Meindl Perfekt Hiker Boots

As with all the equipment reviews I will be doing, allow me first to divulge the background information on them.  First, I bought them, they were not given to me to test.  No, I was not afforded a discount by either the manufacturer or the retail outlet.  *Dusts hands*  Now that we have that out of the way...

In the spring of this year, I began a search for a new pair of hiking boots.  I was planning a section hike of part of the Appalachian Trail, in Virginia, as part of my continuing saga of section hiking the whole AT.  As with every equipment purchase, I pored over technical specifications (Tech nerd?  Nooooo...not me!), online reviews, other blogs, etc.  Finally, I decided that my best bet was to actually put my hands, and more importantly my feet, on these hikers.

Of all the models that I examined, I opted for a pair of Perfekt Hikers from Cabela's.  Perfekts are made by the famous Bavarian boot makers, Meindl.  Meindl knows boots - they've been making them for over 300 years.  Their quality is beyond approach, based on online reviews.  I knew that the manufacturing was sound - but sound enough for daily abuse by a guide well known for pushing his equipment above and beyond?

When I tried these boots out at the store, I was surprised at how heavy the boots were.  They weigh in at just over 3#, at least by my scale when I got home.  However, the boots were amazingly comfortable when I put them on.  The lacing system works well, and the boots had a natural, well fitted feel to them, at least with my feet at a normal (read: non-swollen!) size.  But what would happen after 40 or 50 miles on a trail?  Would they still feel as comfortable?

Well, to make matters short and sweet - yes.  So far, I have logged about 150 miles in the boots, and they feel as good now as they did then.  So far, they have stood up to all the abuse I have been able to throw at them - hiking, mud, rain, sleet, snow, and so forth.  I would expect nothing less from a manufacturer with the reputation and history of Meindl.

The Perfekts are a full grain leather boot, but feel remarkably light for such.  The uppers grip my ankle solidly, aiding greatly in support for the rough terrain I am often required to cross.  In fact, I have started to feel my ankle roll several times in the boot, only to have the uppers catch and save me from a serious injury.  I find the firm outersole  with good traction, even on icy surfaces (although certainly not as good as crampons!).  The best feature of the Perfekts, in my opinion, however, are the cork/memory foam inserts.  Immediately upon putting these boots on in the store, I could feel the comfort - in fact, these were even more comfortable to wear than the sneakers I had worn into the store!

If you are looking for a high end ($200+) pair of hikers, and want as much quality as possible for the money, I highly recommend the Perfekts.