Columbia Bugaboot Plus III Omni-Heat - Women's Review

Hands-on Review of the Bugaboot III

The Columbia Bugaboot Plus III Omni Heat is a winter hiking boot perfect for dry snow and moderate conditions.

Warmth

Outfitted with 200-grams of Omni-Heat insulation, this winter hiker provides relatively decent warmth into the negative temperatures. The laces wrap around the shaft of the boot to lock in warmth while the Omni-Heat technology does a great job keeping in heat. That said, the sole isn't as thick as the Keen Durand Polar, nor is it as insulated (400 grams vs. 200 grams). All in all, this warm winter hiking boot performs similarly to the Kamik Momentum and is rated to -25 degree by Columbia.

Columbia rates this boot to -25 degrees but we can't confirm this because we did not finding testing condition at that temerature.

Weather Protection

Featuring an overlay with a combination of leather and nylon, this boot is indeed water resistant but not waterproof. The rubber outsole is waterproof, but the waterproofing ends where the outsole meets the laces of the boot. While testing it hiking through a river and in our water tests, water entered readily at the point where the outsole meets the laces. As a result, we can't recommend this “waterproof” product for super wet weather. It earns a low score of five out of ten for weather protection. That said, it protected well up to 11 inches in tall snow drifts and kept our feet dry in the snow.

All other hiking boots like the Keen Durand Polar and North Face Chilkat III performed better, waterproofing throughout the shaft of the boot. Also, both hiking boots stayed dry while hiking for hours in the snow. The Columbia Bugaboot Plus III sadly became saturated after hiking for two hours in wet conditions and wasn't as nearly as waterproof as other winter hiking options. Though in dry conditions, it did just fine.

Comfort & Fit

Of all hiking boots, we thought this was the most comfortable boot with the most versatile fit. The heel cup doesn't slip, and the toe box is nice and wide, easily accommodating hiking socks. The toe box offers the most volume allowing toes to wiggle freely, ultimately keeping feet warm in cold conditions. The Keen Durand Polar has a less roomy toe box, and our feet felt more cramped in this boot then both the Columbia Bugaboot Plus III and the North Face Chilkat III. While the footbed doesn't have as much arch support as the Keen we certainly enjoyed the firm yet plush footbed that made hiking for hours easy.

In addition to a great fit, we like the fleece-lined collar that is soft and cozy to the touch. This boot does not have a faux-fur liner like the Keen Durand Polar or a fully-fleece lined interior like the North Face Chilkat III. But we did like that it is gaiter and snowshoe compatible. Overall, we like the comfort and fit of this boot, and give it an eight out of ten.

Ease of Use

Like all hiking boots, taking it on and off is a bit laborious. It features many eyelets, and the precise fit doesn't allow you to kick off the boot without unlacing. As a result, it — like all hiking boots — it scores just a five out of ten. That said, it's comfortable enough and light enough to hike in all day long. If you prefer a boot you can simply just kick off at the door, take a gander at the Kamik Momentum, a laceless winter boot.

Traction

Utilizing a plethora of lug shapes and sizes, this boot provides great traction over a variety of surfaces. In all tests, it did well, grabbing snowy slopes and steep ascents. While the lugs aren't as deep or bulky as the Keen Durand Polar, they are deeper and more varied than the North Face Chilkat III, providing better traction. As a result, it earns an eight out of ten in this metric. A perfect option for winter hiking!

Style

Of all the hiking boots tested, we think this is a little more stylish than most. While it still looks techy, like any hiking boot, our testers appreciated the more streamlined look without the faux-fur collar. We also like that it doesn't look as bulky as either the Keen Durand Polar or North Chilkat III. It's easy to fit under and over the top a pair of pants, making it quite versatile in use. If you prefer a boot with some serious style points (that isn't a hiker), check out the UGG Cecile, a leather, low profile duck boot, winning a Top Pick. Alternatively, check out the wear-all day Keen Elsa.

Best Applications

The obvious application? Winter hiking! While it can be used to perform winter chores or take walks around town, its best use is in the backcountry. These are ideal for snowshoes as long as you bring gaiters for wet and deep conditions.

Value

This is one of the least expensive boots we tested. While we love the comfort and fit of this boot, it simply doesn't stack up to other winter hikers in performance. As a result, it's not the best value product. The North Face Chilkat III performs better in all metrics (except comfort and style) and only $110! A much better value. If you prefer the least expensive boot out there, don't forget about the Kamik Momentum, our Best Buy winner for just $90.

Conclusion

The Columbia Bugaboot Plus III is a decent winter hiker with just a few performance concerns.