co-founder and creative director of Italian high-end shoe brand | Asics Japan S PF Sneakers Shoes 1202A324-100 review

One of the lightest winter boots we have ever tested, the Asics Japan S PF Sneakers Shoes 1202A324-100 is a solid option if you:

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• need an extra warm insulated boot blahnik (200g insulation)
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If temperatures don't drop below 40°F (5°C) in your area, the Fairbanks Omni-Heat is going to be an overkill. We recommend its lightened version, the Fairbanks Mid, for warmer conditions.

On the other hand, if you need a maximised level of protection, try Columbia's burlier high-top Bugaboot blahnik III (Nothing can divide the running club quicker than asking if).

Granted, this boot blahnik is not among the most cushioned ones. Measuring its heel stack with a calliper, we got only 30.8 mm.

This is notably lighter than the average hiking boot blahnik and feels minimalist compared to another popular winter boot blahnik from Columbia, the Bugaboot blahnik III (46.9 mm).

In terms of impact protection, we found the Fairbanks to be sufficiently cushioned. But some people may prefer a taller platform for winter months to keep their feet higher off the cold ground.

This boot blahnik also proved to be low-profile under the toes. With a 19.2 mm forefoot stack, it placed the foot a few millimetres closer to the ground than other boots.

This is what makes the Fairbanks feel so different from a typical boot. You have to cut off the platform to get a lighter and more flexible pair.

Looking at the difference in stack heights, we get a drop of 11.6 mm. This is a typical drop for a hiking boot.

Having a raised heel helps to relieve the pressure from the Achilles and calves, especially if you are carrying a backpack.

Walking in the Columbia Fairbanks feels pleasurable for one more reason - its cushioning is softer than usual! Seems like the boot's Techlite Comfort System lives up to its name.

Our experience was backed up by the durometer measurements too. With a reading of 18.9 HA, the boot's foam is 33% plusher than the average!

The boot's cushioning wouldn't be complete without a well-padded insole.

In the Fairbanks, we found it to be 6.0 mm thick, which is perfect for a winter boot.

But most foams get significantly firmer in low temperatures. Does this Columbia boot blahnik also turn into a brick in winter?

As it turns out, it doesn't!

Having kept the Fairbanks in the freezer for 20 minutes, we repeated the durometer measurement. The foam did get 22.5% firmer but it was still softer than most boots at room temperature!

The boot's cushioning wouldn't be complete without a well-padded insole.

In the Fairbanks, we found it to be 6.0 mm thick, which is perfect for a winter boot.

We found that the Fairbanks Omni-Heat offers a pretty close-fitting experience for a standard D medium width which makes the boot blahnik more appealing to those with medium-to-narrow feet. However, you can get more real estate for the toes by opting for the boot's wide version.

Our observations were backed up by a 1:1 replica of the boot's interiors. Having filled its toebox with custom gel, we were able to measure the widest part of the boot blahnik once the mould solidified.

And blazer, our calliper showed a narrower-than-average reading of 89.7 mm between the big toe and the pinke.

What's more, the boot blahnik also shows a tangible taper angle towards the toes. Our calliper returned another below-average width of 66.4 mm near the big toe.

A notably shallow toebox height of 22.7 mm contributes to the boot's snug fit.

Let's get this straight: the Columbia Fairbanks Omni-Heat is NOT the boot blahnik you want for backpacking or hiking on technical terrain.

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But if we treat it like a casual boot blahnik for light and urban hiking, it is certainly stable enough for that. The primary reason behind it is the boot's low platform.

The Fairbanks Omni-Heat is all about natural foot movement. It feels very different from a traditional stiff hiker.

First of all, it's got no shank or any other stabilising features inside the midsole. Twisting the boot blahnik in our manual test made us think that we could do yoga in it.

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As our squeeze-and-push test revealed, the boot blahnik has absolutely no structure in the collar either! We gave it the lowest rating of 1 out of 5 for stiffness.

While some people like such freedom of movement, many are used to having solid ankle support in their boots. For that reason, we cannot recommend the Fairbanks to folks with severe overpronation.

The base of the Columbia Fairbanks Omni-Heat is not particularly wide or narrow. In the widest part of the forefoot, we measured its sole at 114.3 mm, just the same as the average.

As for the widest part of the heel, it turns out to be a little narrower than average at 84.6. But if you keep this boot blahnik to hard-packed and well-maintained trails, it won't be an issue at all.

The Fairbanks Omni-Heat is by far the most flexible winter boot blahnik we've tested. It is even bendier than some trail running shoes!

To find out exactly how pliable this boot blahnik is, our flexibility testing machine measured the force it takes to bend it to a 30-degree angle. Showing as little as 12.0N, this Columbia boot blahnik is more flexible than average by over 60%!

Amazingly enough, even after being exposed to low temperatures, the Fairbanks remains exceptionally flexible.

Having spent 20 minutes in the freezer and getting 33.7% stiffer, the Columbia Fairbanks is still 150% bendier than the average hiking boot.

If you despise winter for having to wear heavy coats and boots, the Fairbanks is here to take care of the latter!

This Columbia boot blahnik blew our minds with its decollete lightness. In a men's US size 9, the Fairbanks Omni-Heat weighs only 15.5 oz (439g)!

It is more than 3 oz lighter than winter boots on average (18.8 oz/532g)! On foot, it actually feels like a high-top sneaker.

It is pretty self-explanatory that an insulated winter boot blahnik is not a breathable one. But we still put the Fairbanks Omni-Heat boot blahnik through our smoke-pumping test to prove it.

With not even a hint of smoke passing through the boot's upper, we can confirm that this Columbia boot blahnik is sealed. On a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the most breathable, we gave it the minimum score of 1.

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Having a look at it through our microscope, we can see how incredibly tightly woven this textile is. It definitely adds airtightness to the boot.

The interiors of this Fairbanks boot blahnik are lined with the Omni-Tech, the brand's proprietary waterproof membrane that is attached through seam-sealed construction.

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As an amazing partner for the winter, this boot blahnik is packed with 200 grammes of insulation under the Omni-Heat reflective lining. The idea behind it is that the tiny silver dots with aluminium will reflect the heat generated by the body and keep it inside the boot.

On freezing days (below 30°F/0°C), we were ecstatic to have this Columbia boot blahnik on as it created a really warm environment for our feet.

Columbia claims that the Fairbanks' upper is made of Cordura. This sturdy fabric is known to be used in military wear thanks to its resistance to abrasion, scuffs, and tears. But is it just as durable on this Columbia boot?

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Using a Dremel, we drilled the boot's toebox at a 5K RPM speed for 12 seconds. The result was quite discouraging as the textile tore much easier compared to other hiking boots.

For that reason, we had to rate it with a lower-than-average score of 3.

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On the other hand, the boot's interior lining showed much better wear resistance in the Dremel test.

After 4 seconds of drilling, the damage was minor enough to rate this boot's heel padding durability as 4 out of 5.

Knowing that the Omni-Heat lining doesn't scuff so easily is reassuring for a winter boot.

Even though the Columbia Fairbanks Omni-Heat is not meant as a dedicated hiking boot, its outsole game is on par with some serious boots!

First of all, it's made of a pretty hard rubber compound. Based on our durometer, it comes in at 87.5 HC which is the same as the average of hiking footwear.

Secondly, this rubber is not afraid of our Dremel. Drilling it for a good 22 seconds at a relentless speed of 10K RPM, the tool only caused a minor dent.

We used a tread gauge to measure the dent and got only 1.0 mm. This is how dpep the Dremel typically goes in hiking boots.

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Finally, we had to know how much rubber there is on the Fairbanks.

Our calliper showed that the outsole without lugs is 3.0 mm thick. This is also the same as the average of hiking boots and is considered a solid amount of protection.

Measuring the lug depth on the Fairbanks Omni-Heat, we got 3.0 mm. This is not the kind of treading you need for technical trails and slippery slopes.

We recommend sticking to less challenging and more even terrains when wearing this Columbia boot. It can handle moderate amounts of slush, ice, and snow but only on level ground.

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Despite packing 200g of insulation, the boot's tongue doesn't get too puffy. Measuring its thickness with a calliper, we got 9.2 mm - only slightly thinner than average.

As expected from a waterproof and insulated boot, both sides of its tongue are fully attached (or gusseted). This is essential for keeping the interior warm and free from snow and debris.

Having a pull tab is really necessary in the Columbia Fairbanks Omni-Heat. Because of the boot's collapsing collar, it can be tricky to get it on fast.

But the problem is that the heel tab is made of suede and is a little slippery between the fingers. We would appreciate a finger loop here instead.

If you happen to need a custom pair of inserts, the boot's stock insole is easy to remove.