Gear Review: Sorel Alpha Pac Winter Boots
These will keep your feet warm on the coldest of hikes.
On a stormy day in Alaska’s Chugach Mountains, one tester wore these boots on a seven-mile hike through rolling terrain and slushy snow and says, “Support is adequate for carrying 30 pounds or pulling a heavy sled. The sole’s deep, W-shaped ridges held well on steep terrain, and the rubber upper kept my feet bone dry,” he says. They weren’t even clammy, thanks to a felt liner that draws moisture from the foot and channels it up and out the top.
The removable liner also has a heat reflective layer, which kept feet warm down to 0°F. Bonus: The high collar cinches so you don’t need gaiters. Like with all pack-type boots, the fit is looser than a typical hiker (good for accommodating extra-thick socks), and best for wide, high-volume feet. $130; 3 lbs. 10 oz.; m’s 7-15, w’s 5-12; columbia.com