Backpacking Background:

Field Testing Information

The test series begins in winter conditions in Northeast United States.  The average daily temperatures are in steady decline, hitting lows in January and February. It’s not unusual to see temperatures during this period hovering at or below 0F (-18C). The ground has snow coverage.  Snowfall is almost a daily occurrence.

March is still cold, but temperatures are a bit warmer, with daily temperatures around 20F (-7C).  Winter does not fade until April, and then it very slowly releases its grip.  Spring is cold, damp and long.  

I have trips planned at least once a month throughout the testing period with the Boy Scouts. I also have some personal treks planned, as well as some cold weather training. The stomping grounds will be in Western New York, Northern Pennsylvania, and the Adirondack Mountains.  Elevations for testing will be between 200 and 400 ft (60–120 m), except for the Adirondack region - 4,000-5,000 ft (1.2-1.5 km).  All the terrain is considered heavily forested, except when above the tree-line.  I will also be testing the Pileus boots extensively on day trips – snowshoeing, sledding and hiking.

Boot Arrival and Description

The Pileus boots arrived via the mail, packed in a standard boot or shoe-type box within a larger plain, brown shipping box.  Inside the box, the boots were stored together like any footwear packed in a shoebox.  There was a small packet of desiccant in the box as well.  The Pileus boots arrived in perfect condition as far as I could discern.  

The Pileus boots are very nice looking footwear.  They are a fine example of quality workmanship from top to bottom.  The boot's features break down as follows:

The uppers are made of full grain leather.  The leather has been treated with a proprietary waterproofing technique.  They are soft to the touch.  The Dunham symbol can be seen on the outside of the boot.  There is a toe guard covering the front of each boot, offering a very thorough protective layer from scuffs and abrasions.

The lacing system contains four eyelets followed by three speed hooks.  The hardware appears to be substantial quality.  The eyelets are made from a plastic-like material and are fixed.  The hooks are made from the same material as the eyelets and are also fixed.  The laces themselves seem durable.

The tongue system consists of a soft gusseted tongue.   The tongue gusset folds easily out, like a piano hinge.  Across the top of the tongue is daisy chain for the boot lacing to pass through. 

The collar is nicely padded with dense padding.  It extends down over the achilles tendon creating the heel cup.   

The inside lining of the uppers is made of a soft, padded, wicking material.  The insole is lined with the ABSORB footbed.  According to Dunham, this footbed promises to retain 90% of its shock absorbing thickness.  It is also treated to reduce foot odor.

The polyurethane midsole is found bonded to the bottom of the insole.  Although hard to the touch, it is nevertheless softer than the surrounding parts of the lower.  Along the bottom is the tough outersole.  The lug pattern on the outersole is an example of Dunham's Trutrak traction system.

By trying to flex the boot, I can feel the result of the tapered nylon insole board (sometimes called a "shank").  The nylon shank gives slightly, allowing the boot to flex, while still providing plenty of protection for scrambling over sharp outcroppings.

Beginning Tests - How They Fit

Oh no, they don't fit!  When I tried the boots on, they lacked the volume in the front of the boot that I need.  They are too tight to expect them to "break in" to a comfortable fit.  I have experience with other Dunham footwear, and was surprised at this discovery.  I suspect it has to do with Dunham's new 360 degree fit.  I have ordered the next size wider (from 11D to 11EE) to accommodate my need for more volume across my feet.  I will report on fit after I have a chance to try on my replacement boots. 

Test Plan

The areas I will be concentrating my testing on include fit, comfort, support, waterproofness, durability and odor control. I will be evaluating these parameters initially, and again throughout the test period. I will also be evaluating how well the boots work with my snowshoes.

Comments on the Website:

Summary of Initial Impressions

Tim