Baffin Impact

Well insulated and completely waterproof these boots are great for bitter winter cold and times when things are less frozen too. Not for serious climbing but perfect for bushwhacking, shoveling the drive or a long sledding session with the kids.

Being a boot with a thick insulated liner the Impacts felt very loose when I tried them on and I worked my way down through a few sizes before settling on a 12, which is about middle of the road as boots normally run for me.  They have a two belt system for tension application, but that mostly works to hold the boot to the end of the leg as opposed to clinching around the foot.  This allows for unrestricted blood flow and some space for the insulation to work but also a loose feel on the foot.

These boots were comfortable as soon as I stepped into them though I did need to take a few hikes before I got the hang of walking in them. The soles are quite large and I had to change my stride a little bit to keep them from banging into each other as I walked. I tried a couple of different socks before finding a thickness that felt right, first going too thin and then too thick. Getting the right sock was key to proper fit. The built-in gaiters worked flawlessly even the times I postholed past my knee or broke through the ice into the swamp during the thaw.

The soft cushion feeling of the liner does not provide great arch support. Not a big issue for me, but I could feel my feet working more at times because of that. Stability provided by the solid base passed on well into the flexible calf area and my ankles were not stressed even when bushwhacking.

Keeping your feet warm and dry are what these boots are all about. Between the waterproof shell and the fully functional gaiters you’d have to stand in pretty deep water to get any inside. Walking through swampy areas during a thaw I broke through the ice repeatedly into water and mud below without any issue or concern.

The only moisture you’re likely to find in these boots is coming from your feet. The liners do their job amazingly well. Even at times when I have overheated myself and generated a lot of sweat my socks were at most only lightly damp. The liners remove easily to allow the boot to dry as well as the liners. They are also easy to replace into the boot.

Baffin has a great traction system built into these boots. On anything short of glare ice I was able to move confidently. Smooth ice was of course another issue and I’d recommend at least micro spikes if that was anticipated.

I have used these boots down to temps approaching -20°f and the only time my feet were cold in them was putting them on in the morning getting out of my tent. While moving or at rest my feet were happy. This makes them useful for standing still watching my daughter sled as well as when in motion in the woods.

Being designed for cold weather these boots are easy to get on and off with gloves on. The belts adjust easily with gloves on as well as do the gaiters. The soft leather which joins the hard boot to the softer nylon legs has remained totally flexible throughout a season of use. Salt exposure leaves a mark but does not appear to have done any damage after being wiped away.

This is my first experience with a Baffin product so I can’t compare the workmanship, but I was somewhat disappointed that this model was made in China just on principle. I have noticed some, cosmetically at least, poor stitching but no issues in terms of functionality.

Over all I would definitely recommend these boots for work or fun in the cold and wet of Winter. They do what they say in keeping your feet warm and dry even in challenging conditions. While I have used them extensively in deep snow, on broken winter trails and for many hours of working outside the house this winter I do not think these boots would work well for serious climbing or with snowshoes due to their design. They do work for kicking a toe in but it seems to me their loose fit makes steep slopes a challenge.

All pics are after four months of frequent use with a quick brushing for the camera

The open tread is designed to shed snow and slush.

The wide belts and buckles are easy to use with gloves on

The built in gaiters have a push button drawstring which keeps them closed tight.

The inner liner has a heel cup of sorts to keep it from wearing out too quickly.

Not a great picture but this shows the mesh spacer which creates air space below the liner and the aluminum reflective membrane underneath.

This is an example of the cosmetic issues I mentioned earlier.  Everything seems structurally sound but when I see stitching like this I start wondering about how things were made.

I am pleased with my purchase after using these boots all Winter.  They have definitely gotten a lot of use and I expect that to continue for years to come.

These are about the best cold weather boots money can buy. These are the boots to buy when you have serious weather to deal with or you are fed up of buying boots from companies that make false claims.

These are about the best cold weather boots money can buy. When you see them in real life you will realize what it takes to keep safe in extreme temps. And NO they are not meant for climbing because they are made for much colder environments, but there again no one has ever lost their toes wearing these beasts.

Nothing compares to these boots. No need for silly comments about not being able to drive in them or climbing in them, because that is not what these boots are made for. They are made to take you to the end of the world and beyond. Made in China, yes, but they are really OTT when it comes to build quality as to Baffin's specs.

For such an extreme boot they fit like a glove, but remember to go up one size to allow for wearing an extra pair of socks and also to allow for that extra bit of wiggle room around the toes because tight boots will restrict blood flow which will then cool your feet. I normally wear size 11, but I went up to a 12 and they are incredible. But even if you don't wear an extra pair of socks still go up one size and don't worry, the boot linings will adjust to your foot size because there is so much insulation inside.

The soles feel pretty stiff to the naked hand, but once you have them on they flex easily and support the sole of the foot very well over uneven ground smoothing out the lumps and bumps. Traction is as good or better than the best climbing boots on the market.

Other useful features include reflective piping and quick release buckles that can be operated with gloved hands and full grain leather to give the top of the foot additional support and pull-on loops on the back and a snow skirt to keep out the worst the weather has to give. 

Made for polar exploration over deep snow and ice these boots will handle whatever the planet can throw at them bar none. Having an extreme temp rating of 148°f / 100°c might seem a little OTT but we all feel the cold differently where some folks might feel fine in a -40° or -60° boot it does not take much to push temperatures to much lower figures IE -20°c and a 70mph wind will lower the temp down to -40° f/c and we have seen these temps since Christmas and a -30°c temp will have you out in a bone chilling -55°c with the same wind speed, So even if you don't feel the cold or suffer from cold feet if you find yourself in temps beyond lesser boots then you will suffer from frostbite or worse.

Since I got these boots one thing has come to mind and that is no other piece of cold weather Arctic kit exists that has the same temp rating as these boots. And if they get too warm you can always open the tops and vent them, Used for their intended purpose these boot are as good as it gets. Hats off to Baffin for getting it right. 

I've had my Impacts for about 4 years. THEY ARE very, very WARM.

NOTE: Please get them 1 size larger. I use them in sub zero and near zero when just standing (events, traffic control, etc) and they are great but I wish I had bought them larger.  I wear them now with just sock liners and never cold. If I feel me feet even starting to get cool, I walk around just a little and I am just fine.

Liner boot comes out very easily to sleep with in winter camping, then makes a wonderful "tent slipper" when getting dresed in the AM.

The Impact has an ankle strap that helps in walking. This is NOT a hiking boot however, but I certainly can put a mile or two on in them. They're just BIG, warm, high boots. If you are not walking a lot and love warm feet, get these.

Made in China.

They were advertised as original Canadian, but I just received mine and inside it says Made in China. Baffin should be more honest with their customers.