Zamberlan 1025 Tofane NW GT RR Hiking Boots - Men's

Comments about Zamberlan 1025 Tofane NW GT RR Hiking Boots - Men's:

I have only worn them three times. All three were around the city. I have had four completely unsolicited compliments from 50-something women each time I wore them. They are really really pretty, the shoes, that is.

Comments about Zamberlan 1025 Tofane NW GT RR Hiking Boots - Men's:

The first thing you must understand about Zamberlan Tofane boots is that they are the hiking and backpacking worlds Ferrari Testarossa, with amazing good looks and craftsmanship, with top of the world performance and wonderful touring comfort and luxury. They're beautiful boots to look at. The leather grain is perfectly polished and flawless. The attention to detail in manufacture is obvious. I suppose this should be expected in footwear that costs more than four Benjamins. Thankfully the rubber toes ameliorate the worst hiking & camping scratches to the gorgeous leather

Like my last set of Zamberlan boots, these were very comfortable immediately out of the box for daily wear around the office and at home. That's not to say they shouldn't be properly broken in before your first serious hike. In fact, the Norwegian welt construction helps make this boot so stiff it took several weeks longer to break in than my last set of Zamberlans with glued on soles.

The Tofanes are seriously water proof as a 12 mile hike on mud and slush filled trails proved. Over the last several months I've forded many puddles and creeks with them and my feet have remained dry. Like any heavy duty hiking boot, if you do step in water deeper than the top of the boots, as I may have done a time or three, they seem to take forever to dry out completely.
They're perfectly warm, with wool socks and gaiters walking through knee high snow in Yosemite Valley during a long day of February hiking all over the valley floor.

Some reviewers believe these boots are heavy. Those folks either are not serious backpackers or they are members of the super light-weight, minimalist equipment backpacking cult. I found these boots to be remarkably light for a heavy duty backpacking boot that provides extremely robust ankle and arch support and an excellent shank and welted sole as well. They're light enough to be a joy on a short day hike but sturdy enough to endure day after day of backpacking in the Sierra Nevada with a 35 pound load. If they have a fault it is that they get hot whilst hiking in the summer on hot days. I challenge you to find any water proof heavy duty backpacking boot that does not suffer from the same problem. Summer weight merino wool socks with silk or coolmax sock liners, both frequently changed, are the best solution to this sticky problem.

One reviewer said the Vibram sole seems to be wearing out very quickly, in less than 100 miles. This person may need some attention from a podiatrist or sports medicine doctor to correct their stride. They may at least need inserts to correct their pronation. I've hiked several hundred miles now through granite and serpentine trails and along two dormant and a couple extinct volcanoes, including a nasty two day 18 mile hike to the top of Mt. Lassen. I've seen no signs of quick or excessive wear, and I'm a Clydesdale, 210 pounds who routinely carries another 30 to 35 pounds when I backpack. Of course the glory of Norwegian welted construction is that when the Vibram sole does wear out, as happened on my last pair of Zamberlans after 5 years of hard use, I'll just send them back to the factory in Italy to be re-soled.

Hiking in these boots has taken me along the California "Lost Coast" in the Kings Range for 60 miles of backpacking one week, to the top of Mt. Shasta on a very long day hike, on a week long 53 mile backpacking trip in the Immigrant basin in the Sierra Nevada, on a couple challenging 20+ mile per day hikes at Pinnacles National Monument and through several hundred miles of day hikes and weekend camping in the Bay Area and Santa Cruz mountains. They are by far the best hiking / backpacking boot I've ever owned. I look forward to wearing them for a very long time to come.

Comments about Zamberlan 1025 Tofane NW GT RR Hiking Boots - Men's:

Am heading to Nepal soon and purchased these for the journey.

Comments about Zamberlan 1025 Tofane NW GT RR Hiking Boots - Men's:

These boots are beautiful, they are darker than they appear in the photos which I prefer. Minimal break-in and very comfortable. I wear a 13, bought a 13 and they fit perfect. Very sturdy boot A++++

Comments about Zamberlan 1025 Tofane NW GT RR Hiking Boots - Men's:

I purchased these boots after returning Asolo TPS 520 GV, which I wore out after five months of field work in West Texas. I returned the Asolos and purchased these online, receiving them a few days before returning to the field.

The Zamberlans felt great out of the box (like most boots), no complaints on the overall fit/feel. Well crafted, thick leather et cetera. After wearing them for a couple of days around town I wore them on a three night trip into the mountains, off trail. After four days of hiking with a 30lb pack (approx 20 miles) my feet felt great. For me, these boots needed no break in period.

The next trip took me 25 miles, in two days, off trail with a 40lb pack, into rugged limestone. Again, the boots held up perfectly throughout the hike. Comfortable to the end...

Since then I've worn these boots on shorter day hikes (5-6 miles), through different types of terrain (gravel washes, lava, jagged limestone et cetera) and no matter the terrain, the boots are fitting.

My biggest complaint with most boots are the soles. With all other boots (Asolo, Merrell, Montrail, Vasque, Chaco and Scarpa) I have owned during the past decade i have worn through the soles and not been able to have them properly resoled. I hope, with these, I will be able to resole them, when, if, needed.

Comments about Zamberlan 1025 Tofane NW GT RR Hiking Boots - Men's:

I spent some time in Rocky Mountain National Park's back country, and also some time on the Superior Hiking Trail. I usually do 3-7 day hikes and my pack weighs about 31 lbs. My previous boots always left my feet sore after walking over rocks and tree branches, and detracted from the experience. I decided to invest in these boots in an attempt to solve my foot issues once and for all. I have not been disappointed, in fact I only have a few minor complaints (I will get to those). But first I would like to share my appreciation for the boots. Right out of the box these wreak of quality and craftsmanship. They are beautiful, and comfortable, and the sole construction does an excellent job of protecting my feet. My old boots had vibram soles too but the midsoles on these in conjunction with their vibram base have made a world of difference. My feet are dry and warm in these boots. The laces, the toe rand, etc ...everything about these boots is legit and well thought out and crafted.

My only complaints are minor. 1) the vibram on the outsole looks fairly thin. I contact Zamberlan's official cobbler and he has yet to resole any of this style. I contacted Zamerberlan customer service and they assured me that the vibram outsole would last years. (I contacted them with these concerns because another reviewer mentioned the vibram wore fairly quickly on his boots) 2) While you can have them resoled anywhere - what Zamberlan doesn't tell you is that the midsole likely needs replacing too, and the midsole manufactured by Zamberlan is only available through their cobbler. Having said that, you could have a cobbler put on a different style midsole but I really like the feel of the factory Dual Density PU midsole. Since I have not yet had these resoled I cannot tell you if an alternative midsole will compromise the boot integrity - I really like the boot out of the box and when I do have these resoled I will be sending them to Zamberlan's cobbler. I'm not sure it's a fair complaint, but I do wish that the factory Dual Density PU midsole was more readily available to other cobblers. 3) The price. Many people may not be able to justify the cost, for me since I will have these boots my entire life, and because they solve my foot issues they are worth it. 4) weight. They are a bit heavier, but well worth it, I wouldn't trade an ounce of weight if it detracted from any of these reasons I love these boots.

Overall I am very satisfied and impressed with these boots. They solve my problems - they are worth the cost.

Comments about Zamberlan 1025 Tofane NW GT RR Hiking Boots - Men's:

Bought these specifically for the Everest Region of Nepal. Trekked the region with a 17.5k pack and never felt them give out. The stiff shank and soles held up incredibly well. They broke in quickly and actually, they really seemed ready to go right out of the box. They have bout 75+ miles on them and the fit and comfort has only improved as the break in has softened.

Have worn them comfortably in temps from 70f down to 0f. Wet, dry, sand, gravel, snow, grass and the trails of Khumbu. These were strewn with mud, loose gravel and many large granite blocks. The stiff soles were a massive blessing. Never felt an edge or point. Traction was crisp and responsive. Even on trails of extreme incline or decline. Pretty much, wore these exclusively for 18 days straight on trails and even in the city.

I wouldn't call them a winter boot, per se, but it seemed that with activity, they more than did the job.

Lacing system has a great grip on the first quick lace eyes. Fantastic, you can easily lace lower and upper areas to your needs.

There was a small bubble that developed or wore under the top of the left rubber toe cap. Trimmed it off and the it hasn't grown since.

On the final day, laced them up pretty loosely and did develop a blister on each foot.

Comments about Zamberlan 1025 Tofane NW GT RR Hiking Boots - Men's:

Well-designed, well-insulated, waterproof leather uppers Norweigan welted to a soft foam rubber sole with a thin Vibram bottom. This sole construction makes for a boot that is very comfortable to walk in but that wears rapidly through the Vibram into the gray foam rubber. I've walked perhaps 50 miles in these and am already through the Vibram on the heels. I forsee taking them to be resoled with a real Vibram sole in less than a year - NOT what I expected from a[$] boot!

Comments about Zamberlan 1025 Tofane NW GT RR Hiking Boots - Men's:

These are the best boots I've ever owned so far. Very comfortable out of the box. They've seen about 70+ miles to date and are breaking in beautifully. Yes they are pricey but this is just one of those things where you get what you pay for. Resole-able Norwegian welt means these are high quality boots you'll have for many years, not just seasons. Worth every penny. For serious backpackers who need a boot that does.

Comments about Zamberlan 1025 Tofane NW GT RR Hiking Boots - Men's:

Have spent about 3 days in the Tofanes now - just around the house, neighborhood, and office to get them broken in. So obviously no on-trail experience yet, but here's what I can tell you so far:
FIT - it's an individual thing obviously, but I can tell you that I have never owned a pair of boots that fit so well. Comfortably snug in the heal, just the right amount of arch support, nice roomy toe box for toes to naturally splay when walking, but not sloppy loose. QUALITY - these boots just ooze quality. Quality of the leather, workmanship, and the welting just looks plain hand-made sexy! It's kinda like owning a swiss watch. Doesn't tell time any better than a cheap watch, but there's a pride in ownership in knowing the amount of craftsmanship that went into its making. Will post additional experiences once I get out on the trail, but 3 days in, I am very, very impressed@