Esatto, LLC

The decision to finally order custom boots came from a hiking trip I took a few months ago. I realized I needed to invest in a better long-​term solution that wouldn’t further disfigure my feet if I wanted to continue to hike and enjoy the backcountry. I did quite a bit of online research, talked to a few doctors, and narrowed my search down to 4 custom boot-​makers in the United States: Esatto, one in Denver, one in Vermont, and one in Texas. I emailed each one to get a feel of their business, of their service, and of their quality. Custom boots are not cheap, and I figured I was entering into a relationship with these makers, so I might as well get to know them a bit before jumping in.
Esatto Boots was warm and welcoming from the very beginning. The other boot makers took a long time to get back to me, and when they did, I was left with the impression that they weren’t really looking to make new customers — in fact, I’d have to wait 6 months to get a pair of boots. So, I decided to go with Esatto.
It took the Esatto team about 6 – 7 weeks to turn the measurements I took of my feet into a pair of summer boots and orthotics. I’ve worn them now on a few, multi-​day backpacking trips of 15+ miles in the Sierra Mountains. On the very first trip, after hiking only a few miles in, I realized something amazing: I had never worn shoes that fit my feet. It’s a strange feeling to say the least. Shoes have always been a little big or a little narrow. I had no idea what it was like to have the support of both shoes fitting my feet (since my feet are two different sizes). After these trips there were no blisters, no hotspots, no rubbing, nothing. It was wonderful. After the second trip, my feet felt even more comfortable in the boots. I’m excited to take these boots on new adventures, to watch them age, and know they will last me.
I think this purchase was a smart one for me. It’s an investment, and I’d suggest potential customers to do research, talk to potential shoemakers, and decide what’s best for them. I wanted to invest in a long-​term solution, and I am happy with my choice.