Gear Review: Baffin BRUCE MID Hiking Boots

As soon as you hear the name Baffin you think of a company that actually “gets” Canadian winters and makes large, weatherproof boots that are ready for snowy days. When they announced their very first hiking boot I was cautiously optimistic as I expected them to be made well, but be a little bulky like a winter boot. After putting the BRUCE MID hiking boot through its paces however, I have been very impressed by them.

You can see the BRUCE MID’s lineage from Baffin’s other winter boots in the leather and nylon upper that is both waterproof and breathable using their B-Tek technology (which provides multi-layer insulation and moisture-management). Combined with their IceBite Grip for greater slip resistance on ice (than conventional rubber) and the TPU heel with a snowshoe ledge (giving you a spot to rest your snowshoe strap on), they really excel in shoulder seasons and winter. Thanks to the Thermawick comfortable, hi-wick next-to-foot lining I had no problems walking through streams and never worried about my feet feeling clammy on long rainy days.

You would feel completely at home in these three-season boots anywhere from 10°C to -10°C (50°F to 14°F). I haven’t tested them in the full-on heat of the summer, but would suspect they would be too warm.

The BRUCE MID were surprisingly comfy right out of the box, and break-in took no time at all. They fit slightly small, so I highly recommend getting a half-size up from your normal footwear or else your toes would get banged up on descents, especially if you wanted to wear thick socks on cooler days.

Baffin has a slick lacing system as well that helps lock the laces in place and also helps tighten them with minimal effort. I never had it loosen on me even after hours of hiking.

Another thing I noticed right away was how good the grip was. The multi-directional lug tread was right up to the challenge of anything from muddy to wet, while the IceBite Grip was solid during the early icy mornings.

Maybe I shouldn’t have been so surprised at how well Baffin’s first foray into hiking boots were, but I was very pleased grabbing them each trip I took. If you’re looking for a solid three-season boot that is from a Canadian company (I also love Baffin’s subtle nod to the excellent hiking experiences in the Bruce) and is very comfortable to wear, be sure to try on a pair of the Baffin BRUCE MID.