REASONS TO BUY
Relatively inexpensive
Great performance across the board
REASONS TO AVOID
Clunky
Style isn't the best
Questionable construction quality
Columbia Bugaboot III Review
These affordable boots nearly match the performance of the best models but without straining your wallet
These boots bathe our feet in comfort, and fit most foot shapes well.
Credit: Sam Willits
RELATED: Best Winter Boots for Men of 2024
Our Verdict
The Columbia Bugaboot III is a solid all-around performer that nearly matches the performance of the best boots but at a lower price, earning it an award for impressive value. The first thing you'll notice when putting these boots on is their perfect fit, with added comfort thanks to soft insulation and a microfleece lining. With plenty of loft throughout the boot, and a thick shell material, these boots are also very warm, and they don't allow water to penetrate. The soles have good traction for most surface conditions. The boot also features quality components, though we noticed one construction flaw that gives us pause. But considering their low price, the Bugaboot offers an excellent value for those who need a fully-featured winter boot. Our article on the best men's winter boots will show you how it fares versus competing products.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Columbia Bugaboot III | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Bang for Your Buck |  Best Overall Winter Boot |  Best Winter Hiking Boot | ||
| Price | $97.30 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $159.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $119.99 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $121.11 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $70.60 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | With good performance across the board, these low-priced boots deliver great value | These boots perform great across the board, earning top accolades for being so well-rounded | This boot makes winter walks comfortable and secure, but it isn't a great option for deep snow | A convenient slip-on work boot with handles, this boot has a tricky fit | A very comfortable boot at the most affordable price |
| Rating Categories | Columbia Bugaboot III | The North Face Chil... | Merrell Thermo Chil... | Bogs Bozeman Tall | Kamik Nation Plus |
| Warmth (25%) | |||||
| Weather Protection (25%) | |||||
| Comfort and Fit (20%) | |||||
| Traction (15%) | |||||
| Durability (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Columbia Bugaboot III | The North Face Chil... | Merrell Thermo Chil... | Bogs Bozeman Tall | Kamik Nation Plus |
| Measured Weight | 3.69 lbs (size 13) | 3.86 lbs (size 13) | 2.74 lbs (size 13) | 4.88 lbs (size 13) | 4.56 lbs (size 13) |
| Measured Shaft Height | 10.5" | 11" | 7.5" | 13" | 12" |
| Maximum Puddle Depth | 8" | 8.5" | 6.5" | 11.5" | 8" |
| Fit Details | True to size | True to size | True to size | Roomy | True to size |
| Appropriate Activity | Hiking, town, chores, errands | Town, errands | Hiking, town | Chores | Town, Chores, Errands |
| Lining/Insulation | 200g synthetic | 400g Heatseeker Eco | 200g M Select | 7mm Neo-Tech neoprene | 200B 3M Thinsulate |
| Upper Material | Waterproof leather | Waterproof leather & suede | Waterproof polyurethane-coated leather and mesh | Rubber | Waterproof suede |
| Toe Box | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
| Outsole | Omni-Grip Rubber | Surface Control rubber | Rubber | BioGrip | Rubber |
| Company Claimed Cold Weather Rating | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | -72 F | Not listed |
| Animal Products | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Sizes Available | 7 - 17 | 7 - 14 | 7 - 15 | 7 - 14 | 7 - 14 |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Columbia Bugaboot III are very comfortable to wear. They fit well and provide a high level of warmth. Other than that, they don't excel above the rest of the field, but they don't come up short in any metric, either. For the price, this are definitely one that should be on your short list.
Performance Comparison
The Columbia Bugaboot III hard at work shoveling the sidewalk after a winter snowstorm.
Credit: Sam Willits
Warmth
With plenty of high-quality synthetic insulation, these boots provide much more warmth than we expected — especially given the price. We wore these boots in frigid early-season conditions in the Colorado Rockies, and our feet never got cold. The thick rubber around the foot and burly leather upper also help keep cold snow and water from infiltrating and making your feet get cold.
Historically, Pac boots with thick, removable felt liners provided the most warmth. However, winter boots are beginning to use modern synthetic insulation to create lighter, warmer footwear. This boot uses 200-gram weight synthetic insulation throughout the foot and shaft to keep the user warm, which it does to great effect without weighing too much.
Thick, cozy synthetic insulation with a microfleece lining provides the Bugaboot III's warmth.
Credit: Sam Willits
Weather Protection
The Bugaboot III offers pretty good weather protection, with 8 inches of puddle depth before water seeps in over the tongue. We did not experience any water penetration below this threshold, despite the seam between the leather and rubber being somewhat loose. But more on that later.
The shaft of the Bugaboot III is 10.5 inches (27 centimeters) high, which is the effective height of the boot when the boot is fully laced up in dry powder snow. This is plenty tall enough for shoveling the driveway after a snowfall, taking out the trash in driving snowstorms, driving to the ski resort on a powder day, or hitting the sledding hill on a snow day from school. These boots offer plenty of weather resistance for 90% of users and typical winter conditions that don't get too crazy.
The Bugaboot III is waterproof up to the saddle between the tongue and shaft.
Credit: Sam Willits
Comfort and Fit
These boots are downright comfortable, and immediately after putting on the Bugaboot III, you'll feel like you never want to wear another snow boot. The thick but soft synthetic insulation and fleece lining are contoured to envelop the foot's contours and take up extra space, creating a cozy feeling and preventing the foot from sliding around. Over time, these soft padded areas will mold to the shape of your foot, creating a custom fit. The sole is also thick and padded, making it comfortable to walk long distances in this boot.
These boots are incredibly comfortable, enough that we took them on long walks in winter weather and wore them on long days of errands in the city. The sole is perfectly shaped to roll across firm surfaces and cushioned enough to handle rough trails covered in rocks and roots. The upper shaft is flexible enough to allow freedom of movement in the ankle. We are very impressed by the comfort and fit of these boots.
Traction
The Bugaboot III has great traction, with more than enough for snowy errands around town and shoveling the driveway. The ratio of positive to negative space on the sole is nearly equal, and the lugs are sharp enough to bite into most rough surfaces. The rubber is sticky enough to grab dry urban surfaces without a hitch.
We wish the tread on this boot was a little deeper, which would help performance in deep snow. That said, the tread around the edge of the sole is the sharpest, which bites into powder no problem. We never had a problem with the tread of these boots, except in the deepest snow drifts. For most users and most conditions, these have plenty of traction to keep you feeling safe and sticky.
The Bugaboot III's tread can handle most snow and ice, but it gets overwhelmed in deep powder.
Credit: Sam Willits
Durability
With high-quality components, these boots promise a decent lifetime. The soft interior insulation will undoubtedly pack out at some point since they have already started to mold to our feet throughout our testing period. The sole features relatively soft rubber, but since they'll spend most of their life walking on snow and ice, we don't expect the soles to wear out before the leather uppers do.
One point of weakness appears to be the seam between the rubber shell around the foot and the leather upper above it. The leather is sewn on with solid stitching, but the leather itself is very stiff, and there is some overlapping leather that sticks out over the rubber foot shell, signaling sloppy tailoring and production. In some places, the leather is flush, but in others, it overlaps and sticks out. This material can catch on external objects and pull the stitching apart. This is the only weakness we've seen in these boots, and it could have been an anomaly of the particular pair we tested.
The only weak point on these boots is the seam between the rubber shell and the leather upper, which has construction inconsistencies.
Credit: Sam Willits
Should You Buy the Columbia Bugaboot III?
We think so. With solid performance across the board and a lower price tag than any other high-end option, these boots are a great value. Anyone who spends a lot of time in snowy and cold winter climates and wants to save some money should give these boots serious consideration. Even if budget isn't a consideration, the Bugaboot is cozy, comfortable, and very practical, making it an excellent winter boot for most users.
What Other Winter Boots Should You Consider?
The Bugaboot III is very similar to the best overall winter boot, The North Face Chilkat V 400, but scores just a little bit lower. That said, it all depends on where your priorities lie. The Bugaboot is a little warmer and more comfortable, but the Chilkat offers burlier traction and weather protection. If you are enticed by the comfort of the Bugaboot and want something similarly cozy but more stylish, we love the UGG Butte for its furry lining. Finally, if you are on a super tight budget and want something even cheaper — and are willing to compromise a bit in terms of comfort — the Kamik Nation Plus is a time-tested winter boot at a great price. It's surpassed by more modern designs but is still one to consider for the budget-minded.
—
Jeff Dobronyi
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