I’ve always been a fan of classic Sorel winter boots ever since I was a kid. I’ve had this specific pair of Sorel “Bear” boots for around 7 years now and they’re still going strong. Never have they given me any problems and never have I been left wanting… From shovelling the driveway to building igloos on the frozen Lake Manitoba with a wind chill factor dropping the mercury down to -47 degrees Celsius…I’ve never had a problem.

Sure – there are a multitude of winter boots on the market and some of them are really quite nice… But in my experience, these classic boots remain popular with serious winter warriors for a reason – they work.

These boots are very simple yet highly functional. When you buy winter boots, keep in mind that the temperature rating of the boot usually factors in a certain level of human activity. Even at a standstill, these boots keep your feet quite warm. The liners are very easy to remove and wash. Sized appropriately to allow for thick socks (or layering) and your feet will never fear the cold again.

Another reason why I favour this style of winter boot is because it has minimal lacing which keeps the boot simple and makes them easy to pull on or slip off with virtually no effort – a great feature for winter boots. If you hands are freezing cold the last thing you want to deal with are laces. Nobody likes fumbling around with clunky winter boots.

Assuming a proper fit, these boots are quite comfortable. Although they aren’t light per se – they aren’t overly heavy either. These Sorels strike a nice comfort-to-weight ratio. On slippery surfaces the treads on these boots are better than those of any other winter boot I’ve tried. The entire boot is very rugged and will give you many years of winter

warmth. Consider them a long-term investment.

• Long lasting and Rugged
• Classic Design
• Very warm even in harsh winter conditions
• Tall enough to cope with deep snow
• Great outsoles
• Above average comfort for this type of boot
• Simple – No unnecessary additions. These boots are pure function

Sorel’s line of footwear is vast, but in terms of functional winter boots, these are by far my favourite and have been for a long time. Great value.

From the Sorel website:

Perfect for digging out after a big dump or pressing on through deep drifts, the Bear’s extra high shaft locks out deep powder and blowing spindrift. Like the Glacier™, it’s -100° rated cold-weather sibling, the Bear™ offers the ultimate in utility boot performance, but in a slightly lighter construction that’s still rated to a respectable -60° below zero. That’s not exactly summery weather, but thanks to a 9mm ThermoPlus felt InnerBoot and 6mm ThermoPlus® felt midsole, your feet will be warm enough to feel that way.

FEATURES:

• Durable water and wind resistant PU coated synthetic textile upper
• Drawstring with barrel lock closure
• Removable 9mm ThermoPlus® felt InnerBoot
• 2.5mm bonded felt frost plug
• Sealed 6mm ThermoPlus® felt midsole for added warmth
• Handcrafted waterproof vulcanized rubber shell
• Sorel AeroTrac™ non-loading outsole
• Imported

Cost: Around CDN $120