40 YEARS OF FOOTWEAR

Born in Canada

Canada is well known for its four distinct seasons - each one with its fair share of lovers and haters - but deep down all knows that this is part of what makes our country special.

From Canadian harsh winters with frigid temperatures and mountains of snow, to rainy, muddy springs, Canadians deal with a wide range of weather in their day to day lives. Thankfully, Baffin has a boot to get you through any type of weather that comes your way.

Baffin Mission

Since 1979, Baffin has been creating some of the world's best-performing cold-weather and full-season footwear. The company has evolved to include a wide range of footwear, tested in the most demanding environments on the planet – with Baffin preferred testing ground being the uniquely diverse and rugged landscape of Canada. Company see Canada as canvas for inspiring and proving what Baffin product can help you accomplish. Thank you for 40 Years of Footwear, and here’s to 40 more. Baffin: Born In The North.

Philosophy

While Baffin test all of our products in the factory and in various labs, that’s not where our product testing ends. Baffin believe in "real-world" testing, and take our our products to extreme places in different environments to ensure they perform as designed.

This testing is done by Baffin - the same people who design and develop the product actually use and test it as well. However, Baffin also have a number of different members outside of our company who are a part of Baffin testing team as well.

Baffin Founder and CEO Paul Hubner regularly leads product testing expeditions, and company over-engineer products to ensure they'll perform in any work or outdoor environment, regardless of the elements.

Explore with Baffin

In May of 2010, Founder & CEO Paul Hubner trekked to Machu Picchu wearing a pair of Baffin's that, at the time, were still in development. Essentially, the product succumbed to the demand, which some may have seen as a failure. At Baffin, we saw this as an opportunity to refine and better our product. Since those shoes failed for Paul, Baffin improved and corrected them so they won't fail for you.
Why We're Here

Since 1979, Baffin has manufactured products in Stoney Creek, Canada – with its core focus and expertise being technically advanced, high quality Footwear and Apparel. Baffin designs, develops, tests and manufactures some of the world's best-performing cold-weather and full-season Footwear and Apparel products.

Whether it's an outdoor adventure, or an industrial safety application – everything we do is with a purpose. These History & Legacy pages will share what Baffin is all about, from how and why Baffin came to be, to the reasons we continue to exist and grow today.

1979: Born in The North

Where it all began... in the 1970s, Paul Hubner’s father led a team from the UK in setting up a Canadian manufacturing operation for private label product. Molds were developed and machinery was acquired for an injection molding factory.

This was first setup on Nash Rd in Stoney Creek, Canada. The original team went on to various opportunities in the shoe industry, and Paul later created the Baffin brand for his new business; but the original injection moldings machines are still producing footwear today. The processes, compounds and other operations have evolved and improved, and we are proud to continue this Canadian Heritage.

1982: For Families

Around this time, boots were not thought of in the same way that shoes were. Today, fit and comfort is so important, and there are many different ways to fit any type of foot. However, even before advancements in technologies, and the introduction of rubber & winter boots to the fashion world, Baffin started by introducing specific boots for fit.

Despite men being the core customer, the entire family needed proper footwear - especially in Canadian winters! So molds were developed not just for smaller sizes, but specifically with the shape of women’s (and children’s) feet in mind.

1985: Insulating The Boot

With well established compounds and construction quality, Baffin’s Rubber product was built to withstand the elements of many Canadian & Industrial environments.

Over the years, with trips to Baffin Island, sourcing seal skin boots and working with the Inuit, the Hubner family was inspired by their footwear. The Arctic boots contained layers of natural resources for insulation. In most cases, boots were otherwise insulated by felt liners; however Baffin modernized the Arctic layering approach and introduced a multi-component felt liner for their boots.

1996: As Warm as it Gets

As technologies improved, and both natural and synthetic components were being used in new and different ways, it was time for an upgrade. Paul Hubner, alongside the team at Baffin, developed a more comprehensive collection of purposeful layers to keep a foot warm, dry, and comfortable.

2006: Polar Proven

This was a special year for Baffin. In the early 2000s, Paul was challenged by friend Doug Stoup to really put his boots to the test. Sure, product was put through the ringer in factory and labs, but how many Presidents and CEOs take their product out themselves and make sure they perform?

In 2006, Paul Hubner wore his -100c insulated winter boots to both the North and South Poles in the same year. Despite extreme temperatures, exhaustion, wet ice, dry ice, wind and snow - the boots withstood the elements. “Polar Proven” was born, and remains at the core of Baffin’s product philosophy today.

2011: Introducing Apperel

Baffin returns to it's roots. A product testing trip to Baffin Island finds the team adventuring through Auyuittuq National Park for a second time. In 2009 Paul and son Ryan travelled by dogsled and skis with the crew from Angry Planet across the island. This time all four Hubner boys teamed up with Eric and Sarah McNair. The six-person team, joined by a couple of sled dogs along for the adventure, set out through the park.