Grisport: Crusader Boot Review

I’m Pete, I’ve been an outdoorsman since my early teens (before Grisport even started as a business). I acquired my MLTB at Plas-y-Brenin and spent many years guiding and passing on my outdoor/bush craft/navigation skills to clubs and individually like minded people whilst buying many different pairs of mens walking boots over the year.
On Saturday, my new Crusader boots arrived and I ravaged the packaging to get at the contents inside. Wow, the waft of Leather, and Rubber, and a Quality box too.
On handling, these boots feel…. substantial, give them a knock and there is that tell tale sound of quality leather and quality components.
An hour later I’m out of the door in my boots, eager to break these babies in. I’ve read reviews on the crusader boot in the past, and I was sure these would be a reasonable boot. However I did not expect them to be ‘Fabulous’ boots but for those whom require a wider fit they’re perfect. A great fit with enough room to wriggle my toes wearing a liner and mid weight merino wool sock. I’ve spent serious lucre on footwear twice the price of the crusader boots and they don’t even come close…. Seriously.
I took the Crusader boots on a two hour out-of-the-box 6 mile mud, guts – and -all ramble from the back door, into the LancashireCountryside. These boots deliver. They are waterproof and give traction from the branded rugged Vibram sole. The boots also come with a deep heel breast which means fast braking in British mud whilst being super cushioned on those hard flat surface sections.
Rinse off with the hose and they’re ready for more!! Grisport are packing serious kit here, a Sympatex boot keeps your tootsies dry from water ingress and vapour.
With any walking boots, I would recommend a breaking in period. The crusader boots are a sturdy and solidly built boot, manufactured in Italy the Home of Mountaineering, I’d definitely take a few trips to break them in before a full day fell walk.
Now me being me, I would be confident in using my Kahtoolah Crampons with this boot, they’re supportive and rigid enough for easy winter fell and mountain walking, and that’s just what they’re going to get as soon as possible.
More soon on the Crusader (if the weather gets colder).
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