Review Date
April 27, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: briansnat(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Kinnelon, NJ

Price Paid:  $79.00 at Sierra Trading Post

Summary:
When you find all leather hiking boots for $79, you have to give them a try. I did and have been extremely happy with my choice. After a short break-in period and the addition of Smartfoot insoles, they were very comfortable. Support was excellent (I wish I can find another pair of $79 boots with this support).

Overall, I've been very satisfied. Enough support to carry a 40 lb pack over rugged terrain and light enough for day hiking.

Cons:
After several years of use the leather, esp. around the toe, is very worn. A larger rubber toe rand would have been a good addition. Also, the rubber rand is starting to separate from the boot, allowing water to seep in, no matter how much waterproofing I use. The separation causes me to worry to the point where I hesitate to use the boots for longer trips, fearing that the soles will eventually come off. And speaking of the soles, they are hard and very slippery in
wet conditions.

Still, I have put hundreds of miles behind me wearing these boots, over rugged terrain and in all kinds of conditions. They have performed superbly.

Similar Products Used:
LL Bean
Rachlie
Lowa

Review Date
May 26, 2000

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by: Ron (Unregistered User) ,  Climber , from Kingston, WA

Summary:
I bought these originally as a general-use hiker/mountaineering boot and was really pleased at first; great fit, stable, and versatile. After 1 year though, the honeymoon is over. The leather uppers lost much of their torsional rigidity as well as waterproofness, the soles have become flexi as well.
The boots are still comfortable, but are now relegated for "on-trail" use only. I'll be stepping up to their Super Mountain 8's very soon, hopefully these will hold up better.

Review Date
January 24, 2000

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Aaron Dennis(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Las Vegas, NV

Summary:
I got a smokin' deal on these! Only $50 from REI! I ordered them thinking that if they didn't fit right I'd just send them back. As it turns out, they fit me just right. I like the fact that they are leather without a Gore-Tex liner. Its not neccesary down in the SW, but you do need full leather boots because the rock tears fabric up. Only had them for two months, but so far they are holding up as well any boots I've owned down here. Even if they only make it a couple of years, that's fine for only $50!

Similar Products Used:
Zamberlan Liskamms, Vasque Clarion Impacts

Review Date
December 26, 1999

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by: Steeve Jean(Unregistered User) ,  Day Hiker , from Montréal, Qc., Ca.

Summary:
Realy good boots. I bougth my first pair in 1997 and used them until this summer when i lost them (stupid story) It's thru that after 3 full year the soles were not as grippy as they were at the beginning, but they were so comfortable that I bought back the exact same model this summer.
The only default I see is that they're not made of only one piece of leather, and the sewings makes it a bit difficult to treat them well against water, mostly after a few monts of intense use. P.S. snowseal is a most with these.

Similar Products Used:
Salomon exit low

Review Date
September 30, 1999

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Kevin Smith(Unregistered User) ,  Day Hiker , from Juneau, Alaska

Summary:
I got these boots when my GoreTex Raichle boots fell apart in the first 4 months of owning them.

I've worn the Solomons hiking, biking, hunting, and working. They're comfortable and very dry, but don't breathe very well. I've had them a couple of years now, and they're starting to separate at the sole, but still dry and serviceable. Pretty good boot, all in all.

Customer Service:

Similar Products Used:
Some '97 GoreTex Raichle (Kokanee?), even older Timberland boot.