In my opinion, boots are the most important piece of gear you need. If your feet get messed up, then your entire hunt could be a bust. I never realized how important good boots were until I traveled to the Colorado High Country for my first elk hunt. I learned a lot of lessons during that week to say the least. Most importantly, I learned how important good boots were. I had always been a flat lander living in the Oklahoma Panhandle, and I figured boots were boots. Wrong.

Our first day we rode on horseback up to 10,500 feet. We hiked to a good glassing point and just watched for elk. It wasn’t until the next day when I realized how big of a mistake my cheap boots would be. We left camp at 4 a.m. and hiked four miles to where we expected to find elk. We found them, just about 2000 feet down the mountain. So, we hiked down the steepest country I have ever seen in the San Juan National Forest. The entire way all I could think was, “Man, I gotta climb back out of this thing!” Well, we got to where the elk were, and had some good encounters but as the sun set it was time to walk out. Let me tell ya, that was the worst day of my life. Once we finally made it back to camp at 1 a.m., I could barely walk. My feet were ruined, and with them, my entire elk hunt at that point.

The moment I got home, I started looking into new boots. I was a little shell shocked when I saw the price of $399 for a pair of Crispi boots, but remembering the pain I was in, and all the money I had lost already, I did not let the price get in the way. I have used my Briksdal’s on two different elk hunts, and they have held up amazingly. My feet always stay warm and dry, and these boots have more support than any other boot I have ever worn. My feet don’t slide around when the terrain gets steep. One of the best features of these boots is it did not require very much of a break in period at all. They are a stiff boot, but that is something I look for in a mountaineering boot. Next time you’re in the market for boots, check out the full Crispi lineup! You won’t be disappointed!

-Brendan Scott, Fall Obsession Field Staff