Columbia Heavenly Omni-Heat Lace-Up Review
Compare prices at 2 resellers Pros: Warm, faux-fur collar, waterproof, versatile, light
Cons: Tight and narrow fit, need to size up, questionable style
Manufacturer: Columbia
Our Verdict
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Heavenly Omni-Heat offers 11 inches of pure comfort and weather protection. Wear it for less technical hikes, to work, or around town. This is one of the most versatile boots we tested.
Performance Comparison
Warmth
Loaded with 200 grams of insulation and Columbia's Omni-Heat heat-reflective technology in the liner, this boot keeps feet warm in freezing conditions.
While there is ample insulation throughout this boot, the sole is relatively thin and was a source of heat loss during super cold days out in the field. As a result, we're not sure if the -25 degree temperature rating claim is correct, as we quickly lost heat when temperatures were around zero degrees, and our feet were left cold.
Weather Protection
This boot is exceptional in snow. The faux-fur collar keeps out blowing snow while the upper protects even after walking around for hours. When we stood in a local lake and marched around for a few minutes, no water penetrated through the seams either. The upper is indeed waterproof. When we went a little deeper, however, water seeped in where the tongue meets the body of the boot. This happened with most of the boots we tested. Despite this weak point, we are impressed with the weather protection of this fabric-based boot.
Comfort & Fit
As the lightest boot in our test (weighing less than a pound), you'll hardly know this boot is on your feet. As a result, we recommend it for all-day wear. We also love its fur-lined interior that makes stepping inside quite cozy, generating warmth on the go.
While we love the comfort features, the Heavenly has quite a tight fit. When pairing it with thick wool socks, we could hardly wear the boots because they were too tight. The toe box is narrow and doesn't have a whole lot of volume. Also, the heel is super tight and small in comparison to other boots in this review. Those with narrow feet will likely love this boot, but we would recommend sizing up a half or even full size depending on the width of your feet.
Ease of Use
Pulling on this boot is not the easiest. The interior is lined with a super plush faux-fur that catches on the fabric of socks. The shaft of the boot is not stiff, so both hands are needed to open it up. While it's harder to put on than some, we do like that the lacing system can be tightened with just one simple pull. It locks the boot into place and doesn't move for hours.
Traction
With fan-shaped lugs and a rubber outsole, this boot provides decent traction overall. The longer lugs grab trails and snowy sidewalks when the weather turns foul.
Unfortunately, the Heavenly doesn't offer much in the way of surface area on the bottom of the outsole. That is to say, it's thinner and more narrow. As a result, we found ourselves falling through deep snow easier than with the broader platform found in wider options. Despite this small caveat, we felt this boot did well for trudging around town and light hiking in the woods.
Value
This boot is a decent value. While other options have better protection and warmth for less, this one stands out for its super flexible and lightweight design. If this is what you seek, we think the price is right.
Conclusion
Take this super flexible boot anywhere! Wear it to work, on a trail, or around town. It's versatile, protective, and warm, a great winter wear option.
— Amber King
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