Hi-Tec Utah

You get what you pay for I guess. These boots don't provide a lot of support, don't fit particularly well and are not very waterproof. But they were cheap. For my next boots I'll be willing to pay more $$ and expect to get considerably better comfort. Because, hey, after all when you get the chance to go bush for a few days you want to be able to enjoy the experience and its your feet that take you to these great places.

Update: August 4, 2002

Totally agree with the previous reviewer.

I bought these boots because they were a cheap alternative to many others on the market. Now that I have done a lot more walking I am beginning to appreciate quality gear. It costs more but the extra performance and longevity more than make up for the extra outlay.

These Utah's are way too flexible to provide any decent support. They grip alright in the dry but suffer in the wet. I've found them to be fairly comfortable for working around the house and that is precisely what they've been relegated to.

I've invested in some quality boots - a pair Salomon Authentic 8's.

I don't want to knock Chinese craftsmanship but...

These boots are appalling. I had a pair which lasted for about 7 months, before the soles collapsed & the leather tore. The grips on the soles will just about cope with a rough British pavement. Your feet will sweat in these like never before (despite them being leather). Water resistance is minimal.

On the plus side they were fairly comfortable (if you ignore the sweating).

I've included this review because these boots are being sold alongside good quality stuff & the inexperienced (like I was) may get fooled. I only used them for hiking once & the rest of the time I had them they only got occasional urban use. Yet still they couldn't hack it.

My advice is buy something made in Europe or America - there is no comparison in the workmanship or quality (even on the cheaper stuff).

I bought these in '94 or '95 and can say they lasted a lot longer than I thought they would. They have had waterproofing applied to them several times through their life and it kept most moisture out. I am using an extra insole (Insulated-Frelonic brand name) for winter protection and better fit without having to wear 2 or 3 pairs of socks. I would agree that you sweat a lot in these, for some reason all Hi-Tecs are like that. Now, time for something new as the whole sole on the right shoe has cracked all the way to the insole and my feet are getting wet with all the snow in Wisconsin this year. 4 stars for durability and I got my money's worth out of them.

Never had a problem with the boots, but I didn't expect to go for outback hikes in them. They're comfotrable, fit my foot well and are waterproof enough to get through an urban winter in Michigan and keep you warm. For the price, they performed admirably.