Teva Chair 5

I recently received in my hot little hands the Teva Men's Chair 5 winter boot. Designed to be a complete re-imagination of what a winter boot could be.

Anything lost in style with this boot is more than made up for in functionality. I made the mistake of wearing the boot at an indoor function for the first time and my feet were baking hot!

The boot is noticeably light (250g of low loft Thinsulate), has a nice tread and tall cuff making it perfect for long treks in the snow. Perhaps the best feature in my opinion is the removable synthetic down inner liner that comes with a light tread making it perfect for lounging in the tent or backcountry cabin. Kind of like having 2 shoes for the price of one! The boot is waterproof and this was well tested on a rainy fall hike in Whistler, BC. In fact the Chair 5 is completely seam sealed.

All this in a boot that is light, compressible and will fit easily in a backpack or suitcase makes the clunky winter boots offered by other manufacturers mute.

"Tech Talk" from Teva:

• 250g 3M Thinsulate LiteLoft insulation keeps your foot toasty-warm

• Seam-sealed T.I.D.E. Hydro waterproof protection for all-day puddle-jumping and snow stomping

• Synthetic upper compresses down to make packing a cinch

• Wear the removable liner in the cabin or tent for comfy coziness

• Lightweight EVA foam and stabilizing nylon shank in midsole offer cushioning, support and stability

• White Spider rubber sole grips onto slick, frozen, or otherwise squirrely terrain

Functional Pro's: tapered upper allows for use with "skinny jeans," easily removable synthetic down insole liner for use around winter campsites or lodges, easy lace up and Velcro for snug fit, compressible shell, waterproof, light and very warm. The boot comes with a 1 year manufacturer's warrantee.

Dysfunctional Con's: Unless you undo the inner liner completely, the boot is quite difficult to pull on or take off. It is kind of like a ski boot in that way, make sure the inner liner is peeled open before insertion!