REASONS TO BUY
Warm
Comfortable
Affordable
Good traction
REASONS TO AVOID
Not completely waterproof
More labor intensive to put on than others
Kamik Nation Plus Review
A casual boot for tromping around in the snow at a budget-friendly price
Credit: Travis Reddinger
RELATED: The Best Winter Boots for Men
Our Verdict
The Kamik Nation Plus is a traditional Pac boot, meaning that it has an insulated inner liner and a waterproof outer, and has long been considered a hallmark of winter boots. While we feel the Nation Plus bears many similarities to Sorel boots, it's actually a step ahead when it comes to fit and warmth. The fit of the Nation Plus is surprisingly snug, allowing for more capable footwork on icy pathways and snow-covered driveways and trails. This performance was also bolstered by the boot's quality high-traction sole. While we have some concerns about the boot's long-term water resistance and durability, this is an excellent choice for the money.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Kamik Nation Plus | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Winter Boot |  Best Bang for Your Buck |  Best Winter Hiking Boot | ||
| Price | $59.97 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $78.83 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $120 List $84.00 at Amazon | $129.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $66 List $65.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A very comfortable boot at the most affordable price | These boots perform great across the board, earning top accolades for being so well-rounded | With good performance across the board, these lower priced boots deliver great value | This boot makes winter walks comfortable and secure, but it isn't a great option for deep snow | An inexpensive option for winter errands and home use |
| Rating Categories | Kamik Nation Plus | The North Face Chil... | Columbia Bugaboot III | Merrell Thermo Chil... | Nortiv 8 Insulated |
| Warmth (25%) | |||||
| Weather Protection (25%) | |||||
| Comfort and Fit (20%) | |||||
| Traction (15%) | |||||
| Quality of Construction (15%) | |||||
| Specifications | Kamik Nation Plus | The North Face Chil... | Columbia Bugaboot III | Merrell Thermo Chil... | Nortiv 8 Insulated |
| Measured Weight | 4.05 lbs (size 11) | 3.58 lbs (size 11) | 3.43 lbs (size 11) | 2.74 lbs (size 13) | 2.92 lbs (size 11) |
| Measured Shaft Height | 10.0" | 8.0" | 7.0" | 7.5" | 4.5" |
| Maximum Puddle Depth | 6.25" | 7.2" | 7.2" | 6.5" | 5.5" |
| Fit Details | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size |
| Appropriate Activity | Town, chores, errands | Town, errands | Hiking, town, chores, errands | Hiking, town | Hiking, town |
| Lining/Insulation | 200B 3M Thinsulate | 400g Heatseeker Eco | 200g synthetic | 200g M Select | 200g Thinsulate |
| Upper Material | Waterproof suede | Waterproof leather & suede | Waterproof leather | Waterproof polyurethane-coated leather and mesh | Waterproof leather |
| Toe Box | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
| Outsole | Rubber | Surface Control rubber | Omni-Grip rubber | Rubber | Non slip rubber |
| Company Claimed Cold Weather Rating | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | -25 F |
| Animal Products | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Sizes Available | 7 - 14 | 7 - 14 | 7 - 17 | 7 - 15 | 6.5-15 |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Nation Plus is a comfortable and warm Pac-style winter boot at a reasonable price. Though these boots have a slightly lower flood height, they still provide plenty of weather protection and traction. A noticeable flaw we found was the wet material leached color and ended up staining the wood floor of our entryway, so exercise caution.
Performance Comparison
The pac style boots offers better comfort and less bulk than other similar styles.
Credit: Travis Reddinger
Warmth
The Nation Plus winter boot has just 200 grams of Thinsulate insulation in the removable liner. We initially thought it would be one of the colder boots tested, but it performed well against boots with double the insulation. This is because the insulation is allowed to maintain its loft, while other boots compress their insulation by sewing it behind an inner liner material. The sole is a thick rubber and provides good insulation from cold concrete and asphalt seeping into the bottom of the boot. A thin metallic lining is sewn into the bottom of the boot liner to increase its R-value and block heat transfer from your feet to the ground.
The Nation Plus is a comfortable and warm Pac style winter boot.
Credit: Travis Reddinger
Water Resistance
The exterior of the Nation Plus is built from thick rubber and suede leather, which did not suffer from major leakage issues, though it performed less admirably than we would have hoped for such a tall boot. That said, the rubber sole and outsole are one molded piece, so major damage would have to occur for a leak to spring there, and a waterproofing agent is daubed along the inside stitching where the rubber meets the suede.
We found the seam that secures the gusseted tongue to the leather upper allows water to leak through and lowers the maximum puddle depth to 6.25 inches. This is a shame since the boot's shaft is a full 10 inches high and can potentially perform better. While this model was not designed for prolonged deep immersions, as soon as water enters the tongue gusset, the Thinsulate foam insulation becomes saturated, making the inner liner cold and soggy.
Usually, we'd watch out for water seeping in through the saddle between the tongue and the shaft, but these boots leak where the leather meets the rubber, only 4.5 inches above the ground.
Credit: Sam Willits
Comfort and Fit
This boot fits true to size and hugs the foot nicely. This is a welcome change as Pac boots tend to give a sloppier fit than others because they occupy a space somewhere between a traditional lace-up boot and a slip-on. The bottom of the liner on the Nation Plus offers only a thin felt piece between your foot and the firm sole below. After standing around in the boot for a while, we noticed how hard the sole can feel.
The Nation Plus fits easily and somewhat spaciously, but a thick leather pad on the heel limits mobility and comfort when walking.
Credit: Sam Willits
Traction
The tread pattern on the Nation Plus is reminiscent of a pair of burly off-road tires, featuring deep lugs that offer good traction in soft snow and muck but keep enough surface area to travel on flat and slippery surfaces like icy pavement effectively. The soft, sticky rubber compound seems to aid in the grip on icy surfaces and does not lessen the grip on snow or hardpack. Every time we thought we had found a boot with a good grip on the ice, we would slip the Nation Plus on the other foot and test them side by side, and every time, the Nation Plus was among the grippiest. That said, ice is still ice, and nothing will guarantee you can stay on your feet, but these boots did better than most others.
The Nation Plus has a decent tread for our use and great traction on ice.
Quality of Construction
These boots are built relatively well and last a long time. Every seam is double-stitched, meaning it would take a lot of wear and tear to get the pieces of leather to separate. We have been testing these boots for a long time and haven't experienced any leather panel separations. However, we noticed that the leather can leach color when wet, and one tester noticed some color from the leather staining his mudroom floor. Also, unlike other Pac boots, the Nation Plus has a synthetically insulated liner instead of felt, which packs down over time and loses its loft, but not for a while.
The removable liner with synthetic insulation provides warmth and speeds the drying process.
Credit: Travis Reddinger
Should You Buy the Kamik Nation Plus?
This boot performs well and comes for a price that is hard to complain about. However, for just a little more money, you can get a much better boot. Modern winter boots have diverged from Pac boots by combining the insulation with the shell, which creates an overall lighter and better-fitting boot that is easier to wear. We recommend either spending a little more money on a much better boot or choosing a bargain-basement model that will get you through an average winter just as well as this one will.
Pac boots are usually not supportive enough for long hikes but they work great to get you outside for a dog walk.
Credit: Elizabeth Riley
What Other Winter Boots Should You Consider?
If you are looking for the best traditional Pac boot on the market, the Sorel Caribou is a tried and true model that will last forever. If you want a warm, comfortable, and durable model that is also lighter and more nimble, The North Face Chilkat V 400 is our recommendation for most users. And if the low price of the Nation Plus is what appeals to you, check out the Columbia Bugaboot III, which is only a little more expensive but delivers great performance.
—Travis Reddinger, Jeff Dobronyi, and Andy Wellman
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