Limmer Boots

[Slo-go'en]

My "off the shelf" Limmers are over 20 years old, have been re-soled 3 times and are still in great shape. Truely a life time boot. Put a lot of miles on those boots and my sore knees are proof of that! I would not recommend doing a thru-hike with them.

I only wear them now when I want bulletproof feet and nothing sticks to wet, 30 degree incline, granite slab like those old Vibrum lug soles. Like when I did some of Maine, fall of '08, but they beat up my knees so bad I had to quit after 75 miles and most of that was slack packing. Guess I'm just getting old...

[Spirit Walker]

One problem with the Limmers - they are already heavy dry. Once they get wet, they get really heavy and it takes a week or more to dry out. The extra weight is hard on your knees.

On my first thruhike I wore Italian leather boots. They lasted the whole way. Problem was - I had blisters for the first month or more, even though I had spent over a month breaking them in - and then in New England, when it rained constantly, I ended up with a new set of blisters. I wore a hole in the leather on the inside and was rubbed raw. The boot itself held up fine. I don't think it was worth the pain though, or the damage the extra weight did to my knees.

On my second thruhike I wore Vasques, which lasted for about 1500 miles a pair. They were lighter and I had fewer problems, though they still gave me bad blisters. Now I wear running shoes or light boots, depending on location and season.

[Lyle]

Listen to Mags. I'll even go one further. They ARE overkill for the AT.

I have no direct personal experience, but friends of mine did have this problem:

The boots were fitted perfectly to the hiker's foot. The boots were broken in, and very comfortable... For about a month, then, as their feet swelled and changed shape, the boots became unbearable. Were replaced with new, cheaper boots in a larger size. Their very expensive Limmers were sent home and finished the hike sitting on a shelf.

[emerald]

There are now several weights of standards.

[peakbagger]

I used custom Limmers for about 5 years, the first three they were great for rock hopping in the whites. After the third season, I wore out the vibram soles ( did I mention I did a lot of rock hopping), so I had them resoled. The last two years were not as good as they got skinnier after the resole ( a common complaint). They were still okay for day hikes, but when I did week long section hikes, they would cause blisters along the side of my feet. I finally had the choice one day of hobbling off the trail from a shelter in PA or switching to Tevas for two more days of hiking. 30 miles later and two days of hiking throuhg stretches of PA rocks, I decided that Limmers were overkill for AT hiking. I switched to trail runners and have never looked back. Despite common logic, I tend to twsit my ankles far less with trail runners than Limmers and when I do, its a lot less major.



They are still probably the best for full time trail and hut crews and back country rangers, as they are almost impossible to wear out. Many local contractors use them. My pair are stored away in a closet and they still look close to new when they are greased.

[Fatman Running]

I had a pair of Limmers that I bought after my second thru-hike. Both my AT trips were off the shelf Fabiano Mountain boots and they were excellent. Why I bought the "Limpers", I can only remember thinking that I owed this to myself. They were custom made. Very high quality, but I would not spend the money again. Especially seeing the $625 price tag!! Over-rated. I now use a lighter boot, even with heavy loads, and this works out fine for me.

[Digger'02]

BS on the lifetime warranty. in 92 i hiked with a guy whose limmers sole was peeling off prematurely. he sent the boots to limmer from Va, when we got to NH where he lived we went to the limmer place, got his boots and he had to pay $50

Well, I can speak for anyone else but I recieved excellent service. It may have been due to my time on Hutcrew.

And I'll echo the Swiss analogy. Limmers are deffinately not high-tech, but from an overall satisfaction standpoint i do like them.

[Digger'02]

can't speak...I can't speak. (or type?)

[Ender]

yeah i dont think I'll be going with limmer just yet, i have been hearing good things about scarpa, I think i'll do some research into them.

Marmotnj, I'd like to make a friendly suggestion... you're going about looking for boots in 100% the wrong way. Boots are all about fit. What you should be doing is *not* looking to find a good brand, and then shopping for their boots. What you *should* be doing is going to a store, trying on all the boots they have, and picking the brand that fits you most comfortably. Then, from *that* brand, pick the boot that matches your hiking style/trip/whatever.

It doesn't matter if it's the best made boot in the world... if it doesn't fit your foot, you are going to hate it. Pick a shoe that fits.

[emerald]

The last post makes perfectly good sense provided we're not discussing custom boots and most hikers don't require custom boots. That said, I never had boots that fit like my Limmer customs and they are more durable than most boots.

I bought a pair of standards upon reaching Pennsylvania 1/2 way to Katahdin and broke them in en route, hiking just under 50k my 4th day out, but wouldn't recommend it. Though they served me well, they were never the same once resoled and hurt my toes on steep descents. They were fitted properly when I bought them. Today, I ordinarily do require a larger size.

In the early 80s I bought a pair of customs. They went wherever I went including a summer and fall with GMC, 3 MCC projects and they served afterwards as work boots for years. Now I go through a pair every year. They were also resoled once and fit as well as before. Sadly, I wore them out.

[Sleepy the Arab]

I've got two pair, with about 3000 miles on each. Resoling does become necessary around 1500-1800 miles.

They are not the customs, they are off the shelf. The custom made ones are really only if you have weird feet. Mine work very well for me. They may not work for you.

[gregpphoto]

Listen to Mags. I'll even go one further. They ARE overkill for the AT.

I have no direct personal experience, but friends of mine did have this problem:

The boots were fitted perfectly to the hiker's foot. The boots were broken in, and very comfortable... For about a month, then, as their feet swelled and changed shape, the boots became unbearable. Were replaced with new, cheaper boots in a larger size. Their very expensive Limmers were sent home and finished the hike sitting on a shelf.

That sounds like someone picked the wrong size, not an issue inherent with the boots. If they had gotten them in a larger size to begin with, they wouldnt have that problem. Everyone knows youre supposed to buy boots with your feet already swollen.

I used Limmers this summer while part of a trail crew in the Adirondacks. I saw my friends boots falling apart, since they were all of the nubuck and glued-on sole variety. I and a few others who had full leather, norwegian/goodyear welted boots, we made it. Granted, the sole is beginning to fall off, but the leather is perfect, and since I can resole em..

[gregpphoto]

As to whether or not Limmers are "heavy" you need only to ask yourself if you are tough or not. Im all for cutting weight, but its become something of a disease amongst hikers these days. Try this: suck it up and hike. So what if they're "heavy"? Its an extra workout! I DAYHIKE in my Limmers because I actually follow Leave No Trace standards. I dont wanna hear it, I know most of you trail runner types, you edge around all the puddles, widening the trail, since you dont wanna get your feet wet in the mud.

[bamboo bob]

The AT simply does not require heavy boots. Trail runners are way better, lighter, and cheaper. I used heavy Scarpa boots on my first AT thruhike. I learned my lesson.

[gregpphoto]

The AT simply does not require heavy boots. Trail runners are way better, lighter, and cheaper. I used heavy Scarpa boots on my first AT thruhike. I learned my lesson.

Honestly now, do you walk right through the middle of the giant mud puddles, or do you skirt the sides? The AT, being an improved trail, doesnt require heavy boots merely for ankle support but for ease of hiking. I've hiked in mud for hundreds of yards at a time, sometimes ankle deep which would swamp any low top shoe (sometimes my 6" boots get swamped!). When people go around the mud, they widen the trail, and the puddle along with it.

[quilteresq]

I got my Limmers in 1987 (off the shelf). Still on the first sole, but I don't hike that much - I will certainly do more hiking on the trail. Not planning on using them much on the trail, but they're perfect for the Whites. Since we live in NH, I can pick them up when I get to Hanover. I figure I need a couple of days at home by about then. I tried lighter weight boots and I even bought a pair of trail runners last year to test. I don't like either in the Whites, although I'm planning on using both pair on the trail - probably use the trail runners to get through VA.

If I can snag a pair before I leave, I might try a newer pair of Limmer lightweights, but they don't have my size at the moment, and since their off-the-shelfs are manufactured in Germany, they don't have a lot of control over when they come in.

There is is currently a five year wait to get a pair of custom mades.

[moytoy]

Of all the people walking around in Limmer boots I suspect that more of them are carrying L. C. Smith and Parker shotguns than ULA Backpacks.

[Different Socks]

I wore these boots custom made for my 1992 AT thru. Yes, they are rather bomb proof BUT....they weigh about 5 pounds per foot and the break in time will hurt your feet. I used them only on the AT and half of my PCT hike. After that I have worn ankle high softer boots or even tennis shoes/trail shoes. Much, much happier now and will never buy the Limmers again,

[strikermike]

Of all the people walking around in Limmer boots I suspect that more of them are carrying L. C. Smith and Parker shotguns than ULA Backpacks.

Ha,,,I am sure you are correct about that. I am quite old school in my choice of hiking boots. In fact I really haven't had a pair I really liked since I wore out my Vasque Whitney's from the 80's. I am sure the Limmer heavyweights are overkill for anything on the east coast in 3 season conditions. But the lightweights might be just the thing for people that want a somewhat stouter boot. I purchased some off the shelf lightweights for a trip to Arizona that I just returned from. I put about 100 miles on them but feel they will need another 100 to truly be broken in. As for weight they are only 3.5 lbs per pair. Yes they are heavier than any lightweight trail shoe on the market but they are about the same as the Wasatch they are replacing. Plus the Limmers can be re soled. I am quite happy with my purchase.

[Mags]

Wish I was tough enough to wear Limmer boots. Maybe because I don't need (want?) the extra exercise while backpacking. Have to 'suck up and hike'.


Sigh....

I'm doing it wrong.