Having some problems with my new boots

C

CaptInsano

Joined
Apr 11, 2007
Messages
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Man, I was so excited to get these Asolo FSN 95 boots in the mail. I was tired of my faithful old worn out boots holding me back on the trail. I may have jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

I got sized up several times when I was shopping around town, and the result was always the same. Right foot 8 1/2, left foot 9. So most of the shoes I tried on to get a feel for different brands were 9s. I tried on some Asolo Fugitives in a 9. I decided to order the FSN 95 boots because they had won an award and because the sole on the Fugitives felt way to stiff to me.

When I got my FSN 95s in, I tried them on, and they felt pretty good. They didn't feel very cushiony, but they felt very firm and supportive. The soles were pretty stiff, but they didn't feel as rigid as the Fugitives. I walked around in my apartment with them on all day, did some knee bends, lunges, went up and down some stairs, just things to test the fit. They still felt pretty good. The only way to really test them out is to head out into the woods, so away I went. I wore a thin pair of light hiking socks to help them form more closely to my feet. I tied them on and took off. Before long my left foot went a little numb, so I loosened the laces a bit. After about 3 or 4 miles they still felt good, but very stiff. I turned around after 5 miles and headed back. I noticed that my toes were feeling stressed. They felt like they were being bent backwards. Then I started getting a hotspot on my left heel. It wasn't low on the heel, but more up on the tendon, almost at the level of the top of my foot. I tried loosening the laces. I tried tightening the laces. Nothing seemed to work so I had to sit down and get out the moleskin. As I continued, the feeling of having my toes bent backwards worsened. When I got home I had a small blister in the area on my left foot I described, and both feet were sore.

Today, a week later, I made my second attempt. This time I tried a medium weight sock. It actually went worse. I went ahead and put a moleskin patch over the area where the blister had healed on my left foot. I set out and at first it all seemed great. My left boot felt off, but the right boot felt great. Again, after a few miles my toes began to feel like they were being bent backwards. A little while after that the moleskin came off my heel and the hotspot broke right back out again. I tried tightening the laces again. I tried loosening the laces again. Nothing helped. Then I started getting a blister on the inside of my right heel. The feeling of my toes being bent backward continued and grew just as before. After 10 miles I had a blister on the left and right heels, my toes hurt, and my feet were sore again.

I think the heel issue may be due to the sole. The sole may be so stiff that when my heel rises in the boot, the sole doesn't move and my heel shifts. For some reason the heel cup isn't holding onto my heel. As for the weird thing with my toes, I really don't know how to explain that. I would have thought that with a half size difference in my feet, whatever caused it would only be seen in one foot.

What else can I do? I am really frustrated with this. Are they just not broken in yet? Is 20 miles not enough? They have basically ruined the fun I usually have on my last two trips. After about 6 miles I can't even enjoy being outdoors because I just want my hike to be over. I don't even have this much trouble when I wear my $40 walmart cowboy boots on an all night, 12 hour bender in the Quarter. I don't want to say it, but these feel like THE worst boots I have ever had on my feet.

:(

The nicest thing I can say about them is that they seem to be nicely waterproofed so far.

I promise, I'm usually not this whiney.
 
I have a pair of the same boots, and like you I wasn't real thrilled with them the first few times I wore them. I did replace the standard insole with a Superfeet and that helped but they still didn't feel great. However, after wearing them a while I now am very happy with them. I think they just take longer than normal to break in....so keep at it. You might try wearing them more often and for shorter time periods, that will help your foot to get used to them.
 
Those shoes are not for you, no doubt about it. You should try to return them for another pair. I use Asolo Fugitives and they work for me. I did a 7 mile hike up and down a mountain when they were new and didn't get any blisters. My only minor complaint is I wish there was more cushioning in the insole but no big deal.
 
It took me close to 40 miles (estimated) over a couple weeks to break in my Vasque Sundowners. They killed for the longest time but after they broke in, they became my favorite pair of shoes. I posted a thread just like yours, and I'm glad people posted tings just like I am.

Having said that, the bending toe problem may not be solved by breaking them in. Can you describe it in greater detail?

Good luck.
 
does the inside of the boot have a thick leather seam? If it does, you might want to get in there with some sandpaper and wear the stiff angular seam down a bit.

as far as the toe issue goes, I've never heard of a problem like that, but I have different issues wide feet.

I'd recommend using them on more forgiving terrain and not hiking as long while you're breaking them in.
 
The toe thing is really hard to describe. I thought that was the best analogy. It really doesn't feel like they're being crowded into the toe box or anything I would normally think of with a bad fit.
 
michaelmcgo said:
It took me close to 40 miles (estimated) over a couple weeks to break in my Vasque Sundowners. They killed for the longest time but after they broke in, they became my favorite pair of shoes. I posted a thread just like yours, and I'm glad people posted tings just like I am.

Having said that, the bending toe problem may not be solved by breaking them in. Can you describe it in greater detail?

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Same here. My Sundowners took a bit to break in but once they did I love them. I am on my second pair and I had this with both of them.
 
You could try "casing" them. This is a speedy break-in procedure where you soak them and then walk 'em dry.

Maybe you can take them to a cobbler and have them adjusted.
 
raylaconico said:
Those shoes are not for you, no doubt about it. You should try to return them for another pair. I use Asolo Fugitives and they work for me. I did a 7 mile hike up and down a mountain when they were new and didn't get any blisters. My only minor complaint is I wish there was more cushioning in the insole but no big deal.
Click to expand...

I'll second Mr. Laconico.

I've been around a long, long time now ... and I've found that my feet are very sensitive to ridiculously small variations in footwear. You've got to get just the right pair for your feet or you'll suffer.

So. Take 'em back and try something just a bit different. It will work out.
 
Any stiff sole boot requires break in time no matter how well they fit. I have never had a boot worth a damn that didnt need extensive break in time.

Casing them a few times with water is the way to go.

Footbeds that suit you are mandatory.

You can get boots for lighter duty broke in out of the box but for serious off trail boots they will need breaki n time.

Skam
 
The Asolo FSN95 is a gore-tex lined cordura/leather boot. Im not sure you want to soak and walk dry them. If the leather gives, that will stretch the gore-tex membrane, that means good bye waterproofness.
 
I have the 85's, I have had several pairs of the Asolo boots, but I consider them more backpacking boots than hikers. Eventually the stiffness will ease up, but not sure about the toe problem.
 
I think I will go ahead and send Sierra Trading Post an email similar to my first post and see if they know any other tricks that might help. Should I add anything?
 
good point about the seams stretching the gore tex liners.

I've always worn all leather boots, I suppose I should have looked at the boots you were talking about before adding my two cents.
 
I bought a pair of Kenetrek boots, which have a 2.8 mm thick fore foot. I had a similar problem. I resolved it by soaking them in Obenauf's leather oil and wax. I heated the boots in the dryer, with a rack. Then applied the oil so as to draw it in, and repeated a couple of times. For the final coat I used the wax. This softened up the boots and solved my issue.
 
Hmmm. Maybe I could throw them in the dryer for a while and then walk around in them. We do have a pay dryer in this building. :)
 
If they get to hot you will shrink the goretex. Use a dryer shelf, so that they do not tumble. Sno Seal will work to help soften the leather as well. Heat and apply so that it will soak deeper into the leather.
 
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