Zamberlan Men's 1023 Latemar NW RR Hiking Boot

These boots are pure quality. From the welt construction to the leather. I had planned a backpacking trip around Europe in the winter, and I was looking for an excuse to buy a great pair of backpacking boots to be used not only in a cold European winter, but also for any other backpacking trip I could come up with (with the exception of hardcore mountianeering that require actual mountaineering boots...though these boots can take a C1 crampon). At first I had purchased the Asolo TPS 520. Great boots in their own right. Gore-Tex liner, cushy, the TPS walking point system. That said, I always, always, had my eye on the new Zamberlan welt construction boots. (I mean, come on, they look awesome right? Totally old school). The Tophane (sp) was a little out of my price range, and I didn't really like that orange color. Then, I saw these guys on sale from 400 to 280!!! Purchased. As another review stated, I thought these boots were too big at first, and even ordered a half size smaller in a panic. I ended up keeping the original size once I discovered you really do need to break them in a bit to have them conform to your foot. This is not to say they do not feel great out of the box. They do, but a little breaking in, they feel amazing. These boots have plenty of toe box room. Also, another reviewer was right. The interior is lined with calf leather and feels great on your heel and ankle. A few things about this boot for gear guys. This boot does NOT have a Gore-tex liner underneath the outerlayer of leather. I believe this is a positive. Gore-tex, no matter how fancy, does not breath well. They say it does, it doesnt. Thus, your foot stays much cooler. Second, if you need that liner (and its just a liner, not some treatment to the leather), you can easily get a gore-tex liner sock that will perform the same function. For me, Id rather have the option of gore-tex than having my foot BAKE in a summer hike. If you have the cash, and want an incredible hiking boot with some old school style that you could actually wear around town and not look like a total goof, then I would highly consider these boots.

I have bad luck with hiking boots. If they're durable, they're uncomfortable and vice versa. The boots that are comfortable last me about 10 hikes before falling apart, and durable hiking boots like Danner often have seams in the wrong places etc. These are a traditional Norwiegan Welt, one-piece leather design and they fit a foot how a boot should. They have a narrow heel, wider, assymetrical toe box to actually accommodate your toes. And with glove leather lining, they'll get more and more comfortable! As for the waterproofing, they're mostly one piece of leather, so keep the leather waxed and they'll be waterproof👍Finally, they're recraftable, and I plan on getting them resoled again and again👍Best investment ever for $270. These will retire when I do!

I always buy one piece leather European made boots and this is my 4th pair. Yeah I’m in my 50s now. I’ve put all of them through hell because one piece leather can take it. Well can’t say this pair has seen as much yet but based on experience this is the best of the four. A lot of talk about the sizing. Valid concern because if they’re not perfect they won’t work. I wear an 11 boot because I plan to wear thick socks and that’s what I ordered and they are perfect. Out of the box they felt good enough to wear comfortably but you WILL have to break them in to use as they are intended. Leather like this takes longer but gets better and better. Waterproofing nothing works better for shoes like these than traditional mink oil. Brand new I treated them 3 times over a week and they were ready for drenching rain, mud, creeks or whatever. For cleaning use saddle soap.

I hike maybe 25 weeks a year or so . . . serious hikes, over nights, week-longs . . . I really use boots up. Wanted to try something different, wasted some bucks on this pair, not very comfortable after break-in. Will not do for actual hiking, but okay around town boot.

Very expensive boot, obviously. But I've never owned a better built shoe. It took someone in Italy quite a while doing a lot of it by hand, im sure. Not sure why it says to order a size bigger? I ordered a 10 and it fits like every other 10 I've ordered. They just appear big because they are built like a tank! Also, there is indeed a break in period for these. The day I got them, I walked 2.8 miles and got 3 blisters. Not a bad thing at all, they're just big heavy boots with a thick sole and thick leather that need to be worn before a long hike. Going in 3 mos to a Nat'l park for a 4 day backpack trip and wanted to put some miles on them. Only have had them a few weeks but I can tell they are going to form to the shape of my feet after use. I tried on the Asolo 520 boot and was ready to buy them when I saw these. I liked the idea of a welted sole. If you don't care about that, I'd recommend those boots and save $100 b/c they were very very nice. Anyway, these are more $ but in my opinion, you get what you pay for. I'm sure they'll last- maybe for as long as I do. Don't worry about the no gore tex/ non waterproof thing. Your feet are more likely to get wet from sweat in a waterproof boot than a non. Nice boot.

Best boots I've owned. Much more comfortable than the Asolo Powermatic, 520 or 535, toe box is wider, heel support much better, full leather lining is superb. Did change to Super feet insoles.

These are excellent boots...and I have a number of similar pairs to compare them to. No glued up sole that separates and disintegrates after a few years. I have another pair of Zamberlans with the gore tex liner, that are more suitable for cooler climates. The Latemars, with the leather liner, are much cooler than Gore-tex, and will likely see much more wear here in Texas where it's not too cold most of the year. Tried to price shop these, but I seem to have gotten the last pair of 10s available online currently, so the $440.00 was the best I could do. Since they are re-soleable, I feel they are a decent value. Weight and durability are a trade off. My size 10s weigh 4.24 lbs., but don't feel heavy to me in use. The weight is good considering the construction. My feet and ankles are well protected encased in the thick, quality leather.

First off....important to note that I sought out to purchased high quality hiking boots with critical requirements: 1. Comfort for sure, 2. Were actually built in the USA or built in-country by a highly regarded / reputable boot maker (e.g., Italy - Zamberlan, Germany - HanWag & Meindl, France - Mephisto, , etc.) with high quality control standards. Not interested in any boot / brand may it be US or Non-US who outsources the manufacturing of an advertised boot to low cost labor, e.g., China, Vietnam, Philippines, Mexico, etc. and; 3. Built having welted / soles stitched to the boot uppers in order I add new soles when needed, No longer interested in spending decent money buying reputable brand boots to find in every case the adhesives used to attach the soles to the uppers fall apart over time. The fact that they come apart is one issue, the bigger issue is finding any cobbler who could repair. Unfortunately end up throwing away decent pairs of boots that cant be repaired. Hence ordered and tried on the Zamberlan Latemar. Fantastic boot - made in Zamberlan's factory in Italy, high quality materials, superior construction, extremely comfortable right out of the box, and the ability to re-sole when needed. Really wanted these boots however returned then since no matter how I laced them and tried different thicknesses and types of socks the heel kept on lifting from the insole. Perhaps due to the in between size (11.5) and / or the shape of my foot. Suggest you try for your self.