Columbia Sportswear Bugaboot Review

Active Gear Review is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Having spent the last 14 years enjoying 75 degree winter days in Phoenix, Arizona, I forgot how important it is to own a good pair of boots. In preparation for my first winter in Colorado, I decided to try out the Columbia Sportswear Bugaboot Omni-Heat winter boot. While it actually does not snow very often here in Denver, when it does, it piles up fast. So far, these boots have taken good care of me.

The Bugaboot is a versatile winter boot that can be worn casually on a snowy day, to shovel sidewalks and driveways, or in more extreme conditions where cold protection and dry feet are essential. I have had the chance to wear the Bugaboot on a number of occasions, as we have had five or six fairly major snow dumps of greater than 5 inches this winter. I have worn them while sledding with my nephews in 14 inches of fresh snow, before and after hitting the slopes in Summit County, and while brazing the sloppy and slushy parking lot at the grocery store the day after a big storm. In each case, these boots kept my feet warm and dry…and they look good doing it.

The Bugaboot, which was first launched in 1993, continues to evolve, and the latest version has integrated the exclusive Omni-Heat® membrane that has been successful in so many other products in the Columbia family. It is an aluminum-like material that reflects heat back toward your body, producing more warmth with less bulk (the Bugaboot weighs 1lb, 10oz in a Men’s size 9). In addition to the Omni-Heat® technology, the Bugaboot employs Omni-Grip®, a full-traction, non-marking outsole that is specially designed for tough winter conditions. The upper part of the boot is highlighted by a durable Nubuck material and a split suede leather, which seem to handle both powder and slush with ease. The boot is insulated with 200 grams of Thinsulate® that claims a rating to 25 degrees below zero, though I think I only wore them in temperatures dipping into the low-teens. And the removable, anatomically contoured EVA footbed inside was comfortable and supportive, while the internal AgION® anti-microbial treatment kept the toe jam and locker room stink at bay.

Overall the boots are comfortable, but I did encounter one issue that is worth mentioning. When worn for extended periods, the boots have an interior hot spot, a small bump that hits near my outer ankle bone and really starts to dig in. I wore these for an entire afternoon while out running errands, and towards the end of trip, this rubbing on both feet got pretty uncomfortable. Thicker socks seemed to help a bit, but not entirely. Maybe it’s just me, or the particular pair of boots that I tested, but pay particular attention to this zone when you are trying on these boots, to see if there is a potentially irritating contact point for you as well.