Reviews > Footwear > Boots > Dunham Waffle Stomper Paramount Boots > James E. Triplett > Field Report

Field Test Report:
Dunham Paramount
Waffle Stomper Hiking Boots
 

 

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My style can best be described as lightweight, but not at the cost of giving up too much comfort.  I am continually looking at lighter replacement items for gear I own, which is generally not that hard, since a lot of my equipment is rather dated.  I prefer a tent over a tarp, but have not yet tried a hammock.

Product Name: Waffle Stomper Paramount
Model #:  MWH800BR

The price and weight information below came from another source as it was not contained on the Dunham site.

• Exclusive Vibram® Sole Unit
• Polyurethane Midsole, Tapered Nylon Insole Board
• ABZORB® Footbed
• Full Grain Waterproof Leather Seam Sealed
• Ski-flap Gusseted Tongue
• External TPU Heel Counter

Test Location and Conditions:
I have worn the Dunham Waffle Stomper Paramounts nearly every day since my initial report.  This has been on daily hikes in the area around my home, as well as city and state parks in Eastern Iowa.  The temperature has ranged from just below freezing to mild spring weather ranging from 50 - 70 F (10 - 21 C).  One of the first trips in March was on a light snow covering.  The boots have been through tall foliage (both dry and wet) and on dirt and muddy trails, as well as pavement.  The only standing water test has been through puddles and ground water runoff with a maximum depth of 2 inches (5 cm), and the boots have been exposed to light rain, but not a heavy downpour.

• Fit and Comfort:

As stated in my initial report, I was concerned about the fit and break-in period at first.  I stated that my inner left ankle experienced some pain when the boots were laced up, and generally both ankles felt some discomfort.  I am happy to report that this discomfort has gone away after a few weeks of daily 1 to 3 mile (1.6 - 5 km) hikes.  After approximately 25 miles (40 km) over the initial weeks I stopped noticing any fit or comfort issues.  The boots are now quite comfortable and my feet are happy as clams heading down the trail.


Over the last eight weeks I have used a variety of insoles in the Waffle Stomper Paramounts.  In two week increments, I started without any inserts, then used the blue foam inserts in the picture, followed by the green fiberglass inserts, and finally the black and yellow gel inserts.  I won't go into great detail of each insert as the results of each were satisfactory, but I will provide a little more information here. 


The blue inserts are foam and were given to me free by my podiatrist.  After some heavy hiking they seem to compress somewhat, but they expand back to their normal size after a bit of non-use.  I would give them a 'B' as they are better than no insert. 


The fiberglass inserts are my favorite, and get an 'A'.  They provide arch support without being spongy, and they (like the blue inserts) can be used with the Waffle Stomper insole still in place.  They hold their form well and the boots are extremely comfortable with them in place. 


The gel inserts also get an 'A', but unlike the other two, the Waffle Stomper insole must be removed to use them.  This results in a little less arch support, although the cushioning is pleasing.

• General Usage Notes:

The Dunham Waffle Stomper Paramounts are constructed of thick leather as described in my initial report.  The tongue configuration is that of a well padded gusseted inner tongue, which is covered by a leather outer (ski-flap) tongue made of the same material as the uppers of the boot.  The boots open fairly wide and are fairly easy to slip on and off.  Lacing is bit more difficult, but typical for this type of boot.  The Paramounts' speed-hooks make this process easier, but after several days of lacing up the boots I developed calluses along the outside of the top knuckles on my little fingers where the laces pulled against my hands when tightening.  This resulted from trying to get the boots rather tight, and is something I have experienced before when lacing boots several times over a number of days. 


Aligning the ski-flap tongue, when lacing the boots, has been somewhat problematic.  Using both hands on the laces leaves the ski-flap free to find its natural resting location.  This location is off center and toward the inside of the boot, which is also the side where the tongue is permanently attached.  I found it possible to compensate for this if I pulled the ski-flap toward the outside with one hand while holding both sides of the lace tightly in the other hand after lacing each speed hook.  This got to be more trouble than it was worth and so I have abandoned the notion of trying to keep the outer tongue straight.  Other than appearance, this doesn't seem to have presented any sort of problem.

• Trail Use:

My closest estimate is that I have put over 120 miles (190 km) on the Waffle Stomper Paramounts thus far.  My feet have been nestled inside the Dunham Waffle Stomper Paramounts for numerous short hikes and for two 7-mile (11 km) hikes in the area.  As I said above, once I was through the break-in period, these boots became quite comfortable.  The Paramounts' waffle tread has performed as expected.  I have managed to slide down several muddy embankments, but I never felt totally helpless, and I had as much or more traction as with any other footware I have ever used.  On dry dirt, rock, vegetation, and pavement the grip has been more than adequate.  The boots are large but do not seem at all heavy to me.  I have caught the lace of one boot on the hook of the other boot a couple of times, but my style of hiking has not been altered from the usual.  That is to say, I don't swing my feet off to the side, or alter my stride in any way to accommodate the Paramounts. 


The boots have been subjected to water up to, but not over, the laces and have proven to be waterproof at least in that situation.  I have not treated the leather in any way, despite the urge to get out some leather conditioner.  It is my opinion that the Waffle Stompers have suffered no ill effects due to lack of conditioning.  The treads of the boots show no noticeable wear, and the uppers show only dirt and some light abrasions.

• Test Plan:

Summary:
I don't have anything negative to say about the Waffle Stomper Paramounts at this stage of the game.  I initially had an issue with the tie-off of the laces at the top of the boot sliding up over the tongue.  I have resolved that issue by running the laces over the top of the last speed hook and then down and across, rather than the conventional up-from-the-bottom method (see the second picture in this report).  The boots are comfortable, provide excellent protection, excellent traction, and my feet couldn't be happier.
 

Respectfully submitted,

-James T.

Reviews > Footwear > Boots > Dunham Waffle Stomper Paramount Boots > James E. Triplett > Field Report