The North Face Jannu GTX Hiking Boot - Men's - 2008 BCS

Let me start out by saying that I used to be a walking northface billboard, nearly everything thing i owned had a northface logo on it! I originally bought these boots at my local REI. I got them because of their comfort and good balance between price and features, e.g. comfort, stability, waterproofing. The boots feel great and they never gave me a blister, my feet have never hurt after wearing them even with 60 lb back and 8 hour hiking. But, and this is a big but, I took my boots on a 45 mile hike through the Olympic Mountain chain and they broke on the first day, a short 8 mile jaunt. The black rubber part of the boot cracked and split forming a gash about 2 inches long. I hadn't ever really used the boots before this day and would estimate the total mileage on them to be less than 15 miles before they failed. Yes, I was upset. I had grown attached to these boots and they represent a significant investment for me as I am a student and live by meager means. I fedexed my boots to northface, at a cost of $45, and requested a rush decision. Good news is they agreed that the boots failed due to defects in the product. Bad news they didn't tell me my replacement boots were on back order for a month and a half. I finally called northface after several weeks without word on my order status and they told me that the quickest way to get reimbursed was to have them issue a gift card. Okay, then the gift card takes a week to get here. I used my card at northface.com to buy my boots but I now had to pay for another $45 shipping fee plus $25 in taxes! All in all i spent $304 on a pair of boots worth half as much. Northface could have told me there was a northface store less than ten miles from my house where i could pick up a new pair immediately and not have to spend more money on a pair of boots that shouldn't have failed in the first place. I contact northaface customer services to complain about all this and the lady made me feel as if i didn't have a reason to complain, like this was business as usual. All northface products are now considered unreliable and unworthy of purchase.

I've had the boots for just over a month. The boots were comfortable straight away and still are. The leather seemed a bit supple for a brand new boot but it meant less wearing in ie. no blisters. The fit is great as I have a narrow low volume foot. That's why I've decided to give it 2 stars. It looks the part and even though I had read some other rather negative reviews (on a different website) I decided to go with it as TNF is a brand I've come to trust.

Now for the bad news. After using the boots 5 days a week for 4weeks while doing construction site inspections the midsole has started to come away from the upper! The only thing I've been carrying is my clipboard!!! What's going to happen when I trek 20miles with a 40pound pack on my back! I didn't want to purchase the boot as I noted it was made in China but then again what isn't these days. Luckily I didn't buy these online and the guys at the store that I bought it from know me pretty well so I'm expecting a refund. Needless to say TNF definitely going to lose me as a customer. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOT!!!!

Bought a pair, used it for a month in the city, and took them back to the store for a refund, The boots areconfortable but they are made with bad quality materials (either that or bad design). Mine started to loose color from the sole , sweat spots apeareared, and the rubr on the side broke up ! Cant recommend these boots.

I bought a pair of North Face hiking boots four years ago and have loved them. Best I've had. Good waffle-stompers. Therefore the reason I bought what I thought was a near identical pair. I noticed immediately that the soles are not North Face, but Vibram soles. The boots fit well - sizing is close. But I live in the New Mexico mountains and we have had a tremendous snow season this year. Although my old boots have holes in the soles they are still as good as tire chains. The new boots have teflon for soles. While climbing I have rarely had to put my hands down even in the snow. With these I may as well be on all fours... You are in for a disappointment if you are much of an outdoor type.