Men’s Alaska Fairbanks Winter Boot Review

Bottom Line

The Columbia Fairbanks is far from the most technical boot on our list of the best winter boots for men, but we loved them for cold days around town and the occasional walk on our neighborhood trails. Taking these boots out in the cold of Alaska, they immediately felt at home in the ice and snow. It’s no surprise considering they are named after one of the coldest cities in the state. 

We quickly found the Fairbanks is not the boot to take on long hikes or in deep snow. Although the extremely flexible sole is comfortable to walk in, it lacks the structure and support needed for long hikes and snowy adventures. The Cordura upper does not block moisture to the extent needed for long walks in wet conditions. The shaft of the boot is also one of the lowest we tested, so it lets in large amounts of snow.

When using the Fairbanks, it’s most suitable for in-town adventures where extreme weather resistance and durability are not needed. Equally at home in a coffee shop as they are on a neighborhood trail, the Fairbanks is a versatile boot for casual use.

Comfort

Wearing the Columbia Fairbanks felt like slipping on a familiar pair of running shoes. The soft and pliable sole requires no breaking in and feels comfortable right out of the box. The flexibility of the upper meant that the boot could be tightened securely with ease. Many other winter boots’ inflexible upper means tightening down the laces can be a chore.

We did find that the comfort of these boots decreased over time as the soles became more packed out. This led to the boot feeling more sloppy. The shape of the boot is widely appealing to most, but those with wider feet may fit better as the boot packs out with use.

Warmth

Overall, the Columbia Fairbanks boot kept us pretty warm – as long as it stayed dry. We specifically chose to wear these boots in the single digits above and below zero and were pleased with how well they kept our feet warm. With 200g of synthetic insulation, including Columbia’s Omni-Heat, this was plenty of insulation for most temperatures encountered.

However, once wet, this boot quickly lost its insulative properties. The synthetic insulation used does not provide the warmth when wet of other brands, and we easily felt the cold starting in our toes. For cold and wet conditions, these may not be the first boots of choice. But for the dry cold of a sub-zero day, we loved using these boots when out and around town.

Traction

The Columbia Fairbanks comes armed with an array of flat-faced rectangular lugs. These lugs work best on planar surfaces like ice-covered sidewalks and packed snow. We didn’t run into any issues using these for errands and on surfaces most common in winter cities. They stuck to packed snow like velcro, and ice-covered sidewalks were no problem.

However, the traction of this boot suffers when in deep snow. The lugs lack the depth needed for traction in loose snow, and their slightly rounded profile means they don’t bite as well as those with sharp lugs. We slipped and slid on hills in these and won’t be reaching for them when needing to traverse deep snow or steep terrain.

Weather Resistance

During our testing in wet and heavy snow, we found that the Columbia Fairbanks boots were quickly overwhelmed and became wet easily. The Cordura upper is not weather resistant to the degree that we had hoped. After a day of walking through slush and puddles, our feet were wet, and the material was saturated. Without any kind of boot heater to dry them out, these boots stayed wet long after use.

With a shaft height of 4.5 inches, these are not the boots to take out in anything more than ankle-deep snow. Even with the boots tightened down, there is still a large gap in the back of the boot that easily fills with snow. The snow packed in around the ankles and had to be periodically dug out. Even though we won’t be using these boots on backcountry adventures, they are still adequate for most casual uses.

Durability

The durability of these boots leaves some room for improvement, too. After a few uses, we found the upper starting to separate from the sole, revealing the glue used to hold the two portions together. Though the sewn seams of the boot remained intact, the boot had lost some integrity overall. The flexible sole, while initially comfortable, quickly lost any supportive qualities. This boot may not hold up to heavy usage year after year, but for a reasonable price, it provides enough durability for casual use around town.

Should You Buy the Columbia Fairbanks Winter Boot?

With its attainable price point, the Columbia Fairbanks are perfect for those looking to make their dollar stretch. With a high degree of warmth and excellent traction on firm surfaces, these boots are most at home in the city, running errands, and doing light yard work in the winter. Their flexible sole and comfortable lining make them easy to wear for hours at a time. Though the Fairbanks are great for around town, these are not the ones for long hikes, deep snow, or serious winter adventures. Their upper lacks enough weather resistance to be effective, and the opening of the boot gapes open, letting in a large amount of snow. If you’re looking for a boot solely for in-town use, then it’s hard to go wrong with the Columbia Fairbanks.

What Other Men’s Winter Boots Should You Consider?

For more cold-weather footwear recommendations for men, please see CleverHiker’s full guide to the best hiking boots.

Kamik Atwater Review – If you are after a casual boot, but the Fairbanks left you wanting more weather resistance, the Atwater checks both those boxes. Warm, weather-resistant, and comfortable, it’s right at home on cold city streets.

Blundstone Thermal Review – The Blundstone’s style is iconic, and the Thermal version provides weather resistance and warmth for winter activities. With more performance in wet conditions than the Fairbanks, the Thermals are the perfect boot for wet and cold winters.

The Sorel Caribou Review – With its instantly recognizable style, the Sorel Caribou packs some serious warmth for the coldest days while still being refined enough for days around town.