Review Date
November 8, 2005

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: cmanthey@fadv.com ,  Day Hiker

Price Paid:  $125.00 at ll bean website

Summary:
Nicely built, but suffers from 2 problems I've found with 2 other brands of leather/fabric Gore Tex boots

1)the Gore-Tex liner eventually leaks

2)even before it does, the fabric soon begins to soak up water, despite Nik Wax treatments. What starts out as a lightweight boot turns into a heavy waterlogged one that freezes when it's cold.

Probably a good boot for desert environments, but not anywhere there's water or dampness

Review Date
October 15, 2002

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: (Unregistered User) ,  Day Hiker , from Cambridge, MA

Price Paid:  $89.00 at LL Bean, Freeport, M

Summary:
I have had mixed results with these boots. I wear them all the time in cooler weather around my town, and they are great at keeping out water and just being comfortable. However, in the one hike I took with them they, like someone else mentioned, wore holes in the back of my heels. It was a 6hr hike up and down some 500m hills. The problem was in going up hills, the boots would move and rub against the back of my heel. However my roommate took these hiking in Asia and loved them; it probably depends on how much the back of your heel sticks out - mine kind of sticks out there a little. But they are still great going downhill or on level ground.

Customer Service:
Haven't returned them and don't think I will, but might buy something else for some serious hiking.

Similar Products Used:
none

Review Date
February 11, 2002

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Reviewed by: wdharris(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Mobile, AL

Price Paid:  $95.00 at LL Bean Catalog

Summary:
These boots did not work out for me. They chewed holes in the back of my heels. Not blisters really, they just made holes! They seemed to fit well. I wore thick socks and added thick insoles untill they were so tight that they hurt, still they ate holes in my heels. If you run you're fingers across the inside of the heel cup you can feel that it is not smooth, there are high spots, and I think that is why they injured my heels. Another thing that I noticed is that the goretex liner appears to end at the sole instead of wrapping under and surrounding the foot. If you remove the insole you can see that the liner is just stitched and glued into place around the edge. It makes me doubt that they will be waterproof very long. I sent them back.

Customer Service:
You can''t beat LL Bean for customer service. I felt bad about sending these boots back for a refund because when I called the people there were so friendly and helpful. I will make a point to do busi

Similar Products Used:
Timberland goretex hikers.

Review Date
January 20, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: rsmurphy1(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Greenville,RI,US

Price Paid:  $95.00 at LLBean

Summary:
Excellent all around hiking boot. These boots eat up the trail, the support and traction are second to none!

Customer Service:
Been shopping at LL all my life. You simply can''t go wrong. The best is at Bean!!

Review Date
January 9, 2002

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: philrb(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Avondale, AZ, USA

Price Paid:  $95.00 at LL.Bean

Summary:
Comfort right out of the box and then it gets even better. Very high quality materials and very well made.
This boot has a sticky vibram sole which really grips. It's an all around great boot.

Customer Service:
None better

Similar Products Used:
Asolo, Vasque