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| My new Polyver winter boots (2022) |
Living in a cold climate I was looking for some warm and waterproof winter boots which were suitable for static periods outside in the cold snow. My work means I can be outside for several hours each day in sub-zero temperatures which can be around -10c or colder. I wanted these as a winter warmer rather than a winter walking boot.
The three main factors affecting a boot’s performance are temperature, duration outside and the amount of movement/avtivity. Even just a little movement will help keep your feet warm when it gets really cold. It could be a challenge to find something warm enough at -20c if you remain static for long periods.
I've used Icebug studded boots as my standard ice and snow boot for several years. They're brilliant and usually warm enough when walking or with moderate movement. However, recently I've found myself moving less and therefore needing something warmer when it gets colder.
I stumbled across a very attractive offer on a pair of Swedish made Polyver winter boots. Firstly, these boots are made from Polyurethane (often abbreviated PUR and PU), not rubber. I was particularly impressed when I read they were rated at up to -40c. Even if that's optimistic, they had to be good for -20c which was more than adequate for my use. They come in two colours, black or green. I opted for the black as I consider this a better choice for urban use and green more suited for the countryside, but that's just my opinion. They also produce a high leg version, but I prefered the low cut boot.
I hadn't even heard of this company before but was impressed with the information provided on the Polyvers official website. I couldn't find any independent reviews of their boots online. Perhaps because this is still a relatively new company (established in 2005) with a new product line. I was pleasantly surprised to find that these boots are actually made in Sweden. To me that suggests they're more interested in offering a quality product than just generating as much profit as possible by having them made in China. Lets hope they can maintain that stance in the face of economic pressures.
For me, these were not intended to replace my Icebugs, but to compliment them. I wanted to use them on snow or broken ice rather than sheer ice. No doubt also for those wet slushy snowy days.
Size
The sizing guideline on their website didn't really work for me so I ordered my shoe size plus one size more, which is what I would normally do for walking boots.
The bigger size allows for thicker socks and should provide a more comfortable fit for my wide feet. I'm reluctant to buy footwear online unless I've already tried it in a store and know it will fit. Fortunately theses boots were a good fit when they arrived so I didn't have the hassle of having to return them by post.
My first impressions are very good. I like the styling of the low boot and it feels nice and chunky without being too heavy. The acrylic fur lining feels very snug. It certainly looks and feels like it should be warm enough for sub-zero temperatures as low as -20c.
Whilst I've not yet used them in earnest, a quick assessment outside in the icy snow filled me with confidence. They were certainly warm and the grip was sufficient on most surfaces. On sheer ice they don't perform well, but that's not surprising for a PU boot. Icebugs are still my first choice for sheer ice.
Firstly, the box
Then the labels
The cardboard labels shown here were attached to the upper part of the boot with plastic ties. These actually made small holes through the boot, but being at the top it doesn't impact on the waterproofing. It seems the company has recently undergone a logo rebranding, which I think is more modern.
Finally, the boots!
The Verdict
So far so good. These boots are comfortable, well made and I would certainly recommend them. However, I will have to wait and see how they perform over one or two winters and report back. I have yet to see how they perform at some lower temperatures closer to -20c to see how warm they are.
I think these boots will appeal to a
wide range of people with different needs. For example I can imagine
they would be ideal for anything from taking the dog out for a walk on very wet or
snow covered cold days, for hunters or anglers etc. Whilst I
don't intend using them as a walking boot, they will be very welcome for
my work days when it's either very cold or very wet. I've found that
using traditional rubber boots, even in plus temperatures can leave
my feet cold after a short time (even with woolen socks).
Having purchased these at a very good discount, I'm even more pleased with them. I’ve seen cheaper versions of these boots but they’re much lighter and less insulated.
Each of the following updates include a duration of about 1 hour outside.
Update 1
+2c with drizzle. Existing moderate surface snow melting leaving ice. One pair of thin socks. Warm and comfortable. Good grip on most surfaces. Later that day I switched to my Icebugs as the ice was much worse. The following few days the temperature dropped making the ice treacherous so I used my Icebugs.
Update 2
+1c with moderate snowfall. The warmer temperature made the old surface snow slushy and ideal for the Polyver boots once again. One pair of thin socks was sufficiently warm for one hour of static use. Grip was good on the slushy snow surface.
The top of the boot is quite wide but my insulated trousers still fitted over the top of the boots. The looser fit means there is a bit of 'lifting' movement when walking. I think this would be resolved with a thicker pair of socks. I still think it's better to have a little extra room to allow for thicker socks and the air to circulate.
Update 3
-1c with moderate amount of 'wet' snow on the ground. One pair of thin socks. Mostly static with little movement. As expected, warm and comfortable with good grip. Still waiting for some much colder temperatures.
Update 4
-7c (feels like -12c). One pair of thin socks and second pair of wool socks. I wasn't sure if I would even need the wool socks but thought I'd see how they felt. The extra socks did remove the lose feeling. Certainly warm enough with only limited movement. Grip was good since there was a reasonable amount of fresh snowfall on the ground. Ideal. The next day was almost the same temperature but I used just one pair of sports socks and that was fine.
Update 5
-9c (feels like -10c). One pair of medium weight merino wool socks. Duration outside approx 1 hour mostly active. About 25cm of fresh snowfall. My feet remained warm and comfortable.
2023 Update
These boots continue to serve me well during another very cold and snowy winter.
2024 Update
These boots have proved to be one of my best footwear purchases. I use them every winter when it’s either wet or with deep snow.
I always keep my Icebugs handy to change into when driving since the Polyver boots are too chunky to use on the car pedals.
