SNEWS Review: Columbia McQueen Cold Weather Boots
Review of the Columbia McQueen Cold Weather Boots.
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If there’s one thing a girl wants in a winter boot, it’s that magical combination of cute looks and toasty toes — even during a stroll in a snowstorm.
On a Columbia Sportswear media trip to Park City, Utah last December, we were thrilled to receive a pair of Columbia women’s McQueen Cold Weather Boots.
Though we sport a mostly black-and-white wardrobe, that didn’t (and still doesn’t) stop us from pairing the “chipmunk”-colored boots with “chili pepper” suede detailing with all of our outfits. The footwear is that warm.
The product has a waterproof suede upper with a fleece lining, is insulated with Omni-Heat reflective dots and has a removable polyurethane footbed that makes the boots comfortable and supportive. The Omni-Grip rubber outsole provides great traction on icy sidewalks and in snow.
We wore these boots during winter 2011-2012, including on walks around the streets of Denver, to stay warm after a day of snowboarding in Steamboat Springs and on trips to visit family in the San Luis Valley. Never once during all these wears did we suffer cold toes. Also, never once, despite a history of clumsy tendencies, did we slip and fall on icy terrain.
A few crazy snowstorms last winter gave us a chance to see what these boots were really made of. Though they’re casual and fashion-forward, they are also quite impressive in terms of function. Early mornings spent shoveling snow on our walkways and around our cars gave the waterproof suede a chance to prove itself, and it did. After nearly a year of use, the boots remain fresh looking and fashionable.
The waterproof suede also proved impressive after a particularly bad decision to walk to the gym during a winter snowstorm. After the workout, the streets were piled with snow, but the boots kept our feet warm and dry during the two-mile walk back home.
Plus, the fleece lining makes the boots so cozy that sometimes you can forgo socks.
These boots are already coming in handy during a few cold post-dinner walks in this rapidly approaching cold-weather season.
MSRP: $105
SNEWS® Rating: 5 hands clapping (1 to 5 hands clapping possible, with 5 clapping hands representing functional and design perfection.)
