Customer Reviews SOREL Alpha Pac II

I'm prepping for a trip to Norway, so I was looking for the warmest snow boots I could find. I wear 8.5W in Merrell hiking shoes, and B-width boots or shoes almost never fit well. For comparison, I had MEN'S Baffin Colorado boots size 9 (from another retailer) and women's Kamik Snow Valley boots size 9. I judged these boots on 3 factors: fit in the foot and leg, their "walkability", and how well my snowpants worked with them. Fit: The Sorel fit my foot and leg surprising well, and that's with wearing a handknit wool sock. The Baffin boot also fit very well, and was nice and squishy too; very comfortable. The Kamik boot was too snug, but it has a removable sole liner, and taking that out helped a lot. But, some of the cushion was also removed, and I'm concerned that some of the warmth would also be lost. I decided to try the Kamik boot because another reviewer said these worked for her wide feet. So, while I agree these are probably wider than most B-width boots, they're not wide enough for someone who must always choose wide-width shoes. Walkability: Both the Sorels and the Kamiks (sans sole liners) were very nice to walk in, much like a hiking shoe. But, since the Sorels fit with the liner in, there's more cushion, so standing still in the Sorels (which I'll be doing while watching for the Northern Lights) will be more comfortable than standing still in the Kamiks. Walkability is the major drawback to the Baffin boot; the ankle area is stiff, and it's almost like walking in a ski boot. That boot is highly recommendeded for snowmobiling, and the extra support and protection is necessary for that sport. What makes them hard to walk in makes them amazing to stand in, however; it's like wrapping your feet in a squishy, warm, lofty quilt. Fit with the snowpants: Both the Sorels and the Baffins worked great under my snowpants. What made the Baffin hard to walk in also made them the easiest by far to put on; I literally just stepped into them--no hands required. The Sorels took a little more work and two hands to put on, but since they don't require lacing, they still go on very fast. There's a cinch strap at the top, too, to help keep the snow out. The Kamiks have a dense fake fur cuff on the outside of the boot, which was very hard to stuff up under the hem of my snow pants. They also have laces that require tying. Looks/style were not one of my deciding factors, but I have to say that the Kamik boots would look very good with leggings or skinny jeans. The other two boots look like they don't care what else you're wearing; they're there to keep you warm. The other two look remarkably like each other, in fact. In the end, I decided to return the Kamik boots and keep the Sorels, which fit and walked like they were made especially for me. I might also keep the Baffin boots for just playing out in the snow. But, a 4th factor in boot shopping is how much room the boots take up in my suitcase, and it's the Sorels that will be going to Norway with me. Of course, I will pack some items inside the boots, but the more compact boot leaves more room for souvenirs.

these boots are warm and somehow manage to look sexy when tucked into jeans, love them..

I bought these for my wife. She absolutely loves them. The size was probably a full size larger-she usually wears a 7 and the 6 fit perfectly.

When you really need boots, and they have to be warm, and they have to keep your feet dry, these are the ones you need to get. And don't get carried away with ordering up a size. These Sorel Alpha Pac II size 8 were roughly the same size as the Baffin Snogoose 10, except that the Sorel Alpha Pac tow box was even wider. I especially recommend these boots for anyone with a wide foot or very square toes. By keeping the lacing low to the ankle, these boots are extraordinarily easy to slip on and lace up. Now, if you want boots to wear in the city that will look classy, try another style or make -- these aren't ugly (in fact, the racing stripe is kinda cool -- but no one would call them elegant. However, if you need to walk the dogs for miles in the Vermont winter, you will be the leader of the pack in the Alpha Pak II.

Love these boots they do run very big though. I usually wear a 7.5 but order these first in a 7 way to big and then a 6 and they fit very nicely. Also I have big calves (17") and these fit me!!!!

These are serious boots, extremely warm and cozy