Backside Line
With a mix of fashionable particulars and efficiency options, the Kamik Atwater redefines the capabilities of an off-the-cuff, cold-weather boot. With wonderful heat and traction, we felt simply as comfy in these boots round city as we had been on our neighborhood trails.
Examined in Anchorage, Alaska’s winter chilly, these had been our boots of selection when heading out in town when the temperatures plummeted. We felt comfy in below-zero temperatures and used them on a couple of brief hikes on Anchorage’s huge in-town path community. Ice, packed snow, and concrete all had been comfy in these boots, due to their nice traction and cushioned midsole.
The Kamik Atwater is without doubt one of the most inexpensive boots in our winter mountain climbing boots information. This worth does come on the concession of sturdiness, nevertheless. We seen threads pulling out of some seams and a few extreme creasing all through the flex factors of the boot. For the worth, we discovered that these are adequate for reasonable use on the town and in your neighborhood trails.
Fast Specs
Kamik Atwater
Fashionable boot with nice traction
Worth:
$119
Temperature Score:
Not rated
Insulation:
90g artificial
Weight (Pair):
2 lb.
Peak:
7 in
Execs
- fashionable
- heat
- comfy
- traction
Cons
- low shaft
- attainable long-term sturdiness points
Consolation
The Kamik Atwater is comfy sufficient to put on round city all day but nonetheless supportive sufficient for native hikes and in-town trails. The lacing system is cosy and safe, and the flat laces preserve from untying. The lacing extends up the shaft of the boot to supply a number of the finest ankle help for an off-the-cuff boot that we’ve seen. Even when taking them for a brief hike, the boots had been safe sufficient for hills and uneven terrain. The padded collar and moisture-wicking fleece lining are comfy on the pores and skin, even with low socks.
The only of those boots is extraordinarily versatile and lacks a lot construction. Although this makes them light-weight and versatile to stroll in, they don’t present a lot construction for mountain climbing or tougher terrain. These boots are most at house on metropolis sidewalks and in-town trails.
Heat
When taking the Kamik Atwaters round city on a below-zero day, we cherished how heat they had been. With solely ninety grams of insulation, we had been initially apprehensive they wouldn’t be heat sufficient however rapidly realized that the insulation punches nicely above its weight. We by no means skilled chilly toes throughout our assessments and located these boots had been heat sufficient for brief hikes in single-digit and unfavorable temperatures.
If you happen to’re going to be in these boots in temperatures a lot under ten levels, we suggest pairing them with winter-weight socks. However for fast jaunts round city, these boots are nonetheless heat sufficient with a minimal sock. The fleece inside supplies extra heat whereas nonetheless being comfy straight on the pores and skin.
Traction
Massive triangular lugs cowl the tread of the Kamik Atwater, offering wonderful traction throughout a number of surfaces. Their massive floor space is nice for sticking to clean and slippery surfaces like rocks, concrete, or ice. We clambered over ice-covered boulders, trudged up packed snow trails, and strolled metropolis streets in these, and the grip at all times felt safe. With deep areas between the lugs and sharp corners, the boots even chew into deep, free snow.
The only, although versatile sufficient to be comfy whereas strolling, lacks the construction and edging skills wanted to kick steps in steep and agency trails. They had been rapidly out of their depth once we tried to kick our toes into steep, icy snow. For an off-the-cuff boot that may additionally make it on the paths, we had been pleasantly shocked by the Kamik Atwater’s traction and can proceed utilizing it for outings in town on a wide range of surfaces and textures.
Climate Resistance
Taking these boots via deep snow, puddles, and slush, we cherished the Awater’s waterproof higher. The leather-based of the higher is stable sufficient to take via puddles whereas remaining supple sufficient to be comfy. The shaft of the boot tightens snugly across the calf and shins, holding snow out. It is a design characteristic usually missing in different informal boots. We cherished that these boots might preserve our toes dry, even when trudging via sloppy snow.
The comparatively low shaft peak is their greatest weak spot. At seven inches, it’s taller than different informal boots we examined however lacks the peak to be as waterproof as different boots devoted to winter situations. We additionally seen some lack of climate resistance in excessive abrasion areas of the boots like alongside the insides as they absorbed water faster than areas that remained contemporary and waterproof.
Sturdiness
After utilizing the Kamik Atwater boots a number of instances for errands and brief hikes, we seen some untimely indicators of damage in these boots. A number of of the seams began to develop free threads, notably in locations that obtain quite a lot of stress like flex factors and toe creases. The leather-based rand of the boot began to indicate fairly a bit of damage after strolling via crusty and icy snow, and a few gaps began to develop between the rand and the only of the boot.
Though they’re sturdy sufficient for brief hikes and strolling within the metropolis, these boots lack the rugged construct high quality of others examined wanted for a lot of hours spent on the paths. Given their worth, we don’t anticipate the best construct high quality in these boots. Throughout our testing, we discovered the sturdiness to be what we might anticipate given their worth level.
Ought to You Purchase the Kamik Atwater Winter Boot?
If you happen to’re on the lookout for a boot that’s fashionable sufficient to take out in town however rugged sufficient for the outside, then the Kamik Atwater is what you’ve been trying to find. These boots’ model makes them at house at social occasions whereas their efficiency options are sufficient to take them via snow and chilly for brief hikes. At a low worth level, these boots’ sturdiness will not be as excessive as others we’ve got examined. So whilst you won’t wish to take these out climbing mountains or on epic winter expeditions, they’re versatile sufficient to work for many in-town makes use of and lightweight hikes.
What Different Males’s Winter Boots Ought to You Contemplate?
For extra males’s choices, please take a peak at our full information to the finest winter boots.
Columbia Fairbanks Assessment – One other informal boot with mountain climbing efficiency, try the Columbia Fairbanks for its heat, consolation, and around-town model.
Blundstone Thermal Assessment – With its instantly recognizable model, the Blundstone Thermal is a cushty and heat boot with nice climate resistance for moist days. Its iconic look and moist climate efficiency make it a flexible possibility for an in-town boot.
Merrell Nova 3 Thermo Assessment – If consolation is your primary consideration for a boot however you need one that may nonetheless carry out on the paths, try the Merrell Nova 3 Thermo. It has the consolation of a operating shoe and the heat of a winter boot.