Customer Reviews The North Face Chilkat 400

I searched the world over (all on the internet, of course) for a pair of snow boots to replace my now 10 year old North Face Greenland boots. Those boots came a size too small for me, had always been tight, but were the most capable boots I had ever worn at keeping my feet in the perfect state of warmness, even in a foot of snow for over three hours. Too bad they were also pretty ugly. After much debate, I tried a few pairs of boots from different online retailers. Wished afterward I would've gone 100% with Zappos because paying $6 or more to try on a pair of boots I don't want to keep is not something I want to keep repeating. I really wanted to like another pair that were cute and trendy and didn't make my feet look like Navy air craft carriers but they simply weren't warm enough. I've been wearing these for two hours and although I can't say they are as warm as my old Greenlands, they are definitely the warmest I've tried on yet. The D-ring lacing system is nice and fast, although a zipper as an alternative entry would be the ideal. These are loaded with cushioning - so much so that I'm incredibly glad I sized up because they never would've fit otherwise. If you're the sort of person that needs to feel the ground even in snow boots, these are not the boot for you. There's a space boot feeling due to the cushioning. Because they are so warm, two pairs of socks aren't really necessary so the extra room to accommodate them isn't necessary either, which is great because I would be sized out of the women's version of this if I had to go up yet another size. Are they attractive? Somewhat. They look exactly like what size they are, and at having sized up to an 11, they look somewhat masculine. The fur at the top of the boot and at the cuff has that dirty old teddy bear look and will no doubt look quite worn with extensive use. My old North Face Greenland had real sherpa fleece at the top of the boot which of course never looked dirty or worn. There is some ankle flex to these, which is rare in a snow boot and they seem sturdy. I have no doubt they will keep my feet mostly toasty in the snow, which is mostly what I was hoping for.

Can not wait for winter and ski season - these boots seem to be very warm. The insulation is thick and the boot is very soft. I ordered a half size bigger than my normal shoe, and these felt comfortable after wearing them only a short time. They feel a bit heavy at first, but that is expected because they are winter boots. Nice look and color (white and gray) - I plan on wearing them at the ski resorts, sled riding, and any other winter activities that come our way. Very pleased with the boot and it is the quality I have come to expect from North Face.

This is my second pair of these Northface boots. My first pair lasted me about 5 years, before I really had to replace them. Given the price, 5 years was actually rather disappointing but I think I contributed to the excessive wear on my last pair by wearing to work and leaving them on all day in a job that had me moving about and bending a lot. It definitely wore on the boots in some odd points. Anyways, had to replace them and was so pleased with the warmth and performance (dry feet, no slip grip) of my first pair, that I came back for more. These are an updated version of the pair I loved, and so far they’ve performed just the same. My feet stay dry, warm and I don’t slip on ice or snow. I feel comfortable and confident wearing these in my MA blizzards! Will probably continue to wear these boots as long as Northface makes them. Too bad they don’t offer their lifetime guarantee on footwear!

Based on other reviews, I ordered a full size up with these, which felt ok tromping around my house, but after a day of actual outdoor use, I wish I would have only gone a half size larger, since they are a little big. More room for socks/toe warmers, I guess. I bought these primarily for winter biking, so good ankle mobility for pedaling was important, as well as water-proof and warm. These fit the bill well, and my toes stayed toasty on a 10 mile ride yesterday afternoon. The soles have decent traction for walking and the lugs aren't so tall that they reduce grip with my bike pedals. The gaiter d-ring on the toes, and ridge for snowshoes makes them versatile, and I know that my ice cleats will fit easily for dog walking when conditions require them.

This is the 6th pair of boots I ordered (thank you Zappos for your return policy). I wanted something warm enough to shovel, stand around at ski club, etc and these are perfect. Super warm and cute enough to wear around town in the winter.