Boots and Advertised Insulation Weight

[03RMK800]

I have been looking for boots to buy, and keep seeing claims of X grams of whatever insulation. I am not looking for advise on brand to buy, just ideas on whether the specification means anything.

The brand does not matter. The claimed weight does not seem to affect the boot's weight, thickness or what the cost might be. Are these numbers just made up by the vendors?

I am wearing a pair of leather boots advertised as 800 grams of Thinsulate insulation, and been quite happy. The seller now makes the model in "1200 gram" insulation, and I am guessing they ruined the boot.

Any insight into the insulation claims?

THANKS!

 

[FirstPlaceParts]

Grams of Insulation

When they say 800 or 1200 grams of insulation, that is literally the total weight of whatever insulation they are using per square meter.

800 gram = 1.76lbs per square meter and 1200 gram = 2.65lbs per square meter of insulation. So in a 1200 gram boot the insulation would be 1.5 times as thick as the 800 gram boot, theoretically.

This probably varies per boot brand but in a 1200 gram boot they may put 400 or 800 grams of insulation in the calf area because not as much warmth is needed there. Also, in theory, you could say that a 1200 gram boot should be about 1.5 times as warm as a 800 gram boot, although I don't think it works this way.

The area around the foot may have 1200 grams per square meter of insulation around it, but the area under the foot usually has other insulating materials that are much thicker so your foot will stay warm. If you ever attend a snow show most of the boot manufactures will have a boot cut in half to show all of these properties.

 

[03RMK800]

Thanks for clearing that up as well as can be done. As I see it, its really hard to predict how well any given boot will perform for the individual, especially with the variety of manufacturer approaches. I guess I will just point and shoot among the name brands for the wife's new boots.

 

[Blown Motor]

Thanks for clearing that up as well as can be done. As I see it, its really hard to predict how well any given boot will perform for the individual, especially with the variety of manufacturer approaches. I guess I will just point and shoot among the name brands for the wife's new boots.

FPP has hit the nail on the head. And as you suspect each boot company has its own way of using words to make the boot sound the way they want it. 600 or 800 grams does not necessarily mean that it is all the way through the boot, many boots are a mix of insulation values. Since this is for your wife, we would suggest that you go with a higher insulation 800 at the minimum as all the mfg.'s have moved to that for the ladies because they notoriously have colder feet. In the past many women have just worn their respective size in the mens versions but have complained about being chilly which is why Klim made the Aurora boot with 800G for the ladies, and then Motorfist bumped both the Stomper 2.0 and Contessa Boot up to 800G. Both great options, and the ladies have been swooping them up!

 

[bzachmeier]

Cabela's sells a great boot with 2000 grams of insulation they are called the infernos great book and great price on sale right now for $120

 

[FirstPlaceParts]

Boots

03RMK800, I don't think they ruined the boot I also used to ride in 800 gram boot and they now make that boot in a 1200 gram, this is what I have been wearing for the last three years. The boots did get a little bit bigger but not much. A huge change in how warm my feet stayed.

The other thing to keep in mind is the soles of the boots, most Snomobile Boot sols are designed to take the running board abuse and yet grip also, it is a fine line between a soft sole that will get ripped up and a rock hard sole that will not get ripped up but may not grip anything due to how hard it is.

***Do Not Wear Cotton Sock. Buy a good sock from MotorFist or Klim and your feet will be much warmer.

 

[wjl]

Cabela's sells a great boot with 2000 grams of insulation they are called the infernos great boot and great price on sale right now for $120

Got a pair and love them.
Correct socks and custom insole and feet stay warm.
A lot of people ignore the insole the ones that come in the boot are poor at best. Do your feet a favor get some after market insoles or buck up and get some custom ones (lots of money but take them out and put in other shoes)