Reviews > Footwear > Winter Boots > Baffin Extreme Series Boots > Jodi Cornelius > Field Report

Field Report: Baffin Extreme Climate Boots – Impact Series

My e-mail: bpskids@charter.net
Name: Jodi Cornelius
Age: 41
Height: 5’4”/1.6 m
Weight: 160 lbs/73 kg
Gender: Female
City: Derrick City
State: PA
Country: USA
Date: January 4, 2004
My area of the country: Northwest Pennsylvania near the Allegheny Mountains

Product Information:
Manufacturer:  Baffin Technology http://www.baffin.com
Year of Manufacture:  2003
Listed weight: N/A
Weight as delivered: 3 lb/1.4 kg per boot – 6 lb/2.7 kg per pair
Size: Men’s 7/Women's 7.5 to 8 depending on cut of shoe - I usually wear a 6 in Men's but figured I could wear the 7 with extra socks.
MSRP: $134.99 USD

Features from the Website:

Impact 9850-972 from the Extreme Series
"Extreme Climate" inner boot system and GelFlex shock-absorbing technology.
Easy adjust low temperature double-buckle closure system for better fit.
Winterproof insulated upper and locking snow collar for deep snow protection.

Field Experience:  I think I'm in love!  The boots haven't caused my feet to sweat no matter WHAT the temperature.  I've been in snow up to my knees for hours at a time and although a little bit of snow got in at the top of my boots, my feet didn't get wet at all.  I have worn them in temperatures down to -15 F/-8 C and up to 30 F/17 C even though the boots are made for much colder weather.  I waded in snow outside that was knee deep while shoveling and putting out corn for the deer in the area.  My feet stayed toasty warm and did not sweat at all.  There is very minor wear showing on the tread.  In fact, I have walked across ice and while I still walked like a penguin I found that the rubber of the soles gripped the ice lots better than I expected it to!

I went out hunting coyotes in the woods behind my house.  The weather was nasty, blowing wet heavy snow, and I hiked 2 miles up hills and switchbacks until I got to the place I knew I'd see coyotes.  I then positioned myself and hunkered down to wait.  The snow was just below the top of my boots, the temperature was -5 F/-3 C.  I stood in my place for over 3 hours (no, I didn't see a coyote during that time, though I did see a couple of nice deer, some squirrels, and chipmunks who were playing happily on a log about 6 feet from where I was standing).  My feet did not notice the cold, wet, snow whatsoever.  In the walk to my stand, my feet, while being warm, did not sweat from the insulation of the boot.  By the time I had gotten back home, almost 6 hours later, I pulled my boots off and my socks were dry!  I was very pleased.

When I remove my boots, I leave my inserts inside as I find that trying to remove the inserts is a bit difficult because of the good fit.  And to replace the inserts is a task that is easier than removing.  All I have to do is put the inserts on my feet and then stick my feet back into the boots.  I will be able to remove the inserts SHOULD they get wet, which, at this point, I don't see happening.

The buckles work well even when caked with heavy, wet snow.  I was concerned about that.  But even should they be caked until frozen, I believe they would still work well if just allowed to thaw a little bit.  The buckles have handled being bashed on fallen trees, scraped on the ground as I staggered down a bank (I'm not what you call graceful) with little signs of abuse.  A few scratches is all.  The buckles still work very well and show no signs of breaking or failing. On another occasion, I was outside in 25 F/14 C temperatures with snow just above my ankles.  I decided to try the boot in that temperature even though the boot is rated for far lower just because I wanted to see what they would do.  I went outside for about 2 hours and was messing with hammock configurations with a piece of Tyvek I had gotten to make a larger rain fly.  With all the exertions that I went through, I was sure my boots would be wet inside since the temperatures were so warm (considering what they normally are in this area during the winter).  I was pleasantly surprised that even though my feet felt overly warm the moisture from my feet was wicked away and the inserts were still dry and so were my feet.  Although I wouldn't really recommend them for temperatures above the low 20's F/11 C for any extended length of time, they are still surprisingly comfortable.

I am really appreciative of the fact that although they are rated for such a low temperature (-145 F/-81 C), they still work really well at higher temperatures.  Although they arrived too late to use for deer hunting season, I plan on writing an owner's report on them this winter (2004) after hunting season.  Also, for being such a low temperature boot, they are surprising light on my feet.  My legs do not struggle to lift my feet when snow caked like other cold weather boots I have worn in the past.  I do like that!

What I like: Totally comfortable.  No blisters even with all the climbing I did while wearing them.  Fit is perfect, no slipping, no sliding (other than when I was trying to go up and down banks <g>).  Feet do NOT sweat!

What I don't like: Nothing.

Reviews > Footwear > Winter Boots > Baffin Extreme Series Boots > Jodi Cornelius > Field Report