Bogs Boots Review

There are occasions when an opportunity arises around the same time as perfect conditions. Just recently I was contacted with the offer to carry out a Bogs Boots review, fortunately it coincided with the arrival of the Beast from the east and storm Emma, so Zoe, Bubs and I were all able to really give these low temperature, boots a work out.

Bogs Boots Review

Early disclaimer, we were sent three pairs of boots to try out the Rancher, Crandall Tall, & Durham Crackle (in red) But the thoughts and words about them are our own. We were free to write what we wished.

Bogs Boots Features

Bogs Boots Review – Rancher (Men’s)

As regular readers know when it comes to wellies, I need something tall, as wandering through floods of the Ouse Valley can get a little wet! So I opted for the Rancher as it is a 17 inch high boot, giving me quite a depth I can walk through.

The construction is solid, with thick soles, generous, stiff, rubber around the foot and the Neo-Tech neck of the boot moves well with your leg. This of course adds to the weight though so you should know they are not the lightest boot.

I think these boots will last a long time. They certainly feel like they should.

Warmth

I had a couple of walks in the long wet grass of the local fields to start off my testing of these boots, and, as you’d expect the boots kept my feet dry (any boots that don’t are not worth owning!). But it was After the snow of Feb 2018 that I got to really test the warmth factor! I decided to wear the Rancher boots on the school run.

At the end of the 3+ mile walk, one thing was clear my feet were still warm and toasty. The Rancher is suitable in sub-zero conditions, and my feet can testify that this is true! The Neo-Tech fabric, looks like neoprene (I think) and is warm on the calves, as well as comfortable.

One thing the long walk did throw up is that wellies are not ideal for longer walks. Sadly I have yet to find any that have arch support that suits my feet. Although it should be noted that these do have arch support, it is not a flat sole.

Don’t get me wrong my feet were not painful at the end, but I could feel the spreading of my feet, and much longer I might have ended up with sore feet. Put is this way, I wouldn’t recommend climbing a mountain in them, but who wears wellies for that anyway?

Tightness

There is one other slight concern I have with these boots. They are VERY hard to get off. In fact the first time I tried I was nearly pulled off the sofa by Zoe! Thankfully I think Bogs have realised this as there is a strange lump (see image below) that you can use to lever, with your opposite foot, to help the boot come off. Once you get the knack though they can be taken off alone (although it is still tough).

Bogs Boots Review – Candall Tall (Ladies)

Zoe was happy to try out the Candall Tall, a warm boot constructed from rubber and Neo-Tech insulation, although different from the Rancher or Durham Crackle, that looks comfortable. Fleece lined for added warmth and with easy pull handles for getting the boot on.

Over to Zoe for her thoughts.

Zoe’s thoughts

The website was easy to navigate and there was a good selection for ladies designs to choose from. The boot that grabbed my attention was the Candall Tall. I was impressed by the style, and look of the boot online, and was hoping they would match up in reality.

When the boots arrived I was looking forward to trying them out on a family dog walk with the new puppy, Colin. They fitted snugly on the calves and there was no need for welly socks as the inner lining provided a lot of warmth. I was very impressed with the fit and the quality of the boot and the flexibility of the material in the upper boot added comfort to the wear.

Warm in the Snow

Trying them out in the recent snow storms really proved them to be great at keeping my feet dry and warm. Half an hour with the little lady sliding down hills and there was no affect to my toes. They are getting regular runs out on damp dog walks, and wet school runs.

So far I have been really impressed with the warmth, dryness, and most importantly comfort. These feel like boots that will last well. And they look great too.

Bogs Boots Review – Durham Crackle (kids)

Bubs loves her boots! Not only has she told me they stay warm in the snow (on her recent snow days she had warm dry feet, can’t say the same for her hands or legs!), but her friends all want some too as they loved the design.

From a parents perspective the fact that she likes wearing them makes life easy. It is hard to get kids into the best footwear for the situation sometimes, especially with young ladies who seem to become fashion conscious way before boys do (in my experience anyway). So the fact that er Friends want them means they are a hit with me.

Dry and Warm

Although not designed for as low temperatures as my Ranchers of Zoe’s Candall Tall, they are still warm boots in the cold. Designed to go as low as -15 degrees c without worry, ideal for snowy cold days.

The pull up handles means they are easy to get on and off. And the construction is similar to my Ranchers (rubber with a neo-tech tall bit – Think I need to learn the terms of construction of a wellie boot).

Without actually trying them it is hard to really know but the final quote from my daughter should tell you something:

“I Looooove my boots, they are amazingly comfortable!”

Prices

One thing I have to point out is the price of these boots. The Durham Crackle were lowest (kids boots, you’d hope so) at £55! The Rancher retail for £90, and the Candall Tall a staggering £110! I guess time will tell if these prices are as high as they sound, if they last well, stay dry and warm I guess the value for money drops with each year. And in reality I wouldn’t baulk that much at paying those prices for walking boots, is there really a difference?

Conclusion

Warm, dry and comfortable, all three pairs of boots are great. Solid, felt like they are built to last, and great for short walks in the rain. The Candall Tall and the Durham Crackle are super comfortable on longer walks; easy to get on and off; and stylish. While the Rancher may not be so easy to get on and off, they are tall enough for me to wander the local floods with confidence. On the expensive side, but hopefully they will last well over the years.

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