La Sportiva Makalu Review

"it's a great boot. i spent sometime with moleskin since it took about 50 miles to break-in the boots. during the first 50 miles they really chewed up my heels. now they fit like a glove. i recommend them to anyone considering light mountaineering and heavy backpacking"

"Great boots! Tough to break in but that is what makes them so great. They have so much support. I used them on a 30 day camping trip. Heavyweight hiking boots. Can be used with krampons."

"The best boot I've ever owned.I've hiked about 250miles with my pair and I have gotten only 1 blister. they are a great boot for an expirenced backpacker. The only problem is they aren't waterproof but there are measures you can take to help that."

"Great Boot for backpacking and mountaineering. I was able to break in the boot in less than 10 miles. My advice, use duct tape when you break them in! I plan to use these boots for the next 10 years, best boot that I have owned. I use Sno-seal."

"I bought my first pair 5 years ago. Took 100 miles to break in but were great since. However, with the $$$ I shelled out for these ($240us) I had hoped they'de last me more than 5 years. The sole has cracked and the waterproofing has gone away despite my efforts with kwik wax and snowseal. Boots seem worn out so I'm apprehensive to spend $90 for resoling. I won't spend as much on my next pair of boots. Pretty sure that money doesn't buy durability."

"I hated these boots. I put over 150 miles on these boots and up untill the very end these shoes made my mountaineering expedition a nightmare. These boots are terrible for people with wider feet or for those people with sensitive feet. I spent alot on these shoes and felt comfortable for the first 40 miles of break in. After that my feet went down hill. After send the boots back to the company, then sent me a brand new pair. I am now looking for other options in mountaineering boots. My advice... look before you leap (or climb) with these boots."

"I'd much rather use my plastic boots for mountaineering, and lighter duty boots for general backpacking. The Makalu's are way too stiff for backpacking and are to prone to cause blisters for everything else. Do yourself a favor and find a more for-giving boot."

"I purchased a pair in 1995 when I spent a semester in Rome. Paid $145.00 they were on sale. I wore them almost every day for 3 months but they never felt too good on my feet. It always felt like they were pinching. Last summer (2001) I gave them to my little sister because they fit her like a dream. I need a wider boot.

The boot built to last. I would still be wearing them if I had narrow feet.

To sum up: a great boot if you have narrow feet. I am going to get a pair of Vasque Apex boots. They come in different widths and Vasque has great customer service."

"Best boots ever for us skinny-footed people. Fit like a dream and mine have never given me a blister. They even make a ladies' 43 (tho' I had to search high and low to find a pair). Love 'em."

"I bought these boots a few years ago. I never had the chance to say that I actually broke them in. Definitly not a boot made for backpacking. Great water proofing but to tight."

"I've had the boots for over a year and have put many miles on them and it is still torture every time out. These boots may be great but I don't think I have the patience or pain threshold to find out! The only way they've been bearable is to wear just silk liner."

"These are the best boots I've had since my Pivettas in Boy Scouts. They're super stiff and give maximum support. I can bulldoze across any talus slope, carrying a 60 pound pack, without worrying about twisting an ankle. They've been very accomodating to my narrow feet and have been comfortable from day one."

"Have to agree with most reviews although I am fortunate to have had a professional help me tweak them in. I had the toe box expanded and fit them with superfeet blue insoles. Now I wouldn't trade them for anything. The boot is rugged and warm - I even use them on winter treks in the Boundary Waters and leave the pack boots home."

"These are the best boots I've ever owned. Not for people with wide feet. I have narrow feet and they fit perfectly. I used a leather softener (Nor-V-Gen) and it took about 30 miles to break them in. Since then they have been awesome for backpacking. Very grippy soles in wet and dry weather. You will need to stay on top of the waterproofing but that's true for any all leather (no gtx) boot."

"I have narrow feet and these boots fit pretty well right out of the box. I tossed the inserts and put in some heat moldable Sole inserts. I also went to a beefier sock to fill some of the volume. The only negative I have is that the ankle cuff is way to big for me and I have to crank them so that both side touch to get a firm grip around my leg."

"After reading all of the reviews with complaints about breaking in these boots I was surprised how easy it was for me to break in my pair. I really think that all of the problems with breaking in these boots have to do with not getting the correct size and/or not using good quality socks. The first hike with these was relatively painless- just a few hot spots but no blisters. They are heavy and stiff (3.8 mm leather and a full-length steel shank) but that pays you back with excellent ankle support and the ability to hike on any terrain with complete confidence. Loose rocks, snow, mud, sand and anything else you can possibly walk on is no match for the Makalu. The workmanship and attention to detail is apparent in every feature from the adjustable inner tongue to the locking mid-point lace loops which allow you to tighten the laces on the upper part of the boot but have it looser at the lower part. If you have wide feet these boots will probably not be a good fit for you though. But if you can get a good fit they will serve you well for years on anything from dayhiking to backpacking and mountaineering. It is important to buy them from a merchant that has many sizes in stock so that you will find just the right fit (they are made in Italy and have European sizing)"

"I bought the Makalus 5 years ago and still have not been able to break them in. While backpacking, they kill my the entire feet and ankles, caused knee pproblems. Perhaps this happens because I have wide feet and bought oversized boots. Good for winter day-hikes, waterproof, very durable, work very well with step-in crampons. Hard to keep the shoe laces tied."