Winter boots often times are full of function, but as many of us know, most lack fashion.  While I am not a fashionista, I do enjoy a good looking and functioning piece of gear.  The Sorel Kitchner Frost High is a winter boot that has the classic leather outer and a rubber toe box area.  The leather goes half way up the calf and is lined to keep your boot and lower leg warm in the cooler weather.  While hiking and walking the dogs in frigid winter temperatures, I found the boots to keep me plenty warm, but not to the point where my feet are sweating bullets.

The sole of the boot is made of a softer rubber that gives you a soft ride and provides good traction.  The Kitchner holds up very well when it comes to winter slush and snow, keeping your feet nice and dry. While the Sorel Kitchner’s are waterproof, they don’t go up as high as the leather goes.  The waterproof section goes up to approximately the top of your ankle.

For style, I think the Curry, Turkish Coffee looks the best.  It looks good with jeans, khakis, and pretty much any other shade you can think of.  As far as fit goes, the upper on the Kitchner Frost High fits pretty close to your leg and if you feel like being a little spunky, you can fold over the leather upper and there is a flannel lining you can show off.  While this isn’t something that I would take advantage of, those who like to push the envelope with style might find it appealing.

Overall, I found the Sorel Kitchner Frost High to be my favorite winter boot to date.  The Kitchner Frost High retails for $185, which is a little spendy, but given the materials used and the timeless look, I think you will get your money’s worth.

Tofinos featured in Black/Kettle

Sorel, once again, mixes fashion-forward and function with the Tofino Canvas Boot. Last year, I tested out Sorel’s Cate the Great and fell in love instantly. Since the Tofinos arrived, I sadly have not stepped foot in my Cates. The Tofinos are not only attractive, they pack features that make them worthy of calling themselves a pair or Sorel’s.

Tofinos up close in Chili Pepper/Black: note the quilted design and detailed stitching

The Tofinos feature a Tivoli waterproof shell that has yet to allow a drop of moisture to enter, despite some serious puddle-splashing and long walks in deep snow. The transitions between the outsole, leather shell, and waxed canvas upper are sealed and sewn with impeccable detail and quality;  I anticipate these boots will continue to perform for many years to come. The waxed canvas upper is flexible, and is comfortable on the first wear.

Vulcanized rubber outsole provides traction control

The shell is lighter and has a different fit and feel from previous Sorel’s that I’ve worn, most notably the Caribou’s and Cate the Great’s. The Tofinos weigh in at 1 lb 5 oz for a size 7, which is lighter than the market average.  As you can see, the Tofinos are significantly narrower as well. Inside, they don’t feel uncomfortably narrow around the foot, just less roomy or loose fitting. I actually like this fit a bit more because it helps keep the boot from feeling sloppy on my foot as I walk. The Tofinos are available in half sizes from 5-11, and also available in size 12. I ordered a size 9, my typical non-running shoe size, and was pleased with the fit. I can wear a pair of thick socks if I want, with a little room to spare. Therefore, I feel that the Tofinos are true to size.

Tofino on left, Cate on right: note the width difference with both boots being size 9

Boots must not only protect your feet from the elements, they must also keep your feet warm. To accomplish this, the Tofino features 100g Thinsulate® synthetic insulation and Sherpa Pile polyester fleece lining to keep feet cozy. The Tofinos carry a temperature rating of approximately -25 degrees Fahrenheit. Obviously, degree of warmth depends on a multitude of factors; activity level, blood circulation and metabolism of the wearer, to name a few.   But I have found the warmth to be comparable to other Sorel’s that I have worn.  These boots also feature faux fur along the top 3 inches or so. The faux fur does more than add a bit of style; it also helps seal out the cool air, prevent heat from escaping, and block the entry of snow. The faux fur has yet to shed on my leggings or tights, which is important if wearing these boots to the office.

As for comfort and style, the Tofinos excel in this department as well. They feature a lace-up design, which allows the wearer to get a more customized fit, as opposed to zippered or pull-on boots. For those of you who are a little lazy like me, you can tie them loosely and pull them on with the assistance leather loops on either side for easy on and off. These boots hit at about mid-calf and have yet to cause rubbing or hot spots.

Height comparison: boots on left up to the knee, Tofino's on right to mid-calf

The Tofinos are available in four color combinations; Chili Pepper/Black, Black/Kettle, Black/Oyster, and Dark Olive/Sudan, all of which feature metal rivets and contrasting tan faux fur. I’ve been testing the Chili Pepper/Black combo and have received quite a few compliments. If you aren’t into flashy, perhaps the Black/Kettle color combo is more your speed, with gray faux fur and black accents. The Tofinos retail for $140, which is a pretty great deal for a pair of winter boots!

I only tested this setup for a weekend which is a little shorter than I typically test out products, but I feel that I was able to get a pretty good idea of the Dynafit setup.  To start out the weekend, our group went to Arapahoe Basin where we primarily skied crud as the earlier days didn’t make for the best snow conditions.  For you east coasters, you might call this powder.  Throughout the day, I tried to test out the equipment in all conditions.  I skied steep icy slopes where I would love to say the ski’s performed well, but I have to admit I had a tough time catching a grip.  Outside of the ski’s not catching, everything else functioned properly.  Next, I hiked up to the Zuma Cornice to see how the bindings handled drop-ins.  Here, I was a little nervous as I wasn’t sure with the little about of metal used in the bindings whether they would hold me in or not.  The answer, they performed awesome!  While skiing down the slope, I encountered chopped up powder and with 108 underfoot in the STOKE ski’s, I stayed afloat on top of the snow and found the ski’s to performed amazing in powder conditions.

Although I am not a park rat, I do like to hit the park here and their to check out my skills.  Aside from my actual skill level, I found the bindings to perform just fine.  Now I probably wouldn’t use a Dynafit binding if I were playing in the park all the time, but it is good to know they can handle park demands from time to time.

After skiing A-Basin non-stop for about 4 hours, we then headed over to the winter parking lot for Grays and Torrey’s Peak.  After getting our packs situated, we skied up approximately 3 miles with an elevation gain of 1500 ft. to our cabin.  The trail was snowpacked and there wasn’t much powder on the trail.  Off trail, there was about 4 feet of powder.  After about 2.5 miles of skinning up the trail, I went off trail.  This is where some problems started for me.  I went to make a turn and my ski came out of the binding.  With a 40 lb pack on me, I quickly toppled over and sank into the snow.  Getting back into the binding was a little challenging given that I was a beginner at the setup.  And after this first binding tweak, I ended up having problems when using the bindings on uphill adventures.  I am going to chalk it up to it being my first time and there is a learning curve, but it was sure frustraiting at times.  Downhill, I had no challenge.  The other skier in my group, Shannon had no problem with her setup the whole weekend, she had used the Dynafit binding setup before.

Gear thoughts:

Stoke:  The Stoke was a super fun ski to ski in both backcountry and the resorts.  Compared to a standard alpine ski and setup, the Stoke was super light. The core is made of Isocore Paulownia Ultralight wood with stringers in beech and bamboo.  I skied the 191′s which were a tad long for me, but overall, I really enjoyed the ride this ski offered.

Dynafit Stoke at A-Basin

Boot- ZZERO4 C TF: First, Dynafit needs to come up with a new name for this boot, way to complicated!  Outside the name, I enjoyed this boot.  I found the fit to have a snug fit around the shin and foot versus other touring boots I have tried in the past.  The ZZERO4 provided me plenty of stability while pushing my limits at A-Basin and felt super lightweight while touring uphill.

Bindings: TLT Vertical ST:  Given this was my first time trying out the Dynafit Bindings, I was impressed overall.  The weight difference was very enjoyable for both uphill touring and alpine skiing.  There was definitely a learning curve to the binding setup which I didn’t enjoy at times, but after talking with people that have skied the Dynafit setup before, it sounds like it just takes a few times to really get tuned in.

When all is said and done, I really enjoyed skiing the Dynafit setup and I definitely think it is worth taking a look at the next time you make a purchase. For more information on Dynafit, please visit Dynafit.us

Testing out the Sorel Winter Boots Apres Ski in Vail

As we are in the height of winter and temperatures have become bone chilling and wet snow and slush are abundant, it’s nice to have a boot that can keep us warm and dry, yet fashionable.  I’ve been testing out the Sorel 1964 Premium T CVS Boots over the past few months and although they aren’t needed all winter long, they sure do come in handy in the more extreme winter weather conditions.  Now I must admit, the 1964 Premium T CVS boots are a little clunky, so they aren’t something that I am going to wear around all season long.  I tend to prefer smaller boots when there is little to no snow out and when temperatures are moderate.

When the winter weather conditions get a little more extreme, I like to have a winter boot that will keep me warm and dry with less care for looks.  The Sorel boots I tested have a waterproof vulcanized rubber that goes up a couple inches high from the ground and the rubber also covers the toe. Recently I went to the movie theatre and when I came out, I noticed the shopping center plow decided to push all of the parking lots wet slush around my car, at least it felt like that.  Typically with a winter shoe or lightweight boot, you would still get your feet wet and cold while cleaning off your car. With the 1964 Premium T CVS boots, I was able to clean off the snow on my car and slop through the wet slush with ease.

The inside of the boots have a removable insulated felt inner boot to keep your feet nice and cozy.  Now the felt insulation is not as warm as down if you are standing still, but if you are moving a little, your feet are sure to stay plenty warm in even some of the coldest temps, Sorel claims -40 F. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I wasn’t able to test the boots to this temperature.  On the outside of these inner liners is a nylon shell that covers the heel of the boot liner. This is nice because if there were no liner, you would typically find the liner starting to pill up.

The upper of the boot is made of a waxed canvas that helps keep out snow and wetness.  I tested out the brown color and although I liked the way the boots performed, I kind of felt like a kid back in the day with the old school looks.   Now I wouldn’t use these boots in more strenuous activities such as snowshoeing, but for in town and around the house use, I think the Sorel 1964 Premium T CVS is a great option.  For more information, please visit Sorel.com

Normally, winter boots fall into two different camps; those that are stylish, yet not so functional, and those that are industrial looking that are designed to tackle just about any amount of snow. Fortunately, Sorel has blended the best of both camps and created a fashionable AND functional winter boot. Make way for Sorel’s Cate the Great Boot. Named after a Russian Empress, these boots are ready to tackle just about anything.

The Cate the Great Boots are built to last, just like my first pair of Sorel Caribou’s from way back. The Cate’s are 100% waterproof thanks to seam-sealed construction, vulcanized rubber shell, and waterproof full grain and suede upper. The vulcanized rubber portion of the boot comes up to just below the ankle, similar to most Sorel’s, however the Cate’s have an overhang of suede to conceal the transition area and keep the look of the boot more streamlined. So far, I have tramped through at least 1-2 feet of snow and muck and have always remained toasty and dry. The outsole is pretty beefy, as with all Sorel’s, and provides great traction when shoveling the drive, walking the dogs, and running errands. The lining is completely removable and you can air them out or wash them out. The lining is extremely warm in temps well below zero and the boots are comfortable for longer excursions.

For the style points the Cate the Great Boots have a faux fur cuff and hand sewn whiptstiches between the suede and full grain leather uppers. These boots also feature a lace up design that includes a total of eight different loops per side. That may seem like a ton of work for each time you take them off or put them on. However, this really hasn’t bothered me because I usually just leave the laces tied and slip them off and on, which I feel is pretty easy to do without needing to sit down. The laces do, however, have a tendency to come untied fairly easily, so add a second knot.

My only concern is with the longevity of the leather/suede upper. The rubber will last for ages, however I think it is wise to clean the remainder of the boot if they have been in contact with a lot of sand and magnesium chloride (Colorado does not use salt, so no worries with that one). With that said, style does come at a price, right?

The Cate the Great’s run a tad large: if you wear a half size in running or hiking shoes, definitely round down a half size or go with your street shoe size. If in doubt, check out your local Sorel dealer to try them on. The boots hit about 3″ below my knee, however keep in mind that I am 5’9″! These boots have been my go to for apre ski time in the mountains with tights or with jeans tucked in for around town use. If you are in the market for functional AND fashionable winter boots, please check out the Cate the Great’s or one of Sorel’s other great winter boots for men and women.

If you can get your paws on a pair of these limited edition Times New Balance 580 snowboard boots, don’t pass it up. Here’s a bit of background: New Balance teamed up with the snowboard apparel company, 686, to put out a novel line of boots which incorporate New Balance technology and 686 design and boarding experience. This 2009-2010 season partnership produced a pair of boots that look good, feel great, and have remarkable performance.

The Look:

686 has been designing technical snowboarding apparel since 1992 and has a renowned history for putting out well designed, great performing products. The Times NB 580 snowboarding boots maintain this heritage. Do a quick Google search and you’ll find the boot comes in two colors, black plaid and white plaid, which have similarly designed sneakers and jackets. The boots are based on the old school MT580 sneaker and incorporate faux laces and the New Balance logo to complete the look. For the first partnership experience, New Balance and 686 put out some kicking gear.

The Feel:

With a now industry-standard heat moldable inner liner, you won’t have to wait 3 boarding days to have comfortable new boots. The liner has dual density construction to save weight in addition to an integrated “H-shape” support system to lock in your heel. We liked the liner lacing system as it’s simple and effective with a sliding lock holding the laces tight and an upper ankle strap to ensure a firm fit. Apparently, there is also an anti-microbial coating to slow down foot smell- so far so good. The footbed deserves a brief shout-out as it incorporates New Balance Abzorb cushion technology, which takes the edge off of foot pressure. Lastly, New Balance used its Rollbar system to efficiently transfer energy from the rider to the board and the built-in Recco reflectors are icing on the cake.

The Performance:

With a 7/10 stiffness rating I remained locked to the board with good response on the descent and versatility in the park. Gotta give props to Boa as their now widely used Focus lacing system is awesome. We like our feet with a bit of breathing room and our ankle locked in place, which is easily done with the dual lacing system. Also, be sure to check out Boa’s Dialed In for Life Guarantee. So, these boots kept our heels down and our feet on the board, which minimized wasted energy and improved stability and response. Did we mention our feet felt great at the end of the day?

The Stats:

- 100% full grain leather upper, polyurethane coated for supreme water proofness

- Boa® Focus® lacing system is the most advanced system boa® offers. This revolutionary system allows the rider to independently adjust both the upper and lower zones of the boot. the result is an exact, custom and quick fit that concentrates closure on the instep Focus® zone for superior heel hold-down.

- New boa® colored coiler package (just like laces, but for boots)

- Exterior faux laces emulating the original 580 sneaker

- Articulating cuff with a high frequency molded “hinge” which allows the upper and lower parts to flex, giving the rider all the support with the right amount of soft flex

- TPU reinforcement for overall durable boot structure and antibinding pressure

- Internal stealth back spine increases both lateral and medial support for all types of riding conditions

- Low profile tongue for better comfort and boa lacing response

- Sneaker fit comfort with snowboard boot stability structure

- Recco® advanced avalanche rescue technology without reducing or interfering with comfort or dampening

- Rollbar® technology is a lightweight graphite stability posting system that transfers riding motions directly to the board/binding without reducing or interfering with comfort or dampening

- C-cap® forefoot midsole, made of special durable eva for firmness and durability

- EVA midsole is a foamed plastic that’s strong, light and disperses shock for hard landings

- Hybrid combination of new balance’s proprietary trail running outsole mixed with the new demands of snow, sleet, ice and binding traction

- Rollbar® outsole extension to mitigate stability and traction control

- Dual density eva liner for superior lightness, flex and fit, while maintaining shape to your foot longer

- Exclusive “h” shaped heel hold ankle support system

- 686 speedy lace liner with stability webbing system to keep tongue centered

- Anatomically fitted last for better heel and toe box comfort

- Fur fleece lining for increased warmth

- Anti-microbial coating for less foot stinkage

- Abzorb® is a high-end compression and cushioning foam with Dupont® Engage® Isoprene rubber

Looking for the perfect pair of winter boots that you can wear out to the bars and restaurants and then take them for a hike the next day? Ranger Smith might just be the answer for you. With a durable full grained leather outer and Polartech inner, we found these boots to look great with a pair of jeans, while keeping our feet super warm and dry through wet sloppy snow and in temps well below zero.. We also trekked up some local Colorado trails with these boots and were happy to report back that they performed just as good on rock, dirt, snow, and ice as they did on paved cement sidewalks. The Ranger Smith comes with a Vibram Ecostep outsole made from 30% recycled rubber and a EVA midsole which is 20% recycled material, holding true to Patagonia’s push for sustainability.  There was one downer to the shoe that we found; the footbeds tended to slip in the boot, creating an uncomfortable toebox at times.  Our solution, use a pair of inserts from Spenco, Superfeet, etc. which takes up a little bit of volume and creating a little bit snugger fit.  After we added these inserts, the Ranger Smiths became our go to shoes for almost every occasion this winter.  For more information on the Patagonia Ranger Smith, please visit Patagonia.com