Bogs
January 12, 2012
Bogs are the new boot craze sweeping the Arctic Circle and its general vicinity. Evidently women of the north are sick of Xtra-Tufs and though they still have a worthy following, you’re almost as likely to see Bogs these days around here. They come in tons of fun colors so you’re not stuck with basic brown or black, which I think is a big part of their appeal. My friend Barry does not understand this trend and got all bent out of shape at women wearing “shit kickers(!)” (emphasis his) as fashion. I wonder what he’d think if he went to a concert here and saw all the Girdwood twentysomethings in their striped thigh-highs topped with Xtra-Tufs. He’s from Vermont but doesn’t understand wearing mud boots? I don’t get it, but now that I’m thinking about it I realize that he is about 6’8″ so he has probably never needed rain boots in his life. He’s a long way from the mud.
For us stunted earthlings, protection from the elements is important. When Bogs asked if I’d try their boots out for review, I was eager to do so in order to get in on this new trend. I naturally asked for the basic colors because that’s just my thing. I tried the Classic Ultra High Handles style and a pair of the Bridgeport slip-on shoes.
The Classic Ultra High are rubber and neoprene and, as you can tell from the name and the picture above, have handles for ease of pull-on (very much appreciated). The thick sole helps insulate feet from the cold ground and naturally the rubber boots are completely waterproof. This is great for what we call “breakup” in Alaska – when the snow and ice melt and “break up” into piles of slush. Some say this season coincides with the end of all those “keep me warm through the long cold winter” relationships-of-convenience, but I don’t know if there is anything to that. It’s not going to be breakup for a good long time though, and I was interested in the Classic Ultra High boot primarily to try for winter biking. We’re having quite a cold winter and as usual I’ve been struggling with cold feet and these are rated to -40. The women riders in the Yukon that I follow in the blogosphere wear Bogs in some of their pics so I wanted to see if they would help keep me warm too.
Unfortunately I did not find that the temperature rating was too accurate. I can’t wear these for biking because I get too cold; the wind chill and proximity to the metal pedals is too much for these boots. Since they are waterproof, they also make my feet bathe in sweat (sexy, no?) which I think that contributes to why my feet get so cold. I don’t think this is a real failing on the part of the boots; it’s hard to keep feet warm when biking in the winter. The boots are still great for doing outdoor winter chores (they were originally developed for dairy farmers), for fishing, and for day hiking if you want to cross marshy areas (which I often do). It’s winter right now, but I’ll likely use them for fishing too. If you’re a horsey person you’ll love these around the barn. They are a nice alternative to Xtra-Tufs and there are many other styles to choose from if you don’t like the Ultra High Handles style.
The fit is kind of hit and miss from what I can figure. They don’t come in half sizes and I thought that my regular size fit OK, but I’ve been researching what others say and evidently the boot is supposed to fit more snugly than it fits me. However, some people say the boot runs small and I didn’t find that to be true. I’d recommend trying on a few pairs to get the fit you want.
I also tried the Bridgeport slip-on shoe style. I fell in love with these immediately. It helped that we’ve had the most bizarre winter – record-breaking snow along with five major thaw events that have turned everything into a sloppy, slippery mess until it freezes again. I’ve been wearing the Bridgeports around town during those events and they’re great. They’re comfortable and supportive and actually look pretty cute with jeans (more important than I expected). I actually like these better than the tall boots; they seem to fit better so maybe there is a sizing issue with the taller pair. The sole isn’t as thick but they’re a reasonable choice for around town, or on a boat deck (you fish, right?) or anywhere you’re likely to encounter puddles (obviously). A great option if you’re not into tucking your pants legs into tall boots.
All in all I think the Bogs have a lot to offer. They come in such a variety of colors and heights that you’re bound to find something that you like. For a rubber boot they’re pretty warm though I think -40 is an exaggeration. I didn’t stay warm yesterday in 32 degree temps while riding my bike, but I do allow that bike riding is a difficult situation for footwear. You can check out more Bogs styles on their web site here, but don’t get confused about the menu showing “Agricultural,” “Outdoor,” and “Casual” styles; they’re all the same thing. Have fun picking out your pattern!
Dansko Clogs
January 9, 2012
If you are an Alaskan woman (or a nurse or a flight attendant. Or a gay man. Or a Scandinavian) who spends any time in one of the “bigger” towns here, chance are that you and all of your friends already wear Dansko clogs. They are one of those Alaska staples, like Carhartts and X-tra Tufs. I wore my own to nubs so Dansko sent me some new ones to try.
I’ve been wearing the Professional Clogs for years. They are the basic clog of the line, and you see them on nurses and Alaska Airlines flight attendants regularly. Honestly, if you are a flight attendant and you’re not wearing comfortable shoes…I don’t know how you do it. They are my favorites of the line (I like simple and basic, I admit) and the latest iteration hasn’t changed much. The thing I like about the Pro Clog is that the base is nice and wide so you’re not teetering around (not that you’ll ever teeter in clogs, unless you’re doing it wrong). The Pro comes in all kinds of colors, from the basic to the crazy, so you’re sure to find something that strikes your fancy. I’ve always wanted snakeskin, myself, or is that officially “trying too hard?” The Pro can successfully pair with business-y attire if you’ve an eye for that kind of thing; it’s nice in the winter to have reasonably sensible shoes when hiking urban streets to go to work. You do see people wearing these with dresses and skirts, to which I say…eh…to each her own. Think Lisa from Six Feet Under.
Because I’m stuck in my ways, I would have been happy with a pair of Pro Clogs in each the basic colors. Dansko wanted to highlight other styles, though, so I was forced out of my rut with the Stacie. Yes, it looks almost the same, with a little extra stitching and styling. I found that this shoe is a little daintier and narrower than the Pro Clog which really can’t hurt. They have a little less of that obvious clog look which is nice, and I have no trouble pairing these with slacks or dress pants. The foot hole (I don’t know…? the place in which you slip your foot? Someone help me here) is smaller than the pro clog and the shoe stays put a little better; no slippage. I wore these today for one of my very rare dressy office days and I loved them. Super comfortable, nice cushy insole. I think they’re a tad more comfortable than the Pro Clog.
The base of support is a little narrower, conceivably making it easier to slip – my one complaint about clogs is the thick sole; if you slip you can do some serious ankle damage, so I caution against wearing them on ice. The thick sole makes it dangerous to slip but it does make for convenience when walking through a few inches of snow. Your jeans hem might get wet but your socks have a chance of staying dry.
If the snow is any deeper than that, you might want to go with the Stormy. It’s an ankle boot on the same clog platform as the Stacie. The upper is lined with shearling and folds down if you want a different look. I have the black but I think it’s cuter in brown because it has a lighter shearling so there’s some appealing contrast there. I like the nice warm shearling, but the bummer is that it’s not extended to inside the clog part (which makes sense, but would still be super cozy until it wore out). I can’t quite pull these off with a dress but I bet some of you fashionistas can.
So there you have it. How to dress like an Alaskan, and how to dress like a slightly more fashionable Alaskan. Don’t get me wrong. I love the Pro Clogs for ever and ever. They’re just not too original up here where people wear comfortable shoes, though since I’ve seen more stilettos on the streets of Anchorage lately, you never know. Which reminds me; another major benefit of clogs is that they make you look taller without looking like you’re trying to look taller. Tom Cruise, clue in.
Merrell Wilderness Remix Boot
November 16, 2011
UPDATE: I just wore these boots again in sloppy weather (strangely enough, one month exactly from the time I wrote the original review and for the same event) and was saddened to find that they’re not waterproof at all. Boots that have an upper sewn to the last are only as good as the glue that holds the upper to the last, and this glue is not good at all. They’ve been worn maybe 4-5 times total and are already coming apart. Too bad! I thought it was worth mentioning this because they are not cheap boots. They’re still worth having, but keep an eye on that glue and maybe don’t plan to wear them in wet weather.
So we had to put off the whole Boot Month idea, which was supposed to take us through October but had to be postponed because none of the boots had shown up. Then I came home from a trip to…somewhere…wow, I can’t remember which is alarming because it must mean I’m traveling too much. Anyway, so I got home from some trip and found the lower half of my house filled with boxes of boots. So now the boots are here, so we’ll continue Boot Month, which I never said would be continuous, with the ones that seem the most apropos for this week’s single digit temperatures.
When I picked out this boot I wasn’t sure whether I’d like it. The quilted part seemed really gimmicky and I didn’t think it would be all that cute anyway. Wrong, wrong, wrong! I took this boot out for First Friday (Anchorage’s would-be art celebration that usually ends up being mostly bar-hopping) this month in the November chill, committing to my project by wearing a dress to fully assess the boot’s warming capabilities. Not being much of a bar-hopper and evidently not knowing my own town very well, I failed to navigate our group in an efficient manner, which made for a lot of walking through snowy streets, going hither and yon, until someone else took over and led the way to the gallery I was trying to find. I wasn’t lost; it was all in the name of good gear test.
The quilted part is actually a separate piece from the boot, so you could wear it with or without. However, it does help quite a bit in the warmth factor so I really like it. The boot itself goes up to mid calf and if you add the quilted part it’s about an inch below the knee. The lugged sole is helpful on winter streets (I can’t understand winter boots with smooth soles. What are those for? No sale) and the upper is waterproof which seems mandatory. The only downside I can imagine is the goofy look you get when you pull your leg out of the boot with the quilted part in. It just slides over your leg with a little elastic stirrup holding it in place, so if you aren’t deft at boot removal you can only imagine the potential for embarrassing 80′s leg warmer look for those few moments. However, it’s a small price to pay for a nice warm city boot.
Sorel Cate the Great Boots
October 13, 2011
Every Alaskan has some Sorels. I think it’s part of the customary check at the border. Luckily for us, Sorel has come a long way in combining style and substance. They’ve developed a line of boots named after famous female historical figures, with style nods to their eras. The Cate the Great was my choice, in large part because I’m named after the boot’s namesake, Catherine the Great.
That’s actually not true, I have no idea why my middle name is what it is, but I like the story so it stays.
I really love these boots; they’re just the ticket for heavy snowfall days around the city. I wouldn’t recommend them for active pursuits and they’re not really designed for that. They don’t provide any support and are too flexible for comfort in backcountry travel. However, they are absolutely ideal for critical Alaskan activities like attending the Running of the Reindeer, watching the Town Square fireworks, and attending New Year’s Eve celebration bonfires in Girdwood. I don’t want to wear my mountaineering boots for those events, and not just because they don’t look as good with skirts. These Sorels are perfect.
Don’t forget to check out the other styles for the one that fits you the best. You can get the Cate the Great at Backcountry.com for an even $200.
Merrell Tetra Launch Boots
October 10, 2011
Thanks to Krysia Hepatica for this awesome guest post for Boot Month. Boots are a bigger deal to us ladies than I thought – lots of people weighing in on the invaluable tall boot. This leaves me wondering what guys do for footwear in the fall. I suppose most guys don’t worry about what to wear with their kicky autumn skirts, except for those Utilikilts, which go pretty well with Timberlands.
I love these boots. Love them. So much, that I have two pairs, one in brown and one in black. One of the reasons I love them is because Michigan winters tend to get sloppy, nasty, and cold. It is really a good idea to have boots, yet, unless I am going sledding or spending a lot of time standing still outside, it is really not necessary for me to wear big, insulated winter boots. If I am just going to work and back, or taking my kids to school, this is the perfect solution. The leather is waterproof, they have a Polartec footbed, and they are cute!
I am not a heels kinda gal unless the occasion calls for it. [Ever see women in stilettos hiking through the airport? Yikes. I just don't get it - it's got to hurt. WHY do they do that? Who do you need to impress in the airport of all places? -HG] These boots do not have a heel, but a rubber, grippy bottom and they don’t have a really high rand, which I don’t like on boot like this anyway because I think it makes them look too sporty. These features make them perfect for wearing to work or even out to a casual dinner. They are stylish and functional.
Another great feature for me is that they are tall, but not too tall. Being 5’3 and some change, a boot that is too tall dwarfs me even further; I look like I am playing dress-up. The 12” height is just tall enough. Another reason they work for me is because the shaft fits. I find a lot of boots are too loose and sloppy on me. I have a definite ankle and defined calf, but on the smaller side. This is probably the first pair I have tried on that have a nice snug fit that I can wear with my pant legs tucked or un-tucked (the reason I bought two pairs!)
The Merrell Tetra Launch boot retails for $160. Definitely a good investment if you live in a region with winters.
Krysia Hepatica is a climber, blogger and goal-setter, who thrives on adventure, harbors a love for social media, and has a secret obsession for skin care products. You can read more about her adventures at venturesomekrysia.com or follow her on Twitter @ventrsomekrysia.
Merrell Tetra Strap Waterproof Boot
October 4, 2011
Last year I had “Dress Week” in which I spent an entire week reviewing dresses. It was fun; the weather was good, dresses are nice to wear, and I hadn’t reviewed them much before that. I decided to repeat that idea, only this time focusing on boots. I have of course reviewed boots before this, but it’s been a while since I focused on boots in particular so this will be “Boot Month.” It’s a great month for Boot Month since the weather is changing and boots will soon become invaluable.
Today I want to show you the Merrell Tetra Strap boots, which are fabulous for early winter (is it too optimistic to call it “fall”?) because while it can be cold and wet, it’s still warm enough to wear dresses. I found that these boots paired really well with pretty much any casual dress. As a matter of fact, I think fall is now my favorite time to wear dresses because I can also wear boots with them, which means I’m always comfortable, don’t have to worry about shaving or pedicures or nail polish or any of those things that I don’t spend time worrying about anyway yet manage to make myself self conscious about at times. I know, I know. I can’t live anywhere but Alaska if I want to stay on the fringes of appropriate societal norms.
That’s fine, because now that I have discovered tall boots, I can put more of my wardrobe to use. These boots are super comfortable and fit really well. I’ve tried other tall boots and usually had trouble getting the calves to fit correctly, but no problem with these – they look slim but have plenty of room. They have a flattering thin sole that, though not lugged, gives good grip on slippery sidewalks; an extra plus when your autumn comes with icy walkways. The zipper goes all the way down past the ankle so they are super easy to get on and don’t look clunky. I love them! I wear them all the time; mostly with dresses because these boots are just too pretty to not show off – tucking them under your pant legs would be a shame. So far the zippers seem burly enough; no issues in the few months I’ve been wearing these.
They really are waterproof; just perfect for those fall days. And early winter days….
These are fancy enough to get at Nordstrom but Altrec also has them for a great price.
Lowa Tempest Low Hiker
October 3, 2011
All right, so it’s not long now until the low hiker season in Alaska is over until next spring, so I better stop for a second and tell you about these new low hikers from Lowa. The lighter weight Lowa boots and shoes seem to be more geared to hikes on uncomplicated ground; that is, without tons of ankle-breaking obstacles. The soles are fairly flat with a pretty significant edge placed right under the side of the wearer’s foot, and if you’re a weird edge-of-foot walker like me, you might not want to choose these for hikes involving sidehilling. For their intended use, though, they’re great.
I like to use these for the daily dog walking excursions, and if you know me you know that usually means fast hiking over rough terrain with lots of elevation gain and loss. The Tempests are great for that because they are so light yet sturdy. I’ve been using them for a few months now and I don’t think they’re quite broken in yet, which is fine because that usually means they’ll last a long time. They shed dirt and mud so well that they still look almost brand new (a downside as I always look like a gomer in my brand new-looking shoes, ha).
The fit seems really nice for a women’s shoe. I wouldn’t call them “narrow” but there’s no slop in the foot which is great. I didn’t even have to swap out the insoles like I usually have to do, which to me is a good sign of well-designed footwear.
So once again you can count on Lowa for a good, solid, well constructed and tough footwear design!
Merrell Siren Sync Shoe
September 16, 2011
More from Irene! She’s had a busy fall with the big box of stuff I sent her to test. I liked these shoes too but I realized when I sent them out with three other testers, every tester liked them even more than I did. So here is Irene’s take:
“Padded tongue, midsole with integrated Air Cushion, footbed that’s been anatomically designed for women, everything about these has been designed toward your comfort. But don’t be fooled by its cushy interior; these can take on just about anything. Breathable Polyester Mesh Lining treated with Aegis Antimicrobial, Vibram Mermaid Sole, Nubuck Suede Leather, and Breathable Mesh Upper.” Well thank you Merrell for a nice introduction on these shoes that come in mint, brown, and pink.
I first wore these shoes with a thin liner sock and quickly got sore on the outside of each foot right below my ankle. Oh dear me, how will I be able to give these shoes a good test if I am already sore? (She’s dedicated – that’s usually when I stop testing – HG) Aha, a light turned on later that evening as I pondered “what to do with shoes that hurt.” Wear a thicker sock! I chose a medium weight sock and guess what? This simple no brainer of a fix worked, I am now back in business to stride in snyc to the tune of a different drummer now that these shoes no longer hurt my ankles..
The lacing system for these shoes makes it way easy to get a just so perfect tightness without any extra effort, I like this in a shoe, no extra tugging on parts of lace for a good fit, just one good pull and the taut lace is good to go.
I tend to sweat a lot in my adventures, and this leads to stinky feet. the Aegis Antimicrobial treatment in the mesh lining is working and my feet/shoes aren’t stinkin’ up a storm, way cool. But then I wonder what this treatment is and if it will get into my pores and then, and then, oh dear me, I obsess before I put the shoes back on about whether someday my feet will fall off, having been eaten away by a microbial lining. Thank goodness, I have the world (Internet) at my fingertips, so I just learned that the Aegis Antimicrobial does not volatilize, dissipate, or leach onto other surfaces, and (I like this next sentence): the AEGIS antimicrobial stays affixed to the surface; physically stabs and electrocutes the microorganism on contact to kill it. Awesome!
What are these shoes good for? They have a decent Vibram sole for good grip and traction. I had a silly thought that I am so thankful that is all the further it went. I tend to push the envelope with my gear/equipment making do with what I have, mix, and match. I don’t fit the well groomed out of the catalog look for any sport I partake in, instead I look as if I’m not sure where I belong, or what I’m doing, but that’s okay, I have a lot of fun outdoors doing a wide variety of activities. With these well fitting shoes, there is enough room where I could add an arch support that would help with carrying the weight of my 55-pound backpack on my recent trip with my 3 children. Then, I remembered the year earlier when I wore a brand new pair of pants on a 6 day backpack trip and chafed the inside of my legs after the first day. So, after listening to my inner voice that tries to keep me out of trouble I left these shoes at home. These shoes will work well for mountain biking, and day hikes.
Featured Brand: Columbia Master of Faster Shoe
August 23, 2011
I’m glad that I talked with Columbia about what this shoe is for before evaluating it. They told me that it’s not meant to be a running shoe, but one more for speed hiking and fast travel without much actual running. I told them I’d use it on my daily power hikes up the ridge by my house, and they confirmed that it would be perfect for that. So use it I did!
I really like this shoe. It’s beefier than a running shoe, with a plastic cap over the tongue that helps a lot with dispersing the pressure that laces can put on the top of your foot. It’s got a stiff heel too, for keeping your foot in place. The stiff heel also makes for a long break-in period, so keep that in mind. I’ve been using this shoe a few times a month for the last few months and I still find that I can’t wear the shoes for long periods without discomfort. However, the shoe isn’t meant for long periods of wear so that doesn’t bother me – and I also figure that I’m still in the break-in period since I’ve never worn them on a long hike (over one or two hours). My advancing age means that I no longer wear light hikers for long days or heavy loads, so I wouldn’t find this shoe appropriate for anything but a light-and-fast day, which is exactly the point of the shoe so Columbia hit the mark there for certain.
A highlight of the shoe is the traction it provides. Did I mention that I’m creaky and decrepit? I have trouble descending steep slopes sometimes; my life of running, sports, and general body abuse is catching up to me. Shoes with no grip are dangerous and can cause injury to knees and joints, so I look for footwear that grips the trail and won’t cause me to tweak my knees by letting my feet slide around (ever torque your knee when your heel slips downward on a trail? Yikes, it hurts), and the Master of Faster has great traction on mud and loose dirt. Speaking of mud, it also sheds mud pretty well and though I never call any shoe “waterproof” unless it’s made by X-tra Tuf, this one is really water-resistant, as I don’t usually end up with wet feet even when out and about in wet weather. I tend to choose these shoes on wet days for that reason. You can get them at backcountry.com on sale for $82 by clicking here.
Featured Brand: La Sportiva Crosslite
August 15, 2011
Crosslites for chicks! I was so excited to see they were finally available. I’ve had the men’s version for a while and, while clearly they are great shoes, they just didn’t fit me right, which tends to be the case for, you know, men’s shoes. So I rarely wore them for actual running. When my pair of women’s shoes arrived, though, I was all over it, and I haven’t looked back since.
I’m not sure that people really have clued in to the fact that Crosslites come in a women’s version now. Even the backcountry.com link doesn’t make it 100% clear that the Crosslites shown are new and improved, at least for women; they link to a pair that looks like the men’s version (from color scheme, at least), with men’s and women’s reviews interspersed, or so I interpret. Anyway, I’m here to tell you that the Crosslites do indeed come in a women’s version, (and are visible at backcountry.com here) and they are worth the wait (though in my opinion it’s been way too long of a time coming, with the Crosslites being such a great shoe). I tried them for trail running in the wet fall conditions here in Anchorage (yeah. August is fall, already…sigh) and I still get actually stoked just to put them on when it’s time to go running.
I usually prefer shoes with more padding, like the Wildcats or now-defunct (aw) Imogenes, but these are really working for me because they are so light and fast; easy to turn the feet over for faster pace and lighter impact. The thin sole provides good trail feel and gives the feeling of quick feet and soft impact as long as you keep moving along. Put more bluntly (heh), if you run in these with a heavy, plodding gait, you won’t be loving these shoes because they really aren’t built to absorb your Frankenstein thudding. But if you want to run fast, these are just the ticket – they’ll inspire you to keep zipping along as far as your legs will carry you.
This is great for me because I find that the quicker I get my feet off the ground, the faster I run and the more comfortable my aging joints are. Aging – ha. Come back to this blog in ten years when I’m pushing fifty, and prepare yourselves for the angst! In the meantime I’m delighted to report that I can still get in a run a few times a week and live to tell the tale, and my tale this week is how much I love these shoes. The trail grip is great, they’re light, they’re fast, they’re comfortable, and they shed water and mud just like we need them to in fall trail running conditions. They have enough support and rigidity to stay put on tight corners and descents, which is hard to find in a light trail runner, believe me. The elastic band over the laces seems to really be the key here, but the streamlined fit and flat sole certainly helps as well. Even if they happen to come untied, the “slip lasted upper,” as it’s called, will keep them in place. To Sportiva’s credit, though, they don’t come untied very easily, most likely due to the thinner laces, which is an absolute GODSEND because I totally hate laces that come untied all the time.
If you’re a serious trail runner, I highly recommend this long-overdue women’s version of the Crosslite shoe. They’re perfect for running on technical trail and I’d imagine they’d be ideal for mountain running races.
