Columbia Women's Minx Mid II Omni-Heat Winter Boot, Shale/Bright Red, 8.5 M US

When I buy shoes I look for a totally flat shoe (zero drop), flexible (lets my foot be a foot), no toe spring (shortens top of the foot) and most important to me is a wide toe box so my toes don't get squished (leading to bunions and pronation). Rarely can I find all four qualities unless I buy minimalist shoes, but then I won't get the good traction or warmth in the winter. These Columbia Minx offer warmth and traction, but the insole has about an inch high! The ball of the foot is about 1/4 inch, so my heel is elevated about the ball of my foot by 3/4 of an inch. If you take out the insole, these appear to be zero drop. They’re flexible even with the shoe liner and from what my friend who owns a pair says they get more flexible over time, which is a plus for me. There is a little toe spring (seems tough to avoid in most shoes). I can fit my feet in the boot while wearing my Correct Toes™ without squishing my feet, but just barely. They have just the right amount of room without the liners. Check out how they measure up to the shoe liner test (see below); I’m spilling over the edge a bit. Ideally, your foot should not spill over the edge of the liner. For reference, the widest part of my foot is 4 inches and I ordered the size 8 boot. I might return them for an 8 1/2 and replace the shoe liner with a flat one. I wish these were sold in wide or did not have a tapered toe. Pros: Warm (-25 degrees F), flexible, waterproof and zero drop without the liners, light, good traction. Cons: elevated heel toe liner, a tad narrow, has a toe spring.

I am writing this in the hope that it will help someone else. I shopped around a good deal for a warm, light boot. I was tired of big, heavy winter boots that I cannot drive in and that take a long time to put on. These are wonderful and I LOVE them. They are like wearing slippers. I can slip them on and off in a second. I sized up a half size to wear wool socks underneath and it is just right. With wool socks my feet actually get hot and I live in a COLD place. I wear them to walk my dogs and run errands, so no I have not done anything such as backpacking or standing outside all day, but for my needs they are perfect. Also, I decided to order despite people saying that they are not waterproof. Having grown up in the midwest I don't know how anyone could expect a fabric boot to be entirely waterproof. For wet and slush you would need something else--a big rubbery boot, likely. The advantage of this is it's light as air and really comfy. It feels like a moccasin. This is better for drier conditions such as when it is very cold. My two cents.

These are great winter boots! I live in Northwest Indiana so good winter boots are a must! They are very warm, so far I have not felt the slightest bit cold! Have worn them for hours in the snow! I did however order them in a half size bigger than my usual and had to return them for another half size larger. So I would suggest ordering a whole size up! If you like to wear think socks maybe order a size and a half larger! Otherwise they look and feel great and are water proof!*UPDATE ON THE BOOTS***************These are cute boots, extremely comfortable and warm BUT they are not at all water proof. I would not count on them if you plan to be getting your boots wet. They can be pretty slick on icy pavement as well.

I have worn them 3 times (super comfortable) but THEY ARE NOT WATERPROOF!!!!The left shoe somewhere on the side is leaking. All 3 times I have put them on inside, walked down the driveway with my dog in the rain to the park (200m away) the grass is wet but they shoes are not submerged... is Australian grass and rain just so hardcore that Columbia Footwear can't stand up to it? Super disappointed because I bought them purely for the waterproof / flexible sole / comfort feature. Love them and hate them.

I bought these for my vacation to Iceland, and they were excellent! I am a Texas girl who is not used to snow and cold weather but do love it. I followed everyone's advice and sized up. I wear a 7 in sandals and flats and a 7.5 in boots and sneakers so I can wear socks. I had to order a size 8 in these which was perfect. I first went to Boston where I was out in windy 13 degree conditions, and they were so comfortable. My feet never got cold although I also had Hot Hand toe warmers on. Iceland had 30 degree temperatures and they were fine. They are so cushioned (kinda like memory foam) and were able to be used right out of the box. I never wore them before I packed them in my suitcase because I got them the day before I left on my trip. I walked through snow and puddles and they held up very well. I am looking to buy the shorty version now. I will definitely take these to any winter trips I have in the future.

These are just sort of Mehhh boots. At an original price of $130, I expect them to be ridiculously amazing. Paying $80, I still expect them to be amazing. They are just sort of "okay". Not as cute as I'd hoped and nowhere near as warm as I had hoped. All the reviews I read said size up a whole size, I disagree. I wear a 7.5 or 8 depending on the shoe, and I always buy a 9 in running shoes to give my feet room to swell on runs. So I figured a 9 in these would be fine, especially since everyone said they run so small. They are way too big! My left foot is a bit smaller than my right, so I'm used to the left shoe always feeling a tad bit loose, however, strangely, the left fits fine and the right is huge, my heel slips in it. If I put on an extra thick pair of socks it helps, but I think sizing up only a half size would be plenty. As for warmth, I was used to wearing a pair of Rockies hunting boots that were so insulated I could slip my bare feet in them and run around in -15 temps and still have toasty warm toes (sadly the soles started to separate and I had to break down and get new boots. I tried to get cute AND warm, but I guess you really can't have the best of both worlds.) This morning I put these boots on over my nylons and headed out into the roughly 10 degree morning. While not freezing, my feet were definitely chilly. So I'm not buying the -25 degree rating they come with. So, if you get a killer deal, sure, buy them. If you are looking for cute, eh, they're okay. If you're looking for super warm, look elsewhere.