I don’t know if you have ever heard of Korkers but if you have, you probably associate them with being a company that makes wading boots for fishing with interchangeable soles. By using that same interchangeable sole technology, Korkers has developed some great winter boots. The SnowJack is one of these boots and it is an all-round boot for multiple winter activities.
Korkers developed what they call the OmniTrax Interchangeable Sole System. This system allows the consumer to customize the sole of their boots to fit the activity that they are going to be participating in. The design of the OmniTrax system had three key elements that were a must for Korkers. Those three elements or criteria are: ease of use, reliability, and durability. With these three elements in mind, I went about testing these boots.
Ease of use. How easy was it to switch out the soles of the boots? It is really simple, the sole hooks in the front and then at the heel there is a button like feature to keep the back on. You then simple step down to lock the sole in place. They work flawless every time and it was easy to switch the two soles. Reliability: This is a hard thing to test without months or even years of testing. But the system never failed me in the many hours that I was able to use these boots. Durability: These boots are durable and built to last. The molded toe and heel caps provide protection and durability to the boots. Also the construction seems to be of high quality.
So that being said the SnowJack comes with two different sole options to fit most needs during the winter. First, the SnowTrac sole which has rubberized lugs that grip in wet or dry conditions. This sole is ideal for dirt, mud and general use during the winter activities. The second sole is the IceTrac sole. This sole comes with 16 durable carbide studs per foot ideal for slick or icy conditions. The second sole is great for shoveling the drive or when you feel that you might need that extra traction. The best part is that switching between soles doesn’t take hours but seconds. Korkers has even made it so simple that you can do it while wearing gloves, which makes it nice on cold days.
This feature alone makes these boots definitely worth looking into. But you need more than just traction for a great winter boot. Korkers has used 400 grams of 3M Thinsulate insulation for warmth. They even included it underneath the foot to give added warmth during snowshoeing or hiking around in the cold. The boot is 100% waterproof by way of a waterproof/breathable bootie as well as waterproof leathers. This is definitely a must if you are planning on being out in these boots for hours. For the multiple times that I have been able to take these boots in the snow, I have stayed warm and dry every time. I am looking forward to being able to take them snowshoeing this year to see how they perform as well.
If you are in the market for some new boots this year and have been thinking about getting something with a little more traction, these are for you. These eliminate the need to add extra crampon like products to your feet for added traction. They even have another sole that you can purchase that is even more intense if you need some serious traction control. Check out their site and the features below for more detail.
Features:
• Technical performance boot – excels during active multi-sport winter adventures.
• OmniTrax® 3.0 Interchangeable Sole System adapts your traction to meet changing weather conditions
• Includes two outsoles – SnowTrac Winter Rubber Lug and IceTrac Studded Rubber Lug with carbide studs (32 studs/pair)
• 100% waterproof construction includes waterproof/breathable bootie, and waterproof leathers, webbing and stitching to keep boot interior perfectly dry
• 400 grams of 3M™ Thinsulate™ insulation, includes underfoot placement for warmth during active outdoor adventures such as snowshoeing and hiking
• Molded toe and heel cap provides support and protection without sacrificing flexibility
• 3lbs 7oz./pair
• MSRP: $169.99