Sorel Conquest Carly Review

Hands-On Review

Featuring 100g of insulation and very attractive styling, the Sorel Conquest Carly caught our testers' eyes right from the start. This winter boot is somewhat of a cross between a riding boot and a military-inspired boot. One of the few fashion-conscious products in our review that does not feature faux fur, this model is ideal as a late fall to early winter “transition boot.” All that said, if you choose this model, be prepared to sacrifice your comfort. Even after three months of wear and miles of walking, we weren't able to break it in.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

This tall winter boot is fitted with 100g of insulation and a pull cord adjustment at the top of the shaft to seal in heat. Although the Tofino has the same amount of insulation, that boot feels a little bit warmer - perhaps because of the faux fur, softer interior, or closer proximity to the ground. That said, we think that the Conquest Carly is a good choice if you're looking for footwear that will transition from chilly fall days into milder winter weather. The Keen Elsa and Merrell Dewbrook Zip are two other pieces that can transition well from fall to winter.

Comfort & Coziness

Comfort is where this product really tanked. As we mentioned above, there is an extremely uncomfortable bump where the bottom of the boot meets the upper - and unfortunately that falls right at the heel. As soon as we stepped into this model, we felt it. At first, we had hopes that it would go away after a breaking-in period. Despite walking miles in this boot, it remained very uncomfortable. Additionally, it lacks any sort of cozy fleece lining and it made our feet sweat more than any other product we tested.

Weather Protection

This model offers a fair amount of water resistance. It didn't flood until it reached a depth of 4.5 inches - and even then it was a slightly slower leak. It also has a tall shaft that will protect you from deeper snow drifts.

Style & Fit

Style is where this boot made up some serious points. Our lead tester received multiple compliments every time she wore this boot. With its tall shaft, stylish heel, and leather detailing, it looks like a cross between a riding boot and a military-style boot. We also loved that Sorel did not include a faux fur cuff - not everyone loves that look and it can be challenging to find a product that offers style without faux fur. While this unique boot may not be for everyone, it appealed to our reviewers, as well as a broad age range of women.

Traction

We were pleasantly surprised that this model offered a fair amount of traction despite its raised heel.

Ease to Take On & Off

Again, the Conquest Carly did not perform well in this metric. The lace eyelets look great, but are tiny and difficult to thread. The opposite of the Baffin Loki, this model is very fitted along the top of the foot, which adds to its stylish appeal, but makes it more challenging to pull on and off.

Best Applications

We liked this boot for shorter around-town errands or nights out to the bar with friends - as long as we didn't have to walk too far. It pairs well with anything from skinny jeans to winter dresses with tights. It's also ideal for making the transition from fall to winter.

Value

At $220, this is one of the most expensive products in the review - up there with the UGG Adirondack II. What you're paying for here is style with the added bonuses of a little warmth and good weather protection. If you don't care about comfort - and style is at the top of your priority list - then these boots could be a fine value, especially considering their early-season versatility; however, we just find it hard to swallow spending this much money on such an uncomfortable product.

Conclusion

We would sum up the Sorel Conquest Carly as very stylish, but very uncomfortable. This tall boot transitions well from fall to winter (given its mild insulation and its lack of faux fur), but it is quite expensive.