Axis buck hunt

By Mark Skousen

I have been a big fan of the Crispi Lapponia boot ever since they were introduced 4-5 years ago.  I love them because they are lightweight, have no insulation, and no break is required making them very comfortable for early season hunts.  My only nock on the previous models is the sole would wear out in a season or less of heavy use.  New for 2024 is the Lapponia III from Crispi, not only does is have all the great features of the original Lapponia, but there are some significant enhancements.  Here are some of the features of this new boot. 

  • Gore-Tex® Performance Comfort Footwear Lining
  • Vibram® MegaGrip Sole and EVA midsole
  • 2 Flex Rating
  • Board Lasting Mechanical Construction
  • Non insulated
  • Upper: Water-repellent Nubuck leather. Breathable PUtek® Spider Fabric.
  • Protection: Triple-stitched, polyurethane-coated leather rand.
  • Height: 8"
  • Weight (one boot, size 9): 1lb 5oz

I have been hoping for years they would add a durable Vibram sole to this boot and this year they did.  Time will tell how it holds up but so far so good.

So I asked the question at the beginning, Is this the best light weight hunting boot offered by Crispi?  It might be.  Here is my first impressions of this boot.

Break In Period

Very little break in is required for this boot.  Right out of the box, I put a 50lb pack on and went for a walk with my wife around the neighborhood and they felt great.  I could tell the Vibram sole definitely added a little bit of stiffness to this boot, from the previous models, but they still rolled nicely and didn’t put any stress on my mid sole.

Next, I took them Turkey hunting in some pretty steep country and didn’t feel any uncomfortable heal pressure.  I did get a little pressure as the boot flexed on the top of my foot near my big toe but I think my lacing might have been a little tight.  It has since gone away.  I then took them to Hawaii for my Axis deer hunt in May and they were very comfortable.

Lapponia III Crispi hunting boot


Durability

Our hunt in Hawaii was no picnic.   We were hunting a volcano and the lava rock is very sharp and had undergrowth covering much of it so I really couldn’t see where I was stepping.  One day we hike 13 miles and gained nearly 3,000 ft in elevation and I was happy I had the extra durability of the Vibram sole and leather rand around the edge of the boot.  I was worried I was going to tear them up but they handled the day with flying colors.  They were very stable and still look almost new.

Fit

I wear a size 10D boot and these fit true to size.  Some of the other Crispi boots fit me a little big so I go down a size but these are good.


Overall Impressions of the Crispi Lapponia III Boot

The new Lapponia III GTX is everything I hoped it would be.  All the great features that I love on the other models but with a more durable, longer lasting sole.  I’m a little concerned over time that a bunch of debris will get jammed into the new asymmetrical lacing system but it doesn’t seem to be an issue so far and the new lacing system helps me avoid any slop in the toe box.  I think the benefits outweigh the downside. 

I’m looking forward to spending the summer scouting in these boots and using them for Elk season in September.  Crispi has been very thoughtful about how to continually improve this boot.  They are on the top of my list for their intended optimal use which is spring turkey, spring bear, shed hunting, summer scouting, archery shoots, early season deer and elk as well as summer hiking and backpacking. I did swap out the standard insole with a pair of Superfeet Hike support insoles which has helped with increasing the comfort level.