Thread: Soft heeled boots, with ankle support?

Any recommendations on a soft heeled tramping boot?

Currently have grisport mohaka but the hard reinforced heel gives me grief.

I have bad inflammation on my heels from bad footwear in high school days I believe.

Used to put up with it but now it’s getting annoying, it is usually fine the first 2 days of a hunt but by day 3 + it gets very inflamed and tender.

I can wear soft heeled leather work boots 8+ hours a day as a builder and don’t have any pain but any kind of rigid tramping boot really works me over.

Tried to get some photos for context, another spanner in the works is I have bad ankles for sport injury’s as well so some sort of ankle support is nice.

Gel insoles if some shock absorbency is beneficial for you.
I have moved from heavier leather boots to the synthetic Salomon construction ones for a softer and more easier wearing boot. The Element Quest being the lighter/softer option if it is robust enough for your uses.


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My heels look similar and for years I always wore out the lining at the back of boots. I went to asolo 535 s which are also a wide fit. Wish I'd found these thirty years ago

Originally Posted by Kobra

My heels look similar and for years I always wore out the lining at the back of boots. I went to asolo 535 s which are also a wide fit. Wish I'd found these thirty years ago

Wide fit is good!

Yeah I have pretty much worn holes in the back of all my boots.

Thank you

Euro wide fit is "EE" - what might be of some help is a boot 1/2 a size up from what fits and glue some eva foam into the heel at the back of the boot?

I think from the photo's what you have is something like 'calcification' or spurs of extra bone laid down and the skin and meat over the top of those bits gets rubbed raw. I have something similar - so I have to be a little careful when I pick boots to get ones that don't have a seam sown into the very back of the heel area of the lining. Apart from that, I seem to get away with it for the most part.

A good supportive boot with good midsole flex and secure around the ankle helps as well. I don't think the actual make up of the heel of the boot (hard, soft, whatever) actually makes that much difference to the irritation and sensitivity, if you can stop it rubbing on the bit where it gets sensitive that's the ticket. It's prevention more than treating - so if the eva chunk with a groove in the middle of it to shift the contact to either side works you are away laughing.

John bull Angus may be your answer as close to your work boots but no steel toe. Bloody good value for money.

Thought the angus did have a steel toe? Most of John Bulls range seems to be steel capped now, which is a shame. I just had a look on their site and even the old combat boot they used to do is no more. Look like the only non-safety boot they do is the Tracker now which is a slip on...

Ok it's not Angus...but they did do one not long ago it had good tough bits up edges of leather to protect them...

Originally Posted by No.3

Euro wide fit is "EE" - what might be of some help is a boot 1/2 a size up from what fits and glue some eva foam into the heel at the back of the boot?

I think from the photo's what you have is something like 'calcification' or spurs of extra bone laid down and the skin and meat over the top of those bits gets rubbed raw. I have something similar - so I have to be a little careful when I pick boots to get ones that don't have a seam sown into the very back of the heel area of the lining. Apart from that, I seem to get away with it for the most part.

A good supportive boot with good midsole flex and secure around the ankle helps as well. I don't think the actual make up of the heel of the boot (hard, soft, whatever) actually makes that much difference to the irritation and sensitivity, if you can stop it rubbing on the bit where it gets sensitive that's the ticket. It's prevention more than treating - so if the eva chunk with a groove in the middle of it to shift the contact to either side works you are away laughing.

I’ll try and do this. Have you used the Eva foam personally have a recommendation on glue and source of foam.?

Yeah - whatever I found at Para Rubber - they do a variety of foam thicknesses and off cuts and have a look at the EVA stuff they have in the "scrap" pile... I have used bog standard sleeping mat and a few other things - including expensive EPDM strip which is sold by the meter.

Any tube of contact cement like the Ados products will work. Shoe Goo, or contact cement - it's not like we are trying to glue something mission critical.

Looked on John bull website...boots I was thinking of not in catalogue (but photo of them under heading of builders boots) they must have been plastic safety toe. There are a whole lot of great work boots that aren't all that heavy as the safety toe caps today aren't half a kg like they once were. I often wear my work boots hunting if it's going to be very cold for the extra warmth. They are Oliver brand and very similar to the old John bull combat boots,but definately more ankle support.

After years of rigid boots and worries about my dodgy ankle, I bought a pair of Jim Green's about six months ago. Comfortable and supportive.

Jim Green is a South African brand. Seem to have a little bit of a cult following there (a bit like our Redband gumboots enjoy). I'm not a Saffa, but I appreciate their food a lot... so I thought I'd give the boots a whirl too. Definitely a convert.

If you aren't already, try running a couple of pairs of socks. Wear a light pair of socks, then your normal thicker socks. Helps with abrasion and will give you a little extra comfort.

Couple layers of strapping/blister tape on the heels helps me.

I have trouble with blisters on my heels, I just bought a pair of $60 socks from farmlands and so far heels are good.