My new hiking boots made in france (le soulor)

[Simlam]

Hi folks, I just wanted to share a few snaps of my new hiking boots order made in france. Cost quite a bit at 415€ (500$ or so) but the quality was delivered. You can chose everything from the leather, smooth or gain or roughout, many colours too. I went with full black because I’m intending to use them in a more urban context. Took a slimmer sole too. I love the. But they’re still in the breaking process and it hurts on long walks. Can’t wait to have them mold to my feet and get softer too.
i don’t have any ties to the brand and I don’t mean to promote them but I thought since they’re a local brand it might interest some people to see what’s the craft production is like in other countries tries.

 

[Bennarion]

Great shoes, I like them. Thanks for the article.

 

[TartuWolf]

The location of the first (lowest) speed hooks seems unusual. I guess there is a reason for it?

 

[twistdh]

Nice boot, it's similar to mine. that first speed hooks i think is there for the best thightness. Mine has it too and it keeps the ankle well fixed compared to the other more basic boots I have. but it will also be due to the different construction quality. Next time I'll ask the manufacturer the reason (he's making me a custom boot to use with the enduro bike)

Mine is a pair of Scarpe Vera (custom boot made in Italy, Tuscany), but is pretty similar. the break in is pretty hard, at least for me who uses them very little (30 full days a year more or less)...But they came with me in the sand of the desert, in the muddy jungle, on the snow/ice, in the peat and on the rocky Alps.

After almost 5 years the external veg tanned leather is pretty soft (thanks to the use and the huge amount of grease that they "eat" ) and comfortable.

Use your new boot, they seems a beast the sole seems a Vibram Montagna right?

 

[Simlam]

It seems to be part of the design, donno why though. They showed me how to lace it down through the hooks a second time and tie the knot at tue lowest speed hook

 

[Simlam]

Nice boot, it's similar to mine. that first speed hooks i think is there for the best thightness. Mine has it too and it keeps the ankle well fixed compared to the other more basic boots I have. but it will also be due to the different construction quality. Next time I'll ask the manufacturer the reason (he's making me a custom boot to use with the enduro bike)

Mine is a pair of Scarpe Vera (custom boot made in Italy, Tuscany), but is pretty similar. the break in is pretty hard, at least for me who uses them very little (30 full days a year more or less)...But they came with me in the sand of the desert, in the muddy jungle, on the snow/ice, in the peat and on the rocky Alps.

After almost 5 years the external veg tanned leather is pretty soft (thanks to the use and the huge amount of grease that they "eat" ) and comfortable.

Use your new boot, they seems a beast the sole seems a Vibram Montagna right?

I’m not sure, they offered thicker and slimmer vibram, I went with their lighter option since anyway they can replace it for 60€ so no need to have the long lasting ones. I used to have solovair Hiker boots which were similar and became comfortable after a few weeks and some pain but this seems to be a step up in terms of construction. It’s made in a small workshop in south west of France (Pau city) and I had to wait three months to get those (they took my feet measurements)

 

[twistdh]

I’m not sure, they offered thicker and slimmer vibram, I went with their lighter option since anyway they can replace it for 60€ so no need to have the long lasting ones. I used to have solovair Hiker boots which were similar and became comfortable after a few weeks and some pain but this seems to be a step up in terms of construction. It’s made in a small workshop in south west of France (Pau city) and I had to wait three months to get those (they took my feet measurements)

ok, that sole seems a little lower in fact, but the design is almost identical (to my eyes) to the Vibram Montagna...in any case is a really good sole, top notch!... I ended up choosing the Vibram Teton for my boots that is similar to yours but a bit softer compound to have a little more grip on the slippery surface...

 

[Goel]

Is that the Roccia sole? I think that's the lighter Montagna. They also offer it in a few different materials that can drastically change the weight and stiffness.

 

[Simlam]

I could ask the manufacturer but as I was there I just tried different examples with different soles, this wasn’t the softest, rather hard material but thinner. It feels rigid but not as heavy as their other option. For now what makes the boot stiff is the leather not the sole

 

[pillepalle123]

In Germany we call it "Tiefziehhaken" and every serious hiking boot has it.
It helps to lock in the foot and especially the heel better.
Oftentimes it is a more heavy duty hook so you can apply more force to it, but here every hook is heavy duty double riveted

 

[Simlam]

In Germany we call it "Tiefziehhaken" and every serious hiking boot has it.
It helps to lock in the foot and especially the heel better.
Oftentimes it is a more heavy duty hook so you can apply more force to it, but here every hook is heavy duty double riveted

Good to know, thanks. They’re suppose to last forever, the manufacturer showed me a 10 or 15 years boot that was there for resoling. it had a nice patina, it belonged to a forest guard who'd taken them through rough stuff

 

[MrProper]

The location of the first (lowest) speed hooks seems unusual. I guess there is a reason for it?

What do you find unusual? That they are slightly offset to the rear?
I know that from other hiking boots too. I think it's to allow more traction on the joint and prevent heel slip.

Edit: Just seen it... I was too late