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Baffin Enduro Review

This workhorse boasts a very fair price for such a rugged boot
baffin enduro rain boots review
Credit: Baffin
Price:  $65 List
Manufacturer:   Baffin
By Richard Forbes ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jun 17, 2022
65
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#5 of 14
  • Weather Protection - 30% 8.0
  • Comfort - 25% 6.0
  • Traction - 20% 8.0
  • Warmth - 15% 3.0
  • Style - 10% 5.0

Our Verdict

When we think of rain boots, we imagine a boot much like the Baffin Enduro: thick rubber, stiff but comfortable enough to walk in for hours, waterproof up to the calves, and ruggedly utilitarian. With a 16.25" shaft, we found no need to worry about how much splashing around we did because the water won't get in. The Gel-Flex shock-absorbing heels and midsoles make these boots far more comfortable than they look like they should be. And these boots are easy to slip in and out of due to their large circumference. Best of all, they don't cost a ton — their MSRP is less than half of some of the more expensive models we reviewed. All of this adds up to an easy and enthusiastic winner of one of our coveted Best Buy Awards.
REASONS TO BUY
Highly waterproof
Stiff construction for rough terrain
Great traction
REASONS TO AVOID
Looser fit
Lacks insulation

Compare to Similar Products

 
baffin enduro rain boots review
This Product
Baffin Enduro
Awards Best Buy Award Editors' Choice Award    
Price Check Price at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
$164.95 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
$185 List
$174.45 at Amazon
$70 List
$66.21 at Amazon
$65 List
$64.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Pros Highly waterproof, stiff construction for rough terrain, great tractionGreat traction, adjustable fit, everything we want in a bootExtremely weatherproof, decently lightweight, great tractionAffordable, well-insulated, great tractionAffordable, well-insulated, great traction
Cons Looser fit, lacks insulationA bit pricy, cushioning in midsole is slightly lackingPretty pricey, thin-feeling underfootNot as comfortable as other modelsToo warm for most uses, too flexible underfoot
Bottom Line This workhorse boasts a very fair price for such a rugged bootThese boots are just about perfect for most applications and perform excellentlyThese boots performed highly in every test we threw at them, and we're confident they'll keep you dry and happyWhile we love many of the innovative aspects of these boots, we wish they could provide more support underfootWhile these boots are impressively insulated, they're too flexible underfoot for all day use
Rating Categories Baffin Enduro Bogs Workman The Original Muck B... Kamik Icebreaker Kamik Forester
Weather Protection (30%)
8.0
7.0
9.0
6.0
5.0
Comfort (25%)
6.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
Traction (20%)
8.0
8.0
7.0
8.0
8.0
Warmth (15%)
3.0
9.0
9.0
7.0
8.0
Style (10%)
5.0
6.0
5.0
7.0
6.0
Specs Baffin Enduro Bogs Workman The Original Muck B... Kamik Icebreaker Kamik Forester
Weight per Pair (size 13) 5.49 lbs 5.11 lbs 4.72 lbs 4.58 lbs 5.46 lbs
Flood Height (inches from bottom of sole to lowest point at top of shaft) 16.3" 14.75" 18" 14.3 in 12.25"
Mouth Circumference (inches) 17.5" 16" 18.75" 16.5" 16"
Lining/Insulation Synthetic 7.5MM Neo-Tech waterproof insulation 5mm neoprene Moisture wicking removable Zylex liner Thermal Guard
Upper Material Rubber Neotech/Rubber Rubber Rubber with waterproof adjustable nylon collar Rubber
Outsole Material Rubber BioGrip slip resistant outsole Rubber TRACKER synthetic Rubber Rubber with adjustable nylon collar
Insole Gel-Flex shock-absorbing heels and midsoles Modular Algae-based EVA footbed EVA 11mm Zylex insole None besides thermal guard liner
Unique Features Aggressive outsole Seamless Construction to reduce weight + Heel Lock Breathable air mesh lining Drawstring, Zylex liner Comfortable down to -40°F, Vegan-friendly, Oil & acid Resistant
Width Options Regular Regular Regular Regular Regular
Sizing info Order your true size Order next size up Order next size up Order next size up Order next size up

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Baffin Enduro is, without hesitation, the best deal in our test. It performed better than 80% of the other boots while also costing less than most. This is an absurdly good deal, for a boot that will stand up to a lot of use and abuse. If you have to have insulation or extreme comfort, go for one of the other award winners, but with thick socks and a decent insole, you can go far in the Best Buy-winning Enduro.

baffin enduro rain boots review - the baffin enduro looking rugged in the spring sunshine.
The Baffin Enduro looking rugged in the spring sunshine.
Credit: Richard Forbes

May 2022 - Takeaways and Durability after 4.5 years of use


We've now been wearing this boot for 4.5 years, and we're still certain that this is the boot with the best bang for its buck. While we generally choose the Bogs Workman, our Editors' Choice Award winner, for its extra comfort and insulation, if we're expecting to get into deep water/muck/snow/whatever, we'll put the Enduro on every time. With its 16.25" shaft, thick sole, and phenomenal grip, this boot is ready for anything you throw at it, whether that's a mucky farming job or just taking the dog out on a walk in the pouring rain.

baffin enduro rain boots review - after almost 5 years of use, these boots still look great.
After almost 5 years of use, these boots still look great.
Credit: Richard Forbes

And best of all, despite 3 years of hard use, these boots barely show any wear. The exterior of the boots doesn't show anything but light scratches from all the abuse they've seen.

baffin enduro rain boots review - even the heel lugs are still intact - we've seen these rip off other...
Even the heel lugs are still intact - we've seen these rip off other boots after only a year or two of use.
Credit: Richard Forbes

The only wear we can find is on the inside — the lining has worn away where our sharp heels have carved it out, though luckily this hasn't seemed to make a difference or to give us any blisters. And somehow the rubber beneath isn't even worn from the abrasion, so we honestly expect these boots to last forever.

baffin enduro rain boots review - the lining has worn away inside the boot, but as far as we can tell...
The lining has worn away inside the boot, but as far as we can tell, this hasn't affected anything.
Credit: Richard Forbes

Read on to see how they performed in our tests!

Performance Comparison


baffin enduro rain boots review - the baffins are great for splashing around in rivers and ponds.
The Baffins are great for splashing around in rivers and ponds.
Credit: Richard Forbes

Weather Protection


The shaft on the Enduro is relatively tall and measures in at a respectable 16.25". Like a rain boot should be, they are 100% waterproof and look to stay that way for a very long time.


These boots will be enough for any storm that might find you, and if you plan to be in deeper water than these can handle, you should probably look into fishing waders.

baffin enduro rain boots review - almost 5 years later, the baffins are still perfectly waterproof to...
Almost 5 years later, the Baffins are still perfectly waterproof to the top of the shank.
Credit: Richard Forbes

Comfort


The Enduro is on the stiffer end of boots we tested, but this doesn't mean they're not comfortable underfoot.


Due to their Gel-Flex shock-absorbing heels and midsoles, they feel pretty good on hard surfaces, and we can wear them for long periods without any significant soreness. Since these do fit a little looser, they flap around slightly when walking, though this doesn't cause any big issues. The only issue regarding comfort is how much the rubber folds in and presses against the shins, though this issue was not as bad in these as it was in other thinner boots. This only felt like an issue on steeper hills, but different testers found it to be unpleasant to varying degrees.

baffin enduro rain boots review - these boots are supportive enough to be comfortable on hikes walking...
These boots are supportive enough to be comfortable on hikes walking the dogs.
Credit: Richard Forbes

Be aware that the insoles that come in these are pretty minimal. If you're hoping to spend all day in the Enduro, you'll likely need to put in something more supportive (which worked great for us).

baffin enduro rain boots review - this is not enough insole.
This is not enough insole.
Credit: Richard Forbes

Traction


The Enduro has an impressive amount of traction due to its large and tightly studded outsole. We found these reliably near the top of the pack when it came to snow, ice, wet grass, mud, and streambeds.


Even when we ran up and down wet grassy hills, we didn't feel like we would slip in these boots. They also do better than most on ice and slight powder, both surfaces that challenged all the other boots in our test. The only minor annoyance with the solid outsole is that sometimes rocks and gravel get stuck in between the lugs, which you'll notice when you hear clicking sounds on hard surfaces.

baffin enduro rain boots review - these lugs still look good after 5 years of use!
These lugs still look good after 5 years of use!

Warmth


The Enduro boots are uninsulated, meaning you won't get overheated in warmer temperatures (though we still wouldn't want to wear them much above 60°F).


With decent socks, even these uninsulated boots do well in the snow and cold water of the Puget Sound, potentially due to their thicker rubber. They didn't hold up as well in our ice-water test; our feet felt the cold almost immediately and were uncomfortable after 30 seconds. However, this isn't a remarkably bad performance, as all the uninsulated boots struggled with this test.

baffin enduro rain boots review - while the baffin enduro isn't insulated, they can get the job done...
While the Baffin Enduro isn't insulated, they can get the job done if you wear thick enough socks.
Credit: Richard Forbes

Style


Our testers found the Enduro boots to be relatively controversial, with some testers giving them high marks and others finding their utilitarian styling to look a bit dumpy.


These boots wouldn't look out of place paired with Carhartts in a casual bar, but you'd be hard-pressed to dress them up at all. The unique pyramid patterning around the base of the shoe (and featured in a mysterious circle on either side of the ankle) adds some interesting texture to the boot but also ruins the possibility that anyone might mistake these for anything other than heavy-duty rain boots. Some testers said they thought the boots look like they were modeled by the same people who design Tonka trucks, which feels unfair but is also hard to argue against.

baffin enduro rain boots review - they're pretty standard looking rain boots - not stylish, not...
They're pretty standard looking rain boots - not stylish, not horribly ugly either, at least to our eye.
Credit: Richard Forbes

Fit


These boots fit our feet well, with around a 1/2 an inch of forward and back space. We suggest they'd measure in at a true D-width. They have a lot more volume in the ankle area, which leads to some flapping as the ankles move, though with good socks, this has not resulted in any blisters in our years of wear.

Value


These boots are a great value — hence our Best Buy Award! They're built solidly and have handled 3 years of abuse perfectly. The outsole is solid and will last well on a variety of surfaces. The only place the Enduro cut any corners is with the insole, which is pretty flimsy (though not as bad as others in our review). If you have to have the best of the best, go with one of the other (significantly more expensive) award-winners, but these are the best bang for your buck.

baffin enduro rain boots review - it's hard to imagine a boot for better value - 5 years of use and...
It's hard to imagine a boot for better value - 5 years of use and they're still perfectly waterproof?
Credit: Richard Forbes

Conclusion


The Baffin Enduro boots are a fantastic option for those who aren't looking to break the bank, yet who need reliable and highly waterproof boots with great traction. If you're not looking for lots of comfort and warmth, it's hard to justify getting any other boot. Here's a quick breakdown on the math: if you want to get a better pair of boots than these, you'd have to spend more than twice as much money. Are the Editors' Choice and other Top Picks more than twice as good as the Baffin? If you have particular needs, yes. Otherwise, get the Enduro. You won't be disappointed.

Richard Forbes
 
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