The cat's meow of boots!! - Zamberlan Tofane NW GTX RR Backpacking Shoes - Men's

OMG, I just received these boots so no feedback, yet, on performance. However, my initial response to these boots is what most people have previously confirmed, that these are awesome boots, all the way around: craftsmanship and quality of materials can NOT be beat!!!! True Italian artistry! I don't even want to think about getting them all beat up, but it will happen, sadly!

I walked in the house with them on for about an hour, before going around the neighborhood for an hour. Obviously not trail conditions, but my initial feel was amazing...so comfortable. I fit into these like a glove. Time will tell once I'm in the backcountry.

My biggest fear was sizing and ordering through the mail. It was a chance I took, and it worked out for me. Some reviewers stated that it was TTS, some said it was big, and some said too small/tight (I looked at a ton of online reviews). Sizing is soooo subjective, as no two feet are identical, so one has to have the best compromise. Normally, I take a size 12 US, or 46 in EU. I decided to NOT go with the 12 but, instead, went with the 46, which is what I normally wear in EU. Zamberlan states that the 46 equates to a 11.5. Is that a US size or UK??? I honestly think that their sizing is UK, which makes sense, as my US 12 equals a 11.5 in UK. Anyway, my foot is cradled in these boot just perfectly with a medium Smartwool hiking sock. I never go thin but, on occasion, go thick, and never a liner. These boots are not too small in the toe area (and I do need a lot of toe room) and they're not too tight. Just perfect, at least for my foot, a medium width.

My previous boots were Asolo TPS 520, and they were really nice, sturdy, leather boots, but I could NEVER seem to get them broken in....constant shin pain on the right boot, no matter how much I tried to lace them. So, I ended putting them on Ebay. Funny thing is, the buyer siad they fit him to a "T." Go figure! Subjectivity!!!

Is this boot worth the $$? I think so! I'll give a full assessment down the road.

This review was written in the old system and had content requirements that are different than reviews written today.