Males’s Alaska Fairbanks Winter Boot Assessment

Backside Line

The Columbia Fairbanks is much from essentially the most technical boot on our listing of the finest winter boots for males, however we cherished them for chilly days round city and the occasional stroll on our neighborhood trails. Taking these boots out within the chilly of Alaska, they instantly felt at dwelling within the ice and snow. It’s no shock contemplating they’re named after one of many coldest cities within the state. 

We shortly discovered the Fairbanks will not be the boot to tackle lengthy hikes or in deep snow. Though the extraordinarily versatile sole is comfy to stroll in, it lacks the construction and help wanted for lengthy hikes and snowy adventures. The Cordura higher doesn’t block moisture to the extent wanted for lengthy walks in moist situations. The shaft of the boot can also be one of many lowest we examined, so it allows massive quantities of snow.

When utilizing the Fairbanks, it’s most fitted for in-town adventures the place excessive climate resistance and sturdiness aren’t wanted. Equally at dwelling in a espresso store as they’re on a neighborhood path, the Fairbanks is a flexible boot for informal use.

Consolation

Sporting the Columbia Fairbanks felt like slipping on a well-recognized pair of trainers. The tender and pliable sole requires no breaking in and feels comfy proper out of the field. The pliability of the higher meant that the boot could possibly be tightened securely with ease. Many different winter boots’ rigid higher means tightening down the laces is usually a chore.

We did discover that the consolation of those boots decreased over time because the soles turned extra packed out. This led to the boot feeling extra sloppy. The form of the boot is extensively interesting to most, however these with wider ft could match higher because the boot packs out with use.

Heat

General, the Columbia Fairbanks boot stored us fairly heat – so long as it stayed dry. We particularly selected to put on these boots within the single digits above and beneath zero and have been happy with how properly they stored our ft heat. With 200g of artificial insulation, together with Columbia’s Omni-Warmth, this was loads of insulation for many temperatures encountered.

Nevertheless, as soon as moist, this boot shortly misplaced its insulative properties. The artificial insulation used doesn’t present the heat when moist of different manufacturers, and we simply felt the chilly beginning in our toes. For chilly and moist situations, these will not be the primary boots of selection. However for the dry chilly of a sub-zero day, we cherished utilizing these boots when out and round city.

Traction

The Columbia Fairbanks comes armed with an array of flat-faced rectangular lugs. These lugs work finest on planar surfaces like ice-covered sidewalks and packed snow. We didn’t run into any points utilizing these for errands and on surfaces commonest in winter cities. They caught to packed snow like velcro, and ice-covered sidewalks have been no drawback.

Nevertheless, the traction of this boot suffers when in deep snow. The lugs lack the depth wanted for traction in unfastened snow, and their barely rounded profile means they don’t chunk in addition to these with sharp lugs. We slipped and slid on hills in these and received’t be reaching for them when needing to traverse deep snow or steep terrain.

Climate Resistance

Throughout our testing in moist and heavy snow, we discovered that the Columbia Fairbanks boots have been shortly overwhelmed and have become moist simply. The Cordura higher will not be climate immune to the diploma that we had hoped. After a day of strolling by slush and puddles, our ft have been moist, and the fabric was saturated. With none type of boot heater to dry them out, these boots stayed moist lengthy after use.

With a shaft top of 4.5 inches, these aren’t the boots to take out in something greater than ankle-deep snow. Even with the boots tightened down, there may be nonetheless a big hole behind the boot that simply fills with snow. The snow packed in across the ankles and needed to be periodically dug out. Though we received’t be utilizing these boots on backcountry adventures, they’re nonetheless sufficient for many informal makes use of.

Sturdiness

The sturdiness of those boots leaves some room for enchancment, too. After a couple of makes use of, we discovered the higher beginning to separate from the only, revealing the glue used to carry the 2 parts collectively. Although the sewn seams of the boot remained intact, the boot had misplaced some integrity total. The versatile sole, whereas initially comfy, shortly misplaced any supportive qualities. This boot could not maintain as much as heavy utilization yr after yr, however for an affordable value, it gives sufficient sturdiness for informal use round city.

Ought to You Purchase the Columbia Fairbanks Winter Boot?

With its attainable value level, the Columbia Fairbanks are excellent for these trying to make their greenback stretch. With a excessive diploma of heat and glorious traction on agency surfaces, these boots are most at dwelling within the metropolis, working errands, and doing mild yard work within the winter. Their versatile sole and comfy lining make them simple to put on for hours at a time. Although the Fairbanks are nice for round city, these aren’t those for lengthy hikes, deep snow, or severe winter adventures. Their higher lacks sufficient climate resistance to be efficient, and the opening of the boot gapes open, letting in a considerable amount of snow. For those who’re in search of a boot solely for in-town use, then it’s onerous to go mistaken with the Columbia Fairbanks.

What Different Males’s Winter Boots Ought to You Think about?

For extra cold-weather footwear suggestions for males, please see CleverHiker’s full information to one of the best mountaineering boots.

Kamik Atwater Assessment – In case you are after an informal boot, however the Fairbanks left you wanting extra climate resistance, the Atwater checks each these bins. Heat, weather-resistant, and comfy, it’s proper at dwelling on chilly metropolis streets.

Blundstone Thermal Assessment – The Blundstone’s model is iconic, and the Thermal model gives climate resistance and heat for winter actions. With extra efficiency in moist situations than the Fairbanks, the Thermals are the right boot for moist and chilly winters.

The Sorel Caribou Assessment – With its immediately recognizable model, the Sorel Caribou packs some severe heat for the coldest days whereas nonetheless being refined sufficient for days round city.