Living in Utah has given me plenty of opportunities to test the Teva Chair 5 boots. It has been a cold winter so far here with a descent amount of snow, this is the perfect environment to be able to see just what the Chair 5 can handle. As you will be able to see in this review, Teva is more than a sandal maker and the Chair 5 is not your ordinary winter boot.
One of the first things I noticed about the Chair 5 was how light these boots are for being a winter boot. I know that I have hiking/backpacking boots that weigh more than these boots. Each boot weighs 1 lb. 3 oz. and this is based on a size 9 and will vary by size. This is nice for a couple reasons. First, they do not feel like a pair of old clunkers. I can remember wearing my dad’s snow boots when shoveling the drive and sidewalks or going out to feed the dog, and how heavy these boots were. I would say that this was just because I was a kid then but just recently I used them while visiting and I can tell you that is not the case.
Secondly, they are great for travelling being so light. When traveling this winter the Chair 5 will be the perfect choice. Although they are light, probably the best feature for traveling is how packable they are. The top of the Chair 5 is a fabric that is flexible and packs easily. When packing these boots, you will notice that they get as small as most hiking boots.
Also, another nice feature when travelling, but, really anytime while using the Chair 5 boots is the removable inner liner. Teva has designed this liner to be a shoe or slipper to be worn around the house or as they say “cabin” after playing hard in the snow. It is a nice to be able to slip the liner out of the boot and leave the muddy wet boot behind. And don’t think this is just like other liners that a lot of snow boots have. This is more than just a liner they have added rubber on the bottom to give a little more traction.
Okay all that said, how do they perform as a winter boot? If you buy a boot for winter and it is not warm or doesn’t keep feet dry, then all the coolest features in the world would be worthless. For me warmth and dryness are by far the most important things to consider when looking for winter boots. So I will talk about both of them.
Warmth: When I say a winter boot has to be warm, I am not saying you always need a winter boot that you could take on an expedition to Antarctica. But it should be able to handle most conditions you plan on using it in. The Chair 5 has 250 grams of 3M Thinsulate insulation and that translates to be good down to -25 degrees. So the big question is, were the chair 5 boots warm? As I said at first we have had many days this winter into the teens and these boots have keep me warm while shoveling the drive, shopping or running errands around town and most important while playing with the dog out in the snow. I haven’t had a chance to take these boots snowshoeing and don’t know if I will. They would probably do okay, but I don’t know if that would be their biggest strength or key function.
Dryness: Teva has really thought these boots through. The bottom portion of the boot is some kind of rubber and the upper on the chair 5 is waterproof and the seams are seam sealed to make sure water stays out and doesn’t compromise the boot. The top of the boots have Velcro straps which are nice to be able to tighten the upper boot around the calf to keep snow out. My foot stayed dry in these boots while walking through snow, sleet and water.
My final thoughts on these boots. I have really enjoyed these boots for a quick winter boot to slip on when going out for the day in bad winter conditions. I also cannot think of a better boot to be able to take on vacation when the weather will be bad and needing protection against the cold is a must. I don’t know if the Chair 5 would solve everyone’s need in a winter boot and if you know the weather is going to be really cold finding a heavier boot would be a good idea. But if you are looking for a more comfortable boot that is super lightweight this is the boot for you. Check out more details on Teva’s site from the link below.
Features:
T.I.D.E. GRIP
• Our White Spider Rubber sole will help keep your face a safe distance from the ground when the temperature drops
• A nylon shank keeps the foot stable and in control
T.I.D.E. HYDRO
• Waterproof upper materials can handle getting wet
• Seam sealed to keep you dry
T.I.D.E. COMFORT
• Super light EVA foam is waterproof and insulative to keep you warm and dry
• Removable boot liner for kickin’ around the cabin
• 250 grames of 3M Thinsulate™ LiteLoft™ insulation feels like a sweater for your feet
• Approximate shaft height: 8″
• Approximate shaft circumference: Adjustable 12½”
• MSRP: $170.00
• http://www.teva.com/mens-chair-5-lightweight-winter-boots/1001468,default,pd.html
Product provided for free by the manufacturer for review purposes.