Why even take on this Zamberlan Wasatch review? After all, I already have a favorite pair of boots and was not really looking for a pair of Zamberlans. That said, Zamberlan hunting boots have a well established reputation, and based on their build quality, I was intrigued by them. Backing up a little bit…let me reminisce.
Imagine all the nostalgic things you love – sleeping in your own bed after a long trip away or your first weekend home from college, the smell of your favorite dessert on the holidays, or being taken back to a specific period in your life when you hear a certain song on a radio. It is like time stops and you feel at home.
That is how I feel about my most beloved hunting boot and the ones I have worn for years – the Salomon Quest 4D GTX.
There were two major problems with these bad boys though: (1) the durability is atrocious for anyone who is not cruising trails, and (2) they leaked like the overhang on your house with the first big rain in the fall after you forgot to clean the gutters.
You can read more about the first big let down from my beloved Quest’s here. It was that experience that initially piqued my curiosity about an all leather boot that I could wear during all seasons.
We visited the Zamberlan booth at Hunt Expo in Salt Lake City in 2023, and a handshake quickly turned to getting sized for boots and the crew making suggestions to us on what boot out of their prolific lineup they thought would be a good choice for testing.
From then on it was set: I would be testing out their ‘flagship’ elk hunting boot, the Zamberlan 981 Wasatch. The folks at Zamberlan stated, “This is what we put guys in who are mostly hunting really steep terrain.” As subjective as that sounds, I rarely find myself on anything flat, so it sounded like a perfect pairing for the 2023 season.
Zamberlan Wasatch Boots Specs – Zamberlan Boot Review
The Zamberlan Wasatch 981 GTX RR is an 11 inch, predominantly all leather boot with a rubber rand surrounding the bottom for increased durability. Zamberlan specifically mentions this is their “homage to big-game western hunters in pursuit of their dream elk, mule deer, or sheep. It is the most rugged elk-hunting boot we have made to date, thanks to an all-new, beefy out-sole, full rubber rand, and added leg reinforcements. In spite of the upgrades in ruggedness, expect little break-in and instant comfort out of the box.” More to come on that in a minute…
Here are the Zamberlan Wasatch Specs:
- Lining/waterproof: Yes – GORE-TEX
- Outsole: Zamberlan® Vibram® StarTrek II
- Midsole: Double Density polyurethane (PU) Wedge + Light thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) Layer
- Insole: Flex 4mm + polyethylene (PE)
- Advertised half pair weight: 1.98 lb
- Observed half pair weight (size 8.5): 2.03 lb
- Insulation: None
SIZING
I have a wide foot and typically wear a size 9 or 9.5. I was instructed by Kate (the very knowledgeable Zamberlan rep) to size DOWN and not get a wide. I did just that and she was right on the money with the fit. That being said, each person (and even each boot) can be different as another team member had a different experience than me with the sizing of these boots.
Zamberlan advertises how these boots have “very little break-in and instant comfort”. I will say they fit my foot nicely out of the box but still had the typical stiff feel you would expect from a leather boot. I will also say that this eased over time and they were fairly quick to break in.
PRODUCT MATERIALS
LEATHER: The Zamberlan Wasatch boots feature thick Hydrobloc Tuscan nubuck leather. If you spend much time researching boots, you will notice that they can be made from a variety of different leathers. Nubuck is top grain leather that has been sanded or buffed. This allows for some ‘breahthability’ (I quote it because how breathable can leather really be?). The second advantage is the ability to resist outside moisture from getting in. Hydrobloc is added by Zamberlan to help increase water repellency.
HARDWARE: Remember those beloved Salomons? They used plastic hardware in the early iterations of the boot. I once had an eyelet break with only half of the eyelet still managing to retain the lace on the boot itself. From that point on I vowed to find metal hardware if available. Zamberlan did it right and made sure to use something bombproof.
LACES: There is nothing worse than having to yank a pair of thick laces through the lace up guides on tall boots when it is freezing cold out. Zamberlan uses a thin but robust lace to help keep these bad boys taught against your foot while hiking.
Product Details: Zamberlan Wasatch Review
Vibram StarTrek II Outsole
As mentioned, the Wasatch seems to have a great balance between hiker and rugged sheep boot. The rocker is just enough to facilitate good movement without going overboard. And how can you go wrong when partnering with a brand that is synonymous with grip and durability like Vibram?
Comparing Stiffness + The Midsole
While not a lightweight hiker, they are also not super stiff. When compared to something like the notoriously rigid Schnee Granite, these definitely seem to have less rigidity (in a good way…especially if you are doing a lot of archery elk hunting in mild temps).
Gore-Tex Performance Comfort Membranes
I never got wet. What is left to say? That is the ultimate litmus test, right? I walked through small creeks and hiked during rainstorms and my feet never got wet. Unfortunately, we did not get a ton of weather during the hunting season, so I did not have the opportunity to really put these through the ringer, but they stood the test in what they did face.
11” Height
If I am honest, this is where I was the most on the fence with trying these during an early season hunt (archery elk in September) where you can be presented with conditions ranging from snow to 80-degree temperatures and anything in between. While warmer than your average mid-ankle hiker, it was also really nice to not have to worry about anything unwanted coming in.
We did have warmer temps during most of the archery season here in the West…until we didn’t. When the weather hit, I did not have to guess which boot I was going to grab. It was then that I appreciated the extra height. Something to consider if you are looking for one boot to do it all.
Made in Italy
The United States manufactures some incredible products and I always appreciate a company that can source and build the products here in the US of A. While we might have things like Ford and the humble hamburger, nobody does leather boots (or Ferraris…they do those really well too) like Italy.
Resoleable with factory OEM Zamberlan-Vibram Outsoles
This may not seem like a huge deal, but I always look for a boot that is resolable when making the investment (let’s face it – these things are not cheap). Zamberlan put a three part (insole, mid, and outsole) chassis on the Wasatch which can be resoled if you wear them out chasing critters over a couple seasons.
Along the same lines is the rubber rand. Many of these boots cost more than a truck payment. I am fine spending that type of money on something if I know it will: (a) last a while, and (b) allow for fixes/replacements in the case that I do wear them out. The rubber rand, though a seemingly small detail, is a must when looking for long-term durability.
Insoles – Sheep Feet
Let’s face it. Insoles have the ability to make or break a boot. And, as with most boots, the Zamberlan insoles are, well, ones I would highly recommend upgrading. About 15 years ago I lost 140 pounds. A major part of that weight loss was an uptick in activity. Since that time, I have tried all kinds of workarounds to make my feet happy – neutral cushion shoes, evaluation of gait, custom cork orthotics, plastic pre-made orthotics, and the list goes on.
I had the opportunity to test some Sheep Feet Custom Orthotic insoles along with these boots and I was naturally a little skeptical that some company could send me a box to impress my foot in and all of the sudden make me feel like I am walking on clouds in the backcountry.
I am very, very happy to report that my skepticism was dead wrong.
The Ordering Process
I have to give it to Sheep Feet; they make the process very simple. When you visit their website, you are met with a few options under an ‘advanced options’ tab. They make it clear these are really only for prescribed issues. If none apply, you can move forward with their standard instructions:
- Order the insoles and they will send the impression box.
- Take your impressions (more on this in a minute).
- Ship them back using the prepaid shipping label.
- They create the insole and ship them back to you.
- Trim to fit your boot and start walking, baby.
It truly was that simple for me and the process from impression to receiving the orthotics was quite fast at about three weeks.
One very key thing to understand about taking the impression is how vital it is to have someone else push your foot into the mold. There are some reports on forums about other folks having a pair that did not fit well. The universal reason appears to be because of an uneven impression when the molds were first created.
Trim to Fit
Sheep Feet does an incredible job educating their customer through each step of the process through videos and other means of making sure there is no ambiguity from the time you order until it comes time to trim the orthotic for your boot.
The insole is huge when you get it and designed to be cut down to size. To do so, they recommend that you pull an existing insole out of your boots, trace its outline on the Sheep Feet custom insole, and trim to fit. It mostly works as advertised, but I definitely found I needed to trim a bit more to get it to fit cleanly.
It is also worth noting that once it is in the boot, it is in the boot and very tough to pull back out.
Fit and Experience
Many reports online suggest ‘getting used to’ the orthotics before a big hike on the mountains. I did not have the time before my hunt to do that, so I trimmed and took them straight to the mountain…and the experience was perfect.
It is hard to really describe what I felt, but I can say I had absolutely no issues and my feet felt incredibly comfortable during my hunts.
Very rarely is a company able to pull off a customized product that is available to the masses and do it well. Sheep Feet does. The process is straightforward and simple. The product is excellent and lives up to the hype, and they do it all within a reasonable timeframe.
If you have ever thought about replacing your factory insoles with something more comfortable, I would certainly recommend giving Sheep Feet a look. I have a feeling I will not be standing alone as the only person whose skepticism has changed for the better.
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What I Liked: Zamberlan Wasatch Boot Review
It is clear Zamberlan has put thought into every design step and stitch and can easily compete with some of the other big names in the hunting boot market. These are not boots made in a cheap factory with cheap components. They are made in Italy from very high quality nubuck leather to ward off unwanted water and snow. That is one thing I loved about the boot.
The second thing was that the boot really did strike a nice balance between being rugged for the mountains but not feeling like you were walking around in a ski boot that will not articulate at the ankle. You can even see the front toe box of the boot being shaped more like a lightweight hiker instead of some old school pair of Whites ready for war in a wildland fire.
What I Disliked: Zamberlan Wasatch Boot Review
As I mentioned above, I am extremely impressed by the quality of the boots’ construction and Zamberlan’s attention to detail. That being said, I will also say that anything you comment on when it comes to fit is subjective and individual. Feet are different shapes. Feet are different sizes. People have different preferences. And, something as simple as a sock combination and different lacing pattern can take a boot from uncomfortable to lounging on a Tempurpedic-like bed for your foot.
One challenge I had with the Wasatch was the upper rand. I found it folding in on my ankles and thereby causing some rubbing that was problematic with hotspots that wanted to flare up. You can see the crease developing in the image after some short use. What was most interesting is I only experienced this on one boot.
Second was the break in and this is where things get tricky. I have had issues with my feet in the past while racking up a lot of running miles. Thankfully these issues rarely pop up for me with boots, especially when doing longer duration, lower impact hikes. Prior to installing the above mentioned Sheep Feet, as a part of this Zamberlan Wasatch review I tested the boots with the included insoles. During this testing, I did notice the arches and my feet feeling particularly uncomfortable while hiking and in the days that followed wearing the Zamberlan Wasatch boots. Once I switched out the insoles to the Sheepfeet, the issue was resolved.
At the end of the day, the sore arches wasn’t an issue that a quality insole didn’t fix for me, but it was something I did note during my testing. As I said, boot reviews are “tricky” because someone else with a different foot shape may have no problems whatsoever and there are countless reviews from folks who love the boot. As such, take my “issues” with a grain of salt as they were primarily concerning the subject of fit.
Our Zamberlan Wasatch Rankings
- Construction quality: 4/5. The quality is truly exceptional. The only reason I am going slightly less than perfect here is the upper rand I mentioned above. It seems like a simpler design would have been to keep the full leather wrap around the top. I understand the idea of more durability, but I have also never personally had, or heard of, a boot failing at that point. Instead, I found it folding in on my ankle, rubbing, and ultimately causing me to not always reach for the Wasatch every time I went out.
- Weight: 5/5. They are a well-rounded weight for an all-leather boot and are on par with other boots on the market in the same category.
- Overall value: 5/5. Resoleable. Excellent materials. Robust construction. Sure, the price tag is hefty, but aren’t all hand-made, leather boots with this type of quality? Also, if you are patient, you can almost always find these boots on sale for less than $400 which is well worth paying.
- Durability: 4/5. I am going with this rating for two reasons: one is the aforementioned annoyance with that upper rand and two is the lower rand, what I am calling “wrap around”. Most leather boots with a lower rubber rand have one that wraps the entirety of the boot with one connection point inside of the boot. As you can see in the image above, the lower rand on the Wasatch overlays the rubber piece mentioned above and the front section of the other lower rand. I had no failure but it was a concern of mine when first looking at the design. I noticed some reviews of the boot described issues with “seams coming unglued”.
Conclusion – Zamberlan Wasatch Review
While I am not quite ready to abandon my beloved Solomon’s completely, I will say that these boots deserve a look if you are in the market for an uninsulated, all leather hiker that can withstand the rugged terrain and demands of Western hunting. Although I did have the issue of rubbing on the upper rand, the boot – and quality – is solid and the build is top notch. Zamberlan offers a HUGE range of boots covering everything from ultralight minimalist to fully-insulated cold weather and everything in between. Whether it be these Wasatch boots or one of their other models, they likely have a boot that will fit your style and preference.
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