Okay, full disclosure: I have not actually gone clam digging in these boots. Does sound like fun though. But I have tromped along a beach at low tide while a freezing rain fell and they kept my feet nice and cozy. In fact, pretty much no matter what I’ve done in the Bogs Urban Chelsea insulated boots, my feet have been dry and warm and happy.
They’re my go-to boot for pretty much anything I’m doing outside right now as storm after storm pounds Northern California. I keep them by the front door and slide ’em on and no matter where my feet take me that day, it’s not a problem.
That they’re called “Urban Chelsea” seems like a misnomer to me—they’re perfect outdoor generalists. The boots are a tough, 100% waterproof rubber outer with a plush, 5 millimeters of insulation using something they call NeoTech, good to, Bogs says, temperatures around minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Now, I haven’t had them in anything close to that cold, but they’ve handled snowshoeing at around 30 degrees just fine.
The soles are non-slip, have really deep, aggressive lugs, and and are great for most wintry conditions. Anything short of an ice-skating rink has been easy. I’ve had my one-year-old in a backpack and worn them while hiking on icy trails and I felt totally confident I wouldn’t pitch my baby overboard.
*Now then, these aren’t technically hiking boots. They are winterized rubber boots, as a commenter pointed out. So if you’re expecting a rigid boot here, you’ll be disappointed. The draw is that they’re pull-on rubber boots with the insulation, grip, and, for me, comfort, to be worn on a wet weather hike if you think you might be ankle deep in mud and muck.*
I know what you’re thinking right about now: waterproof, insulated boots, how bad do those puppies stink after a few solid days of use? Somehow they smell like nothing. Even after low-tide beach walking.
Here they are conscripted into snowshoe duty.
Bogs has also done a nice job incorporating materials that are at least a little better for the environment than standard, run-of-the-mill stuff too.
They use BLOOM’s algae-based foam in the footbed, which is a closed cell-foam made from algae that has been removed from sensitive waterways where a harmful algal bloom is happening. I’m stoked to see BLOOM is still out there, cleaning up the nation’s waterways. I covered them years ago when they started making surf-related products and the tech was being used to clean a huge lake in Florida suffering from constant algal blooms. They clean freshwater systems and produce a foam with no virgin plastics from the algae they harvest—a huge win-win. Kudos to Bogs for striving to make boots as cleanly as possible. I’m not sure if they’re using it in these boots, but they also make some of their footwear with Yulex, a naturally-derived neoprene made from plants, not petroleum.
I’ve been very happy with these boots, and happy to support a company fighting the good fight. Can’t recommend them highly enough. I’ve a sneaking suspicion they’re discontinued, but you can find them a few places right now for around $100 – 150. Unsure what the women’s version is, but I’d be willing to bet anything they make with the Arcata name is gonna be good.
BUY:
just checked. REI has a very limited size selection of these boots in men’s sizes, 7, 8, 12. Price is $150.
Yeah, Amazon has some too. https://amzn.to/3XcZvn6
You embrace new kinds of materials at some risk, good thing they’re not super expensive.
I bought some top Asolo mountaineer boots from REI in ‘07 or so. $300+ then! There was some trendy plastic air bladder between the boot and the Vibram sole. Boy did I love breaking in those babies as a lightweight hiker!
A terrible accident in 2015 shattered my ankle. By the time I could use the all leather boots again in 2016, the silly air bladders had literally disintegrated!
The bunheads at REI mocked me for expecting a very expensive legacy brand to not just fall apart sitting in the closet.
I have historic logging boots from the 1940’s that are completely functional to this day because they are made of only leather. Too bad they’re too small.
Can’t just resole ($80) because what goes in that pocket now?
Just returned a pair of these bouts and their lace up counterpart.
They are insulated rubber boots, fit is typical of “galoshes”.
These are fine for limited walking, certainly not a hiking boot, nor are they something to use for snowshoeing.
I’ve put at least 20 miles on ’em snowshoeing. I did a 6-mile hike in them yesterday with no issues, but yeah, these aren’t really designed for that. I’ll note it in the piece. Maybe yours were too big?
You might just be comfortable with a heavier boot. I’m seeing that the men’s Bogs’ clock-in at 3lbs 6 oz per REI website, and the La Sportvia Trango GTX mountaineering boots are 2 lbs 13.2 oz. Mountaineering boots are (for most hikers) the heaviest boots they own too.
Not sure what the use case for these “galoshes” is? Do they replace insulated hiking boots? I doubt that.
The use case is right there in the title. I have several pairs of insulated winter boots, but these are the boots by my front door. You don’t need to wear burly winter boots for lots of use cases people probably wear them for. What else would you have liked to see here?
My wife practically lives in Bogs, esp in winter. She likes the tall, classic ones with handles. I have so many mountain boots, I don’t really need a pair, but sometimes I’m a bit envious when I’m fiddling around with laces and gaiters, and she just slides hers on. They’re perfect for going out to the garden, shoveling snow, taking the dog for a walk, slipping into after skiing, etc. And you wouldn’t believe the hikes she’s done in them!
Nope, these won’t work for clam digging! Need to be at least knee high, if not more