BackpackGearTest.org - Columbia Bugabootoo Owner Review by Gail Staisil

The Columbia Bugabootoo Boots have filled an important niche in my backpacking footwear. Here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan cold winter weather arrives early. It is normal to have snow or slush as early as October and as late as May. During the shoulder seasons there is not a great accumulation of snow making the use of snowshoes and mukluks unnecessary. However my feet still need to be encased in warm footwear. Uninsulated trail shoes or leather boots are fine while backpacking in such conditions but my feet become immediately cold when I stop. Nights at camp require warm footwear. Several years ago I decided to try using a pair of Bugabootoo Boots for an early-winter backpacking trip. I had really purchased them for casual wear but after doing several day hikes in them I discovered that they were extremely comfortable. I wondered how they would function while carrying a backpack so I wore them on a short three-day backpacking trip. They performed beyond my expectations making my feet very content.

Traction Side and Sole view of boots

The first trip that I wore the boots on had several inches of new slushy snow. Some of the participants on the trip were having severe traction problems with their footwear as they were wearing regular hiking boots with slippery soles. The Bugabootoo Boots have multi-directional lug patterns on the soles so they really grab while traveling through uneven terrain and wet snow. The soles are made of Omni-Grip which is a specially-formulated rubber compound that was developed exclusively for Columbia. I find that it allows the boots to track properly so that I have more confidence in my steps. Hiking in snow, slush and rain has never been a problem while wearing the boots.

However the only time I ever had traction problems with the boots was when I day hiked on a trail system in the late part of March and the trail was mostly solid ice. After hiking a short distance with fear of injuring myself I resorted to putting on some inexpensive crampons over the boots (like ice fisherman use). The Bugabootoo Boots have a nice raised ridge on the back of the heel so I have found that both crampons and snowshoe straps have a reliable place to lie without slipping down the heels. The boots are non-bulky so fitting them into regular bindings on snowshoes is a simple process. The lug pattern has changed somewhat on the boots in recent years. Because my boots are at least four years old the current pattern is different.

Durability/Care

My Bugabootoo Boots have seen a lot of use. Surprisingly there appears to be little evidence of wear. The uppers have remained soft and flexible and the cushioned soft linings show no abrasion or pilling. The laces are in still in fairly good condition although one of them has recently frayed where the wrap came off the end. The contoured-removable footbeds are the originals and remain in good condition. The rubber soles show little sign of deterioration and still provide excellent traction.

Admittedly I haven't done much to care for these boots. If they are encrusted with mud I usually scrub off the lower portion of them so that they won't tract mud back into my car before the next outing. I have occasionally treated the uppers with a Silicone spray. The boots have remained waterproof.

Usage Wearing my Bugabootoo Boots

I have used the boots successfully for backpacking, dayhiking, casual wear and in combination with snowshoes and crampons. They have been extremely versatile boots. They are so easy to wear. I just insert my feet into the boots, use the pull tabs on the back of the boots and adjust the laces through the five sets of D-rings on each boot. The tops of the laces are secured through Nylon hooks at each side of the ankles. A simply-tied knot on each boot completes the process. I bought the boots in a Size 11 USA (42/43) Women's as they correlated closely to my Size 10.5 USA (42.5) Women's feet. The Columbia size charts are a bit different for the European equivalent measures as indicated in the product information above.

The boots feel comfortable but aren't too warm for all my activities. I especially like the fact that they are not over-sized like a lot of other winter boots. This allows my gait to be normal and unrestricted.

How to Keep the Liners Dry - Two Steps

Because the Bugabootoo Boots don't have removable liners I was initially concerned about wearing them on a multi-day trip. My biggest concern was if I would be able to keep the linings dry and prevent them from freezing solid during the night. If my feet were to become soggy there wouldn't being much hope of them staying warm either. For these types of trips I normally wear a thin pair of wool socks with Silnylon vapor barriers over them. It prevents any moisture from my feet entering into the linings of the boots. In order to keep outside moisture in the form of rain or snow from entering the boots I wear short gaiters over the top of the boots. I have been real successful with this two-fold system.

During the evenings at camp after I remove my boots I usually place a 24-hr chemical warmer in my boots so that they remain warm and comfortable in the morning. Instead they could also be taken into my sleep bivy to stay warm but I prefer the previous method.

Most of the backpacking trips were taken at temperatures between 40 F (4 C) and 0 F (-18 C) while using the Bugabootoo Boots for footwear. Although I have never tested them at -25 F (-37 C) my inclination would say that my feet would be cold unless I was continuously moving which normally wouldn't happen after I arrived at camp. This is consistent with Columbia's temperature recommendation for active use. At more frigid temperatures I normally wear double felt liners in my moosehide mukluks. The Bugabootoo Boots also have removable footbeds that are easy to take out of the boots. However, I rarely have taken them out as they have stayed mostly dry.

Field Conditions/Locations

The majority of my backpacking trips were taken either in the state of Michigan, USA or in Ontario, Canada. The terrain included hilly boreal and deciduous forest, open areas, swamps and lakeshores. Elevations ranged from 600 ft (183m) to 9100 ft (2774 m ) and seasonal temperatures ranged from 40 F (4 C) to approximately 0 F (-18 C) during these early and late periods of winter (normally November, early December, late March and April in the above areas.

Summary

I have worn the Bugabootoo Boots on many backpacking trips and dayhiking trips during the early and late winter months for at least the last four years. I also continue to wear them when I need to do some quick errands around town. They have been worn in cold and steady rain as well as snow and slush conditions. In addition, they have also been great for bushwhacking through swampy areas. I usually wear them with a variety of wool or fleece socks and vapor barriers for backpacking. I normally skip the vapor barriers for day hikes or casual wear.

I have been highly pleased with the boots performance for all of my activities. They have proved to be durable, reliable and versatile. I hope to get several more years of wear out of this pair of Bugabootoo Boots.

Reviews > Footwear > Winter Boots > Columbia Bugabootoo > Owner Review by Gail Staisil

Reviews > Footwear > Winter Boots > Columbia Bugabootoo > Owner Review by Gail Staisil