Best boots for skinny ankles?

[75]

I've tried a few options of high, laced stalking boots and I have real trouble with heel hold. My old Meindl's (2 pairs) were fine but I (reluctantly) ordered a new pair the same and my heel was slopping around and lifting really badly. I reckon I've have had a lovely pair of blisters inside an hour. I've also tried Lowa and Hanwag with no luck.

Crispi, Haix and Brandecosse are some of the others I haven't tried but like most options, involve mail order of multiple models and sizes in order to try, which gets costly with returns (although the odd option exists for free returns).

Any one else have similar issue and able to suggest best options to try?

 

[VSS]

I've tried a few options of high, laced stalking boots and I have real trouble with heel hold. My old Meindl's (2 pairs) were fine but I (reluctantly) ordered a new pair the same and my heel was slopping around and lifting really badly. I reckon I've have had a lovely pair of blisters inside an hour. I've also tried Lowa and Hanwag with no luck.

Crispi, Haix and Brandecosse are some of the others I haven't tried but like most options, involve mail order of multiple models and sizes in order to try, which gets costly with returns (although the odd option exists for free returns).

Any one else have similar issue and able to suggest best options to try?

Try Haix.
I find them very snug around the heel, even the W (wide) fit sizes.
(I have long and fairly narrow feet).

 

[75]

Try Haix.
I find them very snug around the heel, even the W (wide) fit sizes.
(I have long and fairly narrow feet).

Sounds good - wide feet and skinny ankles so the wide fitting option could be a goer. Thank you

 

[VSS]

Sounds good - wide feet and skinny ankles so the wide fitting option could be a goer. Thank you

Just be warned that they are a half size on the small side. At least, the milsurp ones are. How do I know? Because my size 11s were a bit small, which is odd because although my feet are a big 11 (I need a 12 for shoes) an 11 in boots is usually perfect. So I took out the factory fitted innersole that they came with (with a view to swapping it out for something slimmer), and printed on the underside was 10.5

 

[tozzybum]

Totally agree my size 11 feet go in size 12w Haix for comfort. If u find a surplus store to try them on all the better atb

 

[Stalker62]

 

[lochty]

Altberg for a custom made pair? Or try your local Hill walking shop who should do custom made inserts for boots.

 

[merlin]

Here's a top tip for mitigating heel lift in boots (and it works, it was a revelation when I started doing this & now it's my default in my stalking or walking boots).....

When you get to the hooks that are level(ish) with your ankle, instead of looping the lace under the hook, go OVER the hook, then repeat for the next few hooks. Then just carry on lacing as normal. Try it. I didn't think it would make much difference - I was wrong.

 

[75]

Altberg for a custom made pair? Or try your local Hill walking shop who should do custom made inserts for boots.

I used to work in an outdoor shop and footbeds (which I have multiple pairs) won’t help an overly large heel cup sadly.

And yep, lots of lacing techniques out there and over and under is my default. Plus a single overhand knot where you need it can isolate tension from forefoot if you need to tighten the ankle.

 

[dealmitchell]

Karrimor sf boots, army issue so can either buy them new or already broken in. Full leather, gore tex, really comfy and supportive, great boots.

 

[Sika98k]

“High laced stalking boots”. I cannot articulate the mental image I had.

 

[Scarpa]

I have a pair of UK Alt Berg boots (army/work boot style with steel toecaps) where they produced them with extra padding around the tongue which narrows the ankle. But for hunting I prefer hiking boots with a tough gaiter, a lot of the European manufacturers use different lasts, I find that Scarpa really suit my feet, these look good:

Scarpa Grand Dru GTX Hunting Boot​

 

[n3al]

Haix are good for this. The mill surp ones generally come with a insole to make them half a size smaller as this saves them stocking half size.

The best thing about the haix is the dual zone lacing system this allows you to have the laces on the heel and the ankle at different tensions to suit your foot shape

 

[75]

Scarpa Grand Dru GTX Hunting Boot​

Several pairs myself, and these do look grand but US only I think?

 

[Scarpa]

Several pairs myself, and these do look grand but US only I think?

There is a much bigger range available in Germany and Austria, lots of hunting shops. But online now you would have to pay UK import tax

https://schuhjaeger.at/produkt/scarpa-grand-dru-gtx-forest-bergschuhe/?attribute_pa_groesse=eu-425&utm_source=Google%20Shopping&utm_campaign=Copy%20Google%20Shopping%20Germany&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=75910

Hunting boots: 981 WASATCH GTX RR | Zamberlan | Zamberlan

Hunting boots for wild boar hunting and big game hunting in places full of brambles and on rocky terrains. Water-resistant

eu.zamberlan.com

 

[skinnywhitetrash]

In 30 years of daily boot wearing the best I’ve used by a long way are by Danner - seem to suit my skinny ankles/feet. I’m only taking about the full leather military styles, like Fort Lewis and Recon. As for Haix, comfy, but don’t last. Altberg are really well made and British, but I’ve had occasional problems with ‘rub’ (and not the good kind)… Never had Lowa, but I hear good things. Most comfortable ever were ‘boots, combat, high’ circa 1995-2002, but I expect your local friendly QM stores are out of stock!