a boot which has a wide last and room for my foot to spread to its natural full width. I also like the (somewhat) wider outsole of a Russell Moccasin boot, as it distributes weight over a wider area and provides better balance in uneven terrain. In many ways, a typical moccasin-toe upland boot does the same thing. Walking is much more natural and the boot has more versatility. Again, it's all based on good fit and even a poor-fitting $450 boot isn't worth a nickel to me.
I have a pair of HCH with bobbed soles that I got '97. I have C width at the ball of my foot with double A heels (kind of like a duck!). I usually have problems with heel blisters. These are not insulted . There was really no break in period(For me). They are the most comfortable boots I ever worn.
I did have a problem with bobbed sole coming unglued on the toes from the adjacent layer during a Co. elk hunt the fall of '97. I called, sent them back, got them fixed,at no cost to me, with no problem since. Wore them yesterday while scouting half a day in the hills of KY. Really satisfied with the boots
Kevin--sounds like you should be running the 5 Fingers :goldtooth:
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Post%20pics/582e4700.png)
I think I could eliminate treesteps if I wore those things...
Cue the Gecko!
YES!! HERE WE GO!! :)
I love it when two of my favorite things (running and bowhunting) start to overlap.
For what it's worth, I have been running for twenty years, and finally went with the barefooting/minimalist thing a couple years ago. Started hunting that way when I can (obviously, if it's super cold, bad idea). It's been fantastic for me. Certianly worth considering. I've looked at the Russells and may try a pair. Lately, I've been hunting in mocs, but they are far from durable or grippy.
Sorry about the threadjack. Just had to throw that in there. ;)
Well how did everything work out for those that had poor fitting boots from Russell after this string was sent to the owner? Did you send your boots back and get them refitted?
I have two pairs coming, one is shipping next week and other should be in around August. I ordered them fully intending to ship them back to be "adjusted" the day after I get them with the hopes of ending up with "perfect" fitting boots.
I had the pair I started this thread about delivered, and the fit was not good, so they told me to ship them back with pictures of what was wrong, and they would remake them. I was told I will have them about the middle of April, or sooner.
The quality and workmanship were second to none. The boot was great, just the fit wasn't where I liked it. Customer service is top notch with this company.
Hope everything is great with the boots when you get them in April, hopefully in time for turkey hunting. I will be looking for your updated report.
Mike,
What was not good about the fit?
I got my HCH's in late Nov. (i think). I went with a smaller sole than the air bob, so I could wear them around town.
I absolutaly love them, I wear them almost everyday. fit and finish was second to none, very happy. I wore them during late archery season. For treestand cold weather, I put a wool boot cover over them, works great.
Only problem I had was my sole came unglued from the adjacent layer from the vibram sole similiar to 3under's post. I just glued back myself, I didnt want to send back due to the reason I wear tham alot and didnt want to part with them.
What I like the most about russell's, the toe room. The leather wraps around my ankle and arch mid-foot and my toes are not squished whatsoever.
Someday I will order another pair maybe taller ones and save for just hunting season.
QuoteOriginally posted by killinstuff:
Mike,
What was not good about the fit?
When I laced them up, the sides of each boot touched, so if there was any stretch at all, they would soon be miserable to wear.
Or you love them or you hate them!
Remember mine Felix? Hated them, I could just have burned up the 450 bucks in the fire, it would have hurt less!!