Limmer Boots Review: Everything You Need to Know
/Sometime around 2013 I began looking for a backpacking boot that would last a lifetime, or at least a couple of decades. As one does when looking to make such a purchase, I surfed the web for days. On some obscure gear review site, I read about Limmer boots and determined it was the boot I wanted.
Ten years and many boots later, I thought I’d share what I wish I’d known about Limmer boots before purchasing a pair, then another pair, then another, and so on, for I was convinced that Limmers were THE best backpacking boot money could buy, but finding the right boot in the right size proved challenging.
This was before there was a website devoted to Limmer Boots that offered sizing instructions. The other problem was that I was looking for a used pair. Back then a used pair of Limmers appeared on eBay about every six months. In hindsight, it would have been cheaper and faster to order a pair of Customs and wait the two years for their production, but more on that in a moment.
What Are Limmer Boots?
Limmer boots are handmade leather boots constructed of a single-piece leather upper welted to a leather and composite midsole and glued to a Vibram Montagna outsole.
They are primarily used for hiking, backpacking, and mountaineering, though some also use Limmer boots for heavy duty work like firefighting, construction, and trail building.
Limmer was founded by Peter Limmer in 1919 in Intervale, New Hampshire. To this day that is where the Limmer Custom boot is made by the posterity of Peter Limmer and a few others (Peter Limmer & Son Inc. was recently sold to Chris Sawyer and Adam Lane-Olsen.) The Limmer Custom is what started it all.
But there’s also the Limmer Standard boot. The Limmer Standard is made in Germany by Meindl and is a replica of the world-famous Custom. While it is not built exactly as the Custom, it remains a solid leather backpacking boot. Meindl is also a family-owned business and has produced the Standard in partnership with Limmer for decades.
But which is better? And what should you know before spending $500 or more on “the world’s most sought-after boot”?
Read on, compadre.
Are Limmer Boots Any Good?
Yes.
Both the Limmer Standard from Germany and the Limmer Custom from the USA are made with tough, high quality materials and superb workmanship. You can scour social media threads and gear review forums to see testimonials from people who have been hiking in Limmers for 30 years or more, whether the Custom or Standard.
I have hiked several miles in both, and I think both the Limmer Standards and Limmer Customs are as tough as boots come and are likely to last years in even the most extreme conditions, or several thousand miles.
Limmer Standard vs. Limmer Custom Construction
Limmer Standard
Upper: Single piece of 3.2mm thick chrome-tanned leather
Welt: Norwegian
Lining: Leather
Insole: 3.5mm leather plus padded leather heel patch
Midsole: 7.5mm Vibram Comp
Outsole: 8mm Vibram Montagna
Shank: Full-length nylon
Average Weight: 4 lbs
Reinforcements: Side and ankle open-cell foam
Heel Counter: 2.5mm leather fiberboard
Height From Floor: 7.0 Inches
Height From Welt: 5.5 Inches
Resole/Repair: Yes
Manufacturing: Made in Germany
Limmer Custom
Leather Upper: Single piece of 3.2mm thick chrome-tanned leather
Welt: Double Stitchdown
Lining: Leather
Insole: 4mm oak-tanned leather plus leather heel patch
Midsole: 4.5mm veg-tanned leather plus 3mm Vibram Comp
Outsole: 8mm Vibram Montagna
Shank: Half-length steel
Average Weight: 4.5 lbs
Reinforcements: Side and ankle memory foam
Heel Counter: 2.8mm veg-tanned leather
Height From Floor: 7.0 Inches
Height From Welt: 5.5 Inches
Resole/Repair: Yes
Manufacturing: Made in USA
I copied the above table from the Limmer website.
You’ll notice the Standard is constructed with a slightly thinner insole, a fiberboard counter, and a nylon shank, while the Custom is constructed with an oak-tanned insole, oak-tanned heel counter, and a steel shank.
The Standard uses a composite midsole, while the Custom’s midsole includes a layer of leather and composite.
The Standard is constructed with a Norwegian welt; the Custom with a double stitchdown. (I’m not certain whether this means the boots are welted differently or simply that different terminology is used in the USA and Germany.)
The Standard has open-cell foam, the Custom memory foam.
Two differences not noted on the website are as follows: The Standard sole is glued to the midsole, while the Custom is glued and screwed; the Standard has a padded tongue, the Custom tongue has no padding.
You’ll notice that some of these differences are ambiguous. Is open-cell foam different from memory foam, for example? And if so, how?
It seems to me that for all the attention given to the construction of Limmer boots, not nearly as much is devoted to the website or its copy. That’s understandable. I only point that out to say that the specs should be taken with a grain of salt. Grammar errors, poor formatting, and unclear details make it difficult (for me, anyway) to know whether the information is accurate.
I also know that the information on the site has changed in recent months. Does that mean errors in copy were corrected or that the construction of the boots changed?
Probably this doesn’t matter too much, for you can still safely conclude all Limmers are well made and that some of the material used in the construction of Customs is premium, therefore they are more expensive than the Standards. They are also made custom—as the name suggests—to your feet.
Mostly the information on the Limmer site has greatly improved in recent months. What isn’t mentioned—and this is a critically important detail—is that the two boots, as far as I can tell, are constructed on different lasts, which means that although they look nearly identical, they fit and feel entirely differently.
From left to right: Limmer Standard medium; Limmer Standard wide; Limmer Custom. (Click image to enlarge.)
Limmer Standard vs Limmer Custom Fit and Feel
Let’s get an obvious point out of the way: the Limmer Custom is a custom boot, therefore it should fit your foot like a glove.
That said, Peter Limmer & Son Inc. also make what they call an “off-the-shelf” Custom. These can only be purchased in person at the shop in Intervale, and I’m guessing they are returned and unfulfilled custom orders, consignments, and/or pairs that are made on a standardized last.
I purchased my Limmer Customs on eBay. They were new when I bought them, but I have no way of knowing whether they are of “off-the-shelf” variety or whether they had been customized to the original buyer’s feet. As far as I can tell, there is nothing “custom” about them. The are shaped and sized like any other size 10D boot and have no marking to indicate “wide” or some other customization.
The Limmer Standard, on the other hand, is not customizable but comes in both medium and wide sizes. I have hiked in both of them too, and here’s what I can tell you about all three boots.
Limmer Standard in 9.5M
After discovering by trial and error that Limmers run large, I finally scored a new-in-the-box pair of German-made Limmer Standards on eBay (made by Meindl). When I put them on, they felt like a goddamned high-heeled ski boot. They were the most uncomfortable boot I had ever tried on, and I was convinced they were too small.
I was about to sell them when I found some information online that persuaded me to try them again.
The key to fitting yourself in a pair of Limmers is to tuck your heel as deeply into the heel pocket as possible, then cinch the laces down—pulling laces across the boot, not up—securing your heel. Upon doing this, it was clear that the boots were the right length, they were just very stiff. Thus began the arduous task of breaking in a pair of Limmers (more on that below).
How did they feel?
They felt like cinder blocks on my feet for six months. As one reviewer has said of his first time wearing Limmer Standards, “I couldn’t walk to the mailbox!”
They did eventually soften after months of oiling, massaging, and working, but during this time, unconvinced they would ever be comfortable, I purchased a pair of Limmer Standard wides from the new shop in Colorado, hoping they would prove better.
Limmer Standard in 9W
The wides didn’t quite feel like a ski boot, but they were still painfully uncomfortable. They also felt heavier (though they weighed about the same as the mediums on the scale) and looked bigger. I spent a few months breaking these in, too. I wasn’t sure how the leather would change over time, so I alternately wore both pairs of boots until I felt confident they were softened up and I could judge which fit better.
Limmer Custom in 9.5M
Then one day a pair of Limmer Customs appeared on eBay in my size, unworn. I bought them. I tried them on when they arrived in the mail and they FELT FUCKING FANTASTIC! They were snug and comfortable.
I have since sold the two pair of Limmer Standards and haven’t regretted it. Within a few weeks of acquiring the Limmer Customs I completed a 50-mile backpacking trip with no blisters and only moderate discomfort toward the end of each day.
How can two identical-looking boots fit so differently?
Fit and Feel Conclusion
It’s clear to me that Limmer Standards and Limmer Customs are made on different lasts. So while they look similar outwardly, they do not fit or feel similarly. In other words, they are different boots. Here are the differences I noticed.
The Limmer Standard has a narrow toe box, the Limmer Custom has a roomy toe box.
The Limmer Standard elevates the heel above the forefoot and feel slightly like a high-heel, the Limmer Custom does not—the heel and forefoot feel level.
The Limmer Standard has a somewhat flexible sole, the Limmer Custom has a stiff sole.
The Limmer Standard has a stiffer upper and perhaps thicker memory foam, while the Limmer Custom’s upper seems more flexible and the foam thinner.
The Limmer Standard has a high instep or arch support, the Limmer Custom has low to no instep or arch support.
I’m not suggesting the Limmer Standard is a poorly designed boot. When I hiked in the Standard and Custom side by side, I preferred the flexibility of the Standard but preferred the heel lock and roomy toe box of the Custom. In short, I think the two boots will appeal to different people based on their foot type and needs.
Limmer Standard is likely best for people who have:
Narrow forefoot
Second toe that is longer than great toe
High arch (and don’t mind an elevated heel)
Limmer Custom is likely best for people who have:
Wide forefoot
Great toe as longest toe
Low arch (and do mind an elevated heel)
Limmer Medium vs. Limmer Wide
Do not be misled by the designation “wide.” Like most boot and shoe companies, when Limmer says wide, what they mean is fat, or high-volume.
There is no measurable difference in the width of the sole or outer toe box between a pair of Limmer Standard wides and mediums. The difference occurs around the girth of the whole foot and is only measurable on the shoe last. In general, a wide last will be roughly 1/4” greater in circumference around the girth of foot over a medium last.
This is terminology that the shoe industry is way behind on. Since the advent of barefoot running shoes and foot-shaped shoes, most consumers have come to equate wide with a foot-shaped toe box. Yet many manufacturers continue to say wide when they mean high-volume, or fat.
This “wide” designation applies to the German-made Limmers only. Presumably the folks in the USA can make a pair of Customs to whatever dimensions you require.
How to Pick the Right Size of Limmer Boots
Fortunately today there is accurate sizing information on the Limmer website. Follow the instructions there to measure your foot and identify a size that matches.
In general, if buying a medium you should go down a half size from your normal shoe or sneaker size. If buying a wide, go down a whole size. But it’s best to measure as instructed on the Limmer site.
If buying used, get the measured length of the footbed of the boot. Do not rely on measurements of the outsole. And be sure to buy boots with a footbed that measures almost exactly the length of the footbed of your best fitting shoes. An 1/8” (3.2mm) difference in length can mean the difference in a half size. At most, the length should deviate only a millimeter or two.
The outsole has limited bearing on the size of the boot, so measurements of it are largely meaningless. I have had in my possession size 9, 10, and 11 boots that all had the same length and width of outsole. If buying used, you will want to have the seller measure the footbed of boot from toe to heel with a tape measure. That will get you closest to the optimal fit.
There is no practical way to measure the girth of a used boot.
How Should Limmer Boots Fit?
The best advice I have received about fitting leather boots is that they should be comfortably tight off the shelf.
Chris Sawyer of Colorado will tell you they should fit like a firm handshake. But what’s a “firm” handshake? And when should they feel firm—before or after break-in?
Others will tell you that the leather will stretch. Some will say that those who say that are stretching the truth.
Forget the rest, and do this:
Put your foot in the boot and slide it forward as far as you can. Now see if you can tuck your forefinger between your heel and the back of the boot. If you can’t, size up. If you can fit your finger and then some, size down.
Once you’ve settled on the correct length, tuck your heel into the back of your Limmers as far as you can, cinch those laces down tightly—pulling across, not up—and assess: comfortable or not? Tight or not?
If they’re not comfortable, find a different boot. If they’re not tight, find a different boot.
How to Break in Limmer Boots
Plan on spending a year.
Actually, time is a misnomer when it comes to breaking in boots. Plan on walking 500 miles. But time will help, too, as that will allow you to repeatedly clean and oil your boots.
As of this writing, I have hiked roughly 150 miles in my Limmer Customs and they still look new. The uppers are softening, but the footbed has yet to mold to my foot. One Redditor said he backpacked on five continents before his Limmers were 60% broken in.
Start small—with a walk to the mailbox, perhaps. Wear them around the house, to the park, to the bar. Oil them. Repeat. Extend distance. Repeat.
Put on some damp socks—fresh from the washing machine after the spin cycle, for example—and walk in your Limmers a while. Heat and moisture help the leather break in.
It’s a process, and it requires some patience.
Are Limmer Boots Comfortable?
Yes, no, and it depends. What are your preferences?
The virtues of leather as it relates to comfort are as follows:
Absorb moisture so feet stay dry
Keep dust out so feet stay clean
Mold to foot so they fit like a leather glove
Offer lots of support
And here are its vices:
Heavy
Time-consuming and painful to break in
Little to no cushioning
Norwegian welted leather backpacking boots are like whiskey, black coffee, and cigars: they’re an acquired taste.
Those who love their Limmers say they are the most comfortable shoe they own. It’s also not uncommon to find Limmers on eBay that have been worn one time. Some people simply do not have the taste for Limmer boots or the patience to try to develop it.
The only way to know whether you do is to try them. That said, I would not buy Limmers as your first pair of leather boots or backpacking boots. That’d be like buying a .50 caliber for your first hunting rifle. Start with something a little more accessible.
Are Limmer Boots Durable?
Yes. I wager Limmer Standards and Customs are good for thousands of miles of loaded tramping.
Where to Buy Used and New Limmer Boots
I have purchased used Limmer Standards and Customs on eBay and Poshmark, though it’s rare to find Customs. I’ve read stories of people finding them at second-hand shops, but good luck.
You can purchase new Limmer Standards from the Limmer website, and you can place a deposit for Customs there too. Currently, the waiting period for a pair of Customs is two to three years.
You can purchase off-the-shelf Limmer Customs in person at the Intervale, NH, shop.
Should I Buy Used or New?
Do not buy a pair of used Limmers if the footbed has molded to the previous owner’s foot. Ask the seller to confirm that the footbed is smooth, or basically smooth, without significant undulations or the imprint of previous owner’s foot.
Once the footbed has taken the shape of someone’s foot, it’s not coming back, and walking in the boots will feel like walking on pebbles to just about anyone else. You may be able to get around this, however, by sending the boots to Limmer for a rebuild and Swedish bath.
Aside from that, buy used with confidence. Most Limmers I’ve seen online have plenty of life left in them. If someone has worn them a few dozen times or for a few dozen miles, they will be like new. But be warned—there are the occasional listings of boots that are beat to shit, with sellers suggesting they are “like new,” asking $200.
The greatest setback to buying used is finding the right size. You could wait and watch for years.
If you prefer to buy new, consider what I’ve written here about fit and feel, lead time on Customs, and cost.
How Much Are Limmer Boots?
Expect to pay roughly $200 to $400 for lightly used Limmer Standards.
Expect to pay roughly $300 to $600 for lightly used Limmer Customs.
New Limmer Standards currently sell for $525 on the Limmer website. Return shipping is not covered if they don’t fit or you don’t like them, and due to their weight they’re somewhat pricey to ship.
The cost of new Limmer Customs depends on your customization, but I’ve heard you can expect to pay between $650 and $850. A $100 deposit secures a spot on the two-year-plus waitlist.
How to Care for Limmer Boots
Peter Limmer & Sons swear by mink oil and produce their own boot grease made with it. Animal fat is essential, they say, to preserving, protecting, and waterproofing your leather boots. This seems like a good choice.
On the other hand, some say that mink oil is inferior to plant-based conditioners, like those from Obenauf.
I’ve used both and can’t really tell a difference. Both condition, both waterproof.
There are plenty of videos on YouTube about cleaning and conditioning boots. If you can shampoo and condition your hair, you can take care of your boots. Wash with saddle soap, rinse, let air dry. Condition with oil, wipe off excess, brush.
Easy peasy.
Resoling Limmer Boots
It is recommended you only send your Limmer boots to Peter Limmer & Sons for resoling. Because the upper is constructed of one piece of leather, it can become misshapen when the outsole is removed. People have hired cobblers to resole their Limmers only to later retrieve a misshaped and irreparable pair of expensive boots.
Peter Limmer & Sons use a last when resoling to keep the upper to form.
Are Limmer Boots Worth It?
Objectively, yes.
When you consider materials, construction, and availability of Limmers, and compare that to the prices of similarly built competitors’ boots, Limmers are a fair value.
Subjectively, I’m not sure.
I’ve completed two backpacking trips in my Limmer Customs and several hikes, both in summer and winter. And while I do like them, I’m not sure they’re the best boots for me. They may be overkill.
The one-piece construction is incredibly comfortable, wrapping your foot like a blanket. This one-piece construction is the principal virtue of the Limmer boot; the heel pocket is the second. I have learned that all shoes should fit like Limmer Customs—securely lock the heel, firmly grip the waist of foot, and allow the toes to splay.
Most shoes grip the foot at the forefoot or waist, which is uncomfortable and, with hiking boots, results in heel and ankle blisters. My Zamberlan Tofanes, for example, fit this way. They also are a Norwegian-welted leather backpacking boot. Due to their polyurethane midsole and cushioned removable insole, they are far more comfortable than Limmers out of the box. But in the long term they do not compare. The secure fit of a Limmer is second to none.
Though comfortable, the Limmer is rigid, heavy, and hard. For extended backpacking, this may be the Rolls Royce. And if you require long-lasting and durable protection from your footwear, then look no further than Limmer. But for hiking, I prefer something lighter and more flexible, like a moccasin.
The good news is both the Standards and Customs can be resoled, which means you can dial in the weight, height, and cushioning of the sole—to a degree—for about $120.
The German-made Limmers are also available in lighter weight versions; the USA-made Limmers are not. You can only reduce weight and rigidity through limited midsole and outsole options.
Leather Backpacking Boots versus Trailrunner Shoes
Boots and trailrunners are different in that they subscribe to different ethoses, or guiding principles.
Think of it this way. If you’re doing heavy field work, do you prefer a pair of pigskin leather gloves or a pair of polyester liners?
Trailrunners are like svelt liners, and they have their virtues—they’re lightweight, they dry quickly, and they’re flexible.
Leather boots are like leather gloves, and they have their virtues—they offer supreme protection, enabling you to go over and through rough terrain and brush without trouble.
One encourages the wearer to work with the earth and makes minimal impact; the other allows the wearer to trod over the earth and makes a greater impact.
When you think about footwear in terms of ethos, it’s easy to understand why Native Americans wore moccasins and European settlers wore boots. Choosing the right ethos—or shoe—will depend on your style of tramping and the journey or work in question.
Final Thoughts
I give the Limmer Customs five stars. I give the Limmer Standards four-and-a-half stars. The Standards miss the mark in the way they fit. The elevated heel position and small toe box will likely render them too uncomfortable to many would-be buyers.
Given the difficulty of finding a pair of used Limmer boots that fit well, you might consider placing your deposit on a pair of Customs. Keep in mind it was several years before I found a pair online. I also saw a comment online from one man who said he visited the Intervale shop in person for seven years before finding an off-the-shelf pair that fit him well.
I can’t recommend you buy Limmer Standards or Customs if you only occasionally hike or backpack—unless, of course, you’re content with wearing them only occasionally and knowing they won’t break in. For myself, I think the boots must see extensive use to become comfortable.
Other Limmer Shoes and Boots
Also available from the Limmer website but not reviewed here are the Midweight, Lightweight, Ultra Lightweight, Hiker, Oxford, and Walker.
See also the Meindl Rotwand, Sasel, and Schliersee.
