I purchased my Fabiano's in 1978 and they keep going, and going, and going. I've had them resoled once during the last 23 years. These boots have been from the jungles of Singapore and Malayasia to the Highlands of Scotland and have performed excellently. They have been soaked, frozen, and scorched and look pretty much like they did in the late 70's. I never dreamed they would last as long as they have. The leather upppers have
lasted perfectly and the reverse norwegian welt is timeless. I strongly recommend this boot to anyone who wants to invest in something that will last and be comfortably to boot(no pun intended!)

Similar Products Used:

never needed to buy another pair of boots

I HAVE WORN FABIANO AND SCARPA FOR YEARS AND THEY ARE BUILT LIKE BATTLESHIPS. MINE PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN TO HELL AND BACK AND ARE STILL KICKING. I HAVE INLY BROKEN OFF ONE HOOK AND THAT WAS BECAUSE IT RUSTED OFF FROM BEING IN TOO MUCH WET TERRAIN. I LOVE THE NORWEGIAN WELT AND IT IS VERY WATERPROOF. MY WORST LOOKING PAIR, AS I HAVE SEVERAL, HAS BEEN WELL BEATEN FOR THREE YEARS AS I PRETTY MUCH LIVE IN MY BOOTS AND I'M A VERY TALL AND VERY LARGE MAN AND I HAVE YET TO WEAR OUT THE SOULS. I HAVE A SIZE 14 IN THESE BOOT, SOMETIMES 15 IN OTHER BRANDS,BUT THESE ARE THE BEST I HAVE FOUND AND I HAVE TRIED ALL THE NORWEGIAN WELT BOOTS EXCEPT PETER LIMMER.

Customer Service

SO FAR I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH GETTING ANY OF MY FABIANO OR SCARPA PRODUCTS, ALTHOUGH SOME ORDERS WERE A LITTLE SLOW IN COMING.

Similar Products Used:

DANNER WITH NORWEGIAN WELT
FABIANO WITH NORWEGIAN WELT(SEVERAL MDLS
SCARPA WITH NORWEGIAN WELT(SEVERAL MDLS)
VASQUE MONTANA WITH NORWEGIAN WELT
MONTRAIL MAZAMA WITH NORWEGIAN WELT

I have had these boots for over 6 years and the only thing I have had to do to them is re-sole them a couple of times. They by far are the best, most comfortable boot I have ever owned. I would buy another pair if I needed to, but as for now I don't need them... Anyhoo, I don't have much time, but the boots are well worth checking into.

Also As most of you know Maine is a rugged area to hike so that should give you a good idea how well these boots are put together... "Follow your pathway" :)

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

None

I owned a pair of Fabianos back in the late 70's and early 80's, when I hiked alot. I was an energetic teenager. These boots were the best, after I re-soled them 3 times and then destroyed them by using them for asphalt work i lost track of them and would gladly buy another pair if I only new where to go and buy them. At that time the boots cost me about $50.00. A good value

Similar Products Used:

None

After much research and trying on many pairs of boots, I knew that I wanted a pair of all leather boots that were sewn and not glued. I bought my Rios under the Scarpa name but apparently Scarpa was making them for Fabiano all along. These boots are available in narrow and wide as well as medium. Although I have a narrow foot, the last on these boots is narrow enough that I went ahead and got the medium width instead of special ordering the narrow. These are the first pair of high quality hiking boots that I have owned and after wearing them a few times I was a little nervous that I had made a mistake due to their stiffness. I had some heel blisters and pain in the side of one foot. I attributed some of this to the fact that I generally wear loose fitting slip-on shoes so I stayed with the Rios. After about 25 miles of break-in I hit the magic point and these boots started to fit my foot like a glove. I now have about 40 miles on these boots and I would almost swear they were custom made for me! These boots are totally awesome! If you want a pair of great boots, they are worth every penny. I paid $250 at full retail price but when you're talking about a pair of boots that will not only last you a lifetime but also take great care of your feet, you can't put a price on that! Get these boots and you won't be dissapointed. Just make sure to wear them around town and only do very short hikes to begin with.

Similar Products Used:

None

Sweet classic all leather (in and out). These really felt comfortable from day one (I am likely an anomaly;I try to live in boots and don't mind extra weight). Overall, very supportive over various terrains. The ankle support is good but not outstanding. The Norwegian welt and boot design is beautiful and will last just about forever with care (ie leather treatment/softener for liners).

i've been an outdoor enthusiast for many years, the last 5 or so has been dedicated to a lot of backpacking. i've owned boots with good magazine reviews and boots with a great ""pitch, or gimmick"". i arrived at this pair with warm embrace! This is a REAL boot!! no silly stitching or useless patches on this baby. this is your classic norwegian boot made with a quality that will last forever, and the lack of style actually GIVES it style! a true utilitarian boot! the fit is nice, the break-in takes a while, but well worth it. i can't say enough!!!!!!!! this is the Land Rover Defender 90 of boots. with the proper care, these timeless boots will outlast many marketing trends!

Customer Service

the company is a bit elusive, but a good distibuter will have plenty in stock. stay away from those who ""can order you a pair""...

Similar Products Used:

None

An excellent boot, finally tracked down a pair after looking for nearly 3 months. Were definitely stiff at first, but once you spend some time with them, they fit like a glove. One of my favorite features is the beautiful soft leather found on the interior of the boot, fits like a glove now after wearing to Denali and Kenai Fjords N.P. If you have the patience to break them in and want first rate quality, then buy these boots...

Customer Service

Customer Service was kind of a pain in the butt as I was trying to track down a pair....

Similar Products Used:

Tried a pair of Asolos.

I have been using these boots for three years now, and the more I wear them the more I love them. They take some break-in time, but so does any other ALL leather boot on the market. They can be as waterproof as you would like with proper treatments, and the leather handles abrasions better than any other boot I have owned. I had them resoled last summer and they are as good as new. THey have seen me through trips on the Appalachian Trail in teh summer,the Wind Rivers in the fall, and winter hiking in northern Pennsylvania. Now the bad news; Fabiano is no longer in business! Now the good news; I have heard that these boots have always been made by Scarpa for Fabiano, and that Black Daimond will still be marketing this boot as part of the Scarpa line. Let's hope so.

Similar Products Used:

None

good for hiking, really stiff until you break them in, hurt my feet! OUCH!

Similar Products Used:

good deal for the money, long lasting