I was very happy to meet Charlie, who allowed me to look around his well-equipped workshop, where he makes one pair of custom boots each week for customers world-wide. He has been a bootmaker since 1976, learned his trade from Randy Merrell, and has perfected the art of creating hiking boots for people with any kind of foot size, shape and special needs. Indeed, he has been able to deal with almost impossible feet, as he custom crafts his boots with precise attention, creating works of art each week.

People find his website and order boots made to measure without ever visiting him in person. The website gives detailed instructions and measuring kit for anyone ordering boots. The precise ordering process and personal attention to each customer has resulted in hundreds of satisfied customers. His work has been featured in national magazines and his boots are recognized as the world's best. All the reviewers give him 5 stars and call his boots the finest.

The demand for these boots is so great, that one may have to wait up to 24 months for an order to be shipped. In the end, it is worth the wait, there is nothing like the feel of a pair of top-quality all leather hiking boots made by an artist to exactly fit your feet. If off-the-shelf boots give you blisters, don't fit or are painful to wear, then custom boots may be the answer.

He also makes winter boots, the new Yukon snow boots are hand-made of full grain leather, waxed and oiled. Waterproof and warm to -40, with a removable felted liner. These light weight and flexible boots can be resoled and repaired. They are 14 inches high. Read more at Charlie's website.