Boreal USA Bulnes

Review Date
September 19, 2001

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Orion-Gr(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from Athens,Greece

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
With one word:honest.These boots are really honest.They don't ask much to buy,they are extremely comfortable,they leave water out and they breath due to their DryLine system which is based on the Sympatex membrane.I used them from the rocky greek mountains to the frozen italian Alps.They behaved excellent.As I said an honest choice for a mid class all around boot.P.S:I used Nik-Wax on them for water-proofing and cleaning.The two products are compatible.

Similar Products Used:
None

Review Date
May 27, 2001

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Garrett Green(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Tulsa, OK

Price Paid:  $200.00 at planetoutdoors.com

Summary:
I bought my Boreal Bulnes boots in May 2000. One of the reasons I bought them was because of the UK sizing. US boot manfacturers stop making half sizes at size 12. I wear a 12.5 in boots. That leaves me with 2 unappealing options, buy boots too big and wear extra socks or buy them too small and have my toes suffer. Since UK sizes are about 1 size smaller than US, I got 11.5 UK boots, perfect for my 12.5 US feet.

The break in time was relatively short compared to what I expected. Since they are billed as a (light) mountaineering boot (which they are), I expected a longer break-in time. They were very stiff at first, and I could flex the sole only a few millimeters with my hands. However, they became quite flexible after a few weeks of wear. More flexible than I was expecting actually. Conservatively estimating, I put over 350 miles on them last summer and was very satisfied with the performance. Most use was on moderate trails, with some off-trail bushwhacking and steep, rocky trail use. My ankles always felt supported, even though the laces close up tight on my narrow foot and ankle. They were always comfortable after break-in. Since I have a narrow foot and a high arch, I did not like the insoles included with the boots, so I put in my relatively new Superfeet insoles from my previous boots. I was in hiking heaven. I used Nikwax waterproofing with good results on these boots and never got wet feet (except when walking in streams well over the tops of the boots).

I do not feel that the tread has quite reached the end of it's life, but after a year, the tread was down to about 2 mm in the lowest spot. I felt that the tread wear was a little fast, but I attribute it more to the number of miles hiked than the boots themselves. The one small problem I have is with the leather inside the cuff splitting from the lining at the sewn seam just above the heel. This is inside the boot and has not affected the waterproofness at all. I think this was due to sweating around the ankle which made the leather dry out. It has not affected how they fit me or how comfortable they are.

I recently took them on a winter backpacking/mountaineering trip with snowshoes. The Bulnes really shined here, and this was the type of use I had in mind when I bought them. The uppers provided enough rigidity that I never felt that the showshoe straps were constricting my feet. I have not used them with crampons yet, but expect to give them some limited use in the near future. For extended crampon wear, I would probably get plastic boots.

Overall, I am very happy with the Boreal Bulnes. I have difficulty finding a boot to fit my foot, since it is narrow, has a high arch, and is a size 12.5 US. This is not to say that it wouldn't fit someone with a wider foot. Like I mentioned before, to get a good fit, I replaced the insoles, but I consider that a part of the fit process.

Similar Products Used:
Previos boots were Vasque Newbriars.

Review Date
March 5, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Jeff(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Davis, CA, USA

Price Paid:  $200.00 at altrec.com

Summary:
These boots are absolutely stunning, the craftsmanship is exceptional. Normally I find most boots tight as I have wide feet but these were comfortable from the start. I would, without hesitation, buy these boots again.

Similar Products Used:
Various Raichles

Review Date
February 27, 2001

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Taft B(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Sandpoint, ID

Price Paid:  $175.00 at www.planetoutdoors.com

Summary:
love the boots! break in period was about a week when they felt tight around the arch area. since then they feel great! great comfort with the exception of behind the heel where it could use a bit more padding.

Similar Products Used:
None

Review Date
February 23, 2001

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Reviewed by: Peter Molnarcom(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from Pecs, Hungary

Price Paid:  $100.00 at Miskolc, Hungary

Summary:
To have a negative feedback I post mine here.
First the positive part: I bought my pair of boots less then 2 years ago. I had much much fun with it. It was real comfortable after the break-in period, but I found the sole to be rubbing away very fast. I have only made perhaps 3 trips in snow on real terrain and some 10 on regular hikes. It served very good.
Two weeks ago returning from Turkey from a normal trip (it means I was only a regular tourists), the sole of my right shoe has cracked so water is leaking in (!!!) This crack complitely splits the front of the sole into to parts.
I was very sad of the fact, because I was not planning on purchasing any boots in the near future, but I have to do so now.
The brand is exactly the kind I could get directly from the manufacturer, so please don't think that hungarian sold boots are worse in quality just because they are sold here. People would not pay $200 here for a Boreal. Better brands cost around that range.
The upper leather part is almost intact and is still fully waterproof but has no real value to me any more.
:(
I still like it, and I hope to think that only this pair was so low-quality.

Similar Products Used:
None