4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A very versitle, well made winter boot., March 29, 2010
This review is from: Sorel Men's Open Range Boot (Apparel)
I've owned this boot for most of the winter now. We had crazy snows here in the mid-Atlantic, and this boot did very well keeping my feet warm and dry during tedious snow shoveling. It is indeed water proof, and if you are moving comfortably warm. Could it go to -40 degrees? I really don't know. I've been down to the teen's and it's been very comfortable. I've also worn them in the 60's and still been comfortable.
I've found other uses for this boot to include: Motorcycling and Backpacking. The insulation hold its own against 70mph winds and 30 degrees. The sole is stable enough and oil resistant enough that it never slipped on the tarmac.
Recently I went on a backpacking trip with a 30 pound pack. It was an all weather, all terrain trip and the boot did very well. It's extremely light for an insulated, waterproof mid calf boot. It saw duty over rocks, snow, mud, gravel, hard pack, and stream crossings. I would not recommend wading in over the top of the boot - the gaiters are not that tightly sealed. However, I stood in a mountain stream that was engorged with snow melt runoff for well over 30 minutes on a ~20-30 degree day to take some photos. The water was up to my ankle, and I not only stayed dry, but stayed warm.
I've taken off one start for lacing system. It's a bit flaky, and requires a good bit of fiddling to get juuuuust right. The stabilizer buckles feel great when you first tighten them up, but get loose after ~60 minutes of walking. However that's an easy fix: Just tug it snug when you take a break.
Some folks have complained that they are hard to get into. Compared to an ankle high boot, yes they are. However that is a realitive comparison. they are just as easy as a pair of fast lace combat boots. The build quality is solid, and should last awhile if treated right. A reviewer on the REI web site complained that he snapped the gaiter pull off. This would be possible if you were not mindful of how hard you were pulling. Remember the built in gaiter is not supposed to be a water seal. Its a snow seal.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
This seemed so promising..., March 14, 2011
This review will be brief, as I only spent about two days with the product.
In short, the boots present well, are very light weight and have a removable insole which is a nice feature. Unfortunately, the pull string at the back of the boot which in theory serves to provide a snug fit around the lower calf, is a piece of trash. I pulled it and it promptly snapped. It's possible I got a dud, but I don't think that's the case. Furthermore, I attempted to exchange the boots for the same size (directly returned them to Sorel), and instead of shipping me another pair to see if they'd work better, the company simply refunded my account. And that's fine I suppose, except for it leaves the impression that Sorel is aware of the issue and knows that such problems are inherent in the design of the boots. It's a real pity because I did considerable research before buying this particular model and had high hopes for these Sorels. They seemed to be the perfect combination of rugged, sleek, water proof, and warm that I sought. Oh well, the search continues.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good boots, February 8, 2011
Good boots but I'm not so sure with the minus 40 degrees F claim. It does keep your feet warm but you must invest in some insulated socks. Over the last month, NYC got a lot of snow and it helped very much. The elastic string from the back of the boot was defective. The first day I tried it, it "poped-out" due to poor material or craftmanship. I only wish I didn't wear so that I can get my money back.
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