Sorel Caribou Review

The Sorel Caribou is a classic winter Pac boot. In general, Pac boots are very comfortable and offer a spacious, sometimes sloppy fit. They have the benefit of a removable liner that allows you to dry them out quickly should you sweat too much or they get submerged in water. The Caribou is a warm and waterproof boot, but it isn't the most comfortable or grippy on slick surfaces.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

The Pac Boot style construction means its warmth comes from the 9mm thick ThermoPlus felt inner boot. Upon first inspection, we were a little disappointed with the thickness and the tongue opening after removing it from the shell. We reserved judgment until after testing; however, we figured that the Caribou wouldn't have been around for so long if they hadn't gotten something right. It turns out they are plenty warm, among the warmest in our ice bucket test. They provide enough warmth and protection for all but the worst winter weather, and in that case, a thick wool sock should add enough insulation to get the job done.

Weather Protection

The Caribou keeps water, slush, and snow at bay with an effective molded rubber sole that extends upward, creating a shell around the foot. The upper is a treated Nubuck leather that resists water quite well, beading off the water even after our ice bath immersion test. Since there is no inner waterproof membrane like those found on many winter hiking boots, these boots rely heavily on the outer shell to shed water. This means that an annual treatment of the Nubuck material will help them repel water longer and extend the life of the material. They are waterproof to a submersion depth of 9 inches when the water hits the tongue gusset. The submersion depth is better than most in our review and plenty for most winter activities like shoveling driveways filled with deep snow.

Comfort and Fit

We hesitate to say that these boots are uncomfortable because their large and spacious fit guarantees a cozy and relaxed experience. However, there is no doubt that improvements could be made to the design. These boots are very large in fit and design and have a loose fit. Even with an extra layer of socks, there is plenty of movement inside the boots, giving it a sloppy feel. We recommend sizing down at least half a size or trying them on ahead of time.

The laces are a simple design over the instep and no amount of cranking the laces down will cinch up this boot to make it feel snug. The room on the inside isn't the only problem, though — the whole boot is quite large, and the weight is significant as well. At 5.25 pounds for a pair of men's size 13, these are over two pounds heavier than the average winter hiking boot. The sloppy fit, large design, and hefty weight guarantee that this is not the footwear we want to wear over long distances.

Traction

The Caribou features a proprietary rubber compound called Aerotrac, and the sole pattern is made up of small, rounded lugs. The low-profile lugs perform best on slippery surfaces like icy sidewalks, where increased surface area creates more friction and grip. For many other circumstances, however, the lugs do not provide enough bite for solid footing.

Quality of Construction

It's worth mentioning that we are concerned about durability issues with the vulcanized rubber that forms the bottom lining of this boot. There are countless user reviews online reporting the rubber cracking or splitting over time due to dryness or material fatigue. Numerous other direct contacts have confirmed this has happened to them as well. Most of these reports claim that the issue started after a year of regular use. Our test period was not long enough to verify these claims, and we experienced no such issues of cracking or splitting in our tests. This is a serious issue to consider, and we will report back if this occurs on one of the test pairs in the future.

Should You Buy the Sorel Caribou?

The Sorel Caribou has been around for the past 50 years and is many people's definition of a snow boot. The design concept is solid, and while we feel that it is not a suitable candidate for long winter hikes, it is an overall good winter boot that combines great warmth and weather resistance with an easy-to-use design. Its classic style will fit the needs of many people looking for a quality boot to see them through the winter. This boot has an average retail price for the group, though its versatility is less than other boots at this price. We have already voiced concerns about the material's durability, though we didn't encounter that problem ourselves. Still, there are better boots out there for the price that provide a wide range of utility.

What Other Winter Boots Should You Consider?

While we get the appeal of this traditional-looking style and brand, it isn't the best for most activities beyond hanging out in the snow. If you need a boot for choirs, the Muck Boot Arctic Sport Mid has a slightly higher price but offers more for your money and will look better for messy chores that could stain the leather on the Sorel. If warmth is the order for the day, the Baffin Impact is better at keeping feet warm than the Sorel but comes with a significantly higher price tag. Alternatively, if you want to enjoy outdoor trekking or snowshoeing, then the The North Face Chilkat V 400 is a great all-around boot for a little bit of this and a little bit of that. The Oboz Bridger 10" Insulated is also a solid choice if you are searching for a more streamlined look.