Columbia Bugaboot Review – Should You Consider It?
Winter comes with a lot of perks – the beautiful scenery, clean, fresh air and a lot of snow to play in too. Which is fine, if all you want to do is to go out, play in the snow for a bit and then run back in again. If, on the other hand, you need to make your way through the ice, you need cold weather boots.
That's where this Columbia Bugaboot review comes in. We wanted to see if these Columbia hiking boots were able to live up to their promise. When the mercury drops below zero, you need to know that your books are giving you the best possible protection.
By the end of this Columbia Bugaboot Review, we will help you decide whether or not these boots live up to their claims. Are they really as good as we have been told? Let's find out.
What is the Bugaboot?
- If you live in one of the colder American states, you will no doubt have heard of the Columbia winter boots. The Columbia snow boots are a perfect example of what to expect.
- The whole shoe is waterproof with seam-sealed construction. In addition, it features insulation on the inside to help keep your toes and feet snug and warm, no matter how icy it is outside.
Warmth
Water Resistance
- For water resistance in normal conditions, we would rate it a ten out of ten. We would even say that you could quite happily slosh through some mud, sludge or even a small stream. We wouldn't recommend letting water go over the top of the foot or higher.
Fit and Comfort
Most of the time, when ordering boots, we tend to order a size larger just so that we can wear a couple of pairs of socks as well. We thought that the same would be the case here because of reviews we had read.
- This proved to be a very roomy fit, and we had to wear thicker socks than usual to compensate. Try your standard shoe size first and see how well that goes. Unless you are going to be on the tundra all day, you won't need thicker socks anyway.
- Comfort-wise, we did like the fit. It is roomy on the inside. There is no built up insole inside, so it is perfect for those with flat feet or broader feet. Those with a more normal foot might want to consider putting in some inserts for added comfort.
- The techlite shell does wrap around the whole bottom, and this is very different from most insulated models from other companies.
- The sole itself is rigid and makes it possible to use with snowshoes. It is lightweight, and that is a plus. We did mark it down a little because we found that the uppers were a bit stiff and we were prone to a small degree of chafing. We were wearing full-length socks, so this could be an issue for some.
Ease of Use
- The quick lacing system makes getting laced up easy. The larger size makes it possible to wear thicker socks with ease. It does take a little bit of practice when you first get them, but that is something that is easily accomplished.
Traction
- One thing that you want in this kind of footwear is traction that is not going to let you down. In this respect, it did exceptionally well. It allows you to get a firm grip on both snow and ice. The sole is sturdy but flexible enough to ensure that your foot is always getting the best grip on any terrain.
Best Applications
Value
- They are not the cheapest ones on the market, but they do offer excellent value for money. You can get cheaper versions, but they will not have all of the same outstanding features.
- This will not be the last boot you will ever want to own. It is good for most winter conditions, but there are some features that it would have benefited from having like additional insulation.
- That said, the boots that do have those additional features are also a lot more expensive. These boots give you the best bang for the muck.
Conclusion
- We are quite happy to recommend this option to you if you want a boot that is both warm and waterproof. It did well at the end of the day and offered exceptional value for money. The fact that it is so watertight and that it is lightweight were the main factors that sold us on it.
- The techlite shell does wrap around the whole bottom, and this is very different from most insulated models from other companies.
- The sole itself is rigid and makes it possible to use with snowshoes. It is lightweight, and that is a plus. We did mark it down a little because we found that the uppers were a bit stiff and we were prone to a small degree of chafing. We were wearing full-length socks, so this could be an issue for some.
Are there warmer and more comfortable options out there? Indeed, but be prepared to pay quite a bit more for those.
