Kamik Granite Hunting Boots - Waterproof, Insulated (For Men)

I bought these for a very specific and unusual purpose, which I will describe below. In that use, I was looking for a boot that: (a) laced high and gave ankle support, (b) was wide enough on the inside for my wide foot, but not too wide on the outside, (c) was light, and (d) was warm, but not too warm. Also, since I expect to use these on a quite limited basis, I was focused on price, and really wanted something affordable. Taking all of the above into consideration, I'm not sure I could have found a better boot. I will begin, however, with a few general comments. After the height of the boot, which was easy to spot, the first thing I noticed about these boots, both "on paper" and when on my foot, is that they are very lightweight. They come in at just over one-half the weigh of the sort of heavy, hand-made winter hiking boots I am used to wearing. The second thing I noticed was the relatively solid construction relative to overall weight. (I would not call these boots bomb-proof, and only time will tell how they hold up, but for the weight they seem pretty strong.) The third thing I notice is that, while the pair I bought was described as EE width, it's not a very wide boot. It is reasonably wide boot, however. I have a true EEE foot, and, with a mid-weight wool sock, it's a tiny bit squeezed in this boot. I am a bit old-school, and have always worn leather boots, so I am not sure how a non-leather boot will adapt to the foot. My first general use of the boot was for snowshoeing and an overnight camp in New York's Catskill Mountains in mid-January. I was impressed with how well the boots worked for this use. As mentioned above, I did not have room for a heavy sock. With a mid-weight Smartwool sock, and the boot's own insulation, I did fine in temps ranging from the high teens to mid-20s F. I did have a couple of moments where my toes cooled off a bit, but they warmed up quickly once I got active again. As I intend to use these boots for activities that have me in motion, I don't think I would want any more insulation in the boot. If I were staying still for longer periods, I might feel otherwise. It's a bit like the weight vs. durability issue hinted to above: the manufacturer strikes a compromise. In my case, the design compromises suit me particularly well. One thing for certain, when showshoeing, it's great to be able to shave a couple of pounds off of the feet. That said, I would assume that these whould not be a top choice for very cold weather snowshoeing. For casual, fast snowshoeing in moderate temps, they are great. So, what is the specialized use that spurred my purchase? I am going to use these skate boots for Lundhag multiskates. What are multiskates? Think of slapping a pair of modern snowboard bindings on Hans Brinker's silver skates, and you get the idea. They have long blades that are flatter than hockey skate blades and are designed for long-distance pond skating. These are the strap-on equivalent of what's known more commonly as "Nordic skates." Now, I must say that I am entirely new to multiskates, and have only used one other pair of boots, so the value of this review may be limited. I listed at the outset the four factors that needed to be met, and a few of them are quite critical: (a) Height - Ankle support is obvious, as, after all, I am skating. I usually buy low-rise boots, so this was new to me. I found the boots to give reasonably solid support, that was adequate for skating. Time will tell if that rigidity holds, but for the first time out it was quite fine: not as much as a fully-laced hockey skate, but enough. (b) Width - In my case, I was balancing the need for a wide boot with the size limitations of the Lundhags bindings. While the simple boot brackets on the skates are quite adjustable, they do not go out to a very wide setting, so heavy winter boots will not work. The trim, efficient design of the Kamiks really paid off here, giving enough width for my foot and some insulation, while, with a squeeze, fitting into the skate binding. (c) Light - As noted above, these are exceptionally light. I would say almost sneaker-like, but that gives a wrong impression. There's more substance in these boots than a sneaker. At the same time, the heavy boot factor is out-the-window. (d) Warm - Based on my winter weekend in the Catskills, I expect these to be warm enough for the limited, active use that I have in mind. The camo motif was, for me, neither a negative nor a positive. I would like to see these boots in other colors, however. How about Blaze Orange?

This product needs better sole attachment and a better interior liner.

I use these boots for hunting, feet stay warm and dry.

My son loves these boots.

Warm and waterproof. I bought these for my 10 year old son. For Syracuse NY winters it is important to have a lightweight, waterproof, and warm boot. He wears them to school and when he is outside playing. He loves the camo pattern. They do the job.

My wife brought these for me and a few other items from you that i was very happy with i would like to say thankyou as these are great and i would recommend them to anyone. My father-in-law and brother-in-law both got a pair as well and they love them also. Thanks

I got these , wore them in the field a few times and around the job site.. and sadly it would seem the stitching looks like its coming out and the glue they used and releasing ... iv had them ONE week !

Good hunting boot. Nice fitting and very cofortable after a long day

LISTED AS "WIDE" (2-E) BUT WERE MUCH TOO NARROW

Good Boot, Good Price