Columbia Bugatech Lite Omni-Heat Boot review

You can't imagine my excitement when I saw the posting on Snowshoe Magazine's facebook page looking for women who wear a size 7 boot, who snowshoe, and who would be willing to blog a review about a pair of Columbia Bugatech Lite Omni-Heat boots! 
To be honest, what really caught my eye and peaked my interest was "Omni-Heat".  Could that mean warm feet?  Growing up a farm girl in northwest Minnesota, my feet have been perpetually cold from October until April, every year, without fail.  It is something most of us who live in cold country accept....cold feet.  Until now!
A few years ago, as I was heading into my mid-30s, I began to really despise the cold.  Not a good thing in northern MN.  So, to help me get out and enjoy life in the winter, my brother gave me a pair of Tubbs snowshoes that he no longer used.  Shortly after, my parents gave me a Cuddeback Trail Camera.  There was now a plan and purpose to get out into the cold and enjoy it! So, I started making bi-weekly trips on my snowshoes around the fields, frozen ponds and woods of our property, setting the trail cams, feeding the deer, exploring and actually loving it!  But...my feet were still cold.
  

Then, the new Columbia boots arrived.  My thought when I first tried them on was that they were going to be too tight to be comfortable.  I do have high arches and my feet are even a little wide.  I initially felt restricted and stiff in them from the ankle on down.  However, after giving them a try with and without snowshoes, they were great!  They are amazingly light weight, yet offer a sturdy, snug, secure fit providing support for the ankle and foot.  They fit well into snowshoe bindings.  The tread is great, no problem on ice.  I have worn them with and without gaiters, and had no problems with snow getting inside.  Whether my snowshoe trek of the day has been 20 minutes around the yard or hours out on deer trails, the boots have been comfortable, dry and WARM! 

Yes, it is true, my feet have yet to get cold while wearing these boots.  And, believe it or not, I wear just one pair of regular socks.  I have worn them in 30 degree temps and in sub-zero temps.  I have worn them without snowshoes in a foot of snow and I have broken many trails with them in my snowshoes....always the same result - comfortable, dry and WARM!

If I could change anything about the boots, it would be the color and laces.  Darker color, longer laces.  That's it.
And, did I mention, my feet are finally warm?