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REI Backpacker Hiking Boots - Men'sOnly At REI
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REI Backpacker Hiking Boots - Men's

Item # 780830

$99.83$165.00*

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The waterproof REI Backpacker hiking boots offer protection, support and comfort for tough day hikes and short backpacking trips alike.

  • Breathable 2.6mm leather uppers are made in the United States, and provide protection, support and durability for rugged trail use
  • Waterproof, breathable membranes keep feet dry and comfortable, no matter what the weather brings
  • Wicking polyester linings absorb and disperse excess moisture for fast drying
  • Padded and contoured collars wrap comfortably around ankles to offer support and protection
  • EVA midsoles absorb shock and cushion feet; thermoplastic urethane midsole plates help control flex, provide support and protect feet from uneven terrain
  • Carbon rubber outsoles supply superb control on all types of surfaces
  • Made exclusively for REI by Vasque

Average weight specification is per pair, based on size 9.

Imported.

Item 780830

REI Backpacker Hiking Boots - Men's Specs

Specification

Description

StyleBackpacking
CutHigh
WaterproofYes
UpperLeather
LiningWaterproof breathable membrane/polyester
MidsoleEVA
SupportThermoplastic urethane plate
OutsoleCarbon rubber
Crampon compatibilityStrap-on
Average weight3 pounds
Average weight - metric1.36 kilograms
GenderMen's

REI Backpacker Hiking Boots - Men's Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
REI Backpacker Hiking Boots - Men's
 
3.5

(based on 11 reviews)

64%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Great traction (11)
  • Comfortable (9)
  • Stable (9)
  • Water resistant (9)
  • Durable (6)

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Backcountry (6)
    • Day hikes (6)
    • Wet weather (4)
    • Reviewer Profile:
    • Avid adventurer (7), Casual adventurer (4)

    Reviewed by 11 customers

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    Displaying reviews 1-10

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    Apr

    8

    2009

    (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

     
    5.0

    Excellent Boot

    By MKPhoto

    from Oregon

    About Me Avid Adventurer

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Comfortable
    • Durable
    • Easy Break In
    • Great Traction
    • Heavenly
    • Stable
    • Water Resistant

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Hiking

      Comments about REI Backpacker Hiking Boots - Men's:

      Great boot from the very first time I tried them on. Feels really good and comfortable. Wore them around the house the first day I got them and outside the second day and they felt good to go!! Took a light hike (8 miles round trip) on the 3rd day of owning them and they didn't let me down...no blister or pressure points!

      • Gift:
      • No
      • Sizing:
      • Feels true to size
      • Width:
      • Feels true to width

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

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      Aug

      20

      2009

      (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

       
      3.0

      Careful

      By Dandy Dan

      from Clovis. Ca

      About Me Avid Adventurer

      Pros

      • Comfortable
      • Great Traction
      • Stable
      • Water Resistant

      Cons

      • Sole came apart 70 miles
      • Sole Wears Out Quickly

      Best Uses

      • Day hikes
      • Everyday
      • Wet Weather

      Comments about REI Backpacker Hiking Boots - Men's:

      Will it is sad that I have to rewrite my review. I was looking forward to wearing these boots for several seasons but that will not happen. The sole starting coming apart after 70 miles. I had these babies broken in perfect. The uppers were fine the leather was holding up great. The manufacture needs to do a better job with glueing the soles on. [...]

      • Gift:
      • No
      • Sizing:
      • Feels true to size
      • Width:
      • Feels true to width

      Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

      (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

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      Sep

      17

      2009

       
      5.0

      A great pair of boots!

      By Ambrosed

      from Corvallis, OR

      About Me Avid Adventurer

      Pros

      • Comfortable
      • Durable
      • Great Traction
      • Water Resistant

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Backcountry

        Comments about REI Backpacker Hiking Boots - Men's:

        I spent the summer working for the BLM in Idaho, so everyday I was working out in very rugged terrain. And I have to say that these boots never let me down! Very comfortable and durable, handled any surface that I went through.

        • Gift:
        • Yes

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        Was this review helpful? Yes / No

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        Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

        Jul

        31

        2009

         
        4.0

        Great boot

        By MikeT

        from Anchorage, AK

        About Me Casual Adventurer

        Pros

        • Comfortable
        • Durable
        • Great Traction
        • Stable
        • Water Resistant

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Backcountry
          • Day hikes
          • Wet Weather

          Comments about REI Backpacker Hiking Boots - Men's:

          I have worn these new boots on several day hikes to "break them in". However, they do not need breaking in. They felt great from the first time I put them on. My hikes took me off trail up and down some steep slopes. The traction was great. I felt sure-footed at all times.

          On the last hike I tested out the waterproofing by standing in a stream for a few minutes (long enough to have walked across it). They remained dry as a bone.

          I have not experienced the pinching people talk about, although I agree that the tongue needs to be set right.

          These are great boots and I expect to be using them for a long time.

          • Gift:
          • No
          • Sizing:
          • Feels true to size
          • Width:
          • Feels true to width

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          Was this review helpful? Yes / No

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          Jul

          27

          2009

           
          3.0

          Nice boot but didn't last

          By love_hiking

          from Walnut Creek, CA

          About Me Casual Adventurer

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Comfortable
          • Great Traction
          • Stable
          • Water Resistant

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Backcountry
            • Cold weather
            • Day hikes
            • Wet Weather

            Comments about REI Backpacker Hiking Boots - Men's:

            The boots were very functional and comfortable. However the durability is not the best. After only a single back country trip (50 miles) the rubber sole started to separate from the leather. Good thing I bought from REI [...] Not sure if this was a lemon or if this is a design issue.

            • Gift:
            • No
            • Sizing:
            • Feels true to size
            • Width:
            • Feels true to width

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

            Was this review helpful? Yes / No

             - You may also flag this review

            Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

            Jul

            15

            2009

             
            5.0

            Great boot

            By PeteF

            from NJ

            About Me Avid Adventurer

            Site Member

            Pros

            • Comfortable
            • Durable
            • Great Traction
            • Stable
            • Water Resistant

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • Backcountry

              Comments about REI Backpacker Hiking Boots - Men's:

              Excellent for wide, flat feet. Tried on every pair of boots in REI & liked these the best. Survived the full Inca trail hike with flying colors.

              • Sizing:
              • Feels true to size
              • Width:
              • Feels true to width

              Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

              Was this review helpful? Yes / No

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              Jul

              14

              2009

               
              2.0

              Not Rugged enough for me

              By Jack the Geo

              from Atlanta

              About Me Casual Adventurer

              Site Member

              Pros

              • Comfortable
              • Great Traction
              • Water Resistant

              Cons

              • Sole Wears Out Quickly

              Best Uses

              • Day hikes

              Comments about REI Backpacker Hiking Boots - Men's:

              I was happy to buy these boots when looking for full-grain leather boots for a 6 week Montana geology field camp. The sales associate at the store even showed me a different technique to tie them as to not cause rubbing (mentioned in previous comments). The problem I have had, was after 6 weeks of hiking (less than 200 miles) the boots are almost unusable. The entire sole is almost completely damaged. This due to cactus, rocks, and general hiking I am sure, but I was expecting more from this boot.

              • Gift:
              • No
              • Sizing:
              • Feels true to size
              • Width:
              • Feels true to width

              Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

              Was this review helpful? Yes / No

               - You may also flag this review

              Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

              Jun

              30

              2009

               
              4.0

              Nice Leather Boot

              By Acronym.esq

              from TX

              About Me Avid Adventurer

              Pros

              • Comfortable
              • Durable
              • Great Traction
              • Stable

              Cons

              • Holds Sweat
              • Hot

              Best Uses

              • Backcountry
              • Backpacking
              • Day hikes

              Comments about REI Backpacker Hiking Boots - Men's:

              I have about 50 miles on these, on gravel, sand, tree debris, and sharp rocky terrain. The outer leather toe reinforcement is a little scuffed, but otherwise the boots are holding up nicely. I have not replaced the stock insoles as they are comfortable. The ankle and foot support is superb, and the shank prevents my arches from aching after a day of backpacking.

              I am still working on the tongue break-in. If I don't take the time to carefully lay and fold the gussetting flat on the top of my foot, lacing the boots causes the gussetting to pinch and rub. Some of this is due to user error - I should have made sure that the gussetting was folded flat and sharp across the top of my foot from the beginning before allowing the leather to "learn" a bunchy configuration.

              In hot weather, my feet have gotten very wet from sweat in these boots. On one particularly hot day, my gators caused a steady stream of sweat to run down my feet and into the boot soaking my feet. I've had to be diligent about changing socks and allowing the boots to dry once I reach camp. I know these boots keep water in, but I don't know if they keep water out.

              • Gift:
              • No
              • Sizing:
              • Feels true to size
              • Width:
              • Feels true to width

              Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

              Was this review helpful? Yes / No

               - You may also flag this review

              Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

              Jun

              4

              2009

               
              4.0

              Near Perfect

              By Dandy Dan

              from Fresno, Ca.

              About Me Avid Adventurer

              Pros

              • Comfortable
              • Durable
              • Great Traction
              • On the wide side
              • Stable
              • Water Resistant

              Cons

              • Weak Laces

              Best Uses

              • Backcountry
              • Day hikes
              • Everyday
              • Wet Weather

              Comments about REI Backpacker Hiking Boots - Men's:

              16 miles of snow melt,mud and several 2 foot creek crossings and they held up great, that sold me. With the hiking season just starting here in the Sierra's. One of the best fitting boots I have ever worn I can't wait for the other 200 miles.
              Also I am on the heavy side 270lb. plus my 35 - 40 pound pack. They where very confortable. The pinching I have read about was there for a couple of days but after doing a weeks worth of stair climbing they broke in just fine.

              • Gift:
              • No
              • Sizing:
              • Feels true to size
              • Width:
              • Feels true to width

              Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

              Was this review helpful? Yes / No

               - You may also flag this review

              Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

              May

              10

              2009

              (0 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

               
              1.0

              Almost a great boot

              By Indiana David

              from Los Angeles, CA

              About Me Avid Adventurer

              Site Member

              Pros

              • Great Traction
              • Stable

              Cons

              • Pinches ankle badly

              Best Uses

                Comments about REI Backpacker Hiking Boots - Men's:

                This boot is almost an amazing boot, but unfortunately in the realm of outdoor gear, 2nd place means last place. The boot itself only gets one major complaint, the ankle support. While it gives incredible ankle support, the tongue is very poorly designed and digs into your ankle and shin wherever it contacts. I didn't quite get this until I actually got them home and wore them for 5 minutes around the house before I had to take them off due to this pain. After closer inspection, the tongue has such a sever U shape that it just pinches hard. Even tripling up my socks didn't help, and no other boot I tried on had this issue. Unfortunately every other boot I tried on wasn't as comfortable below the ankle aside from Zamberlan or Lowa, which are quite a bit more than this boot.

                • Gift:
                • No
                • Sizing:
                • Feels true to size
                • Width:
                • Feels true to width

                Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

                (0 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

                Was this review helpful? Yes / No

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                Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

                Displaying reviews 1-10

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