Boreal USA Ace

Review Date
April 14, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: andrew23(Unregistered User) ,  Climber

Price Paid:  $108.00 at dpclimb.netfirms.com

Summary:
My favorite all around shoe. Board lasting make these a pleasure to climb in. I climb mostly on granite and puddingstone so, the slightly stiffer feel is great for edging. I've had mine for about 5+ years and have had several resoles done. after a little break-in from the resole, they climb like they always have.

Review Date
December 2, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: jfw432(Unregistered User) ,  Climber , from West Virginia

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
These shoes are awesome. I can't smear very well with them but if there's any slight incline or tiny edge then I can stand on it. Some people complain that these shoes don't allow you to feel the wall....I can feel the wall the parts of the wall that I want to. Any more feeling and it's going to hurt. The toes are really narrow and I could only go a half size too small but they still work great without all the pain.

Similar Products Used:
None

Review Date
October 2, 2001

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: coolclimber888(Unregistered User) ,  Climber , from Highlands Ranch

Price Paid:  $95.00 at Ski Haus

Summary:
A great shoe for the price I paid. I have had them for about 3 months. They take a little while to break in but they are nice. They aren't a high performance shoe but they fulfill my needs as an intermediate climber. A Great shoe all around!!

Customer Service:
Very helpful.

Similar Products Used:
La Sportiva Aero, Boreal Stinger, Five Ten Ascent and Five Ten Mojave.

Review Date
September 16, 2001

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Reviewed by: Leo Santibanez(Unregistered User) ,  Climber , from Pheonix, AZ

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Good all around shoes, good for long routes. Don't waist your money if you're looking for a good bouldering shoe. Not very sensitive even after wearing them for one year(3-4 times per week).

Similar Products Used:
None

Review Date
July 25, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: jason(Unregistered User) ,  Climber , from morgantown, WV

Price Paid:  $150.00 at Pathfinder

Summary:
Let me state first that i am by no means an expert at the sport of rock climbing. I am a mere beginner which i think may help you to decide whether this review carries any weight. About six months ago i purchased a pair of Boreal Classics. After about three months, they had stretched to a point where the edges of the laces almost touched and i could pull my toes back from the toe pocket with minimal effort. Although i really liked the shoes, they just didn't perform well after they had stretched so much. So, i decided to purchase a pair of Aces. Learning from my other experience, i bought them two sizes smaller. At first, painfull. The beginnings of the laces would dig into the knuckles of my feet and the arches of my feet would begin to ache after about thirty minutes. Since that time, about two months, they have become quite a bit more comfortable and still retain all of their gripping ability. As stated in other reviews, it does take time for them to break in, the soles are still a bit stiff, and the suede is getting more pliable but will still take more time. If they continue to improve as such, they will become one of the most comfortable shoes i've tried. Now then, on to performance.
95% of the time, i'm climbing outdoors on sandstone. The shoes excell at edging. If there seems to be even the most minute edge, you can almost plant your foot and forget about it. Smearing i'd say is about average. The rubber grips, but the soles are still a bit too stiff to properly bend and apply more surface to the face of the rock. Perhaps in time, both the shoes and i will improve. Other than that, it's amazing the sure-footedness that these shoes bring. I reccomend these to anyone looking for a great all-round shoe.

just a quick note on price, if i didn't have to pay 150 dollars i'd have given it 5 trees in the value department.

Customer Service:
So far, have not needed to contact the maufacturer, no complaints.

Similar Products Used:
Boreal Classics