REASONS TO BUY
Warm
Good traction
Easy to clean
REASONS TO AVOID
Not stylish
Too warm for late spring in warmer climates
Bogs Women's Classic High Review
Not very handsome, this warm model is performance-driven with solid traction
RELATED: Best Rain Boots for Women
Our Verdict
A rugged rubber rain boot designed to keep your feet warm in colder conditions, the Bogs Classic High boot works super well as a transition piece from late winter to early spring. It's ideal for use when the ground gets muddy or the snow gets dirty and slushy. In these conditions, you may not want to wear your winter boots (with suede or textile uppers) since they can be harder to clean; the Bogs Classic High is a great solution to this problem. It still provides plenty of warmth, but it's quick and easy to spray down. We've also met several farmers who swear by their Bogs.
If you live in a colder, rainy climate, you may be able to stretch your use of this boot into late spring, but at temperatures above 65 degrees, it can feel really toasty in there. This is not the ideal model if you live in a milder climate or you want a stylish rain boot that you can wear all spring long; however, if you want a tough product that still offers comfort and good traction, we highly recommend this high-scoring product. If you need a little less warmth, we'll point you toward our Editors' Choice winner, the Bogs North Hampton - Women's, and if you need a little more warmth, we'll point you toward The Original Muck Boot Company Arctic Sport II.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Bogs Classic High has a neoprene upper and a rugged rubber toe box. This warm rain boot makes a great as a transition shoe through the early spring and late fall. It certainly isn't the most stylish, but it performed highly in our weather protection, warmth, and comfort categories.
Performance Comparison
Ideal for cold, wet weather, it offers great traction and comfort. It may be short on style, but it makes up for it in performance.
Credit: Skiy Detray
Weather Protection
Along with The Original Muck Boot Company Arctic Sport II, the Classic High boot earned top marks in weather protection. Comprised of a molded rubber outsole and toe box and a neoprene upper, this model has a 15-inch high shaft that hugs the calf. If you have wider calves, we recommend measuring your leg to make sure that this boot won't be too tight. In the size 10 that we tested, the rim circumference was 15.5 inches. Although the neoprene shaft is somewhat stretchy, it would not be ideal to limit circulation to the lower legs, especially in the colder conditions for which this product is designed.
As we'll discuss in our warmth metric, this fully waterproof boot is also well-suited to protect you from snow and other nasty winter precipitation. We were happy to discover that the thick neoprene upper dries fairly quickly from the outside, but if this boot gets wet on the inside, it's another story. It can take a day or two to thoroughly dry out.
Amanda wears this Bogs model following a surprise May snowstorm. Whether you're trudging through snow or rain, this product has you covered for weather protection.
Credit: Amanda Fenn
Comfort
This product also earned high scores in comfort. Its insole is relatively comfy and cushioned and it has some added arch support. We'll talk more about fit below, but the toe box and mid-section of the foot are wide, giving the foot plenty of room to move around. Meanwhile the neoprene upper gives the shaft a soft, supple feel that moves easily with the body. Although the boot is not lined with any plush material, the neoprene bootie is surprisingly cozy.
The Editors' Choice winning Bogs North Hampton also earned high scores in comfort. It isn't quite as supportive as the Classic High, but it is lighter and thus more comfortable to wear while walking longer distances.
This model earned high scores in our comfort metric. Its insoles aren't super thick, but the midsole is quite supportive.
Credit: Amanda Fenn
Style
More of a cold weather workhorse, this boot did not earn any props in our style metric. Although it does have some molded detailing along the toe box to add a little shape, it just looks like a farm boot, not something you'd want to wear around town. The rubber and neoprene combination is also not the most attractive. Additionally, it only comes in black, which was a bummer for our color-loving testers.
The Arctic Sport II has pink or purple accents, so if having a warm but colorful boot is a priority for you, we recommend opting for that boot!
Walking alongside Clear Creek on threatening afternoon outside Golden, Colorado. This rugged looking model only comes in black, but there are several comparable pieces with handles that come in other colors.
Credit: Skiy Detray
Traction
Made with a raw rubber/Bio Grip outsole, this Bogs model has somewhat shallow treads that form wavy horizontal lines. The sole grips well to both wet and dry surfaces, but since it's a bit thicker than some of the other models, it has a little bit less sensitivity. We're a little bit surprised that this boot doesn't have deeper treads to help navigate mud, but it will still take you off-road just fine.
The Bogs Classic outsole has Biogrip components in it for added traction. Its wavy treads aren't very deep, but they cruise easily over wet, medium-angle surfaces.
Credit: Amanda Fenn
Warmth
This boot made up for its lack of style points in our warmth metric. When cold weather hit during our review period, we loved the insulative qualities of this product and definitely recommend it if you're looking for a winter hybrid. If you're looking for the most warmth, then you should definitely opt for the Arctic Sport II instead. Bogs says that this model is “comfort rated” to -40 degrees. We honestly don't think they are this warm, but they are fitted with 7 mm of Neo-Tech insulation. Unless you want your feet to overheat, we don't recommend this product for temperatures warmer than 60 or 65 degrees. If you live in a cooler climate and want a rugged late winter to spring…or…fall to winter rain/snow boot that is easy to clean, then this product is a great choice. For a slightly more versatile boot that still offers a fair amount of warmth, take a look at the North Hampton instead.
This piece doesn't offer quite as much warmth at the Muck Boots Arctic Sport, but it's still plenty warm for early spring and late fall.
Credit: Amanda Fenn
Fit
Bogs recommends sizing up in the Classic High boot if you're a half size. We found this model to be plenty spacious (maybe just a little too spacious?) through the foot, but if your feet run wide or high volume, you'll be in heaven in this boot. Its toe box is big enough for your toes to move around, which is ideal for cold weather, and the boot has a thicker insulative sole. However, this means that you'll be a little higher off the ground, which some people don't love. As we mentioned above, you should also make sure that the shaft is wide enough for your leg. This product has a slimmer circumference than other tall boots and even though the neoprene upper is stretchy, you don't want it to be too tight.
This product has a slightly stretchy neoprene upper, but doesn't have a very wide rim circumference. If you have really muscular calves, you may want to keep the tags on this product until you've walked around the house a bit.
Credit: Amanda Fenn
Best Applications
This boot is great for the shoulder seasons from winter to spring and fall to winter; if you live in a colder climate, it could even work into late spring or early fall. One of the main benefits of opting for this product over an actual winter boot is that you can easily clean the rubber and neoprene material of the Bogs Classic, whereas many winter boots have textile uppers that are more annoying to scrub after a day in muddy or slushy conditions.
Testing out traction on a warm, sunny day. (We didn't want to be cold if we slipped and fell in!) The Bogs Classic is not suitable for temperatures above 60 degrees, so if you live in a mild climate, you should definitely opt for a less warm model.
Credit: Amanda Fenn
Value
It may not be stylish, but if you need a warm rubber boot, $110 doesn't seem too much to ask. If it meets your needs, we think this product is a great investment that will last for years. It's also $60 less expensive that the Arctic Sport II!
Conclusion
A rugged work-horse boot ideal for cooler conditions, the Bogs Classic High rain boot also offers protection in the snow and slush. It's tall enough to protect you from sizable snow drifts and its sole provides great traction. Although it earned low points in our style metric, it is a great, easy-to-clean piece of gear that thrives in nasty weather.
This product was probably the best “off-road” rain boot that we tested. Here, Amanda climbs down a short section of the trail after getting rained out of rock climbing.
Credit: Skiy Detray
—
Amanda Fenn
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