Rated 5 out of 5 by A2WV Best Boot Ever
If you can only buy one boot, buy this one. The field testers were right: this boot has "out-of-the-box" comfort.
I initially bought my first pair in '97 to hike Katahdin. The boot held the rocky slopes well and kept my feet dry during the stream crossings and in rainy sleet.
Upon moving to West Virginia, I quickly discovered that farming also requires a comfortable, supportive boot with a good tread, and this one fits the bill. After ten years of hard farm work (I tore up the old boots on barbed wire!) it was time for a new pair. My second pair was just as good as the first, and I'd still be using them if the dog hadn't eaten them (apparently they taste good too!).
My third pair is still going strong. I wear them YEAR 'ROUND for all of my outdoor activities, and as a result, have well-supported, dry feet. I have always used the fabric/leather combo boots. They are substantial, yet not too heavy to wear all day. They breathe well for hot summer use, yet have enough heft to keep the feet warm in winter (I just change my cresta wool sock thickness, depending on the weather). The fit on these boots is spot-on (I wear a ladies 7 1/2 wide), and they handle uneven terrain especially well. I wouldn't be without a pair.
February 23, 2010
Rated 5 out of 5 by Joande Fantastic boots
I am extremely hard to fit and have had to throw away many boots. These fit perfectly and, after breaking them in, I have worn them for years of hiking and multi-day backpacking trips. They are heavier than partly fabric boots, but the comfort is worth it. Totally waterproof even after a dunking (unintended!). I highly recommend them for any serious hiker.
May 17, 2013
Rated 4 out of 5 by atlpretyldy very sturdy boots
These boots would be great for hiking and heavy brush yard work. They are also attractive. They come up a bit too high around my ankles for my liking however as they are very stiff and sturdy and interfere with ankle movement.
May 5, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by lovecoolbeans Awesome Boot
I bought these boots about three years ago; I was in college and had to walk to campus every day. I was getting frustrated in the winter and during rainstorms because my feet kept getting wet and frozen. I wanted a comfortable waterproof boot that I could use to walk to class and also for general hiking all year round. I came across these on the LL Bean website and really liked the look of them. Being naive and never having bought hiking boots before I ordered my size right off the website, and when they arrived they were perfect!
The combination leather and gor-tex materials make them waterproof and yet breathable in the summer. I have walked through snow and slush without getting wet or cold. Rain, puddles, mud, streams - nothing gets in unless the water comes in over the top. Fantastic traction, they work well on wet surfaces and are relatively good on ice. They are great throughout the year and are comfortable and stylish enough even for everyday casual use.
May 1, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by
Kellan Great Boots for Hiking or WORK
Being a paramedic, I'm required to wear black leather boots to work. I've gone through almost every name brand that markets to EMS, Fire and Law and I've never been happy with them. I went out on a limb and got a pair of these in black and have been so amazed at their fit and performance that I had to write this review. I would say that if you are a guy and have narrow feet for a guy, go ahead and buy the appropriately sized women's model because they are so similar. The fit is true to size and the quality is totally top-notch. The only little complaint I have is that the blue laces that came with the black boots are round, and so they are harder to keep tied. At first I went with the blue laces, being in EMS and all that, but they kept coming undone so I went back to the flat black laces. Then I went online and bought a bunch of laces in every color I liked. In fact, I like these boots SO MUCH that I came back online a month later and ordered a SECOND PAIR. Knowing I'm a paramedic and you can see how much money we make, that really says something considering they were $199 when I bought them. Since then I've taken them hiking, worn them to and from work, worn them to and from school and everywhere in-between. They are totally waterproof. They look great. They have good traction. If you buy these boots, I seriously recommend you go online and order some more flat laces in other colors. The boots are so nice you'll want to wear them with every outfit you own and extra laces can really jazz them up. Highly recommend these boots, especially now since they seem to be on sale. If you can get them on sale, then that is totally cool.
April 20, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by Crestalover Trusty hiking boots
So I purchased these so that I could become more comfortable hiking up mountains (as I'm a geo major and a lot of my classes involve hiking) and I'm amazed by how great they are. They really hold up to the hype. They fit great (I certainly suggest getting your actual size - had to exchange because I chose 8 1/2 when I'm 8's) and they look great. Oh, and they're super comfortable. I'm practically wearing them everyday, even when I'm not in the field - they're that comfortable. I definitively recommend these.
April 13, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by diane133 OMG!
I am a Probation Officer and need boots for home visits that support my weak ankles, have a thick sole, keep my heals steady and are snug enough to prevent my bone spurs from hurting. These boots are amazing! I walk in places that are rocky, have debris that should never be stepped on by a human being, and these boots provide stability and I could still run in them if I needed to! OK, my one criticism is that they are too warm to wear in a hot office all day. . . but I have never trusted or felt more secure in a pair of boots than I do these. Thank u llbean.
April 2, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by ValleyGoodness Best LLBean Product
Naively but fortuitously for me, I bought these boots out of an LL Bean catalog in 1998 before heading west to do a semester wilderness program in the Cascade Mountains. This was my first pair of hiking boots and my first experience with long-range backpacking. I arrived at my destination and our group leader warned us of the dangers of not trying on boots before purchasing them. Hesitantly I set out on the first of our backpacking trips and was overwhelmed by the comfort and out-of-the-box readiness of these boots. When the other hikers in my group were wrapping their feet from the massive blisters they had from breaking new and more expensive hiking boots, I was exploring glaciers, waterfalls, and lush forests in the Three Sisters Mountain range. 15 years later, I am still wearing these boots and happily hiking local parts of the Appalachian Trail 4-5 days a week, in the snow, rain, and mud!!! I borrowed a neighbor's old riding mower last year and he didn't bother to mention that the place where you put your right foot gets abnormally hot, so unfortunately, I overheated the sole of my right boot and it has started to come loose. Had that not happened, I think I would still be wearing these for another 5+ years. I'll be purchasing a new pair soon and I'm excited to see that they now offer the boot in different widths. I won't buy a different hiking boot in my lifetime unless something changes about this boot. As an additional bit of info, I am really hard on my shoes and wear them out faster than the average person. I have never owned another pair of shoes longer than this! Highly recommended! Happy hiking! :) PS - attached you'll find a pic of my boots at 15 years old.
March 12, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by firsttimehiker great fit on first hike!
After much researching and on the advice of a mountaineering friend who's had his Cresta's for 10 years and wears them all the time, took the plunge yesterday and bought my first pair of hiking boots. At the store, the Medium width pinched my foot just a little after about 5-10 minutes, so the sales guy immediately recommended I try the Wide. I wore them later that evening and was afraid that my heel was slipping. But this morning, after re-adjusting the lacing, went on my first hike ever, and the boots felt fabulous! I have high arches and weak ankles, yet my feet felt totally supported and my heel was no longer slipping, all this while trudging through the snow and uneven terrain. I'm used to wearing heavy tall shaft boots with a rugged sole, so these Crestas didn't feel heavy to me. I ended up wearing the Crestas all day. Super comfy. So happy with this purchase!
March 9, 2013
Rated 2 out of 5 by scubafc Not as advertised
The wide width is not wide - basically a medium. More importantly, the video clearly advertises the boots as made by AKU Italia. Italian boots are great which is why I ordered them for my wife. The boots we received were marked as made in Romania. I expect better from Bean. They are going back.
February 26, 2013
Zoom in
Zoom out
Reset
