REVIEW is up: https://www.rokslide.com/hoffman-mountaineer-boot-review/
The preview to the review is below.
Rokslide prides itself on REAL gear reviews. As such this is a gear review preview, as I don't feel I have enough data to do a Rokslide quality review at this time. I will update this thread as time in the boots provide better data.
On to the preview!
Living in Idaho I had to go check out Hoffmans and dive into their pac boots. As a new transplant to the area, it is ironic to note I will be hunting in colder weather here than I ever did in Alaska. August sheep hunts and September Moose / Caribou hunts just are not as cold as October + Idaho pursuits.
I drove over to Hoffmans and Jim was nice enough to give me a tour of the factory. Impressive place! They employ locals, and while they may source some foreign parts, the boots are assembled right here in Idaho.
I am 9 1/2 in about every boot I wear, and I have a narrow foot. I tried quite a few different variations of their pac boots (and man do they have a few!). In the end two pac boots fit me the best, both in a size 9 shell. The Cowboy and the Mountaineer.
https://www.hoffmanboots.com/double-insulated-hoffman-mountaineer
https://www.hoffmanboots.com/cowboy-packer
I much preferred the felt liner on each of these vs. the Thinsulate as the felt wrapped my feet better. (You have the option of a felt liner, a 200gr Thinsulate, or a 400gr Thinsulate)
I understand that the felt will compress some, but it seemed to fit me best. Jim was pretty helpful guiding me through the process. In the end I went with the Mountaineer as it is their warmest boot and I wanted something for Idaho winter predator hunting, and late season still hunts. Not only does the liner provide insulation, but the rubber shell itself contains 200 grs of insulation.
Idaho's winter did not provide as much as a testing ground as I had hoped. Plans changed, weather changes, the works.. However, I did wear them quite a bit out training the dog in the cold, and working in the cold, during some of our January storms.
As I mentioned, at this point I don't have enough time in them to do a Rokslide quality review, but do have some initial impressions.
1) Quality - They just seem well built, with great attention to detail.
2) Durability - while I don't have the time to validate this I do work in the telecom industry and the guys in my crews wear the Lineman Pacs.
The abuse these boots take is a testament to their durability, and my observations have me pretty dang confident durability is not going to be a problem with these pacs!!
I will update this thread and create a more detailed review as time in the boots evolve. Additionally, I will incorporate some feedback from Hoffman in regards to pac boot maintenance. When I received mine, I treated them before I used them with Obenaufs.. If you have questions, please post them up and I will do my best to add that to the final product.
Hoffman Headquarters
Hoffman Boot Display
Mountaineers in hand!
Boots all treated up with a little Obenaufs leather preservative
Working the dog down at the river on a cold day here in North Idaho
Some training in the foothills.
#FearTheBeard #Pudlelpointer #NAVHDA
The preview to the review is below.
Rokslide prides itself on REAL gear reviews. As such this is a gear review preview, as I don't feel I have enough data to do a Rokslide quality review at this time. I will update this thread as time in the boots provide better data.
On to the preview!
Living in Idaho I had to go check out Hoffmans and dive into their pac boots. As a new transplant to the area, it is ironic to note I will be hunting in colder weather here than I ever did in Alaska. August sheep hunts and September Moose / Caribou hunts just are not as cold as October + Idaho pursuits.
I drove over to Hoffmans and Jim was nice enough to give me a tour of the factory. Impressive place! They employ locals, and while they may source some foreign parts, the boots are assembled right here in Idaho.
I am 9 1/2 in about every boot I wear, and I have a narrow foot. I tried quite a few different variations of their pac boots (and man do they have a few!). In the end two pac boots fit me the best, both in a size 9 shell. The Cowboy and the Mountaineer.
https://www.hoffmanboots.com/double-insulated-hoffman-mountaineer
https://www.hoffmanboots.com/cowboy-packer
I much preferred the felt liner on each of these vs. the Thinsulate as the felt wrapped my feet better. (You have the option of a felt liner, a 200gr Thinsulate, or a 400gr Thinsulate)
I understand that the felt will compress some, but it seemed to fit me best. Jim was pretty helpful guiding me through the process. In the end I went with the Mountaineer as it is their warmest boot and I wanted something for Idaho winter predator hunting, and late season still hunts. Not only does the liner provide insulation, but the rubber shell itself contains 200 grs of insulation.
Idaho's winter did not provide as much as a testing ground as I had hoped. Plans changed, weather changes, the works.. However, I did wear them quite a bit out training the dog in the cold, and working in the cold, during some of our January storms.
As I mentioned, at this point I don't have enough time in them to do a Rokslide quality review, but do have some initial impressions.
1) Quality - They just seem well built, with great attention to detail.
2) Durability - while I don't have the time to validate this I do work in the telecom industry and the guys in my crews wear the Lineman Pacs.
Lineman Pacs. Hoffman Boots
hoffmanboots.com
I will update this thread and create a more detailed review as time in the boots evolve. Additionally, I will incorporate some feedback from Hoffman in regards to pac boot maintenance. When I received mine, I treated them before I used them with Obenaufs.. If you have questions, please post them up and I will do my best to add that to the final product.
Hoffman Headquarters
Hoffman Boot Display
Mountaineers in hand!
Boots all treated up with a little Obenaufs leather preservative
Working the dog down at the river on a cold day here in North Idaho
Some training in the foothills.
#FearTheBeard #Pudlelpointer #NAVHDA
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