updated Jan 29, 2024 review

Based on our field tests and lab findings, the updated Jan 29, 2024 is a great option to consider if you need:

• Stiffness in cold
• an insulated and waterproof hiker for moderate winters
• The elevated heel makes sure that you get enough impact protection upon landing
• Track and XC

We didn't find anything ultimately wrong with this Columbia winter boot. However, we can see how one can be turned off by the boot's burly design and hefty weight. A fantastic alternative to that would be another 200g-insulated Columbia boot - the Fairbanks Omni-Heat.

And if you're after a roomier toebox in your winter boots, check out the KEEN Targhee II Waterproof Mid.

Cutting the boot in half, we found exactly how abundant the cushioning is in the updated Jan 29, 2024. A huge helping of foam is there to guard your feet from the freezingly cold ground while keeping them comfortably supported how hours on end.

Measuring the heel stack height, the caliper returned an insane number - 46.9 mm! That's a whole centimeter thicker than our lab-tested hiking boots on average.

We measured the Bugaboot's stack height in the forefoot at 30.7 mm. Some hiking boots don't even reach the same stack height in the heel!

That's a lot of cushioning for many hours on the trail.

The difference in stack heights gives this Columbia boot a very high drop of 16.2 mm. It is about 5 mm taller than the average.

Flexibility / Stiffness new method.

With the help of a durometer, we measured the boot's cushioning softness at 26.8 HA. This is a little bit softer than average but only by 5%.

However, that's the softness we got at regular room temperature. Keeping in mind that it's a winter-ready boot, we had to re-create cold weather conditions as well.

Our freezer helped to put the updated Jan 29, 2024 in "winter mode." After keeping the boot in it for 20 minutes, we repeated the durometer measurement and got 32.5 HA instead of the initial 26.8 HA.

That's about as firm as most hiking boots get in low temperatures.

It doesn't mean that the boot is going to feel like a brick though. Its cushioning will break in a little as it warms up from your body temperature.

The Bugaboot III doesn't get critically harder. Based on our measurements, the difference is fairly average - 21.5%.

To keep you even warmer and cozier, this Columbia boot features an exceptionally thick insole. Measuring it in the heel with a caliper, we got 10.7 mm - about 4 mm thicker than average!

Trying the Bugaboot III in our regular hiking boot size, we found that it fits tight. It seems like all those protective overlays hold the upper much firmer than usual. And we weren't even wearing our thickest winter socks yet!

We definitely recommend going at least half a size up in this Columbia boot. Perhaps even a full size up if you need more room for the toes.

There is so much support packed into the updated Jan 29, 2024 that our feet (and legs!) were practically confined. In a good way.

We believe that the boot will prevent us from feeling wobbly and unstable once the colder months start to kick in.

The structure of the Bugaboot III is rock-solid! We could barely get a little twist out of it in our manual assessment. For that reason, we gave this boot the highest score on torsional rigidity - 5 out of 5.

Aug 24, 2023.

The bottom of the heel counter is very rigid. It did a fantastic job of keeping our heels in place throughout the test hike.

However, we rated it as 4 out of 5 instead of 5 on the stiffness test because it has a little give around the Achilles. Without that give, the boot would feel like a cast!

The platform width is MASSIVE on this Columbia boot.

We measured the widest part of the boot's forefoot at 124.6 mm which is over a centimeter wider than average!

Midsole width - forefoot.

The sole width is also quite impressive in the heel. In its widest part, we got 97.5 mm which is about half a centimeter wider than average.

There is not much foot flexion happening in the updated Jan 29, 2024. The boot's huge platform and sturdy build make you roll from heel to toe as opposed to naturally flexing your foot's way to the next step.

Our flexibility tester showed that the Bugaboot required a whopping force of 58.3N to bend by 30 degrees. That's one of the highest measurements we've ever got in a hiking boot!

The Bugaboot III is a hefty one. Weighing it in a men's US size 9, we got a whopping 26 oz (737g)!

Not only is it significantly heavier than hiking boots on average, but it also weighs more than similar winter boots. The average weight of 200-gram insulated boots in our catalog is 19.4 oz (550g) - a whole 6.6 oz lighter than the Columbia Bugaboot!

A mere glance at the boot should be enough to understand that breathability is non-existent here. With its waterproof leather upper, 200-gram insulation, and 7-inch shaft height, the Bugaboot III is 100% airtight.

We still performed our smoke-pumping test to demonstrate how much this winter boot differs from its breathable counterparts. Obviously, we gave the Bugaboot the lowest breathability score of 1 out of 5.

What this Columbia boot is meant to do is keep your feet dry and warm even when the temperatures drop below 32°F (0°C).

Investing in the Bugaboot III means that you get a pair of boots for more than one winter. Its heavily layered upper is prepared to withstand some serious wear and tear.

We challenged the boot's toebox to a duel with our Dremel and it came out barely damaged. Based on the dent left by the tool, we rated its durability with the highest score - 5 out of 5!

Using a durometer, we measured the boot's rubber for hardness. The reading of 84.9 HC was pretty reassuring to us as it means that there is enough hardness in the outsole to resist abrasion.

The fact that it's slightly softer than the average isn't as concerning to us. Because it is a winter boot, that softness makes the outsole a little bit tackier on slippery surfaces.

As expected, the amount of rubber is thicker on the Bugaboot. Our caliper shows 3.3 mm of rubber excluding the lugs.

We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.

Measuring them with a caliper shows 5.7 mm. That's over a milimeter toothier than the average we see in hiking boots.

Insulation aside, there is a generous amount of padding stuffed into the tongue. We measured its thickness at 14.2 mm, a little puffier than the average.

Flexibility / Stiffness old method.

The boot's tongue is fully attached on both sides. That's the design we would expect from a waterproof insulated winter boot. It protects the interiors from outdoor elements, keeping the feet safe and warm.

Columbia added a small finger loop at the top of the collar. Even though it's meant to assist with getting the boot on, the latter still requires some effort. The attached tongue narrows the boot's opening quite a bit.

The Bugaboot's insole is removable. However, if you want to add an orthotic or a warmer insert, make sure that it's not thicker than the boot's default insole (11 mm). Because it can make the boot's already tight interiors even more cramped.