Columbia Titanium Ice Field Boots

[wildbrookies]

Does anybody on this website own or heard anything about these boots?I want to try to use these for winter snowshoeing and ice-fishing.Suppose to be rated down to -65. And have 600gms of thinsulate insulation.Just wondering if anybody had any experience with them.Thanks,wildbrookies.

[ken999]

I have to laugh when I see the temp ratings on boots...my 1000 gram Irishsetters won't even keep my feet warm into the single digits, so I think -65 for 600 grammers is a little out of the question. For ice fishing look into some Sorel or like pac boots with removeable liners.

[kingof14ers]

Couple of things, I do put SOME weight into temp ratings, but it still boils down to personal comfort and metabolism.

First you can't knock something or give a review unless you've actually used a product.

I can't speak from personal experience on the Columbia line except for the Bugabootos (sp), but consider this: The Irishsetter line that Ken mentioned appears to be insulated with thinsulate and most of their boots have leather/fabric uppers. I like vibram all around personally for winter boots. I've used Baffin boots so far this winter and I'm pretty certain I could stand on ice with NO EXERTION mind you (as opposed to snowshoeing) for a few hours and my feet will be just short of sweating. They are comfort rated at -50F. Some models have a steel shank in them. So if you're standing on a frozen pond for a few hours and that shank gets cold, your feet will most likely get cold. Couple this with the fact that the Columbia boot line uses thermolite for insulation. All I'm saying is, be certain that a comparison of apples to apples is being made.

Which is warmer wool or down? That may depend on a few factors.

[wildbrookies]

I agree with you guys in the way the companies put those temp. ratings on boots.Everybody has a differant body temp.I was hoping I could find a boot that is a cross between my Vasgue gore-tex hiking boots and a packboot.I am retiring my L.L.Bean cold weather pack boot(I actually wore them completely out).They have served me very well in the past 15 winters.The only complaint is the weight factor.They get quite cumbersome as the day goes on.We sometimes have to snowshoe out on some of the pristine little lakes in the ADK`s.They tend to get heavy with snowshoes and pack basket and pulling my sled with cookwear,minnow bucket,fishfinder collapsible stove.Maybe,I`m just getting older and cranky.But,I want to lessen the bulky boot problem and still enjoy the day without frostbitten toes.I`ve snowshoed the battlefield in stillwater using my Vasques and they were great.Light and fit in the bindings nicely,but I was doing strenous,continual hiking.If I stopped for a considerable time ,I`m sure I`d pay for it.So,maybe its just one of those pieces of equipment you just have to deal with.Heavier is sometimes better(especially while standing on a sheet of ice in the dead of winter)Thanks guys and I`m still open for suggestions.

Wildbrookies.

[ken999]

14'er

...well.. since I am currently using a boot with 1000 grams of thinsulate insulation, and have had many other pairs with 400-800 grams,I guess that gives me some insight on thinsulate...no?

Please refrain from telling me what I can and can't do...If you don't like my opinion, fine...no skin off my back... But don't tell me what to do.

Have you ever been Ice fishing? Most of the time (for me anyway) it's an all day affair...A boot that can make it for a couple of hours doesn't make an ice fishing boot. I have spent many a day standing behind a transit doing topography surveying...same deal as ice fishing, there is not much activity to raise the blood pressure. Your feet get cold easily. The only boot to ever keep my feet warm were Sorel type boot with removeable liners. If your experience differs, great...we like to hear it...that's why most are here I suspect.

[ken999]

WB- Maybe you should look into an Overboot? Once you have arrived at the local honeyhole, you could put on some dry socks, then add overboots...maybe a heat pack or two, depending on the boot used to snowshoe.

[redhawk]

And as stupid as it may sound, if you are pulling a sled then just haul along three or four pieces of corrorgated cardboard inside a plastic bag to stand on or put your feet o if you sit. You'd be surprised how effective it is!

[ken999]

That doesn't sound stupid to me...the only way I was able to keep my feet warm while hunting a couple of weeks back was to keep the soles of my boots off the ground, and wiggle my toes regularly. This increased the blood flow and helped keep that airspace open between the footbed of the boot and the bottom of my feet...I couldn't help but think about a small foam pad for under my boots while doing all of this.

[ken999]

Here's a couple:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...564&hasJS=true

http://www.wiggys.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=43

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=69721&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=69710

[wildbrookies]

Thanks guys!, All your ideas are great and I`m going to try them on my excursions onto frozen water this year.Anybody hear of any solid ice up north yet?
Thanks again,all of you have been a great help!

wildbrookies

[kingof14ers]

14'er

...well.. since I am currently using a boot with 1000 grams of thinsulate insulation, and have had many other pairs with 400-800 grams,I guess that gives me some insight on thinsulate...no?

Please refrain from telling me what I can and can't do...If you don't like my opinion, fine...no skin off my back... But don't tell me what to do.

Have you ever been Ice fishing? Most of the time (for me anyway) it's an all day affair...A boot that can make it for a couple of hours doesn't make an ice fishing boot. I have spent many a day standing behind a transit doing topography surveying...same deal as ice fishing, there is not much activity to raise the blood pressure. Your feet get cold easily. The only boot to ever keep my feet warm were Sorel type boot with removeable liners. If your experience differs, great...we like to hear it...that's why most are here I suspect.

I don't recall in my post where I said you couldn't express your opinion or where I've told you what to do. The 2 points of my posting were: 1) Don't assume that thinsulate and thermolite are the same and therefore that you are comparing apples to apples. Secondly I can't give any reviews on a particular product unless I've actually used it. You've used the Irishsetter line and it sounded as though you weren't too happy with it. Have you used the particular boot being asked? If the answer is no, then you can't disavow it. The Irishsetter line and anything else that you've used in the field sure. In fact I would consider you an authority on that product line. At the same time you shouldn't talk smack about a product that you haven't tried. A product line that is made of different construction AND MATERIALS (i.e. thinsulate & thermolite). Read my post again and be objective. Otherwise it's all trash talk without having thick skin. I wasn't trashing you or your experience. I was only presenting wild with a material difference between a product line your displeased with and the product he was inquiring about.

[ken999]

14'er -

Wildbrookies stated that the boot he was asking about was insulated with Thinsulate...I did not check the boot specs out before I posted, just gave my take on Thinsulate and boot ratings in general...and then was told by you that I couldn't review a product that I hadn't used when I never reviewed anything. I'm not thin skinned, but will stand up for myself when needed.

I'll stand behind my reservations of any non-pac type boot made by Rocky, Irishsetter, Columbia, etc..that is insulated with Thinsulate OR Thermolite and rated to -65...or even better -100 like some of the models. I'll wager that 99% of the general population will never be comfortable even close to the ratings given without continuous movement. For the specified activity of ice fishing, there are better choices.

I won't even get into the fact that I have yet to own a pair of Gore-tex boots that kept me dry...

[kingof14ers]

Would it be fair if I gave a scathing review of a Marmot Cwm sleeping bag if I've never used one simply because I've used the same materials in another bag? Perhaps construction is another factor to consider.

Although he did say thinsulate, it's not Titanium Ice Field

In any case no ill will here.

[Rick]

FWIW, I thought most winter boots were rated for the type of activity. e.g. -65 degrees if active, but 0 degrees if sitting still. At least that's how Sorel used to rate them at one time.

For any of the Columbias or other non-removable liner boots, I would as a rule of thumb, always assume it means lowest comfortable temperature rating if active.

Also, over time, the insulation will collapse (or compress) in the boots leading to a higher temp rating.

I like with Redhawk's Idea - I usually have a scrap of closed cell foam or Reflectix (with the both sides lightly sanded) beneath my feet when standing or sitting around the shelters in the winter.

Note - I have discovered if you don't sand or rough up relfectix, you'll end up on your butt quickly - It is very slippery - especially with a little snow on it.

[ken999]

14er- I realized that it was not Thinsulate after your post. Again I did not attempt to "review" anything..I just posted my thoughts on Thinsulate, so no, I guess it would not be fair of you to a Marmot Sleeping bag or whatever...I didn't try to do it either!

FWIW, on the Thinsulite webpage they claim 1.5x (I think...) the warmth of down!!!

That's funny...

Sacco!...get rid of your down quilt! Thinsulate is better!

Guess what else? Thinsulate and Thermolite are basically the same thing.