I’ve gone through thousands upon thousands of wasted dollars with 12-13 different styles of boots from Crispi, Lacrosse, Zamberlain and even Meindl….and I’ve finally found a pair that likes me. They are fairly stiff, which I wanted. Big toe box, which I needed. Good ankle support, for side-hilling. All leather, for durability. And they wrap completely around your toes, foot and ankle. I’ve put 20-25 miles on these prepping for an archery elk hunt out west and so far they’ve exceeded my expectations. No hot spots. No toe pinch. No weird feel. I do recommend changing out the laces to a stiffer, less stretchy pair that comes with these. And it’s up to you if you want to replace the insole. I did. Otherwise I think I found a great elk archery boot made for the high country.

At the advice of Meindl staff, I purchased these for a recent Prostate Cancer Foundation fundraiser(done during the month of March, 2025) in which I hiked the southern portion of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania and the two main sections across Maryland. The totals were 121.8 miles, average hike distance 17.4 miles/hike, and elevation gains of 15,083 feet. Those who hike this section of the AT call Pennsylvania "Rocksylvania" because of the large amount of rocks populating the Trail. Accordingly, trail shoes and boots get torn up easily. These boots did not disappoint! They are amazingly unscathed! They also protected my feet over these long stretches of rocks and boulders. Although the MFS-Vakuum Hiker may be a little heavy for some, I think it is a really good boot for those who are traversing tough terrain over long distances. The grip on all the surfaces was outstanding. Bottom line: this is really a lighter boot compared to some of the heavier Alpine Mountain hiking boot models, but it is tough enough to withstand the punishment. For serious hikers this is the real deal. Really impressive!