Owner Review: Tecnica Sigma Gore-Tex backpacking boots

Date: January 8, 2007

Name: Ashik Rahman
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Height: 5 Feet 10 Inches (1.78 Meters)
Weight: 172 Pounds (78 kg)
Email Address: taklamakansun at yahoo dot com
Location: Upstate New York, New York, USA

Backpacking Background: I started backpacking when I
was 12 years old. Since then backpacking has been my
obsession. In recent years, I have taken backpacking
trips in the Northeastern part of the United States
between spring and fall. Most of the times I carry my
2-year-old son in a child carrier and my wife and I
share the loads of our food and camping gear in our
packs. We typically use a 3-season tent for our base
camp.

Product Information
Name: Tecnica Sigma Gore-Tex Boots
Category: Backpacking boot
Manufacturer: Tecnica
Model: Sigma GTX
Manufacturer URL: http://www.tecnicausa.com/
Year of Manufacture: 2003
Place of Manufacture: Italy
Listed Weight: 3 lb 4 oz (1.47 kg) for US men’s size 9
Delivered Weight: 3 lb 4 oz (1.47 kg) US men’s Size 9
Color: Dark Brown and Black
Upper: 1.6-1.8mm water resistant nubuck leather and
synthetic fabric
Lining: Gore-Tex
Mid-sole: Polyurethane (PU)
Outsole: Vibram Force 1
Technology: These boots use Tecnica’s Power Core
System (PCSM) soft, for medium stiffness construction.
MSRP: N/A

Intended Use and Goal: I was in the market for a
mid-duty, waterproof, and comfortable pair of
backpacking boots that are supportive enough for
heavy-duty backpacking and light enough for day
hiking.

To keep the weight low, I eliminated most of the
heavy-duty leather boots from my list. Out of several
popular boots that I considered, I finally selected
the Sigma GTX for its fit, design and the fact that it
is a NOLS’s (National Outdoors Leadership School)
recommended boot.

The Sigma GTX felt comfortable and supportive the
first time I tried them on. There are some important
and detailed design features that I noticed the very
first time I put them on. First, the gusseted tongue
and lacing system makes it very easy to get the boots
on and off.

The lacing system also reaches far enough down towards
the toe to get a snug fit around the forefoot.

When I put the boots on and walked around a bit in the
store I noticed the Sigmas had a comfortable forefoot
flex, ample mid-foot support and great overall
stability. The thick nubuck leather upper felt supple
and durable.

The fully gusseted tongues were padded and bent at the
ankle for easy fitting. These boots were also taller
than others I tried on that had a similar range of
features and prices.

Shallow but substantial lugs in the outsole indicated
good grip on variable terrains. A unique mid-sole
construction promised good shock absorption and
comfort in rocky and uneven terrain. Synthetic panels
on both sides of the ankle made it more breathable.

I have a wide forefoot and narrow heels, which makes
it difficult to find properly fitting boots. Wider
boots do not provide a snug fit in my heel and ankle,
which eventually leads to heel lift and blisters.
Conversely, regular width boots do not accommodate my
wider forefoot comfortably and I feel pain in my
forefoot (ball area) after short walks.

Tecnica’s narrow heel cup, snug instep and roomy toe
box was a perfect solution to my boot fitting problem.
A simple but well thought-out design contributed to a
good fit.

First Impression: I received these boots in Tecnica’s
trademark orange color box with a logo on it. There
was a Gore-Tex care and registration booklet in the
box along with some boot care documents from Tecnica.
The color of the boots matched the pictures on the
website, but they looked more technical than I
expected.

Field Condition and Terrain: Field Condition and
Terrain: These boots have seen a wide range of terrain
and weather conditions, ranging from winter blizzards
to summer and fall down-pours in rocky, muddy, snowy,
and icy terrains. I have used them on
hiking/backpacking and fishing trips in different
parts of Pennsylvania, New York, Tennessee and
Massachusetts. I carried 15-40 lb (approximately 7-19
kg) in my pack on trips lasting from 1 to 5 days.

With appropriate sock combinations these boots are
comfortable both in summer and winter conditions. I
have been using these boots for 2 years now, both for
day hikes and backpacking trips. They have taken me
through shallow streams, mud fields and boulder fields
without failing.

Before purchasing these boots I used to take several
pairs of boots and shoes on my extended backpacking
trips.

Now, the Sigma GTXs are so versatile that they serve
several functions and allow me to take only one pair
of boots on most of my backpacking trips, which in the
long run saves me weight and precious energy. I was
able to take only one pair of boots for trips that
consisted of heavy backpacking (trail head to the base
camp) and high mileage fast packing days (base camp to
different natural hotspots within the park).

The padded tongue, wrap system, and lacing technique
gave me great foot hugging fit without any pressure
points, blisters, or hotspots. The boots are
constructed in such a way that they feel very light,
balanced and compact.

Field Review: Following are the findings from my field
review of the boots:

Upper: The nubuck leather upper is holding up nicely
and providing great protection from wet weather, rocks
and trail debris. The leather has the propensity to
absorb water during heavy rain and stream crossings,
but frequent waterproofing treatment eliminates that
problem.

The upper has exposed stitching that often comes close
to rocks and brush when side-hilling or hiking off
trail. So far it remains intact, but cleaning between
the stitches is an issue after a muddy trail walk,
because of the amount of mud that is caught between
the stitching.

Lacing System: the fast lacing system works great and
provides enough leverage to custom fit the boot to
perfection. It’s a joy to lock the heels in the heel
cup with the ankle lock system. The laces are not the
thickest and strongest. I have changed several pairs
already.

Lining, Gore-tex: I never had wet feet problems during
heavy rain or stream crossing. The Gore-Tex liner
performs well and keeps my feet dry and blister free.
I regularly treat the upper leather with a recommended
waterproofing treatment, which makes it repel water
efficiently.

The downside of the Gore-Tex lining is that the boots
can get significantly warm on hot summer days. As I
take good care of the boots and always wear proper
socks, there is no damage to the lining. It feels
thicker and more comfortable than the linings of other
Gore-Tex boots I have worn.


Mid-sole: Mid-sole construction is one of the most
effective features of these boots. They have
multi-density polyurethane (PU) in the mid-sole with
Tecnica’s proprietary power core system construction
that provides adequate support and shock absorption.

The heel strike area (and the rest of the mid-sole) is
designed with molded high density PU on the bottom and
a softer and thicker PU layered on top of that to
provide a great combination of comfort and protection.
The high density PU protects from underfoot elements
and from the shock of heel strike, while the softer PU
provides comfortable cushioning. I have not seen any
sign of compression in the mid-sole.


Outsole: the Vibram Force-1 sole used in these boots
provides great grip on wet and rocky terrains.

The lugs are moderately deep but sturdy enough to give
me sure footing on most surfaces, although I was
careful when walking on wet rocks and icy trails. The
tread is wearing at an average rate compared to other
Vibram outsoles that I have used before. I don’t see
any major problem in the near future.

Toe rand: It provides an additional layer of
protection to my foot especially when I hit my
forefoot against a trail obstacle on speedy
backpacking trips or hikes. It also makes the boots
more durable. A similar quality heel rand would
increase the durability and abrasion resistance.

Positives:
Quick lacing and wrap around fitting system

Underfoot support with the multi-density PU mid-sole

Sturdy and durable Vibram outsole

Out of the box comfort and minimal break in period

Toe rand

Gore-Tex lining

Quality construction –these boots are sturdy, well
balanced and comfortable

Versatility of the boots. They are my true all-purpose
and all terrain boots

Negatives:
Synthetic patches in the upper are prone to damage
from rocks and brushes.

The tongues are gusseted, but the gussets are made of
thin synthetic layers. The synthetic fabric on the
gusset is pilling and often gets wet. This may affect
the waterproofing and durability in the long run

No heel rand

Exposed stitching in the upper makes it difficult to
clean


Summary: Tecnica Sigma GTXs are great multi-purpose
boots. I wanted a pair of boots that would everything
I need – hiking, mountain biking, backpacking and
walking around the park. These do it all and more.
When I wanted a multi-purpose boot that was sturdy and
durable, I thought I would have to sacrifice a bit of
comfort, but with these Sigma’s I did not have to
sacrifice anything at all.

Over the years the Sigma’s saved me from carrying too
much weight (boot weight) on my backpacking trips and
spending money on multiple pairs of boots for
different purposes. I hope Tecnica will continue
making this line of boots or something comparable in
the future.