a potentially dangerous boot

THE WORD IS GETTING OUT.

I am always pleased to receive letters as seen below praising my products and especially when the writer references a product that is not what is claimed such as the Cabelas boot. I will have more to say about it after you click on the link to read what they say about it.

Wiggy,

Received catalogs from Cabela's and Bass Pro this week and their outdoor boot section is full of descriptions of how wonderful waterproof/breathable Gore -Tex membranes help keep your feet warm and dry.

Cabela's is very proud of their Western-Guide hunting boot that is designed to pump warm air in and out of the boot. Wow, that really sounds hi tech!

Sounds like a lot of BS to me.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/CABELAS-WESTERN-GUIDE-HUNT-BOOT/1827788.uts?searchPath=%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FcategoryId%3D108093780%26CQ_search%3D818703%2Band%2B819153%2Band%2B819254%2Band%2B818449%2Band%2B818915

My wife has MS and Diabetes and would not be without one of the 3 Wiggy's TV blankets we have at our house. She also enjoys the Lamilite socks and booties.

I have several Lamilite sweaters I have purchased over the years. I would not be without one when I travel from here in Georgia to the Midwest in the fall and spring.

The sweaters always wash up well.

Our daughter in Bismarck, ND, where the temperature last winter got down to -35, has her TV blanket handy and often wears the Wiggy's Lamilite booties both summer and winter.

Understand there may be a Lamilite knee sock of some type in the works. My wife is very excited about that possibility.

All the products you offer are very reasonably priced.

Enjoy reading you newsletters.

Sincerely,

Stuart Flynn

THE BOOTS

Cabelas, Bass Pro as well as EVERY other retail store throughout the world that sell Gore-Tex boots for winter use are selling foot containers for the purpose of keeping feet cold. This latest machination in my opinion IS the worst of the lot and potentially the most dangerous. I do not think you will be able to click on the link to open it, so below is what is published in the catalog.

Cabela's | Meindl Men's Western Guide Hunting Boots

• Constructed to get you to the top of the mountain
• Air Revolution technology
• Ergonomic-fit technology
• DIGAfix lacing system
• Heavy-duty rubber rands
• 100% Waterproof/Breathable GORE-TEX membranes

Cabela's Western Guide Hunting Boots by Meindl are equipped with the advanced, foot-cooling power of Air Revolution® technology. When your foot leaves the ground, the ingenious system makes use of this natural compression to pump warm air out of your boot. As your foot lands, the removable Air Revolution pumping straps, secured behind the tongues and built of highly breathable open-cell foam and 3-D mesh, draw fresh air into your boot. As you're hunting, this cooling airflow system refreshes your feet with every step. Western Guide Hunting Boots have ergonomic-fit technology in the tongues and cuffs to make them more flexible and adaptable. The softer and more flexible uppers facilitate careful walking and climbing and a safer crampon technique. The softer edges of the uppers prevent uncomfortable pressure and sore areas. A closed-tongue system protects feet from water and dirt, which, along with the DIGAfix® lacing system, snugs the boots around the insteps to lock the heels securely in place, while also eliminating blister-causing slippage. Heavy-duty rubber rands completely encircle the uppers for superior abrasion protection. Vibram® multigrip outsoles for nonslip traction. The all-around fitted edges of the uppers prevent snow and grit from entering the boots. Imported.
Ht: 9".
Avg. wt: 3.6 lbs./pair.

The first item to note is that this boot is constructed to get you to the top of the mountain, so I can only assume that means cold weather. All of the hunting I have done here in the west has been at 12,000 feet so I know it is cold.

Item two to note is the non-sense of the Gore-Tex membrane. It is known far and wide today that not one product made with the Gore-Tex membrane actually performs as advertised. It is also known that all who wear or have worn boots with the Gore-Tex membrane that also have an insulation of sorts in them such as Thinsulate do not keep your feet warm!

Item three to note is the open cell foam that is NOT highly breathable; as a matter of fact open cell foam is a sponge and ALL of the moisture from your feet WILL condense in the boot and whatever reaches the foam will be absorbed. Once the moisture is absorbed it WILL immediately be absorbed by the foam. Also, note that the presence of the Gore-Tex film is further proof that the moisture is destined NOT to leave the boots, that is while they are on your feet.

The fact that there is a mesh against the foam further guarantees that the moisture while still in the vapor state will enter the foam. While you are out in the field living in a tent you can rest assure that your boots will NOT dry, so you will have wet boots for your entire hunt. That will also mean you will have cold feet for your entire hunt. Not a good thought is it?

Now for the icing on the cake! What Meindl and Cabelas are so proud of is this air pumping system. Just imagine that with these boots you get to pump the warm air in the boot out so it can be replaced with cold air being pumped in from the outside. In the event that you need more proof of how you will get cold feet this pump is just that. You get up in the morning get out of your sleeping bag, put on your socks (which should be Lamilite socks, but in these boots they will not work as they should) and then these boots that cost you $350.00 before taxes. You walk out of the tent and with each step you are pumping out the still warm air in your boots only to replace it with the cold air outside your boots. Are you beginning to understand why I say they are potentially dangerous?

My experience being lost demonstrated to me how fortunate I was to have had my mukluks to wear. I cannot believe without them I would have survived. You just don’t walk with frozen feet very far.

The creator of these boots in my opinion does not like the consumer who buys hunting boots; I think they must be sadistic. The person or persons involved with the creation of this boot have absolutely zero knowledge of the materials that were used to make this boot. if they did these materials would not have been used and the pump would also not have been used.The thinking that went into this boot was done without thought. I do not believe they ever actually tested these boots in the field during cold conditions, if they had they would have discovered what I have described. The buyer of boots at Cabelas should take them into the high country in winter before approving them for sale in the store, ain't gonna happen. 

What I see going on in the outdoor industry I find pathetic. Companies are being run by people who only have one concern “the bottom line”. In my opinion they do not give a “hoot” about the person who spends money on their product. if this years “jimdandy” product doesn’t work they will offer a “new improved jimdandy” product next year. Please note what they haven’t done is “prove” that the new product works. Then again they never bothered to prove the prior product worked since it was also originally offered as a “new improved jimdandy” product.

When I say they are only concerned about the bottom line it is true. I’ll have to reproduce the financial articles that appear daily in Sporting Goods Business on line magazine I receive. That will show you what the managers of these companies are most concerned with.

Welcome to the world of finance and marketing and damn the consumer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you again Stuart for sending me the letter.