Sorel Tivoli High II Review

The Sorel Tivoli High II measures 12.5 inches tall, but begins slowly leaking in puddles about three inches deep. We loved its casual look and think this product is a great option for everything from daily errands to mountain town bar hopping! We also did some light hiking on a dry winter day and found this model to be pretty comfortable, although not nearly as comfy as winter hikers like the Vasque Pow Pow II (our Top Pick for Winter Hiking).

Performance Comparison

Warmth

With only 100 grams of insulation and a light fleece lining, this boot did not score as well as some of its competitors in our warmth category. It's on par with the Tofino and warmer than The North Face Nuptse Purna and the Sorel Conquest Carly. The Tivoli laces up tight to the mid-calf and its fleecy insulation helps block out wind and snow.

Comfort & Coziness

Although this model has a cozy fleece lining, it does not have a very supportive footbed. The upper is a bit stiff, but not as stiff as the Columbia Bugaboot Plus III Titanium - Women's winter hiking boot. Additionally, the Tivoli II has a slightly wider and more comfortable toe box than boots like the Tofino and Merrell Dewbrook Zip.

Weather Protection

Although the tall shaft on the Tivoli High II will keep your shins dry in tall snow drifts, it doesn't do as much to protect you from puddles as some of its competitors. The Tivoli had a slow leak in puddles three inches deep. We think it was leaking where the canvas material that forms part of the upper meets the rubber portion that wraps around the edge of the foot. Unless you're planning to stand in deep puddles for a long period of time, however, this weakness shouldn't affect you.

Style & Fit

We really like the slightly techy, but casual look that the Tivoli II brings to the table. Sorel actually makes two version of this boot; the one that we tested has canvas panels on the sides and a rubber piece that wraps around the edge of the foot; the other design has an upper that is made entirely of suede and has a leather piece around the edge of the foot. We think that the canvas provides unique stylistic appeal, but we also really liked the black all-suede model, which looks a little less techy. All-around, we think that the updated version is much more stylish than its predecessor.

This boot has attractive detailing across the top of the toe box, a slightly raised heel, and subtle faux fur at the cuff. Some of our testers didn't love the oversized “SOREL” label across the back of the heel, so be sure to take a close look at that before ordering. This model has a somewhat narrow toe box - though not as narrow as the Tofino - and it runs a little bit small.

Traction

Like the other Sorels we tested, the Tivoli High II does not have stand-out traction. If you want better traction, consider the Columbia Bugaboot or our favorite winter hiker, the Vasque Pow Pow II.

Ease to Take On & Off

With its slick inner lining and back pull tab, this model isn't too difficult to take on and off. However, since the shaft is a bit stiffer than boots like The North Face Nuptse Purna, it's challenging to grip the sides of the faux fur cuff and pull it on that way.

Best Applications

The short version of this boot would work well for light winter hiking, but generally speaking, we don't love going off-road while wearing taller models (with the exception being the Ahnu Northridge). With this in mind, we'd recommend this boot for all around-town activities. It's comfortable enough to wear all day long and versatile enough to go from casual errands to an evening out with friends (especially if you opt for the all black version).

Value

At $150, this is one of the least expensive products in our review and we think it's a great value! That said, the Sorel Tofino and Joan of Arctic are each only $10-20 more, so if you like the look, fit, or performance of either of those models better, we don't think you should let that final $10-20 hold you back.

Conclusion

A great upgrade from the original Tivoli, the Sorel Tivoli II offers more style and a little extra warmth. The tall shaft version that we tested is comparable with other boots such as the Sorel Tofino and The North Face Nuptse Purna, which are best saved for around-town use. That said, we still walked miles in the Sorel Tivoli High II and we were extremely happy with our choice both performance-wise and style-wise.