Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Lowa Banff

They arrived today. This is what backpacking boots are all about. One piece leather construction, with leather interior too, which feels amazing, I wouldn't hesitate to wea these without socks ecept I want them to lat forever. These are STIFF boots, but very comfortable out of the box. Roomy across the foot and arch, but with a nice snug heel cup. Initial inspection shows very high quality construction. These boots are bery similar to some Vasque Super Hiker II's that I had about 15 years ago, or to the old Scarpa SL2's. I am in Afghanistan currently and spen lots of time with a heavy backpack and gear on brutal mountains without trails, so I will give an update as things progress, but my initial thoughts are these will make me as happy as any boots I've ever has. A note, I don't like goretex lineers or all that, because once you wax your boots they loose alot of breathablitiy any way, and are just as waterproof as a Gtx boot, lus I don't care for all the extra insulation or weight the Gtx provides. If you want Gtx this may not be a good boot for you.

I'm curious, how long was delivery to Afghanistan?

The quickest I ever see anything is about 11-12 days, and that's if the mail gets to a big FOB a2 days before they are flying out to me. If it doesn't hit all the stops just right then call it a month, I was waiting on these for about 3 weeks. But it's so sporadic. It gets here in a week, then it's got to fly to the FOB my unit is headquartered ou tof, and then when they feel liek it they fly it to us. So much like a drive in the city, it can be quick "If you hit all the lights just right" or not so much

I have that same boot plugged into my favorites list -plan on getting a pair when i get back home [working out of state].

I've never liked the tall type boots when covering a lot of country.
Looking forward to hearing how you like them down the road.
Be ssafe -Mike

Can you wear them with your duty uniform or are uniformity standards relaxed over there ?

Sounds about like rural Oklahoma.

What wax are you using on the Lowas? Nik?

Yeah I like Nikwax alot and also aquaseal. Nikwax is what I'm using right now my unit enjoys relaxed grooming and uniform standards depending on what we are doing. I think my CSM would hang me by the ears if I tried to wear these back home however. We recently were issued the Danner Combat Hiker to test, which I would compare to an inferior version of the Vasque Sundowner. It has the D type (not sure the actual technical cobblers name) rings for laces all the way up, then an eyelet at the top. It is a 6-7" boot of Nubuck with some sort of synthetic around the base above the sole, it is fairly stiff. However the fact that that you don't have the hooks at the top means you absolutley can not lace the lower portion tightly, it is a huge pain in a--. additionally, the laces run straight along the tounge for the whole length, instead of having the one that is essentially at the top of your foot/ bottom of your leg set back a little so it helps wrap the boot around your foot. I will take these and have hooks installed at a boot store on leave and then revaluate them. I'm sure this description is totally inadequate and unclear, but you may be able to view a picture on Danner's website for a little insight into what I'm talking about. I'll post some pictures at aome point as well. All in all the danner seems OK if it was modified somewhat, ie address the issues with how it laces, and the lower portion over the leather, which I am sure is to help keep the Nubuck from getting cut, is sewn, and the seems are always popping, and it should be cemented instead (I have done this to mine, and they don't blow out now, but I don't have a platoon's worht of shoe goo). The fit is somewhat wide, I wear 12 in it and wish it were slightly narrower. The above all pertains to the Danner, not the Lowa

I found a pair in my size 2 years ago at a small backpacking shop that had been returned. They had no box or papers, but were only $75. It took a LOOONG time to get them broken in and I almost gave up on them. At first they were very comfortable to wear on level ground and around the house. Walking on hills was tough for a while. They are my all time favorite now however.

I found a pair of Banffs at REI on their scratch and dent rack for $69 a couple of years back. I agree with the above comments, quality construction, one peice leather upper, leather lined,... I don't know how long the previous owner used them but I had next to 0 break in. I wouldn't say the shank/sole is stiff, they aren't nearly as stiff as the Scarpa SLs I have.

I don't have my Sl2's handy and you may be right, perhaps more on par with the deltas. I am just wearing them around right now, I go out for a week and a half or so and will be using a different pair of boots for that, but my next long haul I'll use them and report back.

I don't have my Sl2's handy and you may be right, perhaps more on par with the deltas. I am just wearing them around right now, I go out for a week and a half or so and will be using a different pair of boots for that, but my next long haul I'll use them and report back.

Be safe.

Conrad

I got these boots this spring and they are comfy. I have hiked in them 5.5 hours straight this year with no sit down breaks or anything and they felt like I was using trail runners at the end of the hike.

They were also great when I was off trail. Didn't slip on the steep rock or heather hillsides.

By far the most comfortable boot I have worn. I wish I would of bought these years ago.

I bought a pair of banff's on sale the other day for $175 shipped -08' model.
They are stiff !
I'll start the break-in soon -they fit great and look to be very well made.-Mike

I like mine so far, Mike.
Mine are also still fairly new and still stiff.

If they are anything like my Sheephunters, they will take a while to break in, but once they do, they are very nice indeed.

I've been using these almost excllusively since I started this thread, for all kinds of hiking with a load varyin gfrom about 35lbs to well over 100 depending what I'm doing. LOTS of up and down and the terrain is severe. They are holding up extremely well. THey are far cooler than any Gtex boot could hope to be, but I'm sure they'll be warm enough too, I've seen a little mid 20 sgree weather so far in the night and my feet weren't cold at all. Mine are no longer nubuck in appearance as I Nikwaxed them they look more like normal leather now, still look good. and are way waterproof. I don't feel like I lose any waterproffness over a Gtex boot with proper leather treatment.

Tim i'm hoping these banff's along with the montbell stretch gaiters will be all the boot i need.

175rltw -I haven't found waterproof goretex to be waterproof.
I think i'm going to like them.-Mike

I'm right there with you on that, I am not a fan of Gtex boots, I have plenty of various pairs of them and none see any use to speak of, maybe if I washed my truck Id wear em. I just use the OR gaiters and am happy as a clam. I'm not using gaiters here obviously, but in the real world... I'm probably going to try to scoop up another pair of them while they are still here, for use in about 5 years when these are done...

What is the difference between the Banff's and say the Tibet Pro or the Baffin's?

The baffin is the same as the tibet but has no goretex and they are a taller boot than the banff.