This boot has once again garnered the attention of our expert review team, by providing a high level of warmth, waterproofness, and comfort for cold winter conditions. Previously our Editors' Choice Award winner, the Chilkat 400 has finally been unseated by a newcomer to our winter boot test, the Oboz Bridger 10.
That said, the Chilkat 400 is still one of our favorite winter boots for all-around use. We loved most things about the Chilkat 400, but there are a few issues you should be aware of, the most important of those is that they can be tricky to size correctly. The North Face winter boots have consistently run small over the years, although our most recent test pair was true to size.
Snowshoeing is a great way to travel cross country through the snow in the mountains, especially if the snow is too shallow for skiing. Here we're exploring the San Juan high country on Red Mountain Pass in the Chilkat 400 boots.
When compared to, say, the Blundstone Thermals, this boot is very tall, coming up six inches or so above the ankle. This design is great for keeping snow out but means that it is prone to rubbing on the front of your shin. That said, the boot's upper portion is flexible, with a medium flex. As a result, the high shaft isn't as annoying as some other models. All in all, there is little to complain about with this boot. It's easy for us to recommend it to you as one of our favorite winter boots.
Performance Comparison
A view of the inside of the Chilkat 400 boot, showing its ample 400g of Primaloft Recycled insulation.
Warmth
After extensive testing in cold and snowy environments, we can decidedly say that this boot provides a high level of warmth. We are impressed at how comfortable, and snug these boots are when properly fitted. Their warm is a function of the 400g of Primaloft Eco insulation which is rated to -40 degrees.
Testing the heat retention of the Chilkat 400 and the Oboz Bridger 10 side by side in our ice bath.
In our ice bath test, we measured each boot's internal temperature at 3-minute intervals for 12 minutes to see how quickly they lost heat. After 12 minutes, the Chilkat 400 lost 22.1 degrees. It's a decent performance, but they're far from the best in the test. For comparison, the Oboz Bridger 10 dropped by only 14.1 degrees in the same amount of time in the same ice bath at the same time. Boots with less insulation, like the Columbia Bugaboot Plus IV and the North Face Chilkat III lost similar amounts of heat during this test.
In the ice bath test, the Chilkats proved themselves to be both warm on the feet and completely waterproof.
In the real world, however, we never have complaints about how warm the Chilkat 400 keep our feet. We took a quick, cold hike with a Chilkat 400 on one foot and a Chilkat III on the other, we hiked for approximately 10 minutes. At that point, it was very apparent that the Chilkat 400 was significantly warmer than the III. We attribute this to the 400g of Primaloft insulation versus the 200g in the Chilkat III.
Water Resistance
Due to a thick, molded rubber lower that extends from the sole three inches up the boot, the Chilkat 400 provides outstanding water resistance. This durable shell keeps water at bay, while a waterproof membrane bolsters the water resistance of the leather upper. Submerging this boot in the ice bath and standing in a lake for ten minutes did not phase this boot one bit. We recommend this boot for wet weather as well as just cold.
They have a moderate flex to the upper shaft and good lateral support that makes them a solid option for moderate winter hiking endeavors.
In the end, this boot's water resistance tied with that of the Oboz Bridger 10, another entirely waterproof model. Both boots are completely watertight even when submerged in water for an extended period. They kept our feet completely dry in our extreme waterproof testing, unless we stepped in deeper than the height of the tongue, of course. The Sorel Caribou and the Bogs Classic Ultra Mid also keep our feet incredibly dry, though neither offers the versatility of the Chilkat 400.
Fit and Comfort
The winter boots that favor hiking support over pure comfort are not quite as plush and cozy as the softer, looser-fitting Pac boots we tested. That said, the Chilkat 400 is the coziest of the trail-ready bunch, compared to the more precise fits of the Oboz Bridger 10 or the Vasque Snoburban. It is more comfortable than some of the other competitors like the Keen Summit County, which is much wider fitting. Some of this boot's comfort is thanks to its flexible shaft. It has soft to medium flex while providing lateral support, which can make a huge difference when walking for long distances.
After pulling the laces tight with one tug, two hooks on each side must be looped before tying. While these laces are slightly more work to fasten than some others we tested, we like how the broad flat laces grip each other, rarely coming undone.
While these boots have a good fit and a high degree of comfort, they definitely have a somewhat more vague and loose fit than some of the models that are more winter hiking specific. This is a result of a more basic and less contoured footbed that provides less support around the heel and under the arch. Don't get us wrong, they are plenty comfortable and fit well, but if we were planning to use these for serious winter hiking or snowshoeing we would be inclined to put an aftermarket insole in them.
Ease of Use
This boot is relatively challenging to get on and take off. But, keep in mind, the low score is relative to the other boots in this review. They aren't difficult to use. Sliding our foot into this boot is no problem, even with the taller shaft. It's relatively easy to cinch up the majority of the boot with a single pull on the laces. From that point, you loop the laces around two hooks on each side and tie. The large, flat laces grip each other well and do a great job of staying tied and tight.
The aggressive lug pattern on this boot uses very sticky rubber, providing excellent traction.
The Oboz Bridger 10 has a lacing system that's a touch more user-friendly. The laces on those boots are slightly more straightforward, making it a little quicker and easier to secure them on your feet. While they aren't all that difficult to put on, the Chilkat 400 does take significantly more time and effort than the ridiculously simple slip-on boots, like the Bogs Classic Ultra Mid, Blundstone Thermal 566, or the Kamik Greenbay 4.
Traction
The North Face claims that their WinterGrip soles and IcePick lugs are temperature sensitive, increasing traction on slippery surfaces. A soft rubber compound rings the sole's outer edge with large rectangular lugs that provide good traction and edge bite. The middle of the sole features a firmer rubber compound in the form of numerous small triangular lugs. Each of these little triangles is another little tooth that bites into firm snow, giving these boots some of the best traction in our entire test.
The traction is quite good, on par with the Kamik Nationplus, but not quite as good as the Columbia Bugaboot Plus IV, our Top Pick for traction. When tested side by side with the Oboz Bridger 10 their traction was pretty much identical, and they are both miles better than competitors like the Sorel Caribou, and the Bogs Classic Ultra Mid.
Best Applications
Versatility is the Chilkat 400's strong suit, and these boots are capable of doing anything you ask of them. This is an ideal choice for casual use around the house yet is also good looking enough to be paired with jeans to commute to work or go to school. Snowshoers and winter hikers will appreciate the comfortable fit as well as the high cuff that keeps snow out when tromping through deep snow, though they don't quite have the precise fit that some winter adventurers may be looking for.
With its super high shaft that protects well above the ankle, keeping the snow out no matter how deep it is, the Chilkat 400 is a top choice for snowshoeing.
Value
The MSRP for these boots is $150, which is about average for the boots we have tested in this review. Since they are one of the best of the bunch, it's easy to justify the expense, and we think they represent a great value. If you're looking for the best bang for your buck, consider our Best Buy Award winner, the Kamik NationPlus, which rings in at $85.
Conclusion
The North Face Chilkat 400 is one of the highest scoring winter boots in this review of the most popular models on the market today. It is a warm boot that is also totally waterproof, so you can count on it to keep your feet warm and dry when the days are cold, wet, or both. It's an incredibly versatile option, great for use around the house, playing in the snow, or moderate duty winter hiking and snowshoeing. These are a great option for the person looking for one winter boot to handle everything you can throw at them.
