Hey there! Now, I know nothings worse than going outside only to have your toes freeze
in seconds, or to be caught off guard by a stray patch of ice. My name is Tim, and on
this episode of Gear up with Greggs, were going to talk about how Baffin boots are designed
to keep you warm, dry, and out of harms way, no matter the weather.
The Baffin line of footwear was created to provide protection against Canadas uncompromising
landscapes and rugged climate.
Paul Hubner, the founder of Baffin, learned the secret
about winter footwear from his father, Peter.
Peter spent time in Canadas Arctic working with local Inuit peoples
to source seal skin boots and traditional cold-climate footwear.
And the secret to how you keep warm in even the coldest climate? Thats right! Layers!
This formula for heat resulted in the fundamental layering structure that Baffin uses in their footwear.
Now, I know what you're thinking? a boot is a boot! But whats inside these boots
is surprisingly impressive.
Lets take it apart and get a closer look!
We will start with the bottom layer, the sole. The sole of a boot is composed of three parts,
the insole, the midsole, and the outsole.
The insole is the layer of material that creates a barrier between the sole and the wearers foot.
The midsole is the layer between the in-sole and the outsole that provides cushioning and shock absorption.
Its also where the safety toe and plate rest, buried beneath the surface keeping your feet safe.
This toe and plate may be constructed from steel, or a much lighter, warmer composite material.
The outsole is the part of the shoe that touches the ground.
The design of the outsole is just as crucial
as the design of the boot, since different styles of outsoles work better in different environments.
Let me show you what I mean.
When its cold outside, keeping warm isn't the only thing you have to be worried about.
The tread design on the outsole is one of the only things between you and a nasty slip on the ice.
If your tread pattern is shallow and has a flexible sole, like this one, its
designed for all day on hard surfaces, such as pavement or concrete.
This ensures that you'll stay comfortable for longer while walking on a hard, flat surface.
Meanwhile, if your tread is more aggressive like this one, its designed for use in slick circumstances.
That, combined with the non-slip compound of Baffin's outsole, is what gives you a boot that performs
better in slippery conditions.
Baffin's multi-layer system means that your feet stay dry and warm no matter how cold it is outside.
Lets break it down a little, using the Derrick Winter boot as an example.
Starting at the bottom of the boot, we've got the vaporized aluminum membrane.
This silver-surfaced material reflects your body heat back toward your foot
and keeps the cold toward the outside.
Next is the waffle cone foot bed, which creates a space for warm air underfoot.
This keeps enough space open for that reflected body heat to linger, keeping your feet warm.
After that is the polyester/wool blend layer,
surrounded by two more layers of vaporized aluminum membrane
that helps keep your toes safe from any cold, or moisture,
in the outside environment.
A Hydromax moisture reservoir layer, surrounded by hollow fiber insulation, acts as a moisture
control system, keeping the foam layer dry while funnelling water vapour out of the boot.
After the form-fitting, Baffin Polymech Foam layer,
the innermost layer is the Thermaplush wicking comfort layer.
This layer is a next-to-skin layer and feels remarkably soft and smooth,
providing a super comfortable wear. And, encompassing all of this, is the premium water proof Coldflex shell!
Wow! Thats 9 layers all working together to keep you warm!
Baffin's footwear also features four different rubber outsole compounds in their construction,
which will vary based on your needs.
The traditional thermoplastic rubber is better for agriculture and industrial environments,
and works to keep you warm in temperatures down to -40ºC.
This Hunter insulated rubber boot features this compound. They are lightweight and flexible
with a 1 inch snow cuff to keep your feet warm and dry no matter how much snow might
hit the ground. The Hunter boot also features a long-wear, self-cleaning outsole.
Ultraflex is an oil and acid resistant compound that will stay flexible even at low temperatures.
This material is great for agricultural, chemical, and industrial environments.
The Bully rubber boot is made using Ultraflex and has a wider fit, a comfort crafted insole,
and a GelFlex fatigue resistant midsole.
This combination helps to keep your feet from aching after
a whole day standing on concrete.
Oarprene is a lot like Ultraflex, but it stays strong against a wide range of chemicals.
This sturdy material is made to last and is recommended for agriculture, chemical, cold
weather, construction, industrial, and petrochemical environments.
The refinery insulated rubber boot has all the benefits of the Hunter boot,
but includes a tougher skin and steel toe and plate
to keep your feet safe even in an environment with higher levels of risk.
And finally, polyurethane is the perfect fit for any environment! Its lightweight, with
abrasion, cold crack, oil, and acid resistance. This compound was specifically engineered
for the North American market, so you know this boot will hold up even in the harshest winter!
The Ice Bear boot is quite a beast, so to speak. Just look at that lug design!
Even on the ice or in extreme cold conditions, this boot will provide you with the superior traction you need.
These boots are comfort rated to minus 50ºC
with a metal-free safety toe and plate.
Baffin also carries a series of winter boots, which are great for that hike up a mountain
in the middle of a snowstorm, or that trek to your car across an icy parking lot.
The Derrick winter boots have the same outsole design as the Ice Bear, so you know the traction
is going to be great!
The Derrick has the best features of the other Baffin boots,
designed to provide you the most amount of comfort all while keeping you warm.
It includes a Gel-Flex midsole and an improved fit to allow for maximum comfort and support.
It even has high-visibility reflective strips! Also, these boots are rated up to an amazing minus 100ºC!
Woah! Now thats cold!
Now, if you have any other questions, or want to try on your very own pair of Baffin boots,
please don't hesitate to come into one of our many branches or give us a call. Or you
can visit our website at greggdistributors.ca. Again, Im Tim, and thank you for watching
another episode of Gear up with Greggs.