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Reviews > Footwear > Winter Boots > Itasca Mountaineer Boots > Owner Review by Kurt PapkeItasca Mountaineer Boots - Owner ReviewNote: the white stuff on the tops of the boots is not a defect or discoloration. It's snow. Review date: January 22, 2009 Tester Biographical Information
Backpacking Background: mostly in Minnesota and Oregon - all of the Superior Hiking Trail and Border Route, Isle Royale, dayhiking and backpacking in the Columbia River gorge. Extensive dayhiking in Utah, Colorado and Oregon. Mostly Spring/Fall season hiker, but easing into more cold-weather/Winter backpacking. I do a lot of dayhikes and snowshoeing in the Winter, and am always looking for gear to keep me warm in cold and windy conditions. I seem to be eternally on the quest for the perfect snowshoeing boot. Product Description
These are generally what is called a "pac" boot in Minnesota, often used for ice fishing and other activities where feet must be kept warm and dry in very cold temperatures for an extended period. Though a little difficult to discern from the photo at left taken down the boot with the insole and liners removed, they have a hollow "waffle" bottom. This empty air space in the soles prevents cold air from seeping up into the feet. The picture at right shows the same view with my orthotics in place. This was very important to me - I have Plantar Fasciitis and I need to wear boots that accommodate custom insoles. Another key for me is removable liners. I wanted to be able to wear the liners at night so I didn't have to put on frozen, stiff boots in the morning. Also, the liners then do double duty as nighttime foot warmers. The liner is shown at left. A reason why I selected these boots to purchase was the 400 g (1 lb) Thinsulate insulation that makes up the liner. This should keep my feet warm at temperatures well below zero. Laces: as can be seen in the first photo of this report the boots have only three courses of laces, enough to keep the boot on, but not enough to provide any ankle support especially with the flexible upper. They also have a drawcord at the boot tops to keep out snow. They come up roughly to the base of my calf muscle. With that height, the drawcord to keep out snow, and with their bulk I do not use gaiters with these boots. Last but not least are the soles. As shown in the photo above, the Mountaineers do not have very aggressive tread, but they are certainly adequate for snowshoeing. Field InformationThese boots have been used in two principal locales this Winter:
Packing: on my December Winter camping trip to the SHT I wore my waterproof hiking boots during the day and strapped the Mountaineers to the back of my pack. On my January trip I wore the liners at all times, and the boots during the day for snowshoeing as shown in the picture at right. In this picture we had just broken camp, and were getting ready to set out with an ambient temperature of about -20 F (-29 C). I was glad I had warm boots. Socks: I always hike with silk liner socks. When using the Mountaineers I use a Merino wool hiking sock during the day, and heavy wool socks at night in the liners. I do not wear vapor barrier socks for hiking. On my January SHT trip I did use bread bags as a vapor barrier lining on top of the liner socks and beneath the heavy wool socks at night. The picture at left shows me in camp wearing the boots on the first morning of my January trip, temperature was about 0 F (-18 C) at the time this picture was taken, and my feet were nice and warm in camp because the liners were warm from wearing them all night. Observations
SummaryI intend to continue to use these boots. I've worn them a lot, and I'll continue to wear them into the foreseeable future especially for very cold conditions. They are ideal for in-camp use, marginal for use when snowshoeing due to the weight and lack of ankle support.Likes:
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