Zamberlan Nuvolao NW Hiking Boots - Men's

Comments about Zamberlan Nuvolao NW Hiking Boots - Men's:

I needed a pair of sturdy hiking boots to take on some Alps trips and picked a modern version of an old time Italian bootmakers best. I knew they'd need breaking in more than some modern material boots but I was pleasantly surprised with initially using them on the rocky hillsides of my Maui farm while planting trees. I was scrambling over both loose rock as well as jagged edged outcropping and the traction, fit, and dirt/dust proof snug ankle tops were great. And after just a couple days, my feet were totally at ease in them, ie. much less breaking in than I expected was required. YEAH!. I particularly liked that I can lace the boots to keep my heels snugly in the boot heel and still have wiggle room for my toes. There is plenty of space for swelling feet or when I first put them on after weeks of only wearing beach flips and my feet have spread. I am confident that these boots will serve me well in the Alps and on my farm for a long time.

Comments about Zamberlan Nuvolao NW Hiking Boots - Men's:

Trust 20 year old boots cracked and tore 30 days before leaving for monthlong trek in Himalayas. Purchased the Zamberlan Nuvolao NW boots, put 70 rough miles on them prior to the trip, two week break-in. The boots have become trusted friends. All of the rest of the team had issues with blisters and rubbing. Not so with the Zamberlans, Comfortable, sticky soles, couldn't be happier with them. Hiked over 100 miles and 30,000 vertical feet in comfort and warmth. Hard leather requires thoughtful and thorough break-in. Ditch the laces that come with the boot immediately and replace with some good wide flat laces.

Comments about Zamberlan Nuvolao NW Hiking Boots - Men's:

Let me start by saying i would never return these boots.BUT....I feel that if some one is thinking of taking the plunge on these then they need someone to give an honest opinion.After a man spends 300+ on a pair of footwear he tends to talk himself into thinking he will be totally satisfied.They are heavy in my opinion.I usually wear a 12 but bought a 13.I start most my hikes with about 35-40 lbs and use trekking poles,silk liners and mid weight merino smart wools (summer).But by the end of a six or 8 mile trip in steep terrain,you just start to really curse each step.Was thinking of adding a aftermarket insole but after the high entry level price you woulda' thunk' that they would need nothing else.But the carbon on the insole does keep them smelling fresh and i wear them every where,from cutting grass,hiking,grocery store, whatever.So its like they make you mad but then you fall in love with them again.They just dont seem to have that all day comfort to them when you have weight on your back.And they are bomb-proof,after 8 months of wear and tear including about 40+ miles of backpacking,20+mi day hikes, bush whacking and trail blazing,fishing the only signs of wear are scuffs.And boy do they scuff easy!Dont even look down man just keep on trucking.Every time you hit something you imagine a cow in Italy crying.But with a little elbow grease they come back to life.I must add that not once has my toe hit the front of the box,which is a huge plus in my book.The laces have also stayed intact with no heavy wear.The vibram soles are also in good shape and hold to rock well in most conditions and also expell dirt and mud with ease and also spread out the load decently.My complaints are as follows 1)Heavy-your not gonna be tip toeing through the tulips with these on.You will crush them like Ivan Drago.2)Scuff very easy.3)Pricepoint is very high.It almost scares you to wear them,but i got over that real quick.just like no one wears a puffy down jacket to look cool, it just does its job and is worth every penny.but i do wonder if the competitions less expensive/highly rated boot would have made me just as happy.So that sums it up.Great boot and unparalleled craftsmanship and bomb-proof construction but just a bit pricey.But they will last long enough that you will most likely be wearing them at your funeral.

Comments about Zamberlan Nuvolao NW Hiking Boots - Men's:

Great quality boots. I am usually in full all-leather red-wings all day, so these boots are like an extension of what I normally wear. Great attention to detail. Looks like they are built-to-last and in my mind are a good looking set of boots. I have very flat feet and with my orthotic I can feel the support of a high-end well constructed boot. Would buy again. In my mind the most important piece of gear you can buy is a good pair of boots. If your feet hurt, you hurt. Allow adequate break-in if you are not used to wearing all-leather boots.

Comments about Zamberlan Nuvolao NW Hiking Boots - Men's:

I tried. I mean, I really did. Bought a size 11.5 at the down town REI Store here in Seattle, and they felt fantastic. Next day and just 2 miles into a hike going up Si, the pain started. A half mile later I told the girlfriend.. "No good, lets head back to the car.. too much pain". Got home and blisters on my heels. I have never had that from any shoes or boots before in my life. SO, once again, back to REI. Changed up to a 12. Then a few days later, out to Colchuck lake in the Enchantments. 3 miles in they started the usual pressure at the same place the last pair did. I tightened down the laces hard and really locked my foot in. Still uncomfortable, but no blisters. After various hikes, and over 25 miles AND an REI adjustment with hot water on the leather heel area, plus a little water ingress coming down from Kendal Katwalk, I could take no more. Back they went for the last time. The boots are beautifully made and look fantastic. Every thing in the fit department for me was excellent... except the heels. I was dissapointed, but could take the pain no longer.
I bought a pair of La Sportiva Pamir's instead, and will see how I do with these. My senses tell me they will be a better boot for me. I am learning a lot about back backing boots these days. The more technical the boot, it starts to become a science to get one that is perfect for the individuals foot. I now understand about foot beds, heel lock and lateral support.
Zamberlan do a Norwegian Welted boot called the "Sella". Not sold by REI (at Five Hundred Bucks, not surprised) but looks fantastic. Check out their website) Calfskin lined through out, Gore Tex lining, and high heel support. That would be a nice boot to try out some day.

Comments about Zamberlan Nuvolao NW Hiking Boots - Men's:

This is an amazing boot and very well constructed - I ordered online through REI and loved these the moment I saw them. The construction was pure old world craftsmanship combined with new tech. From the moment I put them on it was a pleasure to wear them.

I had to return them after 4 days because when flexing the toe the right boot was perfect, but the left bent in just above my toes and pressed into my foot. Without this one issue I have to say the boots were perfect. I purchased another model of Zamberlans to replace these, but I hope some day to find another pair of these to use as my deep woods packing boots.

Comments about Zamberlan Nuvolao NW Hiking Boots - Men's:

These boots are a classic work of art, comfortable, and well constructed... alas, it hurt to have to return them. I really wanted to keep them, but my heels would have quickly turned into hamburger. I have wide, high volume, straight feet, a low arch, and a narrow heel... The heel cup is wide, as another reviewer mentioned, and there was a lot of slippage with my narrow heel no matter how I laced the boots. Plenty of room in the toe box and otherwise comfortable out of the box... oh, how I wish these boots would have had narrower heels. I usually wear a size 12 boot, but took a 13W as they run a little small.

Comments about Zamberlan Nuvolao NW Hiking Boots - Men's:

First things first... I am in LOVE. These boots are amazing and I can honestly say that they are among the best of my collection. By way of background, I have been in the outdoor and action sports industries for 10+ years and hopefully that lends a bit of credibility to my review. The fact that I paid full price (minus my member discount and dividend check) hopefully adds a bit more considering I can usually pro-form from the best brands out there.This is my first pair of Zamberlan's, and I could tell from our first introduction at the downtown Denver REI that these would be mine. The closest pair of boots in my closet to these are my Danner Mountain Light II's & GTX Explorers and my Limmer Mid-Weights... all with a much heavier "Kletterlift" Vibram soles. The difference between those boots and these? (Excluding the fact that all are [$] or more MSRP?) Almost no break-in required. Personal preferences aside, the Kletterlift soles are almost like Frankenstein boots for the first few dozen miles. They make you walk in an exaggerated fashion until the rubber final gives and you can flex between the forefoot and heel. The Zamberlan soles were every bit the opposite...once I found my actual size, these were like old favorite sneakers right out of the box.I realize that this is just one man's opinion (whose foot is apparently the model for Zamberlan's US 12 last), but the Nuvolaos felt like house slippers after the 2nd night wearing them around my loft. For reals... these things are the bee's knees!I will totally agree with the previous reviews on a number of points... they are the highest quality construction boots out there. They will last you for years. Whenever the soles are cooked, the Norwegian welt construction means new rubber is a couple of days away. Ten-year old boots here I come... :)Sizing. I am normally a size 12 in every other brand out there... Danner, Vasque, Garmont, Nike, Teva, Patagonia, New Balance. These? I am an 11.5. Yup... half a size smaller. I have a pretty wide foot and almost need to go a size wider (from D to EE), but the Zamberlan's fit perfectly. Tim J described the sizing spot-on.Would I buy them again? In a heartbeat. Construction amazing? Yup. Expensive? Unfortunately. Happy with my purchase? No doubt...Buy them now!! :)

Comments about Zamberlan Nuvolao NW Hiking Boots - Men's:

I have had these boots now for just over six weeks. I had heard they were difficult to break in so I was hesitant at first to take a chance on them, I am so glad I did. The break in time is a week or so, I would say 20+ miles and they loosen up significantly. So break in time should not be a factor unless you are leaving tomorrow for a huge trip.
That being said everything else about these boot is top notch. The construction is bomber, flawless, and lighter than I expected. These are the highest quality shoes I have ever owned, period. A great boot for dayhikes, backpacking, casual strolls, or even for work. They are very comfortable and with each time I wear them they seem to be forming to the contours and movement of my feet. The soles on these puppies are also of the highest quality. They absorb shock, conform to my feet, and roll with each step making walking a pleasure. They also have excellent traction on snow, hardpack, red rock, and granite, they hold their edge exceedingly well, a key factor for me when I am looking into using boot. I have climbed over a thousand peaks over 12, 000 feet and understand the need for quality footware. These boots are of the highest quality and I look forward to using them for many years to come.I only wish I would have discovered them sooner. They have all the necessary attributes that make up a fine footware. If you love climbing mountains, going to remote lakes, bushwack, or just stay on long steady trails, these boots will not dissapoint. I hope you spend the extra cash because in the long run you will save money do to high quality and you will have happy feet. Cheers.

Comments about Zamberlan Nuvolao NW Hiking Boots - Men's:

I am going to cut to the chase. These boots are the greatest piece of footwear I have ever owned. I set out to find a boot that would last me year after year and after breaking these in for two months I am very confident these boots are up to the challenge. The first two weeks were a little rough as these boots required significant break in as a product of the thick, very high quality leather, and the norwegian welt construction. They are extremely comfortable now, I wear them on long hikes, short hikes, and to the office on days when the weather is inclement. I was experiencing slight heel slippage on my right boot (my right foot is slightly smaller than the left) but this was easily fixed by only wearing the boots with heavy cushion socks and learning lacing techniques to prevent the slippage. These boots are great for my feet, I love them, if you want very quality boot that is not made in china, like some of zamberlans competitors, and are willing to pay the hefty price tag on these, you will be quite pleased with these. Ultimately you need to try them on for yourself... and see if they are a fit for you.. but as far as quality is concerned these are best in class.