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Nokian Naali Winter Rubber Boots
The civilian version of the legendary Finnish army winter rubber boots. (The same thing with a more peaceful name). Damn tough and very warm tall waterproof winter boots for demanding Arctic conditions. Good ankle support for a rubber boot and made to fit the traditional Finnish army ski bindings. If you’re looking for a very durable winter boot for military use, hunting, ice fishing, or wilderness skiing, this is a great option.
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The civilian version of the legendary Finnish army winter rubber boots. (The same thing with a more peaceful name). Damn tough and very warm tall waterproof winter boots for demanding Arctic conditions. Good ankle support for a rubber boot and made to fit the traditional Finnish army ski bindings. If you’re looking for a very durable winter boot for military use, hunting, ice fishing, or wilderness skiing, this is a great option.
Features
- Frost-proof to -40°C (-40°F) according to the manufacturer
- Insulating and shock-absorbing sole structure, Rotationally rigid midsole with two felt layers
- Can be equipped with steel studs
- Outsole tip shaped for ski bindings and a groove for the ski binding loop behind the heel
- Shock-absorbing heel structure
- Quick-release tightening strap on the boot leg
- Reflective band on the bootleg (Not a CE-approved reflector)
- Bootcare instructions included
- Spare felt linings available as accessories
A great benefit of a detachable felt lining is that you can easily dry the lining even by the campfire without needing to worry about turning your rubber boots into a melted blob. You can also buy spare felt linings as an accessory, so you can keep your toes warm when drying your sweaty linings in the wilderness.
Nokian Naali is made from very durable butyl rubber. The coarse outsole tread pattern offers a good grip and can be equipped with studs to improve the grip on slippery ice. The thick detachable felt lining keeps your feet warm in freezing temperatures, and the reinforced structure of the outsole provides extra insulation against cold. The manufacturer states that these work down to -40 °C (40 °F), but these ratings are always subjective, and they depend on how well your toes can take cold. Nevertheless, these have been proven functional in military use even in the toughest winter conditions in Lapland, which should tell you quite a bit.
The outsole toe piece has been shaped with Finnish military ski bindings in mind, and the heel features a groove for traditional ski binding loops. The adjustable collar keeps out snow when there’s plenty of that white stuff.
Made in Serbia.
Materials
The upper is made from thick and tough butyl rubber that is resistant to UV radiation, cold weather, and bending. The toe cap and the heel have double-layer reinforcements. Inside you’ll find a detachable felt lining made from 90% wool and 10% polyester. The price of very high durability is the added weight. One boot weighs c. 1. 7 kg / 3.75 lbs (EUR 43 / US 10).
Sizing
These are also suitable for wide feet, and they have been sized to fit an additional thick sock inside. So you don’t need to go with a one size bigger.
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4 ratings
Suomi (1)
English (3)
ari t. 09.11.2023 ⚠ Unverified purchase
0
Erik M. 21.11.2023 Verified purchase
The rubber has a few little imperfections but they do not affect the overall quality.
The lining is warm and easy to slip in and out of.
0
Katie F. 25.11.2023 Verified purchase
Disclaimer: These boots just arrived. I have not yet had a chance to see them "in action," and I will try update my review once I have.
The sizing rumors you might find elsewhere, like on Varuste.net, are correct. If you normally wear one size, better to get a size (or even two!) up. This is especially true for the smaller sizes (38 and 39). I normally wear 36, and 38 was snug with just one pair of thin merino socks and the felt liner.
Contrary to what might be said elsewhere, these boots are not heavy (when worn). Granted, I got a smaller size, but I was expecting something around the 3.3-3.75 lb range to feel much heavier. On the feet, they are hardly noticeable.
The quality of the rubber is supple and flexible, not thin at all, and the soles feel grippy and well-fit for rocky or icy terrain. It might still behoove you to get a set of studs, either from Varusteleka, or from the Nokian online store, if you're going to be dealing with really icy conditions. Studs should be applied before the first usage.
I will say that the tightening strap doesn't do much, but that might be because I got a smaller size.
Boot care instructions were quite simple: Wash the boots with lukewarm soapy water and a sponge (not a coarse brush) every now and then; do not use solvent detergents. Don't dry the boots next to a heat source or let them sit in direct heat or light, and condition the boots every now and then (or after heavy usage) with rubber conditioner, available from the Nokian online store, but I can't imagine that only their proprietary stuff would be effective.
Browsing Varuste.net reviews for these boots yield a somewhat common complaint that the felt liners fall apart at the heel, but this largely seems to be a problem in medium to large sizes (around 42 and above). If that's a concern for you, consider adding some reinforcement stitching, or use felt liners from a different set of boots. For me, the felt liners feel quite durable, and they are very thick and warm. I did a burn test on these, and Nokian is not lying when they say they are 90% wool. It smelled just like the day my hair caught on fire.
Anyways, I'll update this review (hopefully) once these boots see some action.
0
Christopher S. 21.01.2024 Verified purchase
Without the liner they fit, however that sort of defeats the purpose of buying boots with an inner liner so...
6
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