Until I saw Hi-Tec at the Outdoor Retailers Show, I must admit I was pretty much unfamiliar with them. While they sell sporting and military footwear to over 86 countries and have been since 1974, I had never had the pleasure of trying their footwear.
That changed recently when my wife and I had the opportunity to try some of their boots. I opted for the Phoenix Thermo 200i and Maureen is wearing the Thomas Boot 200i. Both are insulated and extremely comfortable.
Phoenix Thermo 200i
My first reaction when taking them out of the box was that they weren’t anywhere near as heavy as I thought they would be. Actually the Phoenix Thermo 200i feels like I’m wearing a pair of sneakers and I’m happy to leave them on all day. I love the sleek but rugged looks. My pair has the blue laces on the grey exterior which is a great look with jeans.
The fleece lining and Thinsulate insulation make an interior that’s as warm as it is comfortable. The exterior is a smooth and easy to clean, seam-sealed nylon that’s completely water sealed. Underneath, tough lugs give you traction on whatever type terrain you find yourself.
I can’t wait for the snow to start piling up around here as we have some new snowshoes that we are dying to use, and the grey and blue Phoenix Thermo 200i’s match my new L.L. Bean Trailblazer snowshoes perfectly.
Phoenix Thermo 200i specs:
- Nylon upper
- Waterproof and breathable bootie membrane
- i-shield hydrophobic technology
- Full winter shell
- 200gm Thinsulate™ insulation
- Fleece lined collar
- Ghillie and nylon hardware lacing system
- OrthoLite® sockliner
- Compression molded EVA midsole
- Steel shank
- Multi-Directional Traction (MDT), rugged rubber outsole
Thomas Boot 200i:
Maureen on the other hand wanted something quite stylish and was immediately drawn to the Thomas Boot 200i. With a fun striped design, the exterior of this boot is a very durable textile material. A D-ring lacing system will be easy to manage even with thin gloves on.
Inside, similar to my Phoenix boots, you’ll find 200gm of Thinsulate insulation to keep your feet toasty warm when the temperatures head down. Micro fleece lining and an OrthoLite sockliner add to the comfort.
Thomas Boot 200i specs:
- Durable textile upper
- i-shield hydrophobic technology
- 200gm Thinsulate™ insulation
- Moisture wicking micro-fleece lining
- Ghillie and D-Ring lacing system
- OrthoLite® sockliner
- Durable, cleated high abrasion EVA outsole
We are both enjoying our Hi-Tec’s and imagine you will too. Check out their entire line for men, women, kids and work safety on their website or locate a dealer near you. Every boot comes with a one year guarantee and a 60-day comfort guarantee, so you can be sure they are right for you.