Sorel Conquest Men's Winter Boots Review

Features:

Sorel Conquest® winter boots are feature rich and ready for the demanding outdoorsman. Features include a seam sealed upper for complete waterproofness and Thinsulate™ insulation to keep toes warm down to -40°F. The built in gator and Achilles heel strap complete the boot allowing a customized fit while sealing out snow.

Specifications:

Material (upper): Leather and synthetic textile
Material (lower): Injection molded waterproof thermal rubber
Sole: Multi-directional rubber lug outsole
Insulation: 400 g Thinsulate™ Ultra
Rating: -40°F
Weight (sz 11): 4 lbs 11 oz.

In The Field:

Sorel Conquest boots feel like a successful cross between a stiff winter hiking boot and a soft pac boot. They provide the best of both worlds. There is enough support for hiking in snowshoes and enough pliability to make them comfortable for wearing around snow camp. The sizing is spot on. I normally wear size 10.5 to 11 shoes and my Sorel Conquest boots in size 11 fit perfectly. I could probably slip into a size 10.5, but I bought the size 11. This allows me to wear bulky socks during the winter with a little space so my feet are not constricted. If you wear tight boots, blood flow is reduced, resulting in cold feet.

On my first adventure in the Sorel Conquest boots, I was a little concerned about the fit of my left boot. While snowshoeing to our winter camping spot, part of the boot was rubbing on my ankle. Luckily this went away after my first hike and the boots now fit like a glove. They just needed a little breaking in.

I often get cold feet on my winter adventures, but the Conquest boots do a great job insulating from freezing temperatures. Even after snowshoeing a couple miles (resulting in sweaty feet), the boots insulate well at rest. Due to the materials used on the Conquest boots, they are not very breathable. My socks and the inside of the boots remain moist, but not uncomfortably so. They still keep my feet warm and comfortable. I imagine this will be less of an issue for the average person whose feet do not constantly sweat. The only downfall about this retained moisture is when temperatures drop below freezing at night, the boots freeze and become difficult to put on in the morning. This can lead to cold feet before the boots thaw. This has not been a problem for me on 10° mornings, but I always carry disposable toe warmers just in case. I suspect that in sub-zero temperatures I would need to use my toe warmers in the morning.

I cannot comment authoritatively on the waterproof aspect of the Sorel Conquest boots. They seem to keep water out, but I cannot be sure since my sweaty feet always produce moisture in the boots. They do not feel like they leak, so I have been happy with their performance. The built-in gators work great at keeping snow out. I have yet to get snow in my boots, even while sinking to my waist through holes in the snow.

Snowshoeing with the Conquest boots is extremely comfortable. They provide plenty of support and include a boot notch at the back to keep snowshoe bindings in place. The longest continuous distance I have snowshoed while wearing the Sorel Conquest boots is about four miles. Keep in mind, however, this was while pulling a 100 pound pulk sled. My feet felt great the entire hike. I have no doubt the boots could handle much longer hikes. I have also hiked in the boots without snowshoes on hard-packed snow with the same favorable results. The lug soles provide good traction.

See "Snowshoeing to Twin Lakes", "Snow Camping at Twin Lakes", and "Snow Camping in Upper Clackamas" where these Sorel boots were used.

Final Thoughts:

I highly recommend the Sorel Conquest winter boots. My feet consistently stay warm and comfortable. They are great with or without snowshoes. These are now the only boots I wear on all my winter adventures. Available from amazon.com.