Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Classic Menswear › Good snow boots?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Good snow boots? - Page 2

post #16 of 33
12/27/10 at 6:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bounder View Post
Once upon a time, Sorel made really good boots. Several years ago they moved their production to China and the quality -- and insulating ability -- has gone markedly downhill.

If you want the ultimate in cold-weather boots, you want Baffin. Baffin boots are made in Canada and are the real deal. People going on arctic expeditions use Baffin boots. Of course, they make less radical models, too. But they are all excellent quality.

I've said this before. I get as annoyed as the next one about formerly-good stuff being manufactured in China. When I have a chance to support someone making an excellent product while resisting the urge to cheap-out and move production to China, I feel a moral obligation to do so, especially when they are able to do it at a competitive price.

Sorel moved production to China to save money. But most of the money they saved they have had to plow back into marketing. Baffin makes a much better boot but does not have the margins to spend on advertising that Sorel does. Guess which approach I support?

The question of moving to production to China notwithstanding, even the made in China Sorel Caribous will be more than enough for virtually anywhere in the Northeastern US (unles you're planning an extended stay at the top of Mt Washington). They are still pretty much standard issue snow boots in most ski towns both in the northeast and out west, they're still far more boot than you'll require in / around any of the major metro areas in the NE. If you can't abide the made in China thing, which is obviously your call, you could try Alicos from Italy. Very well made, sturdy as hell, great thick vibram soles, and you can get insulated versions, etc. Not as warm as Sorels, but should be fine for winter here in the NE.
Reply
Reply

Featured Stories on Styleforum

Marketplace: Streetwear & Denim (and designer) for sale.
Fedora Lounge on Aero Leather jackets
American Classis and Sunglass Choices - May 17, 2013
post #17 of 33
12/27/10 at 6:48pm
Schnee's Boots in Bozeman, Montana makes a high quality version of the Sorel style pac boot.
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 33
12/27/10 at 6:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NukeMeSlowly View Post
Who makes these? Do they breathe at all or do you empty them of accumulated sweat after each extended wear? Not snark, truly curious.
LeChameau - they'v been around forever and are incredibly well made. Sweat? In the rain and snow? Was never a problem, though when worn in warmer weather, one just opens the side zipper. Odd thing is, I own serious felt lined Sorels and my feet get cold after about 20 mins in snow/ice -
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 33
12/27/10 at 7:05pm
I've had my old made in Canada Sorel Caribous for about 20 years and they are still going strong. I can throw them on and wear them untied to go to get some coffee or tie them up tight for a couple hours of sledding. As far as insulating properties, the felt is OK, but I find that adding more/better socks makes all the difference.

But if I was shopping for new boots, I might look at those Baffin boots. Those look pretty serious.
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 33
12/27/10 at 7:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by artoftime View Post
LeChameau - they'v been around forever and are incredibly well made. Sweat? In the rain and snow?
Was never a problem, though when worn in warmer weather, one just opens the side zipper.

Odd thing is, I own serious felt lined Sorels and my feet get cold after about 20 mins in snow/ice -

That's funny - I was going to add to my first post that I just spent about four hours outside with 18 inches+ of new, blowing snow, temps never got above 15 degrees (that's farenheit) and there were 40 mph wind gusts. Face was cold, hands were cold, but had on my basic Sorel Caribous and my feet never got remotely cold. In fact, only time my feet do get cold is ironically when my feet sweat and then end up getting cold.

One thing - those classic LL Bean boots with the rubber lower half and leather upper half are not very well suited for snow and ice. Tromping through wet and chilly, sure, but without insulation, they get cold quickly and they are not much for traction on icy surfaces.
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 33
12/27/10 at 7:12pm
BTW, just looked at the Baffin boots and according to at least two internet sellers, all the models they each carry are also made in China. Perhaps the +$230 versions are still made in Canada, but everything up to that retail price point appear to be made in China.
Reply
Reply
post #22 of 33
12/27/10 at 7:13pm


You can't go wrong with military issue white boots, rated to -60F. If you plan to stay around NYC, they're overkill, since they're too warm if it's much above 0F. Good for the coldest places in the northeast, though.
Reply
Reply
post #23 of 33
12/27/10 at 7:30pm
I don't know what kind of 'winter' you folks are dealing with in those boots but they wouldn't last a short walk up here (Saskatchewan, Canada). We'll be average -30 C all of next month.

Find the best North Face boots you can!
Reply
Reply
post #24 of 33
12/27/10 at 7:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by phailing101 View Post
I don't know what kind of 'winter' you folks are dealing with in those boots but they wouldn't last a short walk up here (Saskatchewan, Canada). We'll be average -30 C all of next month.

Find the best North Face boots you can!

OP is in NYC
Reply
Reply
post #25 of 33
12/27/10 at 7:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by phailing101 View Post
I don't know what kind of 'winter' you folks are dealing with in those boots but they wouldn't last a short walk up here (Saskatchewan, Canada). We'll be average -30 C all of next month.

Find the best North Face boots you can!

You should see the other thread.
Reply
Reply
post #26 of 33
12/27/10 at 8:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TC11201 View Post
One thing - those classic LL Bean boots with the rubber lower half and leather upper half are not very well suited for snow and ice. Tromping through wet and chilly, sure, but without insulation, they get cold quickly and they are not much for traction on icy surfaces.

Work well for me. For insulation, get the fur-lined version (below):



Reply
Reply
post #27 of 33
12/27/10 at 9:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bounder View Post
Once upon a time, Sorel made really good boots. Several years ago they moved their production to China and the quality -- and insulating ability -- has gone markedly downhill. If you want the ultimate in cold-weather boots, you want Baffin. Baffin boots are made in Canada and are the real deal. People going on arctic expeditions use Baffin boots. Of course, they make less radical models, too. But they are all excellent quality. I've said this before. I get as annoyed as the next one about formerly-good stuff being manufactured in China. When I have a chance to support someone making an excellent product while resisting the urge to cheap-out and move production to China, I feel a moral obligation to do so, especially when they are able to do it at a competitive price. Sorel moved production to China to save money. But most of the money they saved they have had to plow back into marketing. Baffin makes a much better boot but does not have the margins to spend on advertising that Sorel does. Guess which approach I support?
I'd say scour eBay for a pair of vintage, Made in Canada Sorels. I have a pair of army green Sorels that were purchased new in 1982. They are the Premium model, very similar to the 1964 model of today's line-up. Almost 30 years later they are still doing their job remarkably wekk and don't show their age at all.
Reply
Reply
post #28 of 33
12/27/10 at 9:43pm
Those Baffin boots are no joke. I looked on their website and they have boots rated to -100C... I don't even know if that's true but even half that is really twice as much boot as I need in NYC.
Reply
Reply
post #29 of 33
12/28/10 at 1:15am
What I'd like is something rated to -50C that can handle deep snow drifts but looks sleek enough to wear with a suit.

This doesn't exist.

So it's a matter of deciding on what range of boots you need for different circumstances.

I have two pairs of true 'snow' boots, the ones I use the most are some black Kamik hunters i.e.:
.

I think I paid around $35 for them at Canadian tire. They are basically rain boots stuffed with a very warm liner. Waterproof/warm. I don't wear them unless I'm going into snow or its bitterly cold. In deep snow, waterproof>breatheable and when its bitterly cold, sweat is not your biggest problem.

For average walking-to-work I'm using either chelsea boots or a dainite soled lace up boot. These should handle 95% of winter days here, the other 5% I'll be in the Kamik, or more likely, working remotely.
Reply
Reply
post #30 of 33
12/28/10 at 1:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eustace Tilley View Post
Work well for me. For insulation, get the fur-lined version (below):




These don't slip in snow/ice?
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Classic Menswear

Featured Stories on Styleforum

Marketplace: Streetwear & Denim (and designer) for sale.
Fedora Lounge on Aero Leather jackets
American Classis and Sunglass Choices - May 17, 2013
Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Classic Menswear › Good snow boots?