REASONS TO BUY
Very lightweight
Easy to put on and take off
Fashionable
REASONS TO AVOID
Not very warm or waterproof
Boxy fit
Merrell Polarand Rove Zip Review
A decent slip on boot that didn’t perform as well as its competition
Merrell Polarand Rove Zip Waterproof
Credit: Merrell
RELATED: Best Winter Boots for Men of 2024
Our Verdict
The Merrell Polarand Rove Zip Waterproof is a slip on boot that uses a full height side zipper to allow easier on and off access. This boot is one of the more attractive and fashionable ones in this review, making it a good choice for wearing around town or out to the bars on a snowy night. While the zipper did make it slightly easier to use, the effect of this design feature was unfortunately negative as it allowed water to leak in, and was also an easy entrance point for cold as well. After the final tally of the scores derived from comparison testing, the Polarand Rove Zip Waterproof was the lowest scorer in this year's test, and at a price tag of $160, we would recommend looking for another boot first.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Rove Zip Waterproof is a slip on boot similar in design to the Bogs Classic Ultra Mid and the Columbia Bugaboot II Slip On. Differing from those boots though, it has a full height side zip that makes it easier to put on, but doesn't do anything to tighten or adjust the fit of the boot. While we wore it plenty of days in the snow around town, we enjoyed it less than its other two close competitors.
It is simply not as waterproof or as warm as the Bogs boot, and its very square construction was a bit constricting on our forefoot while at the same time super loose around the ankle and heel, offering a much less snug fit than the Bugaboot II Slip On. It is also the shortest of the three, meaning that snow had a far easier time overflowing the top of the boot to annoyingly trickle down to our feet. The final deal breaker is the price. At $160, it is $30-$60 more expensive than the other two slip-ons we tested for this review, and as the lowest scoring of the bunch, is not worth that much extra money.
Performance Comparison
Testing out each contender with a walk through the snow and slush in Ouray, Colorado.
Credit: Elizabeth Riley
Warmth
In our ice bucket test, we were able to easily discern that this was not a very warm boot. Trying it immediately after the Columbia II Slip On, it was obvious that this one did less to trap the warmth inside, and didn't even compare to the warmest boots in this review, like The North Face Chilkat 400. We found that cold crept in through the insides of the feet near the heels, exactly where the zippered opening is at. A thin flap of 200g Thinsulate insulated material serves as a backing to this zipper, protecting the inside of the leg from cold drafts, but it is clear to us that this flap wasn't up to the challenge. The end result is that this was the least warm boot that we tested.
Showing the zipper on the inside of the Polarand Rove Zip WP. This zipper leaked in our water bucket test, although the black flap visible behind absorbed some of the water, keeping our feet relatively dry.
Credit: Elizabeth Riley
Water Resistance
While the zippered opening on the side of the boot proved to be the weakest link for trapping warmth, it also proved to be the point at which water was able to enter this boot. After our ice bucket test, we found that water had trickled in through each of the side zippers, soaking the insulated backer flap behind, but only a trace of dampness could be found on the inside of the boot. We measured the maximum puddle depth before leakage as 3 inches, and realistically that's probably enough for most people during winter.
The rest of the Polarand Rove Zip WP boots were fully water proof, but the full length zipper on the inside of the ankle leaked water. Realistically, these boots are designed to be convenient around town winter boots, and shouldn't ever encounter frozen rivers or puddles this deep.
Credit: Elizabeth Riley
Fit and Comfort
The fit of this boot is a little bit odd, and in our opinion isn't quite shaped like a foot is. While we thought the length was fine for our street shoe size, we noticed that the boot is shaped like a rectangle with a rounded over toe box. The result of having these totally straight sides was constriction in our forefoot, while at the same time our heel and ankle was totally loose, able to freely move up and down as we walked, or even side to side. In terms of comfort, we liked the fleece lining on the inside, and thought that the boot was reasonably comfortable. We spent a lot of time walking around town on ice and slush in this boot, but wouldn't want to take it for a hike. For that we would prefer something like the Vasque Snowburban II UltraDry.
Testing boots side by side affords a better perspective on the merits of one versus the other. Here testing the Polarand Rove Zip WP on the left and the Bogs Classic Ultra Mid on the right.
Credit: Elizabeth Riley
Ease of Use
With the side zipper unzipped, it is easy to slide a foot right into this boot. There is no pull tab on the back to help with this process, but it really isn't needed, as the extra wide opening eliminates the constriction at the ankle that the foot must pass through. The fleece lining isn't as smooth as the neoprene liner of the Bogs Classic Ultra Mid, but didn't grip and hold the foot like the Bugaboot II Slip On. Overall it was the second easiest boot to slide on and off at a whim.
Unzipping the side of the Polarand Rove Zip WP makes it easier to slide the foot inside this boot, but is actually not totally necessary. Despite not having a pull tab, gripping the boots as we are here easily allows one to stuff the foot in.
Credit: Elizabeth Riley
Traction
The Merrell Select Ice Grip outsole on this boot is arranged into a pattern of cross shapes in the middle with larger deep lugs on the edges of the boot. We thought it did a decent job of gripping the ice and hardpacked snow, better than its other two slip on boot counterparts.
The aggressive cross shaped lug pattern on the bottom of the Polarand Rove Zip WP boots afforded the best traction of any of the pull-on versions of boots in this review.
Credit: Elizabeth Riley
Best Applications
Like the rest of the slip on boot genre, these boots are designed for simple around town or around the house use in the winter. They make a good choice for heading out on the town when you still need winter boots. We wouldn't consider them for hiking or snowshoeing.
Value
These boots have an MSRP of $160. This is around average for this review, but is quite a bit more expensive than the other two slip on boots we tested, both of which finished with a higher score in our comparative tests. While most will probably be happy with this purchase, we don't think that they present a great value compared to the rest of the boots in this review.
Conclusion
The Merrell Polarand Rove Zip Waterproof is unfortunately not very waterproof, and is also not too warm. It scored at or near the bottom of both of these tests, two critical areas of importance for a winter boot. We thought these were the least effective winter boots that we tested, and would recommend the reader to look at other options first before pulling the trigger on a purchase of these boots.
These boots have an interesting juxtaposition in terms of fit. In the foot area, the fit is tight, especially on the top of the foot. But then the shaft around the ankle and lower calf is very loose, enough so that we could stuff our pants down inside.
Credit: Elizabeth Riley
Other Versions
Merrell Polarand Rove Waterproof
Merrell Polarand Rove Waterproof
Credit: Merrell
- Cost: $160
- A lace up boot that is similar in look and design to this slip-on
- Significantly lower shaft height
Merrell Polarand Rove Moc Waterproof
Merrell Polarand Rove Moc Waterproof
Credit: Merrell
- Cost: $120
- A winter moccasin that is slip on, with a very low cut below the ankle
- Insulated and waterproof
—
Andy Wellman
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