Cheffy

My 2 l Source bladder fits perfectly in the upper compartment. I'd prefer one along the back, as this makes the lid too heavy, but the benefit is getting all the water out more easily.

High arches usually means rigid arches - you don't need arch support for high arches, but good cushioning. The neutral would be a better choice for rigid arches, while if your arches collapse and you over-pronate, having the stability control of the guidance is better than an overly neutral shoe which can exaggerate over-pronation.

Uhh... what?!

Look at the Salewa Mountain Trainer, it is much more comparable to the Fugitive:

http://www.backcountry.com/salewa-mountain-trainer-gtx-mid-boot-mens

Frankly, Asolos usually have the tightest toe-box of any boot I've tried, though the fugitives are wider than many others. The Salewas Mtn Trainers are pretty spacious width-wise in the toes but lower volume overall.

I don't have the rapace but do own the similar Mountain Trainer Mid. The fit is true to length - but I tend to size up a half size to accomodate my wide toes. In most boots this makes them too roomy, but the Mtn Trainers are lower volume, so they still fit well. If you have a narrow foot then I'd go with your measured size for sure.

From my very early testing just around the city after a wet snow, wet cut boards, and on some icy patches, it's not bad. Better than I thought, but I suspect wet polished granite may prove a little slick. The toe area has little tooth and is meant more of a climbing toe, might help but I prefer toothed.

Generally most boots are designed to accomodate swelling, which affects volume more than length, and therefore can be addressed with loosening laces. In addition, these boots do fit pretty true to length. However, as they are narrower and lower volume boots, some people who do not have narrow or low volume feet may prefer to go up a half size. I went up a half size to accomodate my toe width needs, and find it still very supportive fit-wise for my otherwise medium width and low volume feet.

I've got my pair - been wearing around the house for the last couple of days. Can confirm that there is good forefoot and toe width and volume, but I did go up a half size to an 11 from a 10.5. Because the boot is overall a lower volume fit they still hold my heels well without adding extra padding or socks. So far very impressed with these boots overall, very high quality and very comfortable. Will give a proper review once I wear them out on a few hikes.

Thanks Andrew. I've got a pair on order in an 11 (I measure 10.5) and I am crossing my fingers. I'll test them out with a few different insoles to make sure. We can compare notes here.

The summit is pretty high volume though, so unless you have a high instep a narrow foot will swim in these.

Both are pretty narrow. The Asolo in wide opens up the heel and midfoot and adds volume, but in general, isn't wide in the toes. The Vasque summit is a high volume boot with a high instep and is wide throughout except in the toebox, which tapers sharply (though less than the Asolo). If you're looking for toe width, neither boot is good.

Yes - but of all the merrell models I've tried, this one has the widest forefoot, even in a medium. It's as wide as my Keens. Just not as square at the toe.

They fit quite similar, but the SL M3 has more padding around the heel and ankle so it accomodates a lower volume better. But overall shape is very similar.

Unfortunately since I am ordering from Canada ordering both is too expensive with shipping etc, so I can only afford to order one. I might just use my own footbeds depending on my needs - I like a lot of arch support and a deep heel cup. I can probably tune the volume with padding and footbeds, but there is only so much I can do about toe width room. Adding toe volume only helps a little, I need more flat space for my toes to spread.

Can you speak a bit about the shape, width and volume of the boot in different locations (e.g. heel, mid-foot, forefoot, toe-box)? This kind of information is always lacking in these boot descriptions, and with online purchases being so important to sales these days, it should be mandatory.

That doesn't sound right - keen boots usually fit a half size small, while asolos usually fit pretty true. Sounds like you are sizing up in the Asolos because of the narrow toes, which means they're probably not a good fit.

No - some Keen shoes (e.g. Austins) are a true fit, others, like the Klamanth and Targhee, run about a half-size small.

Keen boots are not particularly wide, just broader in the toe and more volume in the heel/ankle. If you have very wide feet these might be too narrow still - definitely order a half or full size up though if you try.

The Klamanth is certainly a much beefier boot, better underfoot support and has some nylon shank. Can't speak about durability, but the ORegon PCT boots, which are similar to the Klamanth, are much more durable than the targhees.

I've found my arches get a little sore after wearing my keen targhees, but I've added felt padding for arch support under the footbed and they're fine now. Sounds like you need better arch support. I also found the tongue on these to be a little uncomfortable, but ended up returning mine because of it.

Double-that - fit is a snug medium. Especially in the toes.

The GTX version fits similar, but a little snugger.

DEfinitely do not go up half a size - they fit very much true to size. I find the volume of the fit very similar to the Salomon Quests - both have snug heels and midfoots - but there is a lot more volume in the toe box of the Contacts. These are a much burlier and stiffer boot as well.

Salomon is not known for "wide" fit - in fact, the opposite. Salomons are generally narrow to medium width.

The Contact has a slightly more tapered toe but the width is similar at the pinky toe where the forefoot flexes. It also has a snugger heel due to much better heel padding, and stiffer upper materials, while the Rev does not lock the heel down as well. The lacing is more customisable on the older Contact and locks at the instep, unlike the Rev. The Rev has a much more flexible upper that conforms to the foot better right away, but the contact will probably soften with wear. The more flexible and form-fitting upper along with a better rocker makes the Rev feel more nimble. The stiffer upper and a more rigid toe-box amkes the Contact feel more clunky, though this may soften up with use. Overall they are similar but definitely some differences. I prefer the feel of the Rev but wish it had the heel padding of the older Contact.

They fit very true to size. Do not size up unless you have very high volume feet or wide toes.

OK toe room in these. More volume than width. Width is what I need - it's ok, but not particularly wide. In the end I am finding them too tight in the toes in my measured size.

Sno seal softens the leather too much. If you want to ruin your expensive $250 all leather boots, there's no better way to do it than soak it with sno-seal regularly aside from pure mink oil. Scarpa recommends their own silicone based product, which works with the way they treat the leather initially. Better to stick with that.

They fit narrow to begin with - the regular width is probably a C width.

The wide width (BXX) is still quite narrow in the forefoot, and mostly just adds volume, not width. I have a medium width foot and found the BXX model too tight in the toes/forefoot but with a little too much volume for my foot. Too bad, these are some of the best boots out there right now. I wish they fit me

The warmth is NOT identical. The pinnacle is EN rated down to 10°F, while the Helium is EN rated to 16°F. The 15° rating is a guideline, the EN testing certifies them to actual values. The slightly higher quality down in the helium, lack of a neck muffler, and lighter-weight fabric makes it lighter.

The hydration pouch goes in the pocket on the underside of the lid in the most recent models, where a velcroed pass-through allows the hose ot come out. There is a rubber ring on the right shoulder strap to secure the hose. It's not ideal because the lid is so heavy when unclipped, but I find keeping the hydration bladder in the top makes drinking the last of your bladder easier. It fits a 1.5 litre bladder best I think, but I can squeeze in my 2 litre bladder if it isn't quite full.

Southern Ontario is the summer is of course very hot and humid, but realistically no heavy-duty pack is going to offer you very good ventilation, despite claims. Suggest you don't worry about that at all - just get what fits and works for your needs. If you plan on trips longer than an overnighter, and you're not packing superlight, then default to the larger size (e.g. 65 litres).