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Reviews > Footwear > Camp Shoes > Baffin Cush Base Camp Booties > Test Report by Dawn LarsenBaffin Base Camp BootiesTest Report Initial Report - 18 January 2012 Field Report - 27 March 2012 Name: Dawn Larsen Age: 51 Gender: female Height: 5' 4" (163 cm) Weight: 155 lb (70 kg) Email address: vicioushillbilly AT gmail DOT com Florence, South Carolina USA Backpacking Background: I used to backpack in college a zillion years ago and just in the last few years have backpacked some private trails in Tennessee, Missouri and most recently South Carolina. I have been an avid car-camper for eleven years and I have kayak/canoe camped for four years, both in South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri and Arkansas. I use a lot of the same equipment for both. I hike hilly/rocky trails especially in Missouri (my home state) and Arkansas. I live in South Carolina and am busy checking out the terrain here with my eighteen year-old son. Product Information Manufacturer: Baffin Year of Manufacture: 2011 Manufacturer's Website: www.baffin.com MSRP: $39.99 US Advertised Weight: none indicated Measured Weight: 11.75 oz (333 g) Size Tested: Large Color Tested: Black Other Colors Available: Navy, Espresso, Merlot, Dusk Initial Report 18 January 2012 Product Description These booties are for comfort wear after hiking. They arrived in a box with the booties and a mesh stuff sack to put them in. They have, according to the website, "a micro-grip bottom for traction on any surface; above-ankle height for complete coverage; quick-pull front closure for secure fit." The sizing is unisex, but also includes Youth booties for sizes under a Small (women's US 5/6). They have a nylon outer shell with fake lamb shearling insoles. There are two quick-pull closures, one on the top and one around the ankle. The outer sole is nylon with plastic grips that spell "Polar Proven" in a pattern across the sole. It feels like there is cardboard between the insole and the outsole.  Preliminary Observations I put them on and immediately felt like my feet were nestled in pillows. I wore them around the house and my feet were incredibly warm. I couldn't find out what kind of insulation there is, but there is a lot of it. It feels bonded and is held in place by horizontal stitching. They are very lightweight and smash down to stuff in a pack. The soles will curve, but not bend in half. I wear a US 8.5 B, I asked for the Large, which is women's US 9/10. I'm glad I did. I feel like they fit me fine with some room for movement and socks if I choose to wear them. I tried them outside in wet leaves and they seemed to work well. My feet did not get wet and they gripped very well. I also have hardwood floors throughout my house and the grippers work very well there too. Summary These booties feel great on. I am anxious to wear them camping very soon. I think they are really attractive, as well. What I like They are warm. They are easily adjustable. Attractive. What I don't like No problems so far. Field Report 27 March 2012 Field Conditions During this test period, I have worn the booties on 3 camping trips, as well as in my home. 1/28/12 - 2 nights in Myrtle Beach State Park, South Carolina - It was rainy and cold (45 F day [7 C], 35 F [2 C] night) 2/11/12 - 2 nights in Congaree National Park, South Carolina - It was beautiful (55 F day [13 C] and 45 F [7 C] night) 2/25/12 - 1 night in Georgetown, South Carolina on private land. It was sunny, but chilly (48 F [9 C] day and 37 F [3 C] night) and windy Observations These are definitely winter booties and unfortunately, we haven't had much winter this year in South Carolina. We have had no snow and only a couple of nights below freezing. I love the way these booties fit. They are so easy to adjust with the elastic adjusters around the ankle and the top of the boot. I can walk, even in wet leaves, and not feel like they are going to slip off my feet. Also, because of the elastic around the top, wet grass, pine needles, etc. don't get into the boots. I like the Sherpa lined footbeds because they grip the sole of my foot. My foot doesn't slide around inside the booties causing my very weak ankles to turn. That also may be a product of the more sturdy sole than the other booties I own, which have soft bottoms. Speaking of the soles, the traction is great on wet grass and leaves. And speaking of wet grass and leaves, South Carolina is like a cold rain forest in the winter. So I was worried that water would seep in through the booties. I didn't step in a creek to test, but walking around all night in wet leaves and grass, my feet stayed toasty warm and dry. However, even though the sole is harder than soft booties, it is still a little soft when stepping on rocks and sticks in the middle of the night without the padding of snow. The stuff sack they come with is sort of unnecessary except when storing them indoors. I stored them in a waterproof sack at camp so they wouldn't get drenched in the rain. There are no instructions to be found on the website or with the product concerning cleaning. In an email to the testers, BackpackGearTest's Administrator found out from the manufacturer that the booties should be hand washed with mild soap and water, and then lay them flat to dry. I'm glad she let us know because I would have machine washed them like I have done with other brands. Baffin should add this information to a tag in the booties. I took a cloth with mild soap and water to clean the bottoms of the booties. It worked well. A couple of the "PolarProven" grippers are flaking off, but I think it's OK at this point. I also wear these around my house on my wood floors and my feet stay really warm and the traction is great. Summary I am very happy with these booties so far. I'm sorry it hasn't been colder in this test period, though. They fit well and most importantly, they keep my feet really warm. They are much more convenient to slip into after getting out of my hammock in the middle of the night than my hiking boots. What I liked They fit well. They keep my feet really warm They have great traction. What I didn't like The bag is sort of useless. I still feel rocks and sticks through the sole. This concludes my field report. Check back in a couple of months for my long term report. Many thanks to Baffin and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test the Base Camp Booties. Read more reviews of Baffin gear Read more gear reviews by Dawn Larsen Reviews > Footwear > Camp Shoes > Baffin Cush Base Camp Booties > Test Report by Dawn Larsen | ||||