Crispi Wyoming GTX
Editor's Personal Pick — This is gear our editor carries afield.
Editor's pick: the Italian mountain boot that turned us into chukar fanatics.
Why we picked this
Some boots get you down the trail. The Wyoming GTX gets you across the side-hill of a chukar canyon at 4,500 feet without rolling an ankle, then up the next ridge, then back down to the truck twelve miles later — and it does this in season three the way it did it in season one. There are lighter boots. There are American-made boots. The Wyoming is on this list because it's the boot that, more than any other, makes the steep country we love sustainable to hunt instead of punishing.
Quick specs
| Category | Boots |
| Brand | Crispi |
| Made in | Italy |
| Upper | Full-grain leather, 8" height |
| Liner | GORE-TEX (waterproof, breathable) |
| Sole | Vibram (resoleable) |
| Shank | Stiff steel (mountain hunting last) |
| Approx. weight | 3.6 lbs / pair (size 10) |
| Price | around $575 ($$$$) |
| Use case | Steep, rocky NorCal — chukar, mountain quail, Sierra grouse |
| Editor's verdict | The boot that makes the chukar country we love sustainable. |
The full review
The Wyoming is built on what European boot-makers call a "mountain hunting last" — stiff through the shank, supportive through the ankle, and shaped for traversing slopes more than walking flat ground. That stiffness is the whole point. On a side-hill you don't want a boot that flexes with the slope; you want a boot that holds your foot square so your ankle doesn't roll. Most American hunting boots compromise toward flat-ground comfort; the Wyoming doesn't.
Out of the box they will not feel like a Danner Pronghorn. They will feel like work boots. The break-in is real — plan three or four off-season hikes (5-10 miles each) with light socks, then progressively heavier socks. By hike four they're conforming to your foot. By season one they fit like a custom boot.
The GORE-TEX liner is the right call for NorCal — most of the season is dry, but Sierra grouse mornings, post-rain quail days, and crossing the occasional creek all benefit. Crispi's GORE-TEX integration is unusually well-done: most GORE-TEX boots get clammy after eight hours of warm walking, but the Wyoming's leather upper breathes well enough to mitigate this.
The Vibram sole is what you'd hope for from a $575 boot — aggressive lugs that grip basalt scree, decomposed granite, wet leaves, and frosted grass without packing mud or losing edge. When the sole eventually wears (3-5 seasons of hard use), Crispi (or any decent cobbler with Vibram experience) can resole the boot. We've put a third sole on a pair of Wyomings; the upper is still going.
The fit runs European: narrow heel, medium forefoot, lower volume than American hunting brands. If you have a wide forefoot or high arch, try them on at a Crispi dealer (Schnee's in Bozeman or online with their generous return policy) before committing. There's also the Wyoming GTX Insulated for late-season mountain hunters; standard uninsulated is what we recommend for NorCal where temperatures rarely require insulation.
What we love
- Stiff shank — side-hilling becomes possible instead of punishing.
- GORE-TEX that actually breathes — Crispi's leather selection makes the difference.
- Resoleable — three resoles common, the upper outlives them all.
- Vibram sole — grips NorCal terrain (basalt, granite, wet grass) reliably.
- Cobbler-friendly construction — any boot shop can re-stitch or repair them.
What to know before you buy
- Real break-in required — 4+ off-season hikes before opening day. Don't try to break them in mid-hunt.
- European fit — narrow heel, lower volume. Wide-footed hunters should try them on first or buy from Schnee's for the return policy.
- They are heavy — 3.6 lbs/pair feels like a lot the first day. By day three you don't notice; by day eight you appreciate why.
- Not for flat-ground or cattail country — for valley pheasant on Sac Valley flats, a softer Danner is more comfortable.
- Brand-direct or specialty dealer — not at Bass Pro. Schnee's, Black Ovis, or Crispi US carry them.
Where to buy
- Buy at Schnee's (carries Crispi) (specialty dealer — best return policy)
- Buy direct from Crispi US (brand-direct)
- Buy at Black Ovis (specialty dealer)
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See also
- All Boots picks
- Crispi Idaho GTX — the all-around Crispi for less-extreme terrain
- Schnee's Beartooth 0° — the American-made comparable
- Russell Moccasin Joe's PH II — the heritage alternative