Columbia Bugaboot Plus III Titanium Omni-Heat Winter Boots Review

Features:

From Columbia Sportswear, "Now part of the Titanium line, we loaded this classic with the best of our technologies and materials. 600g insulation and thermal reflectors make this super warm and waterproof boot perfect for days as cold as -65F/-54C."

Columbia Sportswear's Men’s Bugaboot™ Plus III Titanium Omni-Heat™ winter boots feature OutDry absolute waterproof construction in addition to Omni-Heat™, Techlite™, and OMNI-GRIP® technologies. These boots are built for the cold down to -65°F. The Techlite™ lightweight midsole is designed for "long lasting comfort, superior cushioning, and high energy return." The Omni-Grip™ non-marking rubber outsole features winter traction lugs.

Specifications:

Material (upper): leather & nylon
Material (shell): Techlite™
Material (midsole): Techlite™
Material (lining): Omni-Heat™ reflective
Outsole: Omni-Grip™ non-marking rubber
Insulation: 600 g + Omni-Heat®
Cold Rating: -65°F/-54°C
Weight (sz 10.5): 3 lbs 4 oz. (1.455 kg)

Initial Thoughts (12/16/15):

My old electric winter boots stopped working after three seasons, so I am replacing them with these Columbia Sportswear Bugaboot™ Plus III Titanium Omni-Heat™ boots. I like the look and feel of these Titanium line boots and hope the upgraded 600 g of insulation will help keep my feet warm. My feet are prone to getting cold easily, so I plan to use heated insoles in these boots as needed.

The Bugaboot Plus III Titanium Omni-Heat boots are stiff, but that is something I want in a snow boot that I primarily use for snowmobiling. I would describe them as in-between a broken in pair of classic pac boots and a snowboarding boot.

The only issue I can see with the Columbia Bugaboot Plus III Titanium Omni-Heat boots is the upper two open eyelets are large and sharp. While they make lacing up the boots quick and easy, I fear they may abrade and/or rip the powder skirts on my snow pants. I hope I am wrong and will update this review after my first field test.

Initial Field Test (12/19/15):

My first use of my Columbia Bugaboot Plus III Titanium Omni-Heat boots was on a snowmobile trip near Mt Hood, Oregon. The temperature was around 30°F most of the trip. I am pleased to report the boots kept my feet warm all day. Granted 30°F is not very cold, but for my feet that is cold enough for them to get cold in many boots.

My fears about the open eyelets on the Bugaboot Plus III Titanium Omni-Heat boots proved to be false. They did not catch or abrade my snow pants. In fact the Bugaboots are so light and non-bulky, the snow skirts on my pants slipped off several times throughout the day. This is not a fault of the boots by any means, but a lack of tightening adjustment on my pants.

When I was trying on the Columbia Bugaboot Plus III Titanium Omni-Heat boots in the store, I thought there was only one boot in the box when I picked it up because these boots are so light. After a day of riding, I definitely appreciated their lightness and warmth. If I ever hike in them it should help reduce fatigue.

I ended up using my Columbia Bugaboot Plus III Titanium Omni-Heat boots again the next day on another snowmobile trip. This time it was a couple degrees colder and dumping snow. I also walked about a mile in the snow. After my short hike I noticed my toes on the verge of getting cold, but they didn't. This is on par for how I assumed these 600g insulated boots would perform. Normal people would likely find these boots very warm.

Overall, I am impressed with the Columbia Bugaboot Plus III Titanium Omni-Heat boots. They look and feel great. My feet have stayed as warm as possible and dry as well. I think with the addition of heated insoles, I will be able to be out in very cold temps for extended periods of time in these Bugaboots.

See Upper Clackamas snowmobile adventure where the Columbia Sportswear Men's Bugaboot™ Plus III Titanium Omni-Heat™ winter boots were used.

Available from amazon.com.