Columbia Bugaboot III review

Based on our field tests and lab findings, the Columbia Bugaboot III is a great option to consider if you need:

• a winter boot to tackle snow, slush, mud, and ice
• an insulated and waterproof hiker for moderate winters
• a pair of budget-friendly winter boots
• a hiking boot that will last you several winters

We didn't find anything ultimately wrong with this Columbia winter boot. However, we can see how one can be turned off by the boot's burly design and hefty weight. A fantastic alternative to that would be another 200g-insulated Columbia boot - the Fairbanks Omni-Heat.

And if you're after a roomier toebox in your winter boots, check out the KEEN Targhee II Waterproof Mid.

Cutting the boot in half, we found exactly how abundant the cushioning is in the Columbia Bugaboot III. A huge helping of foam is there to guard your feet from the freezingly cold ground while keeping them comfortably supported how hours on end.

Measuring the heel stack height, the calliper returned an insane number - 46.9 mm! That's a whole centimetre thicker than our lab-tested hiking boots on average.

We measured the Bugaboot's stack height in the forefoot at 30.7 mm. Some hiking boots don't even reach the same stack height in the heel!

That's a lot of cushioning for many hours on the trail.

The difference in stack heights gives this Columbia boot a very high drop of 16.2 mm. It is about 5 mm taller than the average.

The elevated heel makes sure that you get enough impact protection upon landing.

With the help of a durometer, we measured the boot's cushioning softness at 26.8 HA. This is a little bit softer than average but only by 5%.

However, that's the softness we got at regular room temperature. Keeping in mind that it's a winter-ready boot, we had to re-create cold weather conditions as well.

Our freezer helped to put the Columbia Bugaboot III in "winter mode." After keeping the boot in it for 20 minutes, we repeated the durometer measurement and got 32.5 HA instead of the initial 26.8 HA.

That's about as firm as most hiking boots get in low temperatures.

It doesn't mean that the boot is going to feel like a brick though. Its cushioning will break in a little as it warms up from your body temperature.

The Bugaboot III doesn't get critically harder. Based on our measurements, the difference is fairly average - 21.5%.

To keep you even warmer and cosier, this Columbia boot features an exceptionally thick insole. Measuring it in the heel with a calliper, we got 10.7 mm - about 4 mm thicker than average!

Trying the Bugaboot III in our regular hiking boot size, we found that it fits tight. It seems like all those protective overlays hold the upper much firmer than usual. And we weren't even wearing our thickest winter socks yet!

We definitely recommend going at least half a size up in this Columbia boot. Perhaps even a full size up if you need more room for the toes.

There is so much support packed into the Columbia Bugaboot III that our feet (and legs!) were practically confined. In a good way.

We believe that the boot will prevent us from feeling wobbly and unstable once the colder months start to kick in.

The structure of the Bugaboot III is rock-solid! We could barely get a little twist out of it in our manual assessment. For that reason, we gave this boot the highest score on torsional rigidity - 5 out of 5.

You would have to try really hard to twist the ankle in this boot.

The bottom of the heel counter is very rigid. It did a fantastic job of keeping our heels in place throughout the test hike.

However, we rated it as 4 out of 5 instead of 5 on the stiffness test because it has a little give around the Achilles. Without that give, the boot would feel like a cast!

The platform width is MASSIVE on this Columbia boot.

We measured the widest part of the boot's forefoot at 124.6 mm which is over a centimetre wider than average!

Having such a wide landing surface certainly makes your steps more confident on those slushy trails.

The sole width is also quite impressive in the heel. In its widest part, we got 97.5 mm which is about half a centimetre wider than average.

There is not much foot flexion happening in the Columbia Bugaboot III. The boot's huge platform and sturdy build make you roll from heel to toe as opposed to naturally flexing your foot's way to the next step.

Our force gauge shows that it required 47N to bend this boot to a 90-degree angle. That's 14% more than what it takes hiking boots on average.

We repeated the flexibility test after the boot's 20-minute excursion to the freezer. And the result was mind-blowing.

It went from 47N to a stunning 84.9N!! The Bugaboot III practically froze to the point where you can't even bend it at all! For reference, other hiking boots got to about 59N after the same test.

The boot went through a drastic 80.5% change in stiffness when exposed to low temperatures. Do keep this in mind as the boot will take some good breaking-in in the cold.

The Bugaboot III is a hefty one. Weighing it in a men's US size 9, we got a whopping 26 oz (737g)!

Not only is it significantly heavier than hiking boots on average, but it also weighs more than similar winter boots. The average weight of 200-gramme insulated boots in our catalogue is 19.4 oz (550g) - a whole 6.6 oz lighter than the Columbia Bugaboot!

A mere glance at the boot should be enough to understand that breathability is non-existent here. With its waterproof leather upper, 200-gramme insulation, and 7-inch shaft height, the Bugaboot III is 100% airtight.

We still performed our smoke-pumping test to demonstrate how much this winter boot differs from its breathable counterparts. Obviously, we gave the Bugaboot the lowest breathability score of 1 out of 5.

What this Columbia boot is meant to do is keep your feet dry and warm even when the temperatures drop below 32°F (0°C).

Investing in the Bugaboot III means that you get a pair of boots for more than one winter. Its heavily layered upper is prepared to withstand some serious wear and tear.

We challenged the boot's toebox to a duel with our Dremel and it came out barely damaged. Based on the dent left by the tool, we rated its durability with the highest score - 5 out of 5!

Using a durometer, we measured the boot's rubber for hardness. The reading of 84.9 HC was pretty reassuring to us as it means that there is enough hardness in the outsole to resist abrasion.

The fact that it's slightly softer than the average isn't as concerning to us. Because it is a winter boot, that softness makes the outsole a little bit tackier on slippery surfaces.

As expected, the amount of rubber is thicker on the Bugaboot. Our calliper shows 3.3 mm of rubber excluding the lugs.

This Columbia boot is equipped with really deep lugs to bite those slippery slopes.

Measuring them with a calliper shows 5.7 mm. That's over a milimeter toothier than the average we see in hiking boots.

Insulation aside, there is a generous amount of padding stuffed into the tongue. We measured its thickness at 14.2 mm, a little puffier than the average.

From our experience, it buffered the lace pressure quite successfully.

The boot's tongue is fully attached on both sides. That's the design we would expect from a waterproof insulated winter boot. It protects the interiors from outdoor elements, keeping the feet safe and warm.

Columbia added a small finger loop at the top of the collar. Even though it's meant to assist with getting the boot on, the latter still requires some effort. The attached tongue narrows the boot's opening quite a bit.

The Bugaboot's insole is removable. However, if you want to add an orthotic or a warmer insert, make sure that it's not thicker than the boot's default insole (11 mm). Because it can make the boot's already tight interiors even more cramped.