Lundhags Boots

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Musk Ox
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Lundhags Boots

Post by Musk Ox » Sat Feb 16, 2019 5:36 am

We need to talk about Lundhags boots. They're Swedish (as I'm sure everyone knows). They're objects that give me the greatest pleasure, and something of a Scandinavian institution.

https://www.lundhags.se/en/products/kaengor/shell-boots

I have two pairs, a pair for walking ('Park'), and a pair with NNN BC soles for skiing ('Guide BC').

I just want to talk about the Park boots first. These are three years old. The 'shoe' is cellular rubber, lined with soft leather. The shaft is a single layer of leather. They're completely, totally waterproof and extraordinarily comfortable.

Image
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The idea with Lundhags is that you always wear a pair of thin wool sock liners under a second thicker pair, and just change the thickness of layers according to the weather. There’s no Gore-Tex membrane. The thinking is that:
  • –Membranes in your shoes take enormous punishment, which is why they always fail before the boot does
    –If you’re walking in the wet and the outer shoe is saturated, your membrane isn’t going to breathe anyway and
    –These boots age beautifully and can be repaired to last for decades (the Lundhags instagram feed is basically boot pornography).
These are the best walking boots I’ve ever had. They’re the simplest boots that Lundhags do. I want all the boots Lundhags make but I'm not a millionaire and these have clocked miles and altitude from Greenland to Dartmoor with no hint they'll ever let me down. You just wax them and grease the seams every now and then.

Inside they have a felt insole for the absorption of your foot juice. At the end of the hike you just take it out and air it for stank prevention (mine have never smelled). The sole’s comparatively thin and flexible compared to some of their other models. That’s really perfect if you’re hiking over boulders on the way to the top of a mountain. It means they’re fractionally less insulated than some of the other models; I put a foil-backed insulation layer under the felt and wear super thick Norwegian socks in the winter. They’re not ‘winter boots’, but they’re perfectly comfortable down to about -12°C. I’ve been out in far colder temperatures but then you have to stay active or you get cold toes.

I wouldn’t wear them for summer hikes in semi-desert, because they’d definitely be too hot, but if it’s dry terrain and properly warm, ie not northern Europe, I’ve always hiked in breathable trail running shoes anyway. These Lundhags are perfect for summers where I live, jumping streams, slopping through marsh and scrambling up scree.

This is however context for these: the Guide BC boots. (EDIT, my pictures have vanished – here's one from the site)

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https://www.lundhags.com/en/ski-nordic- ... /guide-bc/

They have two layers in the shaft, so they’re a bit stiffer, and a removable felt inner boot. You can wear that indoors when you get to a cabin. I didn't take a picture of that, but this is what it looks like:

https://www.lundhags.se/en/products/kae ... iner?c=833

They’re made so beautifully and were ludicrously comfortable from the first time I wore them. I’ve not worn them in anything colder than about -12° but I’ve never, ever had the smallest hint of cold feet standing around in deep snow.

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They feel very secure at the ankle, and your heel stays tight to the sole when you're pushing it a bit or going up hills. And they're also very light, as much as they look quite substantial: the rubber weighs next to nothing. If you ever were to jab them with the sharp end of a pole in a moment of flailing panic I think they're pretty easy to seal with something vulcanizing. You'd have to jab them pretty hard, though.

These were nubuck, but you’re encouraged to bravely destroy that beautiful nap before you get outside by waxing, greasing or otherwise impregnating the first three times you wear them. I did all three, with a serial regime of Hanwags boot wax, Chelsea Leather Food (dubbin) and this stuff called SIFRA, made in a Norwegian living room; it’s largely animal fat and tar and costs as much as caviar. It’s miraculous. I like it because it preserves the stiffness of the leather. https://www.facebook.com/SIFRAimpregnering/

These boots are very good. They cost a lot of money, but they'll last forever.

I'm not sure what else to say, really. I suspect they could be slightly difficult to track down in North America, but I welcome you to our cult.
Last edited by Musk Ox on Tue Mar 17, 2020 2:53 am, edited 5 times in total.

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Cannatonic
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Re: Lundhags Boots

Post by Cannatonic » Sat Feb 16, 2019 12:44 pm

I second the motion, the full-leather Lundhag NNNBC boots I had were the nicest quality I've ever seen. From 4-5 years ago, I think they were called "Tour" or "Trek" or something like that. Lundhags seems to completely change their boot lineup every 1-2 years, it's hard to keep track of what they're doing.

*edit, those Guides look beautiful, I didn't realize the bottom part was full-grain leather. I found the ones I had - Lundhag Tour:

https://varuste.net/en/Lundhags+Tour+Sk ... ?_tu=60700
"All wisdom is to be gained through suffering"
-Will Lange (quoting Inuit chieftan)



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Petetheswede
Posts: 47
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 12:28 pm
Location: Southern Sweden
Ski style: Touring with turns
Favorite Skis: Åsnes Gamme, Ingstad
Favorite boots: Lundhags Guide BC
Occupation: Healer

Re: Lundhags Boots

Post by Petetheswede » Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:06 am

I can vouch for the guide bc. Very stable, warm and room for toes!



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Musk Ox
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Re: Lundhags Boots

Post by Musk Ox » Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:53 pm

My Park boots finally ‘failed’ last autumn. A microscopic tear, on top where the rubber pinches as it folds.

I took them to the local cobbler. He posts repairs of Lundhags on instagram. He unsewed the shaft, put a patch on and re-sewed everything. They’re perfect again. If the rubber had been a Gore-Tex membrane, these boots would be in the bin. Actually, that would have happened a couple of years ago... membranes in boots take a lot of punishment and can't be repaired.

They’re going to last forever.

I love Lundhags. Highly-specialised Scandinavian fetish-equipment that give you a sense of utterly subjective superiority and immense pleasure when you use them, quite unlike any other Scandinavian manufacturer of outdoor leisure equipment beginning with 'Å'.



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lilcliffy
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Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
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Re: Lundhags Boots

Post by lilcliffy » Sat Nov 19, 2022 12:07 pm

Recently bought a pair of Guide BC:
20221119_115742.jpg
Will review them later in the season once I have put them through their paces.
They are beautifully made and remarkable stiff and stable
I would have chosen the Expedition BC- to get the higher top- but gave up trying to find a pair in my size and at a reasonable price.

Here are my beloved Jaure II High boots:
20221119_130018.jpg
These are the finest field boots I have ever owned- over some 30 years of intensive abusive field work in dense northern forests. I have one full season in them now.
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.



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lilcliffy
Posts: 4112
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
Husband, father, farmer and logger

Re: Lundhags Boots

Post by lilcliffy » Sat Dec 03, 2022 8:35 pm

Some intial reports on the Lundhags Guide BC-
~20kms of BC trail skiing in rolling terrain.

I love these boots:
- very warm
- very comfortable
- supportive

However, they are very different from what I am used to in a Nordic touring boot...

They are very bottom-heavy- to the point of feeling inbalanced- takes some getting used to...

Having a pack boot mounted to a ski is kind of a strange experience...

While on the one hand the rubber bottom is more rigid than a leather base (e.g. Alaska/Guard)-

However, because one cannot lace up the boot tight around the foot-

initially, when one puts pressure on this boot- the rubber bottom delivers more power-transfer than a leather boot (e.g Alaska)-

but, there is this strange threshold where when the rubber reaches its break-point- the entire boot fails and folds over, with no "feel" to it at all...

WEIRD feeling.
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.



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randoskier
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Re: Lundhags Boots

Post by randoskier » Fri Jan 27, 2023 3:39 am

lilcliffy wrote:
Sat Dec 03, 2022 8:35 pm
Some intial reports on the Lundhags Guide BC-
~20kms of BC trail skiing in rolling terrain.

I love these boots:
- very warm
- very comfortable
- supportive

However, they are very different from what I am used to in a Nordic touring boot...

They are very bottom-heavy- to the point of feeling inbalanced- takes some getting used to...

Having a pack boot mounted to a ski is kind of a strange experience...

While on the one hand the rubber bottom is more rigid than a leather base (e.g. Alaska/Guard)-

However, because one cannot lace up the boot tight around the foot-

initially, when one puts pressure on this boot- the rubber bottom delivers more power-transfer than a leather boot (e.g Alaska)-

but, there is this strange threshold where when the rubber reaches its break-point- the entire boot fails and folds over, with no "feel" to it at all...

WEIRD feeling.
Cliff that sole problem should be solved with this iteration of the boot:

https://www.lundhags.com/en/footwear/wo ... 040435-900
lh.jpg



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lilcliffy
Posts: 4112
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
Husband, father, farmer and logger

Re: Lundhags Boots

Post by lilcliffy » Fri Jan 27, 2023 10:28 am

I think it is the both the rubber base and the sole that I feel twisting at its limits- not a deal-breaker, just behaves differently than a tightly laced leather boot...

I would expect the rubber bottom of the Lundhags XP to be the same as the BC- no?

Currently I am primarily using the Guide BC on skis and turs (e.g. Amundsen) where the boots are not really pushed to their torsional limits anyway- so not an issue.

Aside from the limits- the Guide BC sole and base is remarkably stable and supportive- the upper is soft as a mocassin.
Fantastic Nordic touring boot.
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.



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Inspiredcapers
Posts: 290
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2018 4:11 pm
Location: Southeast BC
Ski style: Erratic
Favorite Skis: Gammes currently at the top of the list
Favorite boots: Transnordics in NNN-BC & 75mm
Occupation: Heavy Equipment Operator

Re: Lundhags Boots

Post by Inspiredcapers » Tue Dec 12, 2023 10:29 am

As I’m progressing in the direction of multi-day/colder weather trips it seems like the Abisku Expedition Xplore Ski Boot is a logical choice for happy feet.

A couple of questions…

-is the size guide accurate? I’ve seen a couple of comments that people ordering it in their usual size haven’t fared well. I’m usually a 44, using the Lundhag measurement puts me in a 42.

-are the liners specific to Lundhag…maybe a better way of putting it is can other liners (such as Intuition LV or MV liners) be used in a Lundhag?
IMG_7915.jpeg



User avatar
lilcliffy
Posts: 4112
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
Husband, father, farmer and logger

Re: Lundhags Boots

Post by lilcliffy » Tue Dec 12, 2023 1:13 pm

@Inspiredcapers
I wear a size 42EU in each of the Lundhags that I have- both the smaller-volume "Guide" and the Expedition.
For reference I wear 42EU in almost all hiking/nordic/work boots (on occasion needing a 42.5 or 43 in a boot with a narrow last).

The length of my slightly longest foot is 26.5cm.
Lundhags recommends adding 2cm to your foot-length:
Screenshot 2023-12-12 140432.png
I would not be able to fit a Lundhags boot smaller than a 42EU- especially in the Guide.

The interior volume of the Expedition series is much larger than the "Guide" series- but, the heel-ankle is just as snug and contoured. They feel large and roomy inside- but it works- and I do not get any heel lift. I have a low-volume foot- so therefore, the forefoot/toebox feels very roomy indeed- but, not only would a 41EU possibly be too short (esp in the Guide), the heel and ankle would be too tight.

The liners are specific to Lundhags- even their insoles are all different- and specific to the specific boot and liner.
(Last winter I spent a few weeks struggling with the insole in one of my Guide BC boots- eventually to discover I was trying to use the insole from my Juare boot- wouldn't fit)
I can confirm that the liner in all of the Expedition series boots are the same.
The Expedition liner is wool and is 5mm.
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.



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