OutdoorGearLab Publishes Awards For Best Rain Boots

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Sept. 7, 2014 - PRLog -- OutdoorGearLab, a respectable website known for its detailed comparison reviews of outdoor equipment and clothing, has released the results of their analysis of footwear for rainy weather in their top rain boot review. Over the course of three months, Gear Review Editor Jared Dean tested ten products while hiking, fishing, climbing and more. Each pair was evaluated on how well it performed in the areas of comfort, water resistance, warmth, style, traction and ease of use. Once the evaluations were complete, each product was then given scores in each of the performance categories and based on those weighted scores and how well they performed at certain applications, awards for Editors’ Choice, Best Buy and Top Pick were granted accordingly.

Editors’ Choice Award Winner: Bogs Classic High

The Bogs Classic High won OutdoorGearLab’s most prestigious award for being a high performing product that protects the wearer from the worst of weather. It is constructed with 7mm Neo-Tech insulation that makes it ideal for wearing in sub zero temperatures. Gear Editor Dean writes that it was the best fitting option of all the contenders tested and has great tread ready to handle a variety of situations. Dean does point out that because the insulation works so well in this model, wearing them in warm temperatures may cause feet to perspire.

Top Pick Award Winner: Kamik Icebreaker

The Kamik Icebreaker won the Top Pick award because it is especially great for protection from cold weather. It has a removable liner that provides excellent insulation, comfort and extra cushioning as well as offering protection from harsh conditions such as snow, sleet, rain and mud. It is designed with a lace closure at the top that does a great job keeping out the elements and debris and keeping heat in. Gear Editor Dean states that, “The Kamik is a great value for the price. It has good traction and its liner was so excellent at keeping our feet warm that we would consider taking it to the coldest place possible, to even further test its capability to insulate.” Dean mentions that in warmer situations the extremely warm liner caused overheating and thus excessive sweating but the liner did wick away the moisture, which eventually settled in the foot bed. So while it is good for wading in a cool river or keeping warm in the snow, the heat trapped inside the liner of the Kamik is not very comfortable for warmer weather.

Best Buy Award Winner: LaCrosse Hampton

The Hampton is a short-shafted product that was the least expensive model tested in the review. According to Dean, “The Hampton is great for hanging out at camp or taking the dog for a walk in a heavy rain. We found it extremely comfortable and even stylish too. It is very easy to get on and off and in circumstances where we didn’t need a taller product we didn’t hesitate to reach for the Hampton.”

OutdoorGearLab, LLC, based in Cheyenne, Wyoming, creates the world’s best outdoor gear reviews through detailed comparison reviews. The review Editors perform thorough head-to-head tests of popular outdoor gear and apparel in different categories, then publish the results in comprehensive reviews. Each model is scored across a range of weighted metrics relevant to that product's category, then competing products are ranked, and awards are given to top performing, highest scoring designs. The website, www.outdoorgearlab.com, is a free resource for outdoors enthusiasts who participate in activities such as skiing, snowboarding, running, climbing, biking, hiking, backpacking, and camping.