Columbia Frontier Peak GTX

Got these boots about a month ago. Was looking for a waterproof boot for hiking and weekend backpacking. I wasn't sure about that quality of Columbia footwear, but at $99 it was too good a deal to pass up.

The boots fit very well. They were secure and didn't feel weighty or clunky. I also really like the way they look. I broke the boots in over a couple of weekends hiking through local parks. I always wore thick hiking socks, but I found these boots very pleasant to wear right out of the box and got no blisters or hotspots while breaking them in.

Spent all last weekend camping and hiking in them (they were the only shoes I took with me). It rained all weekend and the trails were very muddy. I can say with certainty that these boots live up to their 100% waterproof claim. The tread felt secure on the wet terrain, and my ankles always felt very well supported. I should also note that I have knee problems, and these boots had more than enough cushion to keep my knees happy over days of hiking.

Overall, I'm thrilled with these boots. They are comfortable and perform very well. The only reason I give them 4 stars instead of 5 is that I need more time to determine how durable they are, but the initial construction at least feels very good.

I work as a construction laborer, and after getting wet feet one day in the wintertime, I decided to try a new pair of boots. I got these, and when I first started wearing them, I thought they were great. It took about a month for them to break in, which I thought was nice, but after that, it took another month for the side stitching to start to fail.

I've had them for less than a year, and they already have large holes in the sides allowing water to come in. They are now uncomfortable and practically useless.

In my opinion, if you are going to be spending more than $80 on a pair of boots, you might as well spend a little extra and get a good brand like Danners or Redwings. These boots SUCK!