REASONS TO BUY
Warm
Comfortable
Affordable
Good traction
REASONS TO AVOID
Not completely waterproof
More labor intensive to put on than others
Kamik Nation Plus Review
A casual boot for tromping around in the snow at a budget friendly price
Credit: Kamik
RELATED: Best Winter Boots for Men of 2024
Our Verdict
The Kamik Nation Plus is a traditional Pac boot, meaning that it has an insulated inner liner and a waterproof outer. This design has long been considered a hallmark of winter boots, and we feel that while the Nation Plus bears many similarities to Sorel boots, it's actually a step ahead when it comes to fit and warmth. The fit of the Nation Plus is surprisingly snug, allowing for more capable footwork on icy pathways and snow-covered driveways and trails. This performance was also bolstered by the boot's quality high-traction sole. While we have some concerns about the boot's long-term water resistance and durability, this is an excellent choice for the money.
Editor's Note: We updated this review on December 15, 2022, with additional results after a full retest.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Kamik Nation Plus | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Winter Boot |  Best Winter Hiking Boot |  Best Bang for Your Buck | ||
| Price | $70.60 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $159.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $119.99 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $97.30 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $121.11 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A very comfortable boot at the most affordable price | 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 | With good performance across the board, these low-priced boots deliver great value | A convenient slip-on work boot with handles, this boot has a tricky fit |
| Rating Categories | Kamik Nation Plus | The North Face Chil... | Merrell Thermo Chil... | Columbia Bugaboot III | Bogs Bozeman Tall |
| Warmth (25%) | |||||
| Weather Protection (25%) | |||||
| Comfort and Fit (20%) | |||||
| Traction (15%) | |||||
| Durability (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Kamik Nation Plus | The North Face Chil... | Merrell Thermo Chil... | Columbia Bugaboot III | Bogs Bozeman Tall |
| Measured Weight | 4.56 lbs (size 13) | 3.86 lbs (size 13) | 2.74 lbs (size 13) | 3.69 lbs (size 13) | 4.88 lbs (size 13) |
| Measured Shaft Height | 12" | 11" | 7.5" | 10.5" | 13" |
| Maximum Puddle Depth | 8" | 8.5" | 6.5" | 8" | 11.5" |
| Fit Details | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | Roomy |
| Appropriate Activity | Town, Chores, Errands | Town, errands | Hiking, town | Hiking, town, chores, errands | Chores |
| Lining/Insulation | 200B 3M Thinsulate | 400g Heatseeker Eco | 200g M Select | 200g synthetic | 7mm Neo-Tech neoprene |
| Upper Material | Waterproof suede | Waterproof leather & suede | Waterproof polyurethane-coated leather and mesh | Waterproof leather | Rubber |
| Toe Box | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
| Outsole | Rubber | Surface Control rubber | Rubber | Omni-Grip Rubber | BioGrip |
| Company Claimed Cold Weather Rating | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | -72 F |
| Animal Products | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Sizes Available | 7 - 14 | 7 - 14 | 7 - 15 | 7 - 17 | 7 - 14 |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Nation Plus is noticeably less expensive than other similar models, but there are flaws that were hard to overlook. The lower flood height severely impacted wet weather performance, and the wet material leached color and ended up staining the wood floor of our entryway, so exercise caution. We also found the leather heel reinforcements to be uncomfortable when walking.
Performance Comparison
The Kamik Nation Plus, hard at work shoveling snow after a winter storm.
Credit: Sam Willits
Warmth
The Nation Plus winter boot has just 200 grams of Thinsulate insulation. At first glance, we thought it would be one of the coldest boots in our test. In reality, it performs well against boots with double the insulation. This is because the insulation is allowed to maintain its loft, while other boots compress their insulation by sewing it behind an inner liner material. The sole is thick rubber and provides good insulation from cold concrete and asphalt. A thin metallic lining is sewn into the bottom of the boot liner to increase its R-Value, blocking heat transfer from your feet to the ground.
A removable liner with synthetic insulation provides warmth.
Credit: Sam Willits
Water Resistance
The exterior of the Nation Plus is built from thick rubber and suede leather, which did not suffer from major leakage issues, though it performed less admirably than we would have hoped for such a tall boot. That said, the rubber sole and outsole are one molded piece, so major damage would have to occur for a leak to spring there, and a waterproofing agent is daubed along the inside stitching where the rubber meets the suede.
However, the seam that stitches the waterproofed, gusseted tongue to the leather upper allows water to leak through, lowering the maximum puddle depth to 4.5 inches. This is a shame since the boot's shaft is a full 12 inches high. While prolonged deep immersions are not what this model is meant to withstand, as soon as water enters through the tongue gusset, the Thinsulate foam insulation is very quick to soak it up, making the inner liner cold and soggy.
Usually, we'd watch out for water seeping in through the saddle between the tongue and the shaft, but these boots leak where the leather meets the rubber, only 4.5 inches above the ground.
Credit: Sam Willits
Comfort and Fit
This boot fits true to size, though Pac boots tend to give a sloppier fit than others because they occupy a space somewhere between a traditional lace-up boot and a slip-on. The bottom of the liner on the Nation Plus offers only a thin felt piece between your foot and the firm sole below. After standing around in the boot for a while, we could feel the hardness of the sole. There is also a stiff leather reinforcement patch on the outside of the heel, where lots of abrasion occurs. This patch is stiff and dug into our Achilles tendons whenever we took a step forward. We thought this would change over time as the boots broke in, but it didn't. As such, these boots aren't that comfortable to wear.
The Nation Plus fits easily and somewhat spaciously, but a thick leather pad on the heel limits mobility and comfort when walking.
Credit: Sam Willits
Traction
The tread pattern on the Nation Plus is reminiscent of a pair of burly off-road tires, featuring deep lugs that offer good traction in soft snow and muck but keep enough surface area to travel on flat and slippery surfaces like icy pavement effectively. The soft, sticky rubber compound seems to aid in the grip on icy surfaces and does not cost the boot any grip on snow or hardpack. Every time we thought we had found a boot with good grip on the ice, we would slip the Nation Plus on the other foot and test them side by side, and every time the Nation Plus was among the grippiest. That said, ice is still ice, and nothing will guarantee you can stay on your feet on an ice rink, but these boots did better than most of the others.
The Nation Plus has a decent tread pattern, but there is a lot of negative space.
Credit: Sam Willits
Durability
These boots are built relatively well and last a long time. Every seam is double-stitched, meaning it would take a lot of wear and tear to get the pieces of leather to separate. We have been testing these boots for a long time and haven't experienced a leather panel separating. However, we have noticed that the leather can leach out color when wet, and one tester noticed some color from the leather staining his mudroom floor. Also, unlike other Pac boots, the Nation Plus has a synthetically-insulated liner instead of felt, and this material packs down over time and loses its loft, but not for a while.
The Nation Plus is built to last, with leather reinforcements and double stitching.
Credit: Sam Willits
Should You Buy the Kamik Nation Plus?
This boot performs decently well, and it comes for a price that is hard to complain about. However, for just a little more money, you can get a much better boot. Modern winter boots have diverged from Pac boots by combining the insulation with the shell, which creates an overall lighter and better-fitting boot that is easier to wear. We recommend either spending a little more money on a much better boot or choosing a bargain-basement model that will get you through an average winter just as well as this one will.
Pac boots are usually not supportive enough for long hikes but they work great to get you outside for a dog walk.
Credit: Elizabeth Riley
What Other Winter Boots Should You Consider?
If you are looking for the best traditional Pac boot on the market, the Sorel Caribou is a tried and true model that will last forever. If you want a warm, comfortable, and durable model that is also lighter and more nimble, The North Face Chilkat V 400 is our recommendation for most users. And if the low price of the Nation Plus is what appeals to you, check out the Columbia Bugaboot III, which is only a little more expensive but delivers great performance.
—
Jeff Dobronyi and Andy Wellman
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