Grisport: Crusader Boot Review

At Grisport, we love to hear the feedback from our customers and for them to let us know what they love most about our mens walking boots.
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This month we have Pete reviewing our crusader boots which are great for the winter season.
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.
Over the years, I've learned through my own experience and recommendations from my peers is that good kit is good kit, but ''Great kit'' is hard to find. To me, great kit is kit that fits well and is comfortable to the individual using it whilst being high quality over the years.
I'm honoured to be testing Grisports Footwear, I remember my old Colossus boots I wore as a Ranger.
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.
Quality tunnel and locking lace hooks give comfort and tension to the lacing as required, no cheap plastic here which is a great pleasure to see.
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.
I only stopped twice to re-adjust the laces, the comfort was superb, forefoot space was great and plenty of room to wriggle my toes. As a guy with skinny heels, I found heel lift was not a problem on inclined paths.
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). Shop the Crusader boot today.