Limmer Boots

[Marmotnj]

I'm looking into a pair of these boots. I dont want to buy a new pair of boots while I'm on this trail. I've heard that these boot are bomb proof, and was wondering if anyone had a pair, and would want to tell me how they are.

[double d]

From what I understand, they have a year or two waiting list for the sized boot! The company makes the boot to the size of your feet and I have heard nothing but good things about this company (which is based out of N.H.). Good luck, if your interested, I would contact them and schudule a visit, as your not too far in Jersey.

[Mags]

LL Bean used to sell non-custom made Limmers. Looking on their site, that does not appear to be the case anymore.

If you Google search, you can still some places kicking around that sells them:
http://www.rmconnection.com/Limmer_boots.htm


I understand not wanting to go through too many boots, but be aware even if you get a pair in time for your thru-hike, the standard bomber Limmers need a LONG break in period and may be overkill for for a hike for a well maintained trail like the AT. (The lightweight ones you can still order and find for sale probably last about the same as any traditional leather boot)

If you are not sold on trail runners, you may want to look into a lighter boot that takes less break in time and will perhaps not be as heavy on your feet for a whole day of hiking.

The problem with boots that last a whole trail is that they can be harder on your feet, more tiring and may not be the right shoe for a trail vs. more mountaineering type activities that the original Limmers were designed for. People have done the trail(s) in Limmers..but there just may be a better option for you.

Just a thought anyway.

[quote=double d;929982]From what I understand, they have a year or two waiting list for the sized boot! [QUOTE]

Seems like five years now.

http://www.trailplace.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1537

[superman]

Heavy...too heavy. You can buy many pairs of other boots for what you'll pay for limmers. If your boots need work it takes lots of time and they don't fit the same.

[Marmotnj]

What?! 5 year wait? haha i guess i'm not getting them, im planning on heading out on a thru hike this march.

[Lone Wolf]

overrated and overpriced

[rcli4]

overrated and overpriced

Have you ever owned a pair?

Clyde

[emerald]

One doesn't need to have owned a pair to start an argument about them. Limmer Custom Boots now sell for $625 according what's posted on PL&S's website.

I sometimes like to argue about them and I've owned a pair of customs and standard heavyweights, but I'm too busy for it today. My Limmer-inspired rant some time ago was fun to write.

[Digger'02]

i bought my limmers in 2005 while I worked as a crewman at Greenleaf hut and I have to say that I love them. There is nothing like the ritual of greasing them up once a month and the feel of them after they are good and broken in. If I had to have 1 pair of shoes to whear for the rest of my life it would be them, they are a great all around boot and look sharp too.

That said i wouldn't wear them on a thru-hike if I could avoid it, they are ungodly heavy.

There is something to be said for a handcrafted boot with a lifetime warranty. Nothing but rave reviews here.

[rcli4]

One doesn't need to have owned a pair to start an argument about them. Limmer Customs now sell for $625 according what's posted on PL&S's website.

I sometimes like to argue about them and I've owned a pair, but I'm too busy for it today. My Limmer-inspired rant sometime ago was fun at the time.

If you are implying that the price tag is to high, buy your shoes at Walmart. It is difficult to find quality stuff anymore. Everybody wants to buy new shoes for 60 dollars, twice a year at Wally World instead of good stuff that last.

Clyde

[Marmotnj]

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.

[njordan2]

I like the concept of Limmer Boots. Made in USA, heavy leather that you maintain by oiling, Norwegian welt with unwaxed thread so the natural cotton fibers expand adding to the water resistance, one seam, durable, resolable.

Limmers versus Asolo, (Vasque/Merrel/fill in the blank), is like carburator -vs- fuel injection. I guess when tshtf you can sew on a new sole to a Limmer boot or rejet a carburator with a screw driver.

I put them in the catagory of the old Swiss mountaineering packs. There is just something about harkening back to the good old days of canvas, leather and wool that apeals to me.

Now, with that said, I have carried a 9lb Swiss mountaineering pack with 55lbs of gear, slept in a canvas tent that weighed 5lbs dry, (12lbs wet), under which I was curled up in the fetal position in the mud shivering and freezing with a sopping wool blanket, (5lbs dry 12lbs wet - warmth aaallll the way down to 65F!) when it was 45 degrees. Some of that equipment is older than my parents and will out live my children.

I have never worn any shoe on my foot that compares to the bliss experienced in a pair of Asolo Fugitive GTX 11Wide. They currently have around 500 miles on them and look like they could go twice that far again. There was no break in time to speak of. I put them on, went on a 2 day hike, each day hiked 10 miles and never had a blister, hot spot or any trouble. So as far as it requiring 2 pairs to complete a full 2,100 mile thru hike; big deal. Throw the old pair away, strap on the new pair and hike a full day without missing a beat. The new high tech equipment and materials are just tough to beat.

I do like the fact that Limmers are made in the USA by people who enjoy their work, and if there was not a multi year waiting list, this alone might be enough to pursuade me into buying a pair and breaking out the ol' Swiss pack and gear again!

[Tipi Walter]

Actually, njordan2, when I called Karl Limmer about my sorry boots, he told me they used a erroneous batch of Unwaxed welt thread in a recent boot run when they should of used Waxed, and explained that the constant rubbing of the unwaxed thread led to their quick separation. The warranty would've covered this mix up had I not squirted a bunch of Barge cement into the footbed and upper sole. Bottom line? They should've sent me a new pair w/o question.

[Black Oak]

I have a pair of off the shelf Standard Limmer boots. They are for winter use only. Keep in mind, the standard model is for mountaineering. They are excellent for that purpose. I use use them for climbing Colorado peaks in the winter. They are excellent. On all other trails, I use trail runners. I do use them for hiking in snow regardless of the location. I also have worn the same pair of Limmer Walkers everyday at work for the past 3 years. If I was going to thru hike the AT, I would definately use my Vaque Trail Runners.

[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.

[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.