Backside Line
With a mix of fashionable particulars and efficiency options, the Kamik Atwater redefines the capabilities of an informal, cold-weather boot. With glorious heat and traction, we felt simply as snug in these boots round city as we have been on our neighborhood trails.
Examined in Anchorage, Alaska’s winter chilly, these have been our boots of alternative when heading out in town when the temperatures plummeted. We felt snug in below-zero temperatures and used them on just a few brief hikes on Anchorage’s huge in-town path community. Ice, packed snow, and concrete all have been snug in these boots, because of their nice traction and cushioned midsole.
The Kamik Atwater is without doubt one of the most reasonably priced boots in our winter climbing boots information. This value does come on the concession of sturdiness, nevertheless. We observed threads pulling out of some seams and a few extreme creasing all through the flex factors of the boot. For the value, we discovered that these are ok for average use on the town and in your neighborhood trails.
Fast Specs
Kamik Atwater
Fashionable boot with nice traction
Worth:
$119
Temperature Score:
Not rated
Insulation:
90g artificial
Weight (Pair):
2 lb.
Top:
7 in
Professionals
- fashionable
- heat
- snug
- traction
Cons
- low shaft
- attainable long-term sturdiness points
Consolation
The Kamik Atwater is snug sufficient to put on round city all day but nonetheless supportive sufficient for native hikes and in-town trails. The lacing system is comfortable and safe, and the flat laces maintain from untying. The lacing extends up the shaft of the boot to offer a few of the greatest ankle assist for an informal boot that we’ve seen. Even when taking them for a brief hike, the boots have been safe sufficient for hills and uneven terrain. The padded collar and moisture-wicking fleece lining are snug on the pores and skin, even with low socks.
The only real of those boots is extraordinarily versatile and lacks a lot construction. Although this makes them light-weight and versatile to stroll in, they don’t present a lot construction for climbing or more difficult terrain. These boots are most at dwelling on metropolis sidewalks and in-town trails.
Heat
When taking the Kamik Atwaters round city on a below-zero day, we liked how heat they have been. With solely ninety grams of insulation, we have been initially anxious they wouldn’t be heat sufficient however shortly realized that the insulation punches nicely above its weight. We by no means skilled chilly ft throughout our exams and located these boots have been heat sufficient for brief hikes in single-digit and detrimental temperatures.
When you’re going to be in these boots in temperatures a lot beneath ten levels, we suggest pairing them with winter-weight socks. However for fast jaunts round city, these boots are nonetheless heat sufficient with a minimal sock. The fleece inside gives extra heat whereas nonetheless being snug instantly on the pores and skin.
Traction
Massive triangular lugs cowl the tread of the Kamik Atwater, offering glorious traction throughout a number of surfaces. Their massive floor space is nice for sticking to clean and slippery surfaces like rocks, concrete, or ice. We clambered over ice-covered boulders, trudged up packed snow trails, and strolled metropolis streets in these, and the grip all the time felt safe. With deep areas between the lugs and sharp corners, the boots even chunk into deep, free snow.
The only real, although versatile sufficient to be snug whereas strolling, lacks the construction and edging talents wanted to kick steps in steep and agency trails. They have been shortly out of their depth after we tried to kick our toes into steep, icy snow. For an informal boot that may additionally make it on the paths, we have been pleasantly shocked by the Kamik Atwater’s traction and can proceed utilizing it for outings in town on a wide range of surfaces and textures.
Climate Resistance
Taking these boots by way of deep snow, puddles, and slush, we liked the Awater’s waterproof higher. The leather-based of the higher is stable sufficient to take by way of puddles whereas remaining supple sufficient to be snug. The shaft of the boot tightens snugly across the calf and shins, preserving snow out. It is a design function typically missing in different informal boots. We liked that these boots might maintain our ft dry, even when trudging by way of sloppy snow.
The comparatively low shaft top is their largest weak spot. At seven inches, it’s taller than different informal boots we examined however lacks the peak to be as waterproof as different boots devoted to winter circumstances. We additionally observed some lack of climate resistance in excessive abrasion areas of the boots like alongside the insides as they absorbed water faster than areas that remained contemporary and waterproof.
Sturdiness
After utilizing the Kamik Atwater boots a number of occasions for errands and brief hikes, we observed some untimely indicators of damage in these boots. A number of of the seams began to develop free threads, significantly in locations that obtain loads of stress like flex factors and toe creases. The leather-based rand of the boot began to point out fairly a bit of damage after strolling by way of crusty and icy snow, and a few gaps began to develop between the rand and the only real of the boot.
Though they’re sturdy sufficient for brief hikes and strolling within the metropolis, these boots lack the rugged construct high quality of others examined wanted for a lot of hours spent on the paths. Given their value, we don’t anticipate the best construct high quality in these boots. Throughout our testing, we discovered the sturdiness to be what we might anticipate given their value level.
Ought to You Purchase the Kamik Atwater Winter Boot?
When you’re on the lookout for a boot that’s fashionable sufficient to take out in town however rugged sufficient for the outside, then the Kamik Atwater is what you’ve been looking for. These boots’ type makes them at dwelling at social occasions whereas their efficiency options are sufficient to take them by way of snow and chilly for brief hikes. At a low value level, these boots’ sturdiness is just not as excessive as others we have now examined. So whilst you may not need to take these out climbing mountains or on epic winter expeditions, they’re versatile sufficient to work for many in-town makes use of and lightweight hikes.
What Different Males’s Winter Boots Ought to You Contemplate?
For extra males’s choices, please take a peak at our full information to the greatest winter boots.
Columbia Fairbanks Assessment – One other informal boot with climbing efficiency, take a look at the Columbia Fairbanks for its heat, consolation, and around-town type.
Blundstone Thermal Assessment – With its instantly recognizable type, the Blundstone Thermal is a cushty and heat boot with nice climate resistance for moist days. Its iconic look and moist climate efficiency make it a flexible choice for an in-town boot.
Merrell Nova 3 Thermo Assessment – If consolation is your primary consideration for a boot however you need one that may nonetheless carry out on the paths, take a look at the Merrell Nova 3 Thermo. It has the consolation of a operating shoe and the heat of a winter boot.