Originally Posted by
twoSevenO
x2. Gave myself plantar fasciitis breaking in the Lowa Tibet GTX. Sturdy boot, but it's like walking on f*ckin concrete! The soles are stiff and have zero give. Stock insole was complete crap too. Just a piece of felt. I even got custom orthotics from Kintec and that didn't really help. Good thing it was 100% covered otherwise i would've been pissed to be out $500 for those.
In the end the best thing was a pair of SOLE insoles. Made them bearable. I still keep them around as they are OK for short hikes. But anything longer than a couple of KM i'm sticking with my trusty old Meindls. Which sucks, because I wanted a stiffer boot for the high country and side hilling, but it wasn't going to work. I'm glad i didn't take them on my last big hike up the mountain.
I still don't get how guys wear the mountaineering style boots that are 100% stiff and can be used with the step-in crampons. Just don't get it. Your foot bends. The boot does not. Something's gotta give, no?