Columbia Boots

I bought some columbia boots for the summer season a few months ago and I don't have anything good to say about them. I don't know what model of number or whatever they are. If I merely walk through some grass with dew on it my boots will leak and my feet get wet. A few months ago I took a trip in Virginia and before I had gone 10feet my feet were wet. I wasn't even in a lot of grass. Also, this may sound silly, if I use my boot to move a piece of wood in the fire they will start to smoke. I don't expect my boots to be fire proof but I do like to be able to kick a piece of hot wood without worry. I should have bought the Timberlands or something. Wow, what crap.

You may want to try Hi-Tec boots, been using them for over 15 yrs,
the latest ones I own are a pair of El Dorado' s Local hiking & overnighters also
Altitude IV( used snow seal on them) used for day- snowshoe treks worked great with gaiters and some 3-5 day backpacking trips.

Little or no break-in time with these boots... Also on the Altitude's you can remove the factory in-soles and put better ones inside for comfort.


Better luck on your next pair of boots.

Mike

Thanks, Mike. Hi-tec is the brand name, I take it. I'll check into them. Thanks again.

Colombia has 2 different lines of boots, one made cheap, and one made my Wolverine World Wide, the manufacture of Merrell and many other very good shoe and boot brands. I do not know if you can tell the difference anymore just by looking at them. I am lucky enough to live where they started and can go to their outlet anytime.
I love Merrell shoes and boots, and know many others that love them as well.

Buying Columbia is a bit of a crap shoot. Some of their stuff is OK, some of it is junk. But the brand has always shouted "cheap" to me.

I’ve noticed Hi-tec is also like Columbia. They have different grades. My hiking partner found some Hi-tec’s for $60. But on every single backpacking trip he slipped and fell on wet rock. The bottoms look like they’ll grip on anything; but they don’t <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

So if possible, do a wet-sloping-granite test w/ your new footwear.

-Barry

I live within two miles of a Columbia Factory Outlet store, so I go in and look around several times a year. My experience with Columbia falls in line with what Paddy Crow said: it's a crap shoot.

I own a couple of Columbia clothing items (hat, shirt) that serve me well and I am very happy I bought. Some others were so-so. A few went to the thrift store as useless pieces of junk. Their boots have never tempted me.

I have been wearing Hi-Tec's now for three years because they were cheap and the fit well. Now that I am addicted to this, I look forward to replacing those with something better. I am also tired of being on my butt, but it is not wet that gets me. Rather it is when you get some loose sand on the granite, the boots just will not grip in these situations. I am not sure what boot I am going to get (I am hard to fit) but I think that will most likely say Vibram on the bottom.